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Post by wabuska on Dec 11, 2011 18:05:59 GMT 1
Two bought and rejected.... one had panels too short for Faelen's leg, and another was just not right.... I couldn't say it was that bad, but it wasn't good enough. I was surprised to note that a 16" we tried fitting her leg perfectly but not the pony's wither. Could she possibly fit a 16" saddle better than a 15"... am I MAD? Here's one I'm considering buying IF I can persuade myself it wouldn't swamp them both. Did games today in a borrowed saddle which almost fits. Had a ball. ;D cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180768607413&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123
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Post by specialized on Dec 11, 2011 18:40:48 GMT 1
I can't get my head round the concept of randomly buying saddles on ebay and hoping they will fit. Do you not have anyone locally that could bring a selection of saddles to try so you could find out what fits the horse and rider? The fact that a 16" saddle does not fit the wither has little to do with it being 16" and more to do with the width of the tree, likewise you can get a 15" with panels that will fit her leg and a 16" with panels that will not.
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Post by wabuska on Dec 11, 2011 19:06:02 GMT 1
Er, I don't randomly buy saddles, in fact I love saddles, and know a fair bit about the adult variety as a long timer rider and lifetime saddle-nerd. Round ponies and growing chidren.... new for me.
Any Ebay saddle I've bought have been checked by a saddler before use, and I've bought and sold some beauties and made money. Hurrah! My farrier events in a saddle I sourced for him on Ebay. I've bought from the same dealers, linked to tack shops, as who you're buying from is key.
One I tried for this pony was a locally sourced one, the other a new GFS sized to the pony, so hardly random. I know the seat length has nothing to do with the wither, and finding the right tree matched to a skirt that will fit Faelen, is of course going to be key. I was just saying that the seat fitted my daughter but the tree didn't happen to fit the pony. Not completely stupid (well in this area!). Lol.
We don't have saddle fitters in Ireland in the same way as you do in the UK. There is one person who rumour has it has a shed load and you can bring the pony to her, UK style, and is being sourced for me right now.
I'll tell you one thing Specialized... pony saddles are actually a B&*(er to source, and in Ireland, where everything remotely horsey is violently expensive (try 900Euro for a pony saddle not even made to measure), it's even worse. People ride around with zero flocking, horse saddles on ponies with the panels right over the lumbar area, and hang onto 'their' saddle for every horse they own.
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Post by kizi on Dec 11, 2011 19:30:15 GMT 1
Agreed. Every pony I have bough that was previously ridden all had so many issues and problems as a result of shockingly bad saddles. Most recent 3yo bought out from under a horribly pinching saddle is currently on 3 months rest after a month of Chiro and Physio. My ponies only ever get sold with correctly fitted tack or you dont get my pony!!!!!
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Post by specialized on Dec 11, 2011 21:32:12 GMT 1
Sorry if I misunderstood your OP, but I was answering the questions that you asked, which you obviously already knew the answers to. Don't worry there are plenty of people on this side of the water that have the same saddling philosophy that you have described.
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Post by Zuzan on Dec 11, 2011 21:47:49 GMT 1
Have a look at Native Pony saddles.. friends son's first pony has one and it's a super fit for the small native pony and small boy who I think is approx same height (guesstimate from photos) as Faelen and Bambi bares a scary resemblance to friend's first pony (size, build, colour.. only difference is gender..)
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Post by wabuska on Dec 11, 2011 22:46:06 GMT 1
Thanks Zusan, the flat back is a new one to me. Wide yes, flat.... new one! No, I didn't know the answer Specialised, until I find the right saddle I don't, and I love exchanging experiences and ideas on saddling on here. Always useful.
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Post by KoLaTo on Dec 11, 2011 23:06:16 GMT 1
15 and 16 inch saddles vary wildly in seat size and shape to be honest, some of the 15in saddles have huge seats and likewise some of the 16in have smaller seats. I've just today picked up a rather cheap & tacky looking Shires 15in gymkhana saddle to tide the small pony over for a couple of mths until he slims back into his own lush 15in leather saddle. The difference in seat size and saddle flaps of his leather and this Shires is quite bizarre, the Shires looks like a toddlers saddle compared to his leather!
We picked out all the 15in and every single one was drastically different to each other, i just needed something cheap & serviceable, but not compromising fit obviously, that'll i'll bung on Ebay after use and the Shires although unsavoury looking is relatively well made and forgiving underneath for a cheap saddle. Okay it's a tad small for the daughter but it's literally going to be used a couple of times a mth for a wee while and the kid can have a seat saver - LOL
I do like the look of the Tekna pony saddles, nice flat wide panels at the back, i fingered a couple today but can't justify the price tag for a go-between saddle for a couple of mths.
I also like the GFS pony range, leather synthetic, again nice wider flat panels at the back, i'm a lover of wider flatter panelled saddles myself, would rather pad up here and there if needed.
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Post by wabuska on Dec 11, 2011 23:31:10 GMT 1
I actually bought one of those GFS Genesis pony saddles Kola and sold it to a neighbour on Friday. The panels were for a short legged child (her five year old looked fine on it). It was otherwise pretty nice with an adjustable gullet etc and quality look to it overall. Found a Wintec outlet in the next town, so going to take a look with the smallish. Pony saddles, good ones are like hen's teeth here.
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Post by kizi on Dec 11, 2011 23:34:04 GMT 1
I will mail you link to one or two I found in my search for captain. Adjustable and as reasonable as I could find, must fire up the laptop!!! Far as I can remember the one you are using is sold as 'short panel for kids' so other 14' may not be the same. Should have tried captains on her, his is a size up....can loan for a day if you want to compare, I may have a spare but not sure
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Post by starbuck on Dec 12, 2011 8:19:45 GMT 1
It's just as bad trying to find pony saddles over here! My friend has ben looking for a 16" saddle to fit a wide, flat backed pony and has found it a nightmare. Although she's had a couple of saddlers out to her they haven't had anything. She's currently in a Wintec wide whcih is the best so far but i don't think it's a great fit. Whilst I've been looking at trying to find saddle through saddlers all 3 of the saddlers I've spoke to say they are getting less and less secondhand saddles in, both to sell on and traded in with new purchases.
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Post by jen1 on Dec 12, 2011 11:32:35 GMT 1
id be looking for a saddle that is 16 inch, extra extra wide, as some people seem to think that 9 inch for d to d is extra wide, look at farrington , and look for a flat under and on top of the saddle, and almost hoop shape , forget the key hole shape, lots of made to measure on ebay, working hunter would be my thing, or flylde saddle , seem to be ridiculously priced but they are made for ponies, ponynutt has samber saddles that seem nice, but the ones ive seen on ebay seem to have a less flat proflie
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Post by jen1 on Dec 12, 2011 11:55:50 GMT 1
the saddle you posted might be worth a try with really good pads under it, like to base pad that balance make
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Post by wabuska on Dec 12, 2011 13:36:25 GMT 1
Well, the Genesis is on it's way back to me... might be doing some negociating with MVS! Lol. I'll make a blasted saddle out of couple of JRT hides if they don't stop yapping! Thanks for info Jen. X
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Post by ruthp on Dec 12, 2011 18:03:56 GMT 1
I know nothing about pony saddles, so probably totally unhelpful but just take a look at this... www.goldfinch-equestrian.co.uk/bargain_box.html4th saddle down. (The top one is mine!!! Arrived last week, just love it!) I've had a Freeform for about 6 years, and it is fabulous, but a friend wanted to buy mine, offered me a very good price, so I couldn't resist getting a lovely new suede one! P.S. Don't let Fal see the picture of the saddle or you probably won't have any choice!
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