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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 2:20:40 PM
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I have to disagree Glo. My horse is narrow/medium fit so by putting a wider saddle on him that would cause massive problems eg back damage, behaviour etc.
You say narrow fit saddles block movement, how? Surely a horse that is narrow fit who has a narrow fit saddle is a horse with a well fitting saddle? As long as there are no other issues of course re fit.
And saddles can slip without a rider in the saddle. It's true what you say in that an unbalanced rider can cause the saddle to move, but if the saddle is an incorrect fit the rider won't necessarily cause movement, they will however highlight the problem. I have to use a straight cut saddle due to uneven shoulder muscle which is getting better so I can move to a GP this Spring. The saddle movement of a GP was obvious before I got on, with just me walking around on 20m circles the cantle was swinging to one side. That's an incorrectly fitted saddle to that shape of horse.
Not trying to start an argument here, I'm always interested in hear other views on this topic but are you saying Arabs shouldn't have narrow fit saddles even if body shape dictates as such or are you saying avoid saddles which are too narrow? |
    
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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alypie
Bronze Member
85 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 2:22:09 PM
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i have a ideal WH/GP saddle which fits EVERYTHING!!! i use this for hacking etc, but for the show ring i have Fylde Samantha, which also fits everything. i have it on my arab (who is very wide and fluctuates greatly) my show hack and 2 PBA veterans. i swear by them, they are so comfortable and you can even jump in them. i also have a smaller version for my sec B. as you can tell, im a big fan  |
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MirandaToo
Silver Member
England
381 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 2:28:19 PM
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 .... saddles!!
Hmmm, my girl is off work at the mo because her wide saddle was too wide for her  . Nothing too serious luckily  , so now on a hunt for a wide-ish, but not TOO wide fit!! Wish me luck!! |
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Lizbuf
Bronze Member
England
106 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 2:52:20 PM
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| Im also a fan of the Fylde saddles and have a Fylde Davina on my lad, ive often used Fyde saddles in the past and always liked them |
Liz x
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 4:01:56 PM
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| Just to say Sazzlepants71 horses do tend to get wider if you have a wide saddle on them, I had a 6x balance saddle on my mare and had to go to a 8x after about 18 months or so. Its because they can move and build up muscle around the shoulder and back. Changing the subject Has anyone noticed that when you put a wide saddle on a horse they become soft and round and easier to get in to a contact. |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 4:49:28 PM
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| Hi Kes, just because the horse is narrow between the front legs dose no mean that the back is narrow, most Arabs have wide backs, I have seen some narrow saddles that would not fit a gate let alone a horse. Horses backs get wider when you are riding them than when they are standing still. If your horse is well muscled and has a good top line your saddle is probably fine. But I have seen horses, with no muscle, no top line, dips in front of the wither and behind, in saddles far to narrow and the rider still thinks the saddle fits because it was fitted to there horse by a so called saddle fitter.(I am talking about ridden horses not horses) If your horse has mussel damage it is because of the saddle. If your horse is uneven its because of the saddle ( could be uneven rider as well). We all have different opinions, and I have given mine. I find that in a saddle wide enough for a horse to move you will find schooling easier, getting horses on the bit easier, getting of the forehand easier, you will find that your riding will be better, you will be more balanced. you will need to feed less of the expensive top line feed because your horse will naturally be building up the back top line muscles.I ride my horse in a very very wide saddle and can genuinely say that she has not got a bad back in fact she is very sound all around and has been in hard work for years. At the end of the day we want the best for our horses, we want to enjoy them to the full. You may not like what I have said, but I believe that a well fitting saddle is the key to many years of sound riding and getting the best from your horse. That is why I said that ignorance is bliss, as before I became aware of the damage that ill fitting saddles cause I was quite happy riding in a saddle that appeared to fit all my horses and I loved that saddle till I found out the damage it had caused. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 5:06:08 PM
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Actually it was the wide fitting saddles that seemed to cause the most issues with my horse who is widish around the front but narrow through the back/cantle area. I'm with Kes on this, its got to fit, not just be wide. We are on saddle number 8, so I write from bitter experience.
Also you are extremely lucky/talented if you are perfectly balanced in the saddle, but for the rest of us, the saddle needs to accomodate our wonky ways. This must be true - look at the para riders.
Julia (more weight in the right side than the left, tips head to one side unless really concentrating... ) |
   
West Sussex |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 5:21:15 PM
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My sister's gelding also had (muscular) back problems as a result of a saddle that was too wide, and it took 3 more before we found one that (fingers crossed) fits. We have four horses that range from medium to xxx wide, and you cannot just take a saddle off one of them and put it on another and expect it to fit, or that they will expand to fit it. That is quite different to a horse becoming broader as it matures and/or it's workload increases, which is why it is essential to have your saddle's fit checked regularly.
At 4 years old my filly had one shoulder more developed than the other which had to be compensated for - nothing to do with the way she was ridden, just the way she was built at that time. (Hadn't been ridden enough to cause it).
Finding a good saddle fitter can also be a difficult search. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
Edited by - Callisto on 26 Jan 2012 5:22:34 PM |
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rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 5:22:06 PM
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Our problem is more of the shape of the horse and not the width?
Rosie is an extra wide but after having Connor measured he is a medium to medium wide but he's round with no withers.
One saddler demonstrated using a barrel laid on its side. Without a gel pad ALL saddles slipped round.
See how we get on with another fitter next week with Connor? |
     
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 5:40:27 PM
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Ok, I really don't wish this to develop into a tiff but may I just reply to Glo's comments above as some points need explaining from my point of view.
Who said their horse was narrow between the front legs, I didn't, look at my avatar pic, does my horse look narrow? I would say not.
If you are implying there is a difference between a saddle fitter and a Master Saddler I totally agree, I personally use a Master Saddler who I have trusted for over 15 years. But there are also good saddle fitters out there who know their stuff.
Muscle damage isn't always caused by a saddle, there are numerous ways. Rolling badly in the field can cause damage.
How can you say my horse is uneven because of the saddle? My horse was uneven before he was backed, therefore, never having worn a saddle. All horses are one sided to one degree or another. Some horses are more prominent this way hence the muscle being active therefore larger on one side.
I completely agree with your sentiments of well fitting tack, never a truer word spoken :) |
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 5:59:15 PM
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We're in a MW Ideal VSD, widened slightly by a very good Master Saddler. Sunny is a constantly changing 'barrel' shaped 4 year old, and I was surprised that he wasn't a wider fitting as his well sprung ribs would suggest otherwise! The VSD is a nice shape as it isn't cut to forward, but has just enough up front to assist in the security department!!
He too is slightly uneven in his shoulder, nothing to do with ridden work he was this way before ridden work & definately favours one side.
Good luck with your search Rosie |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
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arabiangem
Bronze Member
England
112 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 6:33:48 PM
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| I have a Kent and Masters Pony GP. It is leather and adjustable. They also come in Adult sizes. I had terrible difficulty in fiding one for me rather than my Arab, as I needed a saddle with a narrow twist, 16.5" seat size but with adult length flaps. It is the most comfterble saddle I've ever sat on and the good thing is I can change the gullet when my arab changes shape. It is leather too so will breath compared to a synthetic adjustable type saddle. They are very reasonable to buy new too. Just wish I knew about saddle twists years ago! |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 6:44:21 PM
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| Hi Kes, In my post I was going to say ridden horses and horse that had been even before ridden work. I had not even given it a thought to look at your avatar pic. I am not into bitching. I was only giving an opinion. I have been reading posts on arabianlines for a long time and saddle fitting is always coming up. I can only say what works for me. I don't know any of you and what I said is not directed at you or any one else. We all like different things. I like wide quality well fitting saddles and have had lots of enjoyment in them. I have also recommended them to friends that do well in ridden showing and now ride in the same saddle as me, also lots of endurance people ride in the same make of saddle. If I was not balanced I would slide of the side of my horse as she is round, flat withered and short backed. It also has been known for me to ride with a gap between the girth and the horse, ( I dint realize, not recommended) A saddle, what ever type should put you in a good position and make you feel like a good rider if it dose not, its not the saddle for you. |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 7:19:48 PM
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Glo, we are all entitled to our opinions here, and getting things across is how we learn new things :)
I am interested though (as I stated in my first post on this topic), can you clarify exactly what you mean about the wider saddle as I must admit to being a little muddled. When you get a horse fitted for a saddle do you get the correct fit or do you go slightly larger? I noticed you mentioned about having a wider saddle lets the horse gets wider (or was that someone else, apologies if it was). Surely if that was the case you would have an endless stream of buying wider and wider saddles, very expensive. Although cost (sensibly) is nothing with a horse's back in mind. I would never ride my horse or anyone else's if I thought the tack was ill-fitting.
And do you mean you rode with a very loose girth, lol, done that enough times, but usually realised about 10 mins out the yard gate when things got interesting!! |
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 8:27:59 PM
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| Ty Glo, PM sent back :) |
Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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arabella
Bronze Member
England
122 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2012 : 12:13:01 AM
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| Has anybody got an Ideal saddle 16" wide fit, the older type. restuffing not a problem. thats just lying around doing nothing. I would be happy to buy it from you. |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2012 : 12:14:08 PM
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| My arab mare is in a med/wide saddle we use the wintec and Bates saddles in both gp and dr, when i tried the wide gullet my mare let me know in no uncertain terms that she was not at all happy , popped her back into med/wide all was fine. We cannot assume they are all the same width and size, so best advice is get a qualified saddler and trust your horse to let you know if he/she is happy. I have to say i also find the Ideal saddle quite a good fit for some arabs although i understand not all. |
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Silver
Silver Member
279 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2012 : 2:51:07 PM
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| I have used a well respected Master Saddler in the past and never again would i use him ,he would sell you anything if he could get away with it.I now use a saddle fitter shes brilliant,she fits to the condition of your horses back.You cant put a well fitted saddle on a poor back you must give the horses back room to develop she uses shims to do this. |
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azamour
New Member
12 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jan 2012 : 2:54:00 PM
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Hello all....I'm new to this forum but been lurking for a while....I just wanted to say - having my first purebred arab I know the pain of finding a saddle to fit....having had 6 saddles over the past 16months- including 2 Ideals, a K+M, a Fieldhouse, a Champion 'fitted' by a saddle fitter and I even tried my highlands old WH saddle ( which out of all of them has fit the best) I've taken the plunge and I'm having one made for him
Roll on spring....I can't wait to get properly started hacking and schooling him...last year I had the job of turning him from a show arab into an all-round riding arab- from a nervous wreck into a happy chappy and I'm pleased to say we're getting there |
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rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 1:25:23 PM
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Trying saddle no 10 on him tomorrow!!!!! A Jeffries 17" med/wide?
Only prob is I wanted havana and there is only black left.
Hey ho I can't be fussy if it fits? |
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 1:58:06 PM
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| I would just like to say that I totally agree with Silver, Horse need room to move and recover, Tizzy the old mare I have been given is in poor condition, I have her in a 2x wide saddle, with a saddle cloth and a pro-lite pad under. The saddle fits fine. As she puts on mussel and top line I will remove the pro-lite. Depending on her condition and muscle development I may have to put her in an even wider saddle. If I rode her in the saddle I now have her in with out the thick saddle cloth and the pro-light pad the saddle would not fit her. I have given her room for top-line and mussel to develop. |
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Sahir
Gold Member
England
847 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 3:07:15 PM
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MUSCLE Glo MUSCLE You're spelling shellfish  |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 6:04:51 PM
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Hi Sahir, I did wonder what that thing was hanging on her back!!. As you know spelling has never been my strong point, I now have to ask the kids how to spell things.  Cant do a thing about it but laugh. |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 6:38:15 PM
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There is a spell checker right above these words as I type them!!!
Dennis is in a 2xwide saddle made for him by Kay Humphries. I have attended lectures and demo's by saddlers and they have all consistently said that arabs are hard to fit. I have never come across one myself that wasn't in at the very least a medium wide.
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Hampshire |
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Topic |
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Saddles for wide arabs??
