Fitting saddle to unbroken youngster?

[michelle22]

I'm going to b breaking my youngster after the summer and as it's my
First attempt at it I was wondering about how to go about fitting a saddle
If he's never had one on??forgive me if this is a silly question but ppl I know
Have said it doesnt matter just to put anything on his back.which I was horrified at!!!!
Any suggestions most welcome!

[LucyHebditch]

I have an old saddle that i pop on to back... Then if they are going to have a go whilst being lunged or long reined, the saddle cannot be damaged. As long as you don't sit on a badly fitting saddle, it's fine! But by putting any saddle on, you will then get an idea of size after that

[Sasha]

A soft saddle first is best like a racing saddle fit most shapes and can be bought cheaply but tbh once my boy was happy with the racing saddle I had one made to measure I know some people would say not to do this as there shape can change once they are being ridden regularly but my thoughts are if it fits properly it's one less thing o worry about after all don't want them getting rubbed or hurt as they will learn that saddle means discomfort! Try and get an old racing saddle prob best bet

[LucyHebditch]

Agree with above
That's why i would never sit on a horse with a badly fitting saddle... But usually fine with no weight on..
Best to go for something on the wide side, pad it up and gradually remive padding as he changes shape!
I only deal with ponies and the handy 16" wide fylde samantha tends to fit most as i have a prolite with front and back raiser options... and gradually remove and add bits as they change!
You can't go wrong with get a prolite if you are unsure of the fit of the saddle

[Deleted]

I have an old breaking saddle that I use on everyone I start, it is a standard fit for their size, so can tell from that what they will need, I work on 11.2 - 12hh ponies, so my breaking saddle is a 15" wide - 9" d to d.

[michelle22]

My boy is a welsh c he's about 13hh or just over that and a chuncky boy I have sat my lw cobs saddle on him in the stable but it's a 18 inch xw and I reckon prob 16 1/2 - 17 inch saddle will b about the size for him.I will hunt for a cheap second hand saddle then.thanks for ur help x

[michelle22]

My boy is a welsh c he's about 13hh or just over that and a chuncky boy I have sat my lw cobs saddle on him in the stable but it's a 18 inch xw and I reckon prob 16 1/2 - 17 inch saddle will b about the size for him.I will hunt for a cheap second hand saddle then.thanks for ur help x

[shellywell]

Before you go trying saddles on him you can do (if you haven't already) some ground work. I break in youngsters for a competition yard/stud, usually my charges are 4 years + and have come straight from the field where they have been since weaning. After the initial handling has been done, this is how I prepare them for the saddle:
Start by lying a saddle cloth over the back, this gets them used to having something land on their back, (if your youngster is rugged then he is used to this) and you can move onto the roller, to start I use a surcingle, this gets them used to the "belt" restriction, yet allows them to breath, once happy with this, I move on to the roller, same principle, but without the elasticity of the surcingle. Once they accept the roller and I can tighten it without reactions I can then think about placing a saddle on the back. I use a synthetic without stirrups, and a large enough girth, some use a breast plate, I don't, more to fiddle with.
Usually the horse will be fine to have the saddle on, by this point, having reacted fully to the roller etc, I should have added that I use a poly pad under the roller as I find that they have the same surface area as a saddle and because they are chunky a horse can see them from the corner of his eye and therefore get used to seeing something on their backs.

Once the horse can be tacked up happily, moves around the stable, be led about the yard, lunged in walk and trot, loose schooled in all 3 paces with the saddle on happily, I would look to fit a proper saddle ready for backing.

[michelle22]

Thanks for ur reply x

[LucyHebditch]

michelle.. I would say that 18 inch would be too long.
If i had a 13hh in, i would put my 16" on to start with and go from there. Too short is better that too long! Maybe try to borrow a friends briefly?

[elmere]

If you dont have a cheap breaking saddle I wouldnt go buying him one, I would get him a decent one with a changeable gullet like a thorowgood or saddle company or even a treeless which are great for their backs, youngsters change shape rapidly and this saves you buying a new one each time he does. I would have thought he'd be around a 16 inch but best getting a saddler to come out and see what shape of tree your pony would suit.

[GinaGeo]

I backed my younsgter in a Solution Treeless Saddle. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it's a saddle for life. I have one on my other horse too, and he's never gone better. I like them as they will always fit, as I can alter the padding to allow for it and because they're flexible it's not such a shock for them. My youngster has never put a foot wrong in his.

My older horse, who has only ever bucked whilst trying saddles (that fitted apparently ) loves his and his back's nice and soft and it fits all year round, despite large fluctuations in weight.

Not everyone's cup of tea, and there are cynic's out there - I was one of them, but I find they do the job very well

[sbloom]

I will fit unbacked ponies - I will know which tree is likely to best for them longer term and will fit to a stationary back, asking them to get me back out once trotting under saddle is established, or if there is ANY movement in the saddle before then. It cannot be a guaranteed fit in the same way that seeing a saddle ridden in all three paces can be.

And a made to measure saddle is not one and the same as a saddle that fits. Some m2M saddles work and are great, but there are just as many disaster stories, if not more, of these saddles than there are of off the peg ones, which at least you can try, and don't have to pay for up front. Ours even come on a week's trial.

[snowflake]

Feb 8, 2012 16:35:01 GMT LucyHebditch said:

michelle.. I would say that 18 inch would be too long.
If i had a 13hh in, i would put my 16" on to start with and go from there. Too short is better that too long! Maybe try to borrow a friends briefly?

My 13hander takes a 16 & 17 inch but she's best in 16.5 because, a 17 is a tad too long in the flap. Agree though get a 16 rather than a 17, a 17 is usually too long for a 13 hander which could possibly be more frightening for the breaker, if the flaps are too long so the wrong place which would make them flap on the sides more.

[ilovebuckroox]

Feb 8, 2012 16:35:01 GMT LucyHebditch said:

michelle.. I would say that 18 inch would be too long.
If i had a 13hh in, i would put my 16" on to start with and go from there. Too short is better that too long! Maybe try to borrow a friends briefly?

I think she ment she tried her other saddle (being 18") on the pony for size wise, and is now thinks a 16.5"-17" would look best

[threekids]

before putting a saddle on use a saddle pad and surcingle to get used to the feel, the saddle put on and girth firmly so it does not slip and scare them.