Saddle for horse with flat back (front to back)...

[Cathy248]

I currently have a leather event style saddle which I had fitted to my TB mare but I still feel it isn't quite as good a fit as it could be. The problem is that my mare has a flat back (front to back) and the saddle's panel is slightly curved which, although it has been re flocked hasn't been completely resolved. This means that it is sitting up at the back slightly and putting a little more weight at the front and middle than it should.

I could try having it re flocked again but I'm not sure whether it will ever be a perfect fit, so I am thinking of buying a new saddle (eek). She is a pretty standard medium size with a little bit of wither and shape to keep the saddle in place.

I bought a Wintec 500 for her before the leather one (which I now have for sale). It is brand new because I rode on it once and although it looks like a perfect fit it is also a little curved. So the question is which saddle doesn't have a curved panel?

I can't afford to spend a fortune as I have the Wintec which I need to sell, as well as a lovely dressage saddle, which is too narrow, and my current one.
I was thinking of the Wintec close contact (would like the bates but too expensive) but would like to know if anyone has one and what shape the panels are.

The other problem is finding a saddle with a small enough seat - I have a small bum and she has a short back so we are looking at 16" or 16.5" saddles (unlike my 17" wintec! Little bit too much room for my bum)

Any ideas then?

Thanks in advance

[jen1]

he he,gordo will be here soon so im going to say treeless there are so many to chose from,
but like gordo im a staunch torsion and barefoot fan,!my barney it the same flat well almost
i have to say that his belly did cause it to slip forward bt now i ride most days he is in fab condition and it hasnt moved on his trim bod for ages

[belle1]

Belle has a very flat back and wintecs are too curved for her. Thorowgoods fit her well though.

[jenniwren]

Hi Cathy, I'd also suggest a treeless. Go to the horse and harmony tack shop www.horseandharmony.com. They have the Cheyenne for 300.00 pounds which is very much the same as Torsion, Fitform and Dartmoor, but a lot cheaper. I know someone who has bought a western style treeless from them and they were very happy with it.

[Yann]

You could have a look at the Thorowgood cob and pony saddles, they have flatter panels designed for this type of back which might be the right shape for your horse. They also come with the fish adjustment now too which is good for keeping up with a fluctuating fit through the year.

[donna]

Another reccomendation for thorowgood-my mare's back is flat front to back and side to side, I also found wintec 'curled up' at the back, but thorowgood cob fits brilliantly.

[fizztally]

sell the other 2 & get a made to measure or try the native pony co, they have great saddles

[gordo]

Ooh Jen, you cheeky mare you!! The Barefoot Cheyenne is a wonderful saddle, love mine to pieces. I use mine for hacking and the odd jump if I ever lost my mind and felt brave enough!! If you compete then poss the Cheyenne not a good option but they fit lovely, fitted mine to a Percheron and a Shire with backs like tables and they sat a treat! Great for horses that change shape too. Wouldn't go back to treed now.

[Cathy248]

Thanks for all the replies. I'd thought about treeless but I would really like a close contact, jumping style saddle as am hoping to event her this year. Thorowgood don't seem to make a close contact jumping saddle.

Does anyone have a close contact wintec that they could describe the panels of?

Thanks again

[Cathy248]

Upity

[Roz]

I would recommend a Saddle Company saddle for you horse, they are made to measure and come with all sorts or different features that you can choose from such as half panels or French panels. They also do a cob tree which is less curved than a standard tree which might suit your girl.

Have a look at www.thesaddlecompany.co.uk/

[Cathy248]

Thanks. I've had a look at the site but there's nothing about prices on there. How much would a made to measure be?

[june]

The ideal trees are pretty flat. You can quite often find second hand ideal saddles. The other make we have that is pretty flat is a crosby close contact jumping saddle. Bound to be something like that on e-bay!

[Cathy248]

Ok, thanks. I have been having a look on ebay but it's so hard to jusdge from a picture and I don't want to end up with yet another saddle that isn't right!

I've just had a look at my Wintec and compared it with my event saddle and The back of my event saddle is too rounded, which is why it doesn't sit quite right at the back. The rest of the panel is much flatter becuase of it's re-stuff but in general the wintec is much more shallowly curved. If the wintec had flock (has cair panels) then I'm sure even my GP could just have a bit out of the middle to flatten it out and it'd be ok, so hopefully the Close contact would be fine...

Will see if I can find a local saddlery that stocks them so I can go down and have a look.

Any other ideas, or anyone selling a saddle...?

Thanks

[Roz]

I think the Saddle Co made to measures are around £500 these days but there are second hand ones about (I've just hopefully sold mine to a DG'er for £250). Sometimes they do come up on Ebay. The beauty of these saddles is that the tree is guaranteed for 10 years and as it is injection moulded and not wooden, they can be widened and narrowed as many times as is necessary and they won't ping back into the original shape as some do.

I would give Dave Johnson a call at the Saddle Company, he is wonderfully helpful and knows his saddles inside out!