saddles

[Elaine]

Sorry guys but there is once again another saddle question. I would like to buy a used saddle. What can the saddler do to the saddle to make it fit my leased horse? thanks

Elaine

[Wally]

It depends upon whether the saddle nearly fits your leased horse or has no hope in christendom.

If your leased horse is a medium fit and so is the saddle it is a good start. But the design of the saddle has as much bearing upon fit as the width fittting.

The only way, is to get the saddler in to look at the saddle on the horse with you on board. The adjustments a saddler can make are quite subtle. The saddler will tell you what alterations can be done if any. But we ain't miracle workers, there is no way you can make a saddle fit if it is not the basic suitable style.

To get an idea, use a wire coat hanger and make a pattern of the horses back at the withers, where the front arch would be. This will give you the fitting. But don't think that just because you have the right fitting the saddle will fit the horse. It may rise up at the back and swing as the horse walks. It may sit flat and ride on the horse's spine at the back.
The gullet may be too narrow. ( you should be able to fit three fingers down the length of a saddle gullet) If the gullet is too narrow this is a design fault and can only be remedied by making a complete new panel.

[Charlotte]

In addition to what Wally has said - don't forget that all second hand saddles will have the shape of the horse they last fitted - it may not be possible to adjust the saddle to fit a different horse.

However, as Wally pointed out, it isn't impossible. Saddles can be restuffed.

If your horse is high withered, an arab or is a strange fit - extra wide etc, it will be more difficult to get a second hand saddle to fit.

If your horse is of average build, have you considered a synthetic? You will probably pay the same price for a second hand saddle as you would a synthetic (especially after alterations). You will still need the saddler to come out and fit the saddle.

[Wally]

Thorowgood Griffin range are quite good value. I've had to go against my preachings and have to say they are a good alternative.

[Elaine]

Thank you for the replies. I will look into some synthetic saddles. It seems like a better choice. Thanks!

[jillaroo]

Hi all,
Seeings we're back onto the saddle thing again I have a question, particularly for Wally:
many companies claim that their new models of saddles have all sorts of design features that enable them to fit 90% of horses - Crosby make this claim with their Excel line. Some of them have adjustable trees etc but even those that are not adjustable make this claim. Is their claim true, do you think? Because if so it would make buying a saddle a good thing even if you don't have your own horse.

[Wally]

It's one heck of a claim to make!!

We have mostly Icelandic horses. You'd think, therefore, that they would all be very similar.They ain't. I bought a differently designed Icelandic saddle to try. My friend saw it and asked me if she could buy it for her horse if it didn't fit the ones I had in mind for it. We plonked it onto her horse and no way was it going to fit him.It was simply the wrong design for him. Yet an Icelandic mare of similar height and build fitted it beautifully. With so much difference between breeds I am sceptical about claims like to ones being made.
I really would prefer to keep one saddle for one horse.

We used to work with an adjustable tree system, it was never all that satisfactory.
If you look at the panel pattern for a narrow fit in comparison to a wide fit, you will see that there is a great deal of difference. When altering a narrow/medium fit tree to fit a wide horse it will put strain on the panel material, it stretches. If you then change it to narrow fit the panel will go baggy and the flock will move and become lumpy causing possible pressure sores.
I'm not a great fan of them. I am yet to be convinced.