How exciting for you, and very lucky that one was in stock. It sounds like waiting times have finally improved, during and for quite a while after lockdown they were much longer as makers had been shut and then had big backlogs to catch up on. I hope I'm as lucky with Luka, though I'll settle for finding one that fits and he likes - the plan at the moment is that my friend who's a saddler will leave me with a couple that look best to hack out in a few times and see what he gives the thumbs up to - saddle fitting at it's most technical! He must drive her mad as she's into pressure mapping and very correct fitting and he, to put it mildly, isn't.
A new saddle for Sid has been fully tested 🙂
- Thread starter Jane&Ziggy
- Start date
The new saddle came today and Catherine came to fit it.
It is so different from my existing saddle.
This is the back of the saddle. You can see, just behind it, the mark on Sid's loins where the rear panel of my existing saddle finished. It's a good 3 inches away from the back of this saddle.
Here's a look inside the saddle. You can see how straight and even slightly backward from the shoulder the front panel is. It's creased from being delivered.
Here's a look at the gullet. It is at least twice as wide as the gullet on my K & M. It is also high and rounded in shape, because this saddle has a hoop tree.
Here it is, girthed up on Sid. The girthing is interesting, there are 4 straps and I ignore the front "point" strap and use the second strap and the very back one.
The girth sits in a much more natural position, a little further back from his elbows. It needs to be a bit longer to get round the extra barrel (plus the straps are short) but it seems much more comfortable.
I rode on it at walk, trot and canter and popped a little jump and Sid was happy with it. I am happy with it, it's very comfortable, except that my stirrups are all the wrong length now and need to be shorter and they are on the last hole!
We are hoping to ride tomorrow so that will be a good test.
It is so different from my existing saddle.
This is the back of the saddle. You can see, just behind it, the mark on Sid's loins where the rear panel of my existing saddle finished. It's a good 3 inches away from the back of this saddle.
Here's a look inside the saddle. You can see how straight and even slightly backward from the shoulder the front panel is. It's creased from being delivered.
Here's a look at the gullet. It is at least twice as wide as the gullet on my K & M. It is also high and rounded in shape, because this saddle has a hoop tree.
Here it is, girthed up on Sid. The girthing is interesting, there are 4 straps and I ignore the front "point" strap and use the second strap and the very back one.
The girth sits in a much more natural position, a little further back from his elbows. It needs to be a bit longer to get round the extra barrel (plus the straps are short) but it seems much more comfortable.
I rode on it at walk, trot and canter and popped a little jump and Sid was happy with it. I am happy with it, it's very comfortable, except that my stirrups are all the wrong length now and need to be shorter and they are on the last hole!
We are hoping to ride tomorrow so that will be a good test.
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Cally has a beautiful bridle - gorgeous braided reins, really nice. His saddle is an old Wintec. His owner put on a padded saddlecloth (a special type, I can't remember the brand but it's well known), a thin numnah and sheepskin half pad (I have a spare) and the saddle on top of all this. It seems to fit to me - unqualified me! - and Cally goes well in it and I couldn't find any soreness in his back, so it will do for now. The owner is a very experienced horseman of the old school and I am sure he wouldn't use an ill fitting saddle - he was very concerned for Cally's comfort in all things. That horse has come with FIFTEEN rugs!
It looks lovely, Jane. The only thing I'd like to suggest is that you maybe look at an anatomical girth because your Stubben string one is not straight. It seems to be falling naturally into Sid's forward girth groove and will pull your saddle forwards.
The reason I noticed this is because I had the same issue with Gracie.
You can see the difference in this comparison pic. Just thought I'd mention...
Please also feel free to tell me to mind my own business as well
The reason I noticed this is because I had the same issue with Gracie.
You can see the difference in this comparison pic. Just thought I'd mention...
Please also feel free to tell me to mind my own business as well
Oh phew! You don't hate me! 
Gosh I had to think hard then.... I haven't had to think "horse" for a year now! (Google helped) G had dressage straps on her saddle (I had it made to my spec so that I didn't get the bulk under the flap) and it was a Collegiate Anatomical girth. I don't know if they do a non-dressage version, soz.
Gosh I had to think hard then.... I haven't had to think "horse" for a year now! (Google helped
) G had dressage straps on her saddle (I had it made to my spec so that I didn't get the bulk under the flap) and it was a Collegiate Anatomical girth. I don't know if they do a non-dressage version, soz.
I like the look of the saddle and agree that the girth is pulling on the saddle. But it may just need to be longer to allow it to hang straight.
As a rule of thumb I was taught we should always have a hands width behind the elbow, if you have a groove that looks like the girth can just slot in, it will likely need to be anatomical or you will hit the elbows, or be putting excess pressure on your girth.
As above poster I have had similar issues with the cob as her dressage saddle sits further back and so the girth sits further back. I have three straps on mine
I do love
Sid, especially when you said you can only change one thing at a time else you will blow his mind.
Its so nice to know I am not really alone with the cob and there are other over sensitive, easily offended, easily upset little souls of there.
As a rule of thumb I was taught we should always have a hands width behind the elbow, if you have a groove that looks like the girth can just slot in, it will likely need to be anatomical or you will hit the elbows, or be putting excess pressure on your girth.
As above poster I have had similar issues with the cob as her dressage saddle sits further back and so the girth sits further back. I have three straps on mine
I do love
Sid, especially when you said you can only change one thing at a time else you will blow his mind. Its so nice to know I am not really alone with the cob and there are other over sensitive, easily offended, easily upset little souls of there.
We went out today at last on the new saddle. Not a long hack, only about 75 minutes, but we tried all gaits including sitting and standing canter and a couple of small jumps, plus some steep ups and downs.
Nearly all pros. The saddle was easy to put on and the girth wasn't as weird as I feared it would be. It sits naturally in the deepest part of Sid and lets me sit in the deepest part of the saddle, which feels balanced and secure. It was really stable and didn't slip around much at all. I put my hand under the saddlecloth during one trot to feel his shoulder movement and it is much freer, and he walked out better - not sure how to describe it, but more swingily, if you know what I mean.
The only cons relate to my legs and stirrups. The stirrup bars are differently positioned from my K&M which makes the stirrups the wrong length, and somehow even with extra holes I can't seem to get them even now, which is really annoying. Possibly as a result my right leg doesn't feel terribly secure - it's usually pretty stable and today it seemed to be moving around a lot. Also the saddle flaps are shorter and there are more girth straps (4 rather than 3) which seem to make giving leg aids a bit more difficult. But I expect this will be mostly practice.
The state of his fur after the ride seems to indicate a well fitting saddle, and he didn't object at all.
I'll send the pics to my saddler and see what she says, but I'm happy!
Nearly all pros. The saddle was easy to put on and the girth wasn't as weird as I feared it would be. It sits naturally in the deepest part of Sid and lets me sit in the deepest part of the saddle, which feels balanced and secure. It was really stable and didn't slip around much at all. I put my hand under the saddlecloth during one trot to feel his shoulder movement and it is much freer, and he walked out better - not sure how to describe it, but more swingily, if you know what I mean.
The only cons relate to my legs and stirrups. The stirrup bars are differently positioned from my K&M which makes the stirrups the wrong length, and somehow even with extra holes I can't seem to get them even now, which is really annoying. Possibly as a result my right leg doesn't feel terribly secure - it's usually pretty stable and today it seemed to be moving around a lot. Also the saddle flaps are shorter and there are more girth straps (4 rather than 3) which seem to make giving leg aids a bit more difficult. But I expect this will be mostly practice.
The state of his fur after the ride seems to indicate a well fitting saddle, and he didn't object at all.
I'll send the pics to my saddler and see what she says, but I'm happy!
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Speak to your saddler as she may be able to help. Girth straps which aren't going to be used can usually be removed and that alone may help with how your leg feels. She may also be able to tweak the stirrup bars or alter the flocking around them slightly, sometimes a tiny change makes a big difference.
My first thought was to adjust your knee rolls. Or do some stirrupless work to level yourself?
I have a spare 56" non elastic anatomically shaped girth you are welcome to try if you want to see how one of those sits.
It will be going to charity as we are not keeping that pad or replacing with another one.
I have a spare 56" non elastic anatomically shaped girth you are welcome to try if you want to see how one of those sits.
It will be going to charity as we are not keeping that pad or replacing with another one.
I think that might be a bit big @newforest, the Stübben I am currently using is a 125cm which I think is about 44"
This might sound a bit out of the box but have you tried putting your stirrups down rather than up?
Do 5 mins without stirrups for a little while when you get on to find your balance in it then put the stirrups wherethey feel comfy.
I believe this is a slightly shorter but slightly deeper seat than your last one? I cant find the pic i was thinking of, and it might not even have been you (so apologies if not!), but some GP's are a bit prone to a bit of a chair seat for the rider and if that was the case then the new one looks really balanced and will probably feel odd!
Looks like a cracking investment though.
Do 5 mins without stirrups for a little while when you get on to find your balance in it then put the stirrups wherethey feel comfy.
I believe this is a slightly shorter but slightly deeper seat than your last one? I cant find the pic i was thinking of, and it might not even have been you (so apologies if not!), but some GP's are a bit prone to a bit of a chair seat for the rider and if that was the case then the new one looks really balanced and will probably feel odd!
Looks like a cracking investment though.
@Tir thank you. It's true that this is shorter and with a deeper seat, but my heel/hip.head alignment was fine on the K&M. I think TBH that my stirrup leathers may have stretched and become uneven, and the bars on this saddle aren't in exactly in the same place, so there's a bit of recalibration to happen. I rode on the Kent & Masters for 13 years!
I'm thinking of getting a Sensationride saddle for my Dales. Treeless, made for a short back. With a Skito pad. Would you recommend for a stout Dales?You could have tried a treeless saddle but some of them (sensation such as mine) are equally expensive, especially once you add the saddle pad in too! Would give him plenty of shoulder freedom though.
I think good saddles are all expensive but, they deserve a good saddle that fits well dont they
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