Saddle problems - small pony

[krisc]

Sorry this is a bit long! I have a 13hh 4yo Welsh B mare. She is currently unbacked but is being lunged & doing a bit of inhand work. She has a padded leather saddle pad at the moment, kind of like an old race saddle. To cut a long story short, I am looking for a saddle for her to eventually have. She had a saddle fitting a month ago, it went well till I found out she can only take a 15" saddle! The problem being that (please be nice ) I am 5'3" & a size 14, so it's not the best fit!
I sat in a couple of the saddles that would fit her but it looked bad!!
So I am wondering if there is a different saddling option for us or if say I had a saddle with a flatter seat & a more forward cut flap, would it fit us better?
Just really unsure of what to do & selling her is not on my option list as she is my pony perfection! (It is something I have had suggested to me!).

[mushypeas]

I would go the gym. No offence meant at all. If this is your pony perfection then you are likely to do anything for her. So get some bum toning in and your posture will tighten up too which will improve the overall look.

My friends daughter was constantly at the bottom of the line due to the picture not being pleasing to the judges eye. Some would comment she needed a show hunter. The pony was more than capable of carrying her and the pony was her pony perfection. It was hard for her mum to see her despair.

She and mum were lazy at home and sometimes careless with their diet. So they got more healthy, lost some weight and now she has been to RIHS and qualified HOYS with the pony she loves. Mum is also looking great! Everyone is happy.

I am not in any way shape or form saying size fourteen is over weight by any means, but it is amazing what we can do for something we adore :-)

[viking]

Would agree with mushypeas. Either a bigger horse or a smaller bottom. Bottom toning exercise can help, and is worth a try.

[brindlerainbow]

I too have a 13hh section B that I have had since 4 months old ( she is now 4 ). Im 5'2" and weight around 9 stone 12. Now I think im going to be too heavy for my pony especially as it is very hilly round here and Im not comfortable with her carrying me up these hills!! Selling her isn't an option either so we are going to concentrate on in hand agility, we have had one go and the pony loved it and was brilliant I know this doesn't help your saddle fitting problem but there are other options if it turns out you are too big for her

[mara]

You may be able to get a correct length panel with longer seat put together - I was told that saddle company saddles can offer this as a compromise.

The pony will be better with a slightly longer saddle to spread the load, even if it extends beyond the last rib than concentrating all your body in a smaller area on the back.

The shape of seat can make a huge difference - a round cantle with wider seat will look better than a square cantle where everything hangs over unless you've got no spare flesh at all.

I have to ride a 13hh pony - in 16" saddle where ideally he'd be in a 15 to 15.5 for his normal child rider, I'm currently losing a stone which has crept on over 2 years to get to where I don't feel the pony's asking how many have climbed on board (although he is more than capable of carrying me - I just feel guilty) ;D

Saddle fitter didn't want me sitting in a smaller saddle on him due to concentrating all my weight into a smaller area & I've been told this by other qualified fitters before as well. good broad panels will be important as well to help protect the pony's back.

I'm a bit taller than you & a size smaller so I'm afraid it's a combination of looking at saddle size and diet/fitness.

[sbloom]

I very rarely go beyond the last rib, some ponies especially can cope with it, but many will get sore and it's very difficult to predict which is which.

I do agree that you are on the heavy side for your pony, and are making it very challenging to find a saddle that will fit. It's not rare for ponies that size to only be able to take a 15", though 15" saddles can vary a lot in design (and therefore suitability for a taller adult) and actual length. In some brands you may well be able to take a 16".

You can't always get broad wide panels on small ponies, it causes instability. I'd recommend losing weight if you can, sorry!, and getting out a good fitter with a range of models that will fit ponies. Not all fitters are that experienced with ponies, or carry enough variety of models to try.

[krisc]

Thanks to everyone for your help & suggestions. Brindlerainbow I think I may have to give it a go, I think she would enjoy it as she hates schooling, but loves hacking & inhand work.