Saddle for short backed cob

[liveforsummer]

Any insights. Tried so many - saddle fitter simply recommended a Kent and masters pony saddle but I feel like she perhaps has an affiliation with k&m and feel there must be other suitable saddles available. A 16.5 k&m in the long leg is like gold dust second hand at a reasonable price. Any thoughts on the monarch cob saddle? It looks a good shape from pictures and cheaper 2nd hand despite a similar new price to the k&m. Also there is a very well priced collegiate saddle for sale locally but I know nothing a lot these saddles and have no idea of the fit type and whether it's suitable for this type of pony. He's not totally flat backed like some cobs. Suspect he's Welsh cross and had a bit of wither but he's so short so the thorowgood or k&m cob is no good as only starts at 17in. Currently using a tiny old thorowgood pony club saddle with a sheepskin half pad as the flocking is so hard that it is quite solid. Saddle fitter cleared this for the light work he is in with lightweight dc on him. He's just rising 4 so obviously not doing loads but conscious he will change shape therefore adjustable would be best. Saddle needs to fit 10 year old dd, tall 13 yo dd and myself at 5'8 😬. We've had him since December and I've not sat on him yet as no way I'd be fitting on the current saddle and wouldn't be fair to the pony either. Keen to get him a good long term one now but don't have the biggest budget. Any other suggestions welcome 🤗. We have some wintecs at the yard which don't fit well so rules that shape out

We had a very short backed native- he was 15hh and we did have the K and M long leg for a bit. In the end my saddle fitter said dd was just too tall.

Short backs are a total pain IMO.

Tbh it's more important it fits dc than me as he's their pony, I'll just be doing a bit of the schooling if needed and occasional hack. I'm used to riding in race saddles so tend to ride short anyway. Was the k&m comfy? They look a bit flat to me and like you'd be perched on top. He's still quite bum high which will add to that too, which could obviously even put but I know these types can remain a bit croup high. He's around the 14hh mark but potentially could end up 14.2. He's just sooo short. Dd says there is no neck either 😆 so perched wouldn't be great

Also what saddle did you remove the k&m with when dd grew out of it?

Bought a K&M for DS's native and it's gorgeous. He's not particularly short backed but DS says it's a very comfy saddle.

We had an old Farringdon gp. It wasn't bad actually but in the end we sold the pony as she really didn't fit him!

I personally don't love adjustable saddles I never think they fit brilliantly.

I do agree but feel with this young guy it's going to be needed to save buying a different saddle every 6 months 🙈. I'm used to thoroughbreds where one gp saddle fits several on the yard and is often used for life 😆- this pony cob issue is a new one for me lol

Saddle Company saddles are brilliant, come with their own fitters and you can get a decent secondhand one once you know the size you need.

Oh interesting I have seen saddle company saddles and they do look good and a decent price 2nd hand. Wonder if there is a fitter in my area..

First of all, I would do a bit of research and look at reviews of any saddle or brand you are thinking of trying. What suits some doesn't suit another, and there will always be conflicting advice given on this subject.

Another one for you to look at would be Symonds saddles. Whilst they are not eye wateringly expensive new, they are available second-hand. A lot of companies, such as Sheepham Saddles and The Saddle Bank offer a trial period on all of their saddles in stock (and there are quite a few brands).

There are saddles made on a shorter panel for short backed equines. Likewise, Velcro knee rolls and blocks offer adjustability for different riders to position them where they are needed in order to ride effectively.

Adjustable saddles suit some horses, but it is only the head plate that is adjustable - it does not take into account the rest of the saddle fit.

Finding a good saddle fitter is another minefield. There are SMS qualified fitters who have the 'official certificate' and those who have been fitting for many years and have the experience, but no 'official' qualification. Likewise, some saddle companies offer training courses to fit saddles - usually consisting or one or two days before they are deemed qualified.

Buying a saddle is not cheap, so please do your research beforehand.

My daughter’s horse is quite short-backed and tricky to find a saddle that fits both of them as she has very long legs. As a temp fix a couple of years ago we had an AH jump saddle - they’ve been developed for chunky native breeds but work well for short backs too.

@chickenfeathers I've done plenty research but he's not the rind native shape that you normally find referred to so it's only so helpful. Our saddle fitter has an amazing reputation and everyone at our yard raves about her but I wasn't so convinced tbh. There isn't a huge amount in my area and even fewer carry suitable saddles to try. The saddle bank charge you full price for the saddles then you have to return before they refund and they are generally more expensive than buying second hand elsewhere. I also know people who have had money docked for meals made in transit etc. I know only the gullet is adjustable but changes can also be made to the rest of the saddle by flocking etc. Posting here is part of the research as you get more personal replies than just reading a review.

There is a Midlands saddle fitter called simply cobs and I ordered a treeless from them. Obviously how helpful that is depends on where you are located but might be worth calling them? I also use numed double non slip pad...

Regarding adjustable saddles, flocking (whilst extremely important) cannot resolve fit issues completely if the tree shape itself becomes unsuitable for the horse, should it change shape drastically.

You are indeed doing the right thing asking for opinions on here, but reading the wider reviews of something can be extremely helpful, and can save a lot of headaches further down the line.

I really do hope you find something suitable for both you and your horse very soon.

No I do know that, and it's what I've been doing. Saw a nice saddle today - looked in to it and decided definitely not. I actually imagine the Kent and masters pony saddle will be a good fit as the current pony thorowgood I'm using is basically the same saddle but with the non adjustable tree and is decent, if it was adjustable and could be flocked we could probably get it perfect but I was just a bit cautious that I think the saddle fitter is affiliated with them. Lots of good reviews although also lots for sale saying they no longer fit pony so definitely not always adjustable for when they change shape and the 16.5 long leg it's a bit like gold dust too

Am in Scotland- not ready to give up and go down the treeless route yet. Ever hopeful we will find a suitable treed saddle 😅

We had the issue of long legged lightweight teen on a cob.

i was not at all impressed with local saddle fitters but my son’s DR instructor recommended someone from Ipswich (we were SW Herts) and she was brilliant (sadly she retired about 6m later!).

First saddler we’d used that looked at the fit for both pony AND rider. Previous saddler had fitted the pony fine but son had nowhere to put his legs- either his knees were over the flap or, in the DR saddle, pushed way back to get his knees behind the block and therefore couldn’t get his heel underneath him- the opposite to a chair seat.

Our cob isn’t as short backed as yours Tbf, but teen son was 5’9 (and about 8.5 stone) at fitting and continued to grow in the leg… Cob could take a normal 17’ saddle. He has withers and isn’t flat backed but is INCREDIBLY wide (which was good for us as took up the leg).

She fitted him in a 17.5’ (came up a smidge smaller) ideal vsd event. There was enough room for son’s legs in that, and as it came up a touch smaller, it was ok for length on the pony.

It sounds like your cob is shorter backed, but the riders shorter too, so maybe a 16.5’/17’ in the same saddle might work for you?

@CocoonofDavid I'd wondered about an event or jump saddle and more room for the knees lol. Will look at these as I know ideal saddles tend to suit these types. He's not actually the proper flat table back of many cobs so those specific saddles designed also fit shirt backs won't necessarily work either. Will look in to this and f friend has a different saddle fitter coming out this week so will see what she thinks of this one. He's changing so quickly that I feel we will end up with a very close relationship with saddler so really do need to find a good one 😆. This is him with a 17 inch saddle vs the teeny pony saddle (which is obviously ok for my youngest but no one else) so I do think 16.5 is needed. The 17 is just that touch too long to be completely ideal

Oh yes, he is very petite isn’t he! Very sweet looking pony tho!

The Ideal Event VSD is sort of a straighter cut GP type shape. It just seemed to have more room for his freakishly long legs! My son was mainly doing dressage and hacking with the odd bit of jumping at PC, but it wasn’t really his thing so didn’t ever really go above 90cm so saddle was never an issue.

Sadly son is now 6’5 so doesn’t ride any more, but I ride in it at 5’5 and it is fine for me… I’d prefer if the stirrup bars were a touch further back as I’m quite narrow in the hip but the saddle fits pony really well so I can’t justify the cost of a new one really…

I’ll see if I can PM you a pic later so you can see. Our pony definitely had more room for a saddle but a taller rider, so maybe a smaller size for your shorter backed pony with a shorter rider would work.

Yes dd1 is only about 5'2 atm and seems to have slows down on the growth spurt. I'm 5'8 but would only be riding occasionally anyway so less important. He's very sweet and likely got a lot of filling out to do. I bought him unseen and he came with a generic 1st of Jan birthday on passport making him 6 now, which he definitely is not. 2 vets have now aged him between 3.5 and 4 and physio also agreed with that. Could have sent him back under the contract I had but we all adore him. Just need to take it rather slower than we first thought 😆. A picture wound be helpful if you can manage thanks @CocoonofDavid

Have you considered a treeless saddle? Barefoot are excellent - very lightweight and comfortable.

Have become increasingly interested in these saddles as I search. Especially as they do a 17 inch seat on a 16.5 tree seemingly perfect for native/cob shapes. Frustratingly there are no fitters in my area despite being in the most populated part of the country

In my opinion you cannot go wrong with them so I would get a 17" secondhand and get your own saddle fitter to check, and if it really isn't any good you will be able to sell it on really easily.

All our short backed native types from 14 hh to 16 hh have these saddles as they are also suitable for adults and children ( as long as no one is overly overweight/ big bummed! ).

People I know buy 17 " Saddle Company saddles whenever they find a good second hand one knowing they fit a wide range of horses and ponies and then adjust them to fit.

They are both very good quality and comfortable for both horse and rider. All our youngsters start out on these saddles and then we have them adjusted as they grow and mature. Never had a single white hair telltale sign of a poorly fitting saddle.

I have a Farringtons working hunter on my short backed no wither Welsh cross, and ride another little native type who has the same saddle! (albeit smaller size as she's a hand shorter). Welshie has been in the same saddle for about 16 years with no issues.