New horse no tack

[Newhorse]

I’m buying my first horse but he is being sold with absolutely no tack.
There are no saddle fitting appointments for nearly 3 weeks.

The horse I’m buying is a significantly different size to the others on the small yard so I can’t borrow any.

Do any of you experienced horse owners out there have any ideas? Or websites?

I really don’t want to leave him I ridden for a month.

I wouldn’t worry as it takes awhile for them to settle when they move and change owners. You could always take him walkies, it’s a nice way for him to get to know his new surroundings and bond with you.

Have you asked the seller whether you can buy the tack off them?

There are such things as treeless or adjustable saddles that claim not to need qualified fitting but good ones are quite expensive and personally I wouldn't want to risk pinching him in something that doesn't quite fit right.

Personally I'd go down the route of lots of ground and in-hand work while you're waiting for a proper saddle, will probably do him good and help build the fabled 'bond'. If he's very quiet and you're feeling brave after a few weeks you could buy or borrow a bareback pad (or just sit on a saddle pad but that's not much protection for your nethers 😬) and pop up for a potter around bareback (or enlist a braver rider to do so, the teens on my yard are obsessed with bareback so they'd leap at the chance) - do not do this if you're at all uncertain or likely to get unbalanced though!

It’s very normal, especially when buying of dealers and producers.
I wouldn’t wing it with a just about OK saddle unless you want to risk getting buried by an uncomfortable horse.

Id do lots of ground work, lunging etc etc and wait for the saddle fitter.

Don't make do with saddles, that's how you damage backs!
Lots you can do to help new horse settle in to new home: groundwork, in hand polework, taking out for hacks in hand.
It takes horses months to settle in, waiting a few weeks for a proper fitted saddle is nothing.

It's normal. Ideally I'd be straight on a new horse, however leaving them for a couple of weeks won't make any difference - might be a tad on their toes but just crack on when you have one. I wouldn't be taking it for walks etc - try this with a huge amount of the horses I've experienced in a long career and you may well end up flattened by a big fit hunter! On a road I'm on board, where you have more control.

Oh lunging is useful, I'd agree - done right. Lots of transitions within the pace as well as between the paces, polework/jumping etc. But don't overdo it as you can add a good amount of fitness to a horse by lunging for a couple of weeks and you may end up with a stale, fitter animal!

Lots of experience here too and I never mentioned walking out on roads. Incidentally my TB is much happier with me next to his head if he is scared rather than me on board.

I don't think I said you did @twistyizzy!? I was just giving my opinion after 20 years of working with all sorts! I'm glad your horse is fine with you walking with him, just some aren't.

I would never compromise on saddle fit - if that's how long you have to wait for a qualified saddle fitter then so be it. Lots you can do with a new horse - groundwork, long-lining etc. Better to wait until you know you have a correctly fitting saddle than take a punt and end up with a horse with a sore back.

I would give him a week or two's holiday and then (unless you are confident riding bareback) stick to ground work, pole work in hand, hacking out in hand (if horse is OK to lead and you have quiet lanes / bridleways) and (if you know how to long rein) long reining while waiting for the saddle. I'd not want to do anything to get him too fit at this stage or ask for anything difficult, just get into a routine with 'work' that he finds easy / enjoyable.

The only time I bought a saddle with a horse it was a terrible fit, a free saddle which came with a pony had a twisted tree. A month's downtime in the wider scheme of things isn't a huge deal usually and can't really think how it could be avoided in the circumstances. Have you considered a bridle fitter? I would ask them what size the horse is currently in and if the bit is a good fit I would be asking to buy that or what it is so I can buy it or buying both from a bridle and bitting fitter if I am not experienced I'm fitting from scratch/ have a very competent instructor who can advise (not the Yard know it all there is always one and tendancy to over rate their experience is strong. My current 3 just came in old headcollars for loading purposes. 2 have had very successful bridle and bit fits and saddle fits. One had a massive wait for delivery of the saddle, I missed a concert for the bridle fitter last time as it was the only time they would do. The third had a specialist youngstock bit purchased online and it has worked out well, bit of a risk as not cheap but needed for in hand work and too green for a fitting. That took a lot of thought even though I have had horses for decades and have worked with them a little in the past/ got BHS exams. Fitting new tack is quite a hard task which needs a lot of experience and most of us only do it a handful of times. It does take time to get it right but is essential for a happy ridden partnership. I would prioritise that over a few weeks of riding myself and often have, in the long run it isn't long.

Personally I think that you should get on and ride straight away when you get a new horse home - I wouldn’t want to be waiting a month before getting on. But then I don’t use saddle fitters as I don’t actually rate any of the ones in my area, I have also been around horses for 30odd years and know how to fit a saddle.

Can you buy the horses current saddle?

Thank you everyone, great advice!

I wouldn't ride a new horse for at least the first 2 weeks anyway. They need time to settle. This is often the reason things go wrong early on and people believe they have been missold as the horse acts different to when they tried it. . Give him a good few days just to be a horse then take for some in hand walks, do some in hand pole work, long rein and lunge. Get to know him first. 3 weeks is no time to go without riding and imo advisable to wait . It was a month before we sat on our latest pony. In the mean time do some research in to what sort of saddles may suit your horse

I ended up borrowing one from a friend with a similar width (same gullet width )saddle bar and build, only walked / short trot about to check they were what they said as I had a trial period. we then had to wait 2 months for a saddle (dont ask!) but we did in hand walks and let her settle i think the break honestly did her good. But perhaps your saddle fitter has one you can borrow in the meantime if you need to order a different one mine did this eventually as the wait was so long! 3 weeks is a nice settling time

https://www.hopevalleysaddlery.co.uk/horsewear/saddles/velociti-gara-pony-pad--havana__36455?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=3551HAVANAONESIZE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw65-zBhBkEiwAjrqRMLSIxbKn7blmnXEdVYoRHUQbZq9hOuT0s7ejMlxXig148XKxrzWt0xoChigQAvD_BwE could try something like this also, but only if you feel 100% safe in your ability as its an adjustment to balance with no knee rolls