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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Saddle help

14 replies

Smithlets80 · 28/09/2024 18:46

Hi, I'm in desperate need of some help. We bought a pony and he came with a saddle which doesn't fit and is causing him to be a little devil when being ridden. He is a mini cob, 11.1hh and as round as he is tall. Does anyone have any saddle recommendations? I'm considering a saddle pad type but really unsure of the best way to go.

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 28/09/2024 19:01

Get a master saddle fitter out. Noone can advise over the Internet

OnarealhorseIride · 28/09/2024 19:35

He will be in pain. Get a good saddle fitter asap and don’t ride until he has a properly fitting saddle

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 28/09/2024 20:06

Don’t ride him in a saddle that doesn’t fit. It’s cruel.
Get a proper saddler out. Cobs can be very hard to fit too due to their flat backs so a lot will pinch them

twistyizzy · 28/09/2024 20:08

Agree with the other comments. He is acting up because he is in pain. Don't ride him until you have a correctly fitted saddle

Original poster
Smithlets80 · 28/09/2024 20:12

I’m not sure why everyone is assuming he is being ridden in a badly fitting saddle! He most certainly is not! I was asking simply to find out if any mumsnetters had experience with the saddle pads rather than traditional saddles.

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 28/09/2024 20:13

Smithlets80 · 28/09/2024 20:12

I’m not sure why everyone is assuming he is being ridden in a badly fitting saddle! He most certainly is not! I was asking simply to find out if any mumsnetters had experience with the saddle pads rather than traditional saddles.

You said his saddle doesn't fit and that's causing him to be a devil when ridden. So it sounds like you are continuing to ride him in a badly fitted saddle

Serencwtch · 28/09/2024 20:24

Look for a saddle fitter who also sells a range of saddles & will let you try them out.

Treeless saddles can work for some combinations but can also cause strain & pressure points if the rider is very novice as the pressure is not evenly distributed.

I can't stress enough the importance of a saddle fitted correctly by someone trained.

We ended up with an adjustable gullet wintec pony saddle on a similar pony but tried several.

GCircus · 28/09/2024 20:32

“I’m not sure why everyone is assuming he is being ridden in a badly fitting saddle!”

You wonder where people got the idea he is being ridden in a badly fitting saddle from? Hmm, could be this sentence in your OP, OP!
he came with a saddle which doesn't fit and is causing him to be a little devil when being ridden

It suggests he came with a badly fitting saddle which causes him to be a little devil when being ridden. Not sure what other conclusion anyone would come to from that statement.

Original poster
Smithlets80 · 28/09/2024 20:34

Serencwtch · 28/09/2024 20:24

Look for a saddle fitter who also sells a range of saddles & will let you try them out.

Treeless saddles can work for some combinations but can also cause strain & pressure points if the rider is very novice as the pressure is not evenly distributed.

I can't stress enough the importance of a saddle fitted correctly by someone trained.

We ended up with an adjustable gullet wintec pony saddle on a similar pony but tried several.

Brilliant thank you. We have a saddle fitter coming out next week but I wanted to do a bit of research first. I’ve never had a pony/horse this shape before! I’ll ask if he has a Wintec saddle to try a they have come up a few times.

OP posts:
Pleasedontdothat · 29/09/2024 09:17

Do you mean the bareback pads or specialist pads which can alter the fit of a saddle?

CountryCob · 29/09/2024 10:30

Hello I have a treeless saddle quite like a pad on a mini cob. Was fitted by a saddle fitter, advantages are that it is comfy for the child and pony and doesn't pinch. Disadvantages are that it isn't structured which can lead a slouchy child to ride more slouched and it is more inclined to move sideways or forwards especially in games/ jumping. It is popular though and whilst I think was DD gets older we might move towards something different it suits us well now. The saddle the pony came with went in the bin as saddle fitter confirmed it had a twisted tree, notionally it fitted but it wasn't in use with us for long, maybe a fortnight. Was given us free with pony so didn't feel ripped off. Also needed a new bridle fitting as was tight around the ears. Very willing young pony so didn't cause behaviour issues thankfully or do any harm as didn't spend long in the wrong tack. One of the reasons we bought treeless was the hope that it would help the pony's back to get over the twisted tree. I do think in the next year or so we might get another saddle for games and jumping if possible but would keep the pad for hacking etc

Original poster
Smithlets80 · 30/09/2024 11:03

GCircus · 28/09/2024 20:32

“I’m not sure why everyone is assuming he is being ridden in a badly fitting saddle!”

You wonder where people got the idea he is being ridden in a badly fitting saddle from? Hmm, could be this sentence in your OP, OP!
he came with a saddle which doesn't fit and is causing him to be a little devil when being ridden

It suggests he came with a badly fitting saddle which causes him to be a little devil when being ridden. Not sure what other conclusion anyone would come to from that statement.

It should have said 'caused'

OP posts:
Original poster
Smithlets80 · 30/09/2024 11:05

CountryCob · 29/09/2024 10:30

Hello I have a treeless saddle quite like a pad on a mini cob. Was fitted by a saddle fitter, advantages are that it is comfy for the child and pony and doesn't pinch. Disadvantages are that it isn't structured which can lead a slouchy child to ride more slouched and it is more inclined to move sideways or forwards especially in games/ jumping. It is popular though and whilst I think was DD gets older we might move towards something different it suits us well now. The saddle the pony came with went in the bin as saddle fitter confirmed it had a twisted tree, notionally it fitted but it wasn't in use with us for long, maybe a fortnight. Was given us free with pony so didn't feel ripped off. Also needed a new bridle fitting as was tight around the ears. Very willing young pony so didn't cause behaviour issues thankfully or do any harm as didn't spend long in the wrong tack. One of the reasons we bought treeless was the hope that it would help the pony's back to get over the twisted tree. I do think in the next year or so we might get another saddle for games and jumping if possible but would keep the pad for hacking etc

This is great thank you. My DDs are just starting out so I think will manage with a treeless saddle/pad for quite a while. I'm trying to get his weight off but he is such a good doer it is proving quite difficult. I do lots of flat work with him so hopefully this will help too!

OP posts:
liveforsummer · 07/10/2024 19:32

If your dc are small I'd def just go with a Zoë snape pad or similar for now. You can re visit a treed saddle later when he's in work

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