| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| littlearabians |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 1:18:07 PM
Hi there I'm wondering what size you use on your Arabs... I love my old Kieffer Master 17" that I had for my TB but I think the seat is too long for my Arab... but looking round the Internet I can see people with Arabs selling up to 18" saddles... is this because they're too long and can't be used...
don't know if my bum would fit in a 16" anymore, but might look like that is the way to go for me
here is a picture of my boy yesterday... he is a bit fat as he is on summer turn out at the moment.... do you think, am I right thinking the seat size is too big?
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Montikka |
Posted - 07 Jun 2010 : 09:40:23 AM
Have to agree there arachnid, when riding a sharp or young horse the last thing you need is a saddle that slips, however good your balance. Bareback would be preferable to that |
| Arachnid |
Posted - 07 Jun 2010 : 09:08:15 AM
"The saddle has never disappeared, and the only problem is that you have to be fairly balanced or you will pull it sideways (really a good thing for improving your seat!). " - Etoile
Etoile, this sounds a bit scary. I think I would go back to the fitter and see what they can do about it. What if horse moves sharply sideways or teletransports like me does from time to time? |
| BeckyBoodle |
Posted - 07 Jun 2010 : 08:59:22 AM
I am looking at a Wow at the moment. I had a fitting and she is in 16" panels and then I fit a 17" seat. We tried 17" panels and it did look too long. I thought it gave me a great feeling of the horse underneath.
I am trying riding in some others, but so far it seems a great option.
B |
| wgs |
Posted - 07 Jun 2010 : 08:35:52 AM
Hi there, I agree with the rule of feeling the last rib to gain an idea of where the saddle should end and it does look like the saddle you have on your boy is a little long.
I had a similar problem with my youngster and went for a WOW with 17 inch saddle panels to fit my boys back but have a slightly larger seat at 17 1/2 inch which gives me room for movement when jumping etc. This may be an option for you. The WOW saddles are definitely a marmite subject but have had mine for almost 2 years and wouldnt be without it, the extra freedom it gives for the movement of the shoulders is fab.
Good luck! |
| MinHe |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 11:29:28 PM
I too would suggest a Working Hunter saddle, they really do seem to be easier to fit on an Arab shoulder (and really show the front off!), but are just as comfy and secure as an ordinary GP. All mine are in WH saddles - and all are in 16" ones as anything else has just been too big.
Keren |
| littlearabians |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 10:21:56 PM
thank you all... I have just taken pictures of the saddle, and will try and sell it.
ZAN: I am not worried about him getting laminitis, he might be round, but he isn't as fat as I may make it sound, I shall get some pictures of him i full figure for you to see ;)... but yes I have to pres hard to feel ribs far up by the spine. This saddle is far too high in front as the tree is too narrow for my boy, and therefore it doesn't get down and around him, but sits on top of him, completely out of balance... however this post was just to see about seat length as Kieffer can be changed by warming up the tree, and then shaped to fit ANY horse. |
| debs |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 9:48:47 PM
Originally posted by Etoile
After 5 saddles (2 custom made) as my allegedly fully grown 6 year old grew and grew and grew! I finally and reluctantly went treeless last autumn with a total solutions/ansur engergist saddle. He has a nice line in sideways leaps, lovely canter to halt to rub nose transitions and is shaped like a round barrel. The saddle has never disappeared, and the only problem is that you have to be fairly balanced or you will pull it sideways (really a good thing for improving your seat!). He is now going better than I ever hoped that he could. If in doubt almost all the various treeless companies will do trials for a small fee (when compared to the cost of yet another useless saddle!) and I did try several before I found the one I liked.
He sounds just like my old boy!!! We had 5 saddles up to the age of 8, the 6th one was a stayer! |
| Mrs DJ |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 9:11:42 PM
This is my mare in her HM Fhoenix. She's 14.3 and the seat is a 17". I've been using it for two years with no problems.
And I've never had it slip in any direction, even when she leapt 6ft sideways at a gallop  .
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| Etoile |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 8:53:34 PM
After 5 saddles (2 custom made) as my allegedly fully grown 6 year old grew and grew and grew! I finally and reluctantly went treeless last autumn with a total solutions/ansur engergist saddle. He has a nice line in sideways leaps, lovely canter to halt to rub nose transitions and is shaped like a round barrel. The saddle has never disappeared, and the only problem is that you have to be fairly balanced or you will pull it sideways (really a good thing for improving your seat!). He is now going better than I ever hoped that he could. If in doubt almost all the various treeless companies will do trials for a small fee (when compared to the cost of yet another useless saddle!) and I did try several before I found the one I liked. |
| Zan |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 6:42:25 PM
I wouldn't presume to try to fit a saddle from a photo but that saddle does look to be far too big in that photo. Also,if you can't feel where his ribs are, he is far too fat, and I would be worrying about laminitis risk if he were mine. You should be able to feel the ribs easily, without having to press too hard. The saddle is too long if it sits further back than the last rib, because then it is unsupported. In the photo, this saddle also looks far too high at the front, and that would throw you too far back on the horse's loins.
Personally I would start from the beginning with a master saddler and a variety of saddles to find what suits him best. |
| honey |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 6:17:24 PM
littlearabians i have the exact same problem as you, ros is also in a 5ft6 rug. 16 1/2 seems a good size on him. I tried a wintec 500 and it hurt his back. but my wintec vsd fits him really well, and even though i have only tried a 17 1/2 saddle on him at moment(gizzys saddle) it doesn't move at all and if im getting him a new one im getting him a 16 1/2 wontec vsd. But at the min im thinking of giving up on his riding altogeather and breaking him to drive, I taught him to pace and other month he was out and he just loved it pacing with the trotters in the cart i have never felt him so excited. |
| Montikka |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 5:30:46 PM
Good illustration Slave2
The Working Hunter saddle is a bit of an allrounder, with the added advantage that it's straight-cut flaps allow the Arab's big shoulders plenty of room to move. It has a low-ish cantle, making the seat roomy and giving a nice 'line' when showing (jacket doesn't bunch up). It also has small knee rolls so that it is also suitable for jumping (unlike a dressage saddle). It is used a lot in showing classes.
Personally, I do not like the 'locked in' feeling of saddles with a high cantle, and I feel the one in your picture would make me feel 'pitched forward' if it was on the snug side.
VSD saddles are along the same lines as the WH but perhaps with a deeper seat.
I didn't like the bates GP saddle I once tried as I felt 'perched' like a boat on the water - not secure at all. I like a flat seat and a very close contact. At the moment I have a Saddle Company WH saddle, 17" on my 14.2 " mare.
I tried the Arabian Saddle Co saddles - again, too high in the cantle.
I've wittered on - hope some of my saddle fitting nightmare experiences have helped a bit
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| justine |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 5:04:00 PM
well your saddle is a dressage saddle. We ride long legs with these.
My 17inch arabian saddle company saddle looks oversized too.
My arabian saddle company 17 inch gp looks normal.
Try one if you can. |
| Slave 2 Magic |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 2:03:52 PM
It means working hunter cut. My mare has a saddle which is more of a WH cut. Its straighter cut but very comfortable.
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| littlearabians |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 12:19:16 PM
Louise you are quite right, the seat in this saddle feels smaller then the other 17" I have tried, wich is why I thinking that a wintec or bates 16" might do... what does WH cut mean? |
| Montikka |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 11:53:31 AM
It's quite hard to tell fit from a picture, but the overall impression is that the saddle looks quite large. A different brand of saddle may accommodate your behind better as this one has a very high cantle which I imagine makes the seat feel smaller than one with not quite such a deep seat. Perhaps more of a WH cut? |
| littlearabians |
Posted - 06 Jun 2010 : 09:20:18 AM
I have thought about a treeless, but from what my friends in Denmark tells me there are big problems with them not staying put... they go back, forward or slide to the side... maybe they have been unlucky, but this has put me a bit off the treeless, I don't want to be riding a youngster to have the saddle end up sitting on its neck.
I have had wintec saddles, and I was quite happy riding in them, so my thoughts are in that direction... or perhaps even a bates... but needs to be the new model with cair, as the chamber is very narrow on the old wintec/ bates.
but please do let me know if you know of any good treeless that doesn't end up anywhere but where it is supposed to. |
| delly-b |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 7:00:24 PM
Yes I have this with one of my mares too (hence the conversation with the Heather Moffett saddle fitter) shame about not being able to feel your way tho :-(
Would you consider the treeless saddle with soft gullets at all? You don't have to be too worried about the shoulder as you would in a tree'd saddle so may be worth looking into even at a 17". My mare takes 5'6" rugs and at mo have borrowed a 17" wintec ... I have an 18" Fhoenix for my other horse which is slightly too big but believe I would get away with a 17" if I can't find a 16" one. Im only 5'4" tho and can JUST get away with a 16" saddle :-)
Must admit after talking to one fitter one comment made me shudder.. They said sometimes unfortunately you can't always ride on the saddle that is suitable for your horse and may need to consider swapping the horse!!!
.... Think she would just become a field ornament instead as nooooo wayyyyy would she be sold!!
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| delly-b |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 6:59:04 PM
Yes I have this with one of my mares too (hence the conversation with the Heather Moffett saddle fitter) shame about not being able to feel your way tho :-(
Would you consider the treeless saddle with soft gullets at all? You don't have to be too worried about the shoulder as you would in a tree'd saddle so may be worth looking into even at a 17". My mare takes 5'6" rugs and at mo have borrowed a 17" wintec ... I have an 18" Fhoenix for my other horse which is slightly too big but believe I would get away with a 17" if I can't find a 16" one. Im only 5'4" tho and can JUST get away with a 16" saddle :-)
Must admit after talking to one fitter one comment made me shudder.. They said sometimes unfortunately you can't always ride on the saddle that is suitable for your horse and may need to consider swapping the horse!!!
.... Think she would just become a field ornament instead as nooooo wayyyyy would she be sold!!
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| basbob |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 6:43:37 PM
Bizarrely in France many people have saddles that fit them and they take their own saddles to ride other horses - strange! I love my wintec pro dressage as it is easily changed to fit. |
| Slave 2 Magic |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 5:21:53 PM
It does look to drown him abit. My mare takes 5'6" rugs and I ride her in a 17" saddle. I would look to sell or swap. Have you tried Saddles Direct? They would part ex yours and have a good reputation. I would still have it fitted properly though. |
| littlearabians |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 4:52:25 PM
it is too narrow, tree is narrow/medium at the moment... but that is not a problem as Kieffer saddles can be changed with wise... so that can be adjusted to fit any horse.
the saddle is with extra deep seat, and does have long flaps, but then again I have long legs, and I would look wrong in a saddle with short flaps in dressage length irons... I've never really ridden dressage tests etc. always been far more into showjumping, endurance and racing... right now we are only getting used to carrying a rider around, so we are using my racing exercise saddle... but I used to love doing flat work in this saddle on my old TB.
I just don't want to spend money on the with problem if the seat is too long as I fear... then I might as well try to sell it or perhaps swap with someone who might have a 16" bates or wintec... just a shame as I really did love riding in this saddle. |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 4:32:33 PM
I've got a 17.5" on Roger (15.1hh), as it has not only got to fit him but also my derriere and thigh length (5'7" and size 12-14).
From the picture it looks as though your is a particularly "chunky" saddle with extra-long flaps and the overall picture is that the saddle overwhelms your horse. It is difficult to tell from the picture if the saddle actually fits your boy.
Caryn |
| justine |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 4:08:21 PM
Always use Arabian saddle company saddles EXTRA WIDE! I find they fit most my horses even my fat coloured sporthorse.
Tried most makes over the years.
Oh and I always use 17in, 16 is no good for my bum!
Your saddle does not look a good fit. Its too narrow as far as I can see. Swap for extra wide. Shame, nice saddle! |
| georgiauk |
Posted - 05 Jun 2010 : 3:57:11 PM
Just mo but it looks a little on the long side and perhaps too long in the flaps for his size, is it also sitting a little high on his withers? |
