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FullCircle
Gold Member
Scotland
554 Posts |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 08:47:21 AM
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I have already said it wouldn't be for shows or for correct schooling..
I am tiny, I can happily ride in children's show seat saddles, with no problems, and no, I'm not rigid in my seat. I don't know why you all think I must be too big for a child's saddle???? That annoys me, none of you know how big I am or how I ride. I am a lot smaller than a lot of 14 year olds. By a mile.
I'm 5'1, weigh 7 and a half stone, and have midget bones. I haven't grown in height since I was 14 years old myself. And having lost the weight I had at that age, I would say I weigh a lot less than half the kids at middle schools.
I wouldn't use the stirrups, I spoke to a lady from the company yesterday and she said the same with the pressure points.
Put it this way.
I want to ride my pony.
She is green still, but not in a nasty spooky way, she just takes some getting used to. She's a doll.
Obviously I need a saddle.
I do not want a treeless, I find them incredibly uncomfortable.
I am so close to tears, because I have used other saddle fitters, I have had second opinions.
And the 5 of them have all said the same thing. One of them was from North Wales, so if that isn't broadening my search, I don't know what is.
My saddle fitter has a good reputation in East Anglia. I'm not using her because she has been good to us over the years, I am using her because she knows what she is talking about.
If, this afternoon, I manage to find a saddle, I will post a photo of it. The likelihood of that happening is low... Tomorrow, we are off the Bates, and then Barnsby on Sunday. And then I will be very poor, but hopefully happy.
Thanks Pop, I need all the luck I can get!!
Thank you for the support, Anna x |
 
Splash&Freya. |
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 09:14:29 AM
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Good luck, hope you find something you can ride in soon. Having been there with the no saddle, can't ride I completely sympathise, it's very frustrating. At least the saddlers are being honest instead of selling you something that won't suit.
You say you don't want a treeless because you find them uncomfortable, may I ask which treeless you've tried, there is a lot of variation out there. We tried a couple that we really didn't like, but the one we use isn't a million miles away from a bareback pad with stirrups and knee rolls so could possibly suit you if you're comfortable riding bareback. |
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kath
Gold Member
United Kingdom
943 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 09:39:07 AM
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Good luck, i have everything crossed for you!
Saddles are a nightmare and what works for one, will not work for another - that is why there are so many different (and probably just as valid) points of view out there.
Personally i'd never touch a treeless saddle as have heard bad things about them and my mother's horse had its back damaged by one - yes i know there are lots of different ones out there but personally, they are not for me. Doesnt mean they're not for everyone! I am about to start using a WOW for Gus for dressage - again, not everyone's cup of tea but he loves it and that is the only thing that matters.
Our Arabs are also a myriad of different sizes - short backed, wide, not so wide, huge wither, no wither, unbalanced shoulders - again a lot of different horses that will suit a lot of different saddles.
I know you feel that people are telling you what to do AnnaMaisy but each person is trying to help as a result of their own experiences. Thats how we all learn. I suggest you listen to everyone, but that doesnt mean you have to do what everyone suggests ;) Take a little bit from each person. You sound like you're trying to do everything you possibly can for your girl  |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 09:46:47 AM
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Unless you are an adult who can fit in a very Small saddle, it's probably difficult to imagine.
Some female adults will fit ladies clothes in small sizes; and sometimes a much better fit would be childrens clothes. Its easy to think that small ladies clothes are the same fit as older children; they aren't.
If you are one of these 'children' sized adults, and need a 16"-17" saddle for your horse, it brings challenges to find the right shape seat for the comfort and security of the rider.
I wish my horses could have much smaller saddles, or I could have 'butt implants'. 
Just sayin .......
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cmj
Silver Member
France
383 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 10:14:27 AM
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Poor you, you sound very stressed by it all. I gave up trying to get an "English" saddle to fit and went western. Still not easy but definitely not impossible. You are lucky to be petite, there has to be an answer for you somewhere, keep positive!
I can recommend a Len Brown pad for under whichever type of saddle you use, to protect horse's back, they come in English size too. From USA, bit expensive but they really are wonderful in mitigating problems of saddles that don't quite fit perfectly. I can't really describe how they work but it is something like the horse having another shoulder blade between its own and the saddle.
I would strongly recommend a breastplate if you go for anything unconventional and likely to slip, just for safety. GOOD LUCK and best wishes |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 10:20:31 AM
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Annamaisy fingers and toes crossed for you, don,t get disheartened, theres one there for you somewhere i am sure.
Fullcircle i fit in a pony size saddle and it was fitted by a master saddler, it all depends on your shape and size and of course the style of the saddle |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 10:43:58 AM
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Thank you so much.
CMJ - I'll keep the Len Brown pad in mind, sounds like it is worth the money, especially if it helps with shoulders.
She wears a martingale, partly because she likes to look like a giraffe, and also, I wanted her to get used to things around her chest before I put her in a breastplate.
Etoile, I tried the Vogue GPS saddle by Heather Moffett. And at the riding school I was at before we bought Splash, one of the liveries had a treeless [no traditional leather saddle was wide enough for her... FAT didn't cover this pony. It was like a hippo.] I used to ride her out for the owner in the treeless, and all I remember from those rides, was thinking I felt like I was perching 10 foot above the horse.
Sab2, thank you! I knew there must be someone else out there who can ride in a small saddle!!
I'm just starting to panic. I've already rung the pony club to say I won't be attending pony camp in August. I just don't have the time to get her ready... It's in a month, and I had only just started hacking her on the roads before the back and saddle thing cropped up, so I'm being realistic and cutting my losses now... Rather lose the £50 deposit, than get there and pay the next £150 and then damage myself or Freya in a situation she isn't ready for yet.
Sucks, but never mind. I'll camp in my field and pretend I'm there with the girls lol
Keep them crossed for me  xxx |
Splash&Freya. |
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 11:01:10 AM
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'all I remember from those rides, was thinking I felt like I was perching 10 foot above the horse'
This is exactly why we didn't like the first two treeless saddles we tried, it was very much where has the horse gone because is just felt like sitting on a massive pile of blankets. The one we use is completely different, and actually gives you much more of a feel than treed saddles do, which is invaluable when riding senj as you feel when he's even thinking about bucking and can usually head it off at the pass before it goes anywhere. |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 11:19:29 AM
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Etoile... What make is yours? Lol, I'm pleased I'm not the only one who had these thoughts!
I want to do dressage, showing and pony club actiivites with Freya... As well as some jumping as she has such a lovely ground covering canter... Can I compete in a treeless?? xx |
Splash&Freya. |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 11:21:06 AM
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| Annamaisy25 I have sent you a pm I know a saddler that will help you, I have also used the person you mention and wanted to tell you about the experience I had x |
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 1:55:10 PM
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| Found myself going on a bit, so have PM'd you AnnaMaisy25 |
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 7:03:33 PM
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Good luck with the latest saddle fitter. I think in your situation with a horse who you obviously love very much and is a "keeper" I would go down the made to measure route. If she is that difficult to fit it would be worth it and will probably save money (or broken bones) in the long run.
Thinking of you. I had 6 different saddles on my shortbacked PBA before we found one that was right. they all looked right with a saddler fitting them but she was leaping and spooking and it turned out they were pinching when she was on a circle! Its a nightmare.
I have an adjustable tree for my baby so that I can try to stick to one saddle as she changes shape. We will see how that goes!?!
Good luck and don't give up. I definitely would persevere rather than "settling" for treeless or western or pads if you want to show or dressage. |
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FullCircle
Gold Member
Scotland
554 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2013 : 7:27:15 PM
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I can understand your frustration, but I'm not sure why you're getting annoyed? Okay, you're tiny - but you have to admit not many adults will fit a tiny saddle so it's hard (as Pop says) to imagine unless you ARE that tiny. Forgive me for offending - wasn't intended. I did sort of think you were looking for a saddle to compete in - and were asking about the sheepskin thingmabob. I was offering some insight, which is what I thought you were after.
Anyway, can only recommend the reactor panel saddles - lovely leather and made up to suit you and your horse, no matter what the shape or spec. Some folk will hate them. Some love them. I love mine - so does my horse which was an akward fit.
Best of luck to you. |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 08:12:18 AM
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| After reading through all this I had no advice but just hope everything went well. |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 08:34:39 AM
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Morning.
Uhh!!
Saddle fitter [Ali] came, brought some 16 inch saddle with her, nothing else, then proceeded to tell me that my Working Hunter fits her, but is too long for her back.
Then she told me that I will likely never find a GP to fit Freya, because of her shape. And then that none of the saddle she had with her were suitable because they were too big.
Then charged me £32.50 for 'fitting' and call out.
I cannot describe how **ssed off I am with her.
So on Saturday, me and mum went over to Milton Keynes [10 mins away from us basically] and went to Horsatak. I took my WH [15 inches] and the show saddle [13.5 inches] with me, to measure up on, and a template of her back etc.
I had a ride on STU [the mechanical horse] and tried the Bates Pony Close Contact and the Wintect 500 Pony. They both have the interchangeable gullet and CAIR system.
So I'm umming and ahhing over what to do. I like the Bates one... It's leather, has knee rolls, comes in 14", 15" and 16", and the medium wide fit would be suitable for her back measurements. Lucky us, their saddle fitter was doing some teaching to staff, so was able to look over her templates and find the right fit for us.
So at least we know she is a medium wide, and not a narrow/ medium narrow as Ali had said.
So my plan is to cancel my next fitting with Ali, because she is just fobbing us off.
Get selling with the saddles I have, and join the crew who is having another saddle fitter out. All I know about this guy, is that he charges a lot of money and deals with Albion, Kent and Masters, Jeffries and Bates.
So maybe, once I have explained my little problem to him, he'll be able to bring some saddles with him!
And then I can rejoice.
On a second note. I had a fab day yesterday
Took Mrs. Splash out for a long ride in the morning, and ended up being out around the countryside for 4 hours. I am sporting some fabulous tan lines, which are in silly places, but never mind... We got to one of the little villages a few miles from home, and there was an ice cream van parked on the road, so obviously Splash said we weren't going any where near it while it played the music.
The lovely Italian Lady [She has been about in Bedford ever since I can remember] turned the music and engine off when she saw me dancing in the middle of the road, and came out with a '99'er for me!! So I got off and had it and then she got a cone for Splash with a little bit of ice cream in it. She loved it!!
Then she took a photo of Splash with her head in the window, and off we went.
All in all we did 13.6 miles, just ambling around.
Got back to the yard, mum came down to meet me, and I jumped on Freya and had a 5 minute ride up to the yard and back down to the field. Good as Gold, didn't put a hoof wrong.
So yesterday was by far an improvement on the last 3 weeks put together!
Hope you all had enjoyable weekends!!
Anna xx |
Splash&Freya. |
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cmj
Silver Member
France
383 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 09:17:44 AM
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I think I would have told her I wasn't prepared to pay her as she hadn't given me the service requested! How can she NOT have brought a wide range to try to fit? and to measure wrongly! Unbelievable. I used to live half an hour from MK so have some experience of a couple of people purporting to be saddle fitters. I know the Horsatack horse, great for trying out saddles, way better schooled than any of mine ever were!
I wonder if you would be able to find either of the saddles you like second hand on that well known auction site. You'd have to see it before paying though, to check the tree. If you could get one really cheap, you could at least sell it on if it wasn't perfect. I think to pay over £1,000 for a fitted saddle, which lots of people do, and THEN find it is no good must be totally devastating. I picked up my Len Brown english style pad for £20 on that site but I did search week after week.........after week!
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 10:54:33 AM
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| Well your getting closer then which is great news, don,t know about the Kent and Masters but i love my Bates pony saddle,, mine is the gp ,i also had the show pony model, prefer the gp model, my saddler said as they are made for children they seem to be a closer contact feel so the kiddies can feel secure and of course us adults who fit into them, still keeping my fingers crossed for you but i am sure it will not be long now you have changed to what sounds like a far better saddler. |
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martha615
Gold Member
England
1053 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 11:33:23 AM
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I have a parelli bareback pad (no stirrups) and the thing is SO THICK that i cannot imagine it hurting any horse, plus it is suede so that you stick a little. However, I am not crazy about the girthing as it is a western style cinch girth and has a big brass area for that, which I cannot imagine is wonderful for the horse. My cobs never minded it, but my arab would.
I also ride treeless, as well as treed, and you can get treeless saddle that do not have the pressure problem at the stirrup bar area. For example, the Sensation saddle.
If you are small enough to fit in a 14" saddle, I cannot imagine your seat bones would hurt any horse, by the way. I mean, seriously...you must weigh very little indeed! |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 2:08:28 PM
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I thought the thickness was the whole point... Ease up on pressure, So Martha, yes... That's what I thought. Freya has quite sensitive skin, so I'm thinking that big buckle you mentioned would likely upset her something awful! 
Oh... Who knows. I'm selling my dressage saddle because it's too narrow for the Cob. That will go towards what ever saddle I buy Freya, because I'm starting to think it's going to cost a bit!!
Anna xx |
Splash&Freya. |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 2:29:53 PM
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My very short coupled pony (14.1hh) has a 16" Bates VSD, took ages to find a saddle that would fit, saddler was convinced I would not fit in a 16" saddle since I am 5'7" with long thighs, but in fact I slid around in the 17" Bates (which was too big for him anyway), because I don't have much in the way of a backside. The saddle flaps are a little short for me, but I don't care because the saddle fits him. We have widened the gullet as he grew, he was 5 when I bought it and he is now 10, still in the saddle which is very comfortable, and we have enduranced, dressaged, shown and jumped in it - if it fits your girl then I would recommend it. Get the leather Bates if you have the option (but then I hate riding in synthetic saddles ).
Another saddler was convinced it was too long for him and announced he would have a sore back, then tried very hard to prove he had a sore back, and couldn't...Our back lady has never found any saddle caused problems either. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 2:38:57 PM
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Callisto.
I am such a leather snob! Pleased I'm not the only one here!
Bates VSD, pretty sure that's the one I rode STU in on Saturday I really liked it, I tried the 15", which is as big as Freya can take at the moment, so It will have to be the Bates Pony GP, rather than the VSD unfortunately, but I think they are pretty similar.
Thank you for that bit of advice! I can work with that
Anna xx |
Splash&Freya. |
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zaminda1
Bronze Member
177 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 3:07:20 PM
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| I have ended up riding my mare in her half tree race exercise saddle, as she is a pest to fit a saddle to. I also use a 15" thorowgood pc saddle. She is tiny too, but thankfully so am I! Like the sound of the bates, though, although I have always wanted a WOW, although they don't seem to go very small. |
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2013 : 3:15:08 PM
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They start at 15" Medium don't they?
I looked at the WOW range, but Bates tempted me too much. Plus they're more readily available than WOW xx |
Splash&Freya. |
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Any experience with these fluffy things?
