Well i've had Ettie now since March and she has just turned 5. we bought a second hand saddle (from a saddler, to make sure it fitted) when we first got her. well now due to her changing shape so dramatically over the last couple of the months the saddle doesn't fit and we've been told she is going to be "one of those horses" who is impossible to have a saddle on for longer than a few months....great! She is a quarab and so she keeps seesawing between an arab build and a QH build - one moment she has shoulders and the next she doesn't . Of course I could go treeless or synthetic, but I am not particularly fond of either (just my own opinion) - so looks like its bareback riding for me (and she has the most prominent spine! ouch!)
Here she is in March:
What she looks like now:
(forgive her expression - its the only recent photo i've taken and she was falling asleep in the yard )
Anyone else got any stories about the difficulty in saddling youngsters?
Personally i would get a 2nd opinion from a qualified master saddler. A good saddler will be able to tell you what makes would suit your horse. I have a very wide flat backed barrel shaped anglo with a forward girth groove and big shoulders. I had my saddle made to measure when he was only rising 4.....madness i hear you say but it is able to be narrowed or widened up to 1 width either way plus i had flair fitted so it is a saddle for life. My saddler is a Master Saddler and was able to tell straight away upon looking at his back what kind of tree he needed.
Oh Lisa - you do spoil Lenny (and yourself) so...! He's SO worth it - scrumptious boy Wise move though - you can spend a lot of time money etc trialing dozens of saddles. Miska - your girl looks a difficult shape but not impossible. The right cut of saddle (behind those big shoulders and the correct width) should solve your problems. Also contact Judith (SS) as they may have a solution that feels like a traditional saddle but can be adjusted as she develops... good luck (Lisa - your profile still says Lenny is 17months!!) Laura x
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq
Hi Miska I have had the same problem with my youngster. I am on my 3rd saddle now but as she is turning 5 her shape shouldnt change so much now. Surely yours will be the same.
I am very lucky that my saddler left me loads of different saddles to try. Still caused me to be bucked off twice when the saddle slipped during the initial breaking process though.
You can also get saddles with adjustable trees if you really think her shape is going to yo-yo. Good luck. Debs
We think we've found a saddle that may be suitable for a month or so (before she grows again!) and it belongs to one of our liveries...so I don't have to buy a new one (It fits wonderfully - as it was handmade for an arab).
Our saddler is a master saddler and i'm sure she could find a saddle once a month that fits perfectly...its just changing costs alot and our little lady has already cost us alot after cutting her leg open. But this saddle is fine for awhile.
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Posted - 20 Jun 2008 : 12:20:29 PM
. Of course I could go treeless or synthetic, but I am not particularly fond of either (just my own opinion) - so looks like its bareback riding for me (and she has the most prominent spine! ouch!) 
)
He's SO worth it - scrumptious boy 
