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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
 England
1168 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 3:22:06 PM
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I've borrowed a saddle from my niece to back Ozzy in and now i need to get him one of his own.
I contacted my local saddler but he only sells new saddles and i really wanted second hand to start with as Ozzy is only 4 and bound to change shape in a few years time. I was planning on getting him a new one when he reaches 7 years old...!
I rang another saddler who came down with about 15 second hand saddles. She tried them all on Ozzy and surprise surprise none of them fit....!
She took a proper measurement and said he needs a 17 inch wide or extra wide depending on the make.
She thinks he won't change shape much in the next few years....! and has advised me to buy a new one...? She said she may even have problems fitting a new one as 'Arabs are so difficult to fit saddles to...'. She said i may need to have one made to measure which will cost me £1000 plus.... .
Can anyone help with suggestions? I went to the local saddlery centre yesterday and found an 'ideal' 17 inc wide fit in the second hand rack which was £450. But the saddler attached to this shop wasn't available to come out to see if it fits for almost 6 weeks....!
It could be sold by then, and if i buy it now they will only let me keep it and try it for 7 days....
I've looked at the Arabian Saddle Company and their saddles look lovely but again really expensive... and there are no stock lists in my area or anywhere near me...
I have to have something that fits ozzy well and won't cause him any problems and i suppose i'll have to pay whatever is needed to get the right saddle. I just wanted to save some money if i can cos i've just paid many £££'s for him and i've still got to pay for a stable to be built for him before the winter...
Any help or suggestion welcome.
Thanks Nichole x
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enewton
Gold Member
England
549 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 3:28:54 PM
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I'd go for the ideal 17" get someone else with experience to check on the horse if you can. I recently bought a 17" ideal for showing as my mare has changed shape since I got her and this is my 3rd saddle. It is a great fit and hopefully the last one.
You could always re-sell the ideal is it's not right on either here or on the horse quest site, they keep their price. |
Emma Newton
  
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Zarena
Bronze Member
189 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 3:45:44 PM
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I have a 17ins Fieldhouse in excellent condition. I would like to sell and you are welcome to try it if you are anywhere near South Shropshire/Worcestershire. I have used it on an Arab for a couple of years.
PM me if you are interested although I shall be away on holiday until Friday. |
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Avonbrook
Silver Member
287 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 4:49:06 PM
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Saddle exchange are very good and have a number of ranges at different prices. Dean has plenty of experience at fitting arabs and carries second hand as well as new. He travels all over but if you are on the route between South West and Walsall you will probably get a visit earlier than if you are not...
Rowena
edited to say of course remove if this contravenes rules. I have no connection with this company other than that they do all my saddle fitting. |
  
www.avonbrookstud.co.uk |
Edited by - Avonbrook on 05 Jul 2009 4:50:37 PM |
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 7:09:21 PM
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| I know I'm rather a fan of them, but have you thought about a Free n Easy? Adjustable, so will fit just about any horse (I've got 4 of them!) and a good saddle. You can get them second hand, the Trekker saddle which is a bit of a cut down version is cheaper. I'm not connected with Free n Easy at all but have had fantastic service from Les and love the saddles, as do my horses. |
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taranstorm
Gold Member
Wales
952 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 7:55:35 PM
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| barefoot saddle every time for me as fits ANY arabs and free n easy is nice saddle,bit heavy compared to treeless,my friend is selling her free n easy as happy with her barefoot saddle |
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 8:17:00 PM
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| Yes, true, the F n E is quite heavy - I'm backing Rash bareback at the moment then will use an old Trekker which is a bit lighter than the newer ones. |
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Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 8:39:48 PM
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| Ideal saddles are great. My first purebred was very difficult to find a saddle for till I found an Ideal wide fit. The same saddle with minor adjustments to the flocking fits Zaharoff, also a purebred. I would be inclined to go for the Ideal, but I would want any saddle fitted to a young horse properly by a master saddler because small alterations to the flocking can make a big difference. My saddler comes out and does the adjustments on site, and he would do it if you already had a saddle, so you could maybe find someone who offers a similar service near you. As E Newton says, if it was no good for your horse you could always resell an Ideal. Personally ( just my opinion)I wouldn't use a treeless saddle at all,and would be very wary indeed of using one on a young horse. |
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Zenitha
Gold Member
England
1078 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 9:01:17 PM
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Had a similar problem fitting one of my mares - unless you especially require a leather one, the Thorowgood T4 or T6 cob range are brilliant for arabs, and adjustable to allow for slight shape changes. They are the only ones that will fit my mare - now I use them for all of them, and can't recommend them enough  |
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fidodido
Gold Member
England
797 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 9:26:56 PM
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| I'm in agreement with Zan, i have an Ideal Jessica (dressage) and a Ideal Ramsay (showing) for my tw. They where both made to measure (when one was 4 and the other was 6) and have had the flocking tweeked by a master saddler when nessecary, i have had them both for years and never needed to replace them yet. They are well worth the money as they are very comfortable saddles and hold there value well. |
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deebee
Silver Member
262 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2009 : 10:47:16 PM
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Just in the idea of as much info as possible, coz many good theories here: I struggled for years getting the right saddle for mine; i got second hand saddles for each time, fitted by professionals, then a wintec so I could change the gullet; eventually I realised she was 'croup high' and that any normal saddle was pushing into her loins (not seen by master saddlers); I've got a cheap treeless saddle and she's fine. I'll be getting a barefoot asap!
Oh, and the riding position is perfect; years of trying to keep my heels and thighs back finally sorted! |
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Nicky F
Silver Member
England
289 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2009 : 12:03:32 PM
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Nichole, I have a similar problem in that I am looking for a second-hand dressage saddle for Tanni. I have had problems getting anything to fit him for years now and have settled on an Exmoor Treefree which is great for hacking, but he now needs a dressage saddle to start him off in his new career! I am probably going to go for a Wintec Isabell Werth with an extra-wide gullet, but they are not easy to get hold of second-hand. I'm not going to pay for a new saddle (I've just retired from work so couldn't afford one anyway!), as he changes shape so much between summer and winter, and it would cost a fortune to keep getting it reflocked.
I love the Arabian Saddle Co but again, they are a bit like hen's teeth second-hand! Good luck in your search.  |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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Emma B
Silver Member
United Kingdom
412 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2009 : 12:46:57 PM
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| Hi i have a treeless dressage saddle that you are welcome to try it is great for young horses and will fit any size its 17". My horse in now in an albion slk 17" extra wide and it fits him perfectly. I was very lucky I found a new one that a lady had bought and never used so got that. If you are interested in my other saddle please pm me.... |
     
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kimzi
Gold Member
865 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2009 : 12:47:44 PM
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| Nichole i'm having a tack room clear out if you want to come and have a rummage amongst the saddles you are more than welcome. |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2009 : 1:12:46 PM
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Thanks everyone for your replies and PM's.
I've phoned my local saddler (who only sells new) to see if he will come out and fit the 'ideal' second hand one i found in the tack shop. If he can come out in the next 7 days i'll go and buy the second hand one and go from there. This way if it doesn't fit, i can take it back within 7 days and get a full refund.
The saddler that came out to me on Friday said Ozzy was slightly dipped in the back which makes things more tricky for him as most saddles tended to 'rock' on his back.
If my saddler can't come in the next 7 days then i can either book an appointment with him and then hope the second hand one hasn't been sold.... or i can take him over to West Essex (which is the lady who came on Fri) where they will try a number of new saddles including synthetic and ones from 'the saddle company' (which have adjustable trees).
Hubby didn't have the heart attack i thought he might when i mentioned the price of a new made to measure one from Arabian Saddle Company, so maybe all is not lost....!
I know i need to get one ASAP as the one i'm using is giving me a back ache so i'm sure it can't be doing Ozzy any good....
As a separate issue - for all of you who gave me advise re getting Ozzy in puddles i'm delighted to tell you it worked.... He walked through a HUGE scary puddle on Sunday and i was soooo pleased with him. It took a while and i bit of coaxing, then in he went very calmly and walked out the other side. There is hope for us yet in the future at the water jump...! |
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moonlight
Platinum Member
2000 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2009 : 2:05:36 PM
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| Had you thought of Balance saddles? They are expensive but consultants do have second hand ones, they come to you and spend all the time you need trying different models to see which fit and suit the horse. Just another to add to the melting pot!! |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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Songbird
Bronze Member
England
152 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jul 2009 : 7:44:34 PM
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| I have only found one saddle that fits all my arabians and my ridden liveries so far and it is an Ideal Ramsey. Although I've tried many dressage saddles on my gelding Czak nothing has stayed put like his Ramsey so that is what we stick with . It has fitted almost every other Arabian here for the last few years. |
Kit Rolfe |
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Topic |
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Saddles....! Arrrh
