Mumsnet Talk

Hello everyone in the tack room, I'm new. I don't have children but i have a husband, a pony and sheep. I heard about mumsnet through my sister who does have children and bangs on about this site all the time...anyway, i enjoy reading some of the tack room stories and wonder if anyone has a native, and what saddle you use?
I've got one and have gone from a WH to a barefoot treeless and i'm struggling with fit and practicality. Hope to get a fitter out in the summer, but keen to do some research until then, so wondering if there is a saddle which combines what i like most about the two, ie close contact, no knee rolls, with a gp girth. A bit random there, but hopefully some people might find saddle talk interesting?!
Cheers!

Dpony is a Welsh B, we've got a showing saddle (no knee rolls) and WHP saddle that were made to measure by Silhouette. A lot of people seem to swear by Fylde but beyond that I know nothing. Sorry not to be very helpful!

Thank you for that marialuisa, i shall have a look at those brands you mention, any reply with some is helpful, so no worries!

Welcome.I think ours is a gp,can't remember what make-will have to check.Dpony is a Welsh X and a stocky type.

Set yourself a budget and trawl eBay. Buy a likely looking fit, and try it. If it doesn't fit, put it back on eBay and buy another! Trawl equestrian sales and classifieds and just keep going! Our natives have worn all sorts! Barefoot Cheyenne, cashel, normal saddle, felt pad, dd is currently riding on a biggish cub, on top of the panel of a broken and dismantled saddle! Just keep trying until you find what you like!

Just a word of what is not good... found a very cheap saddle from Kincade that was described as "ideal for wide backed ponies and would mould (is that the right spelling ) to their shape" - got it for Dpony (a very wide shetland cross - 12hh) who's in light work and i've never seen anything fit so badly, wouldn't dare put a rider on board to even try it out, it bridges so badly that only about 2cm of the panel is in contact with the pony. It is also a bad fit on my other 3 narrower ponies (11hh to 14hh) - currently the only solution is a cub saddle.

DD's short-backed 11hh Sheltie-Section A cross has got a treeless Journeyman saddle which I am very pleased with.

Thanks for your help ladies, i had thought Kincade looked rubbish, i think sometimes saddles can be cheap for a reason. I shall have another look through ebay too. Has anyone had any experience with the Native Pony Saddle Co? I like the look of their Fen show saddle....

My Fell-cross mare has an extra wide GFS Fieldhouse saddle which is an excellent fit. It does have knee rolls as I like them and it's VSD cut as that seems to leave her shoulders free. It's a very comfortable saddle for both of us and it's fine for the small logs etc that I pop occaisionally (happy hacker, no derring-do for me)

I had the same problem with my daughters Exmoor, and the best saddle fit we have had is from a saddle fitter called Lavinia Mitchell who is amazing and will definitely be able to help with your bespoke requests.

Try Black country saddles or the Native pony saddle company. Both supply amazing saddles and are great for natives and the wider horse/pony.
Both have fitters around the country and will be able to advise and find a good fit

my section b has the added problem of me wanting to ride him, so not only need a saddle to fit him, but my behind also. (not that it is massive! - honest

he has a bates gp leather one with a changeable gullet. He is a wide fit. it does have knee rolls, but they are not big.

Hi we have all manor of natives in fyldes and ideals. Peter wilkinson at fylde knows his stuff and will fit the saddle to the pony. We have a Samantha for the dartmoor and an Emma for a Connie. They are very comfy and are designed with natives in mind - he will also alter as shape changes and they hold their price well so are easy to move on.

We have Fylde Samanthas on the Sec B and SHP and a Hayden on Sec A. We also had a Fylde on the Dartmoor before we sold him. We've just used a VSD saddle on the Connemara but have considered getting one from the Native Pony Saddle Company - just not got round to getting them to visit.

I have an adjustable hastilow for my wide natives.

Beautiful saddles.

Hello LittlePo

I don't know if this is any help but there's an article in the March 2012 issue of 'HORSE' about buying saddles (pages 76 to 79) which mentions Kent & Masters who make design ranges of saddles for certain types, such as cobs or horses with high withers. Someone who works with natives mentions 'Ideal' working hunter saddles -with a bit of knee roll and original Calcutts tree.
Some high-tech solutions are mentioned too.

Hi I bet Im too late in this reply but I have a haflinger (notoriously wide backed) and I have a Saddle Company saddle on him - its excellent - the good thing is the tree is guaranteed for 10 yrs and can be adjusted as many times as you want by a saddle co fitter mine comes to yard and does it on site so no sending away and being without a saddle - i stated on a Go but now have a vsd as I like the contact feel and his shoulders are free - we do schooling are learning dressage and happy hacking. The saddle is really comfy and absolutely gorgeous!!