What to do RE Saddle? Help!

[lfd]

Hi Everyone

(hope this is in the right place mods, i dont post alot so was unsure)

Could do with abit of advice..

Long story short my welsh cob has had a couple of bouts of lammi. Hes Now sound and fit, just very lean and has thrown a big wither through muscle wastage/weight loss.

His Ideal Ramsey saddle was orginally a wide fit, after his weigt loss it was practically touching his wither, i knew he was uncomfy in it, its recently had the tree made narrower, this hasnt made an awfull lot of difference, it just sits really low at the front and lifts at the back...

my saddler doesnt think theres much more that can be done to the current saddle , so looks like its going to be a new one...

the thing is what type of saddle?!

Hes not going to be shown an awfull lot anymore, just abit of workers and dressage, i hate GP saddles with a passion and love riding on show saddles, my saddler doesnt think hes going to get a close fitting show type saddle to fit him well with him having so much wither now...

any suggestions on types of saddles? what saddles are your ponies with plenty of wither wearing?

thanks everyone (sorry for wittering on).

x

[sageandonion]

What about trying a VSD straight cut with a changeable gullet so that if he broadens out a little again with work you will be able to change to a wider. There are lots of brands that do the changeable gullets now. Fieldhouse has always been good for the native backs and they have them.

[helle]

what about a dressage saddle then? Perhaps even a Bates or Wintec with changable gullet so it can be altered to fit as he changes. I used to only really use my GP for jumping and did everthing else in my lovely dressage saddle

[GinaGeo]

A workers saddle or VSD would be my starting point saddlewise, and go for flocked as opposed to panelled - It'll allow more adjustment room. I'm sure Ideal do a Workers saddle. Regarding the big shoulder have you had a physio out ensure it's not a throwback from something else. My horse's was.

[threekids]

my d has a fair bit of wither he has a dressage saddle Collegiate which fits him great, just had the girth straps altered for £40 so looks more like show saddle, was the only saddle i could find to fit him.

[Summertime]

you could always go second hand and save some money, perhaps try some narrow or medium saddles on him and see which style and width fits best!!

Personally I like second hand saddles much better than new ones as they are worn in!

As a suggestion of types perhaps stubben, there are some lovely 2nd hand show/straight cut, ones and they come in fittings suitable for types with withers! I, at one stage bought one for my D, Beautiful saddle but when she had measured the D ring to D ring, it was across the top, up and over the pommel! I thought it was across the front! ha ha

I would also like to say congratulations to you on seeing your boy through what must have been some terrible times and getting him back sound and fit! well done!

[leisurelakes1]

We had the same problem with my sons pony she's now in a fylde working hunter fits herfantastic andshe does everything from showing to ODE's in it x

[sbloom]

So many choices, you just need a good fitter who can bring out saddles in your budget. Lifting at the back means too wide or too curvy, the Ramsay is flat in the tree so it is probably still too wide. It might be bridging if it is too flat, or will if it is made narrow enough. I fit several models of WH saddle that have a higher wither and a deeper seat and lots of people use them for dressage and a bit of showing/workers. There are also very nice neat GPs available that look good in the show ring, if I was fitting for you I would choose between those two types depending on how long or short you ride.

I agree that a flocked saddle gives much more flexibility, also a traditional beech tree gives more choice of tree shape, and if you work with a fitter that is happy to do it, the tree can be adjusted a handful ot times which can be very useful.

Modern Stubbens might be different but old ones tend to have a narrow gullet (space between panels at the rear) so even if they fit on paper in all other ways (I find most are too curvy at the back and too narrow in head of the the pommel for natives) they sit too close to the spine at the back. Even though you want a higher withered shape of tree you don't want it too V shaped like a Stubben, more a TB shape than a Welsh shape!

[lfd]

Thanks for the replys everyone, some really good advice in there! it can be all very confusing there at that many different types!

i think im heading towards a VSD or workers type...

Thanks again for all the fab and knowledgeable advice, really appriciate it! xxx

Modified to add.. physio has been out since lammi and he is fine through neck back shoulders quarters x

[farrellperdi]

Hi probably abit late for me to reply! But i fit for "The Saddle Company" and we offer 3 types of show/workers saddle, the most forward cut being the VSD, then the Working Hunter and then the Show saddle being the straightest.
All saddle company saddles are fully adjustable by a trained fitter from narrow to XXX wide, due to the exclusive "treetec tree"
I have fitted to cobby types how have lost condition and have developed a wither including our own Sec D mare who lost alot of condition after having her foal, she wears a VSD and is now back to her normal wide fit!
Hope this is helpfull and sorry its abit late! x

[tbmare]

The Bates vsd, changable gullet, leather on top, look smart 2 peeps onour yard have them and swear they would never have another saddle, both use them for dressage, jumping and workers, equitation of rc level...
i myself have said if i get another difficult fitting horse would by one of these.