Okay, so it's possible I may have to buy a saddle for a 16.1hh QH gelding. However, he's only been sat on a couple of times in the past year or so (No fault of mine, I wouldn't have let starting him take this long, was just introduced to this horse after being recommended as someone who would work with him/take him, I've been running into a lot of free horses + sob stories lately.. @_@) The only problem is, I have NO idea what his tree size is, or anything. I think it would be too stressful for him to take him to a tack shop to be fitted for his first ever saddle, and if there's anything I'm truly shaky about when it comes to horses, it's saddle fitting. I don't want to buy a saddle just to get home and find out it's wrong, or even worse, buy a saddle and not realize its wrong until it's already caused him discomfort (I could live without him being sour to the saddle..).
I don't know what I should do about fitting this horse, I've never been in a situation where I was responsible for getting tack for a basically unbroken horse, and I just take horses I need saddles for to the tack shop where they double-check the fit and let me try it out. I just don't want to mess up on something big like a saddle when I don't have all the money in the world and it's his first experience with them.
(P.S., he's not a baby or anything. he's actually 10 years old. His breeder sold him to a friend of hers, who sent him to a trainer who basically only managed to halter break him and "balance his energy" in 4 months, and the friend unfortunately passed away. He then returned to the breeder, who of course took him in and took care of him, but had her own business to attend to and her daughter volunteered to train him, then didn't. I know these people, it happens. Not the best of situations, but whatever.) Any advice any of you could give me would be helpful. Just as a note, I know that nobody recommends dressage for Quarter Horses, but I think it would be the best saddle to start in for english. I personally think that having a nice deep secure seat in a saddle with more support and more contact between my legs and the horses sides would be preferable to a hunt seat/ jumping saddle.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Foxhunter1949, dressage saddles have no knee rolls? When did this happen? Dressage saddles usually have knee rolls that are much larger than pretty much all general purpose saddles.
With any saddle, I suggest that you go to the tack store and tell them your story, but mostly just tell them that you have no idea what tree size he is and if they are business smart enough, then they will help you. Most tack stores will let you take a saddle as long as they have your credit card number and let you try a saddle, and if it doesn’t fit or you don’t like it, then you can take it back and they won’t charge you. Several online companies do this, such as Dover Saddlery.
Also, Wintec and Bates sell a measuring tool that can determine tree sizes for their saddles. You can buy those online or from a tack store that sells their saddles. From what I know they are pretty accurate and then with the information the measuring tool gives you the right tree size can be bought from there(since Wintec and Bates trees are adjustable). The measuring tool is also only about $15. I would highly recommend this option because Wintecs are significantly cheap and there are quite a few of them that are used out there that can be adjusted to his tree size.
Good luck finding a saddle!
Edit: Foxhunter1949: but you foxhunt with a dressage saddle, and from my knowledge of foxhunting the rider gets out of the seat quite a lot for galloping or jumping. So I’m a bit confused by your point.
First off I disagree with you over using a dressage saddle to start a horse with. You might have a deeper seat but you have no knee rolls and, should he start to buck then you often need to get out of the seal and hang on with your legs. I always use a GP saddle for starting them with.
I love my dressage saddle and actually hunt my horse in it as it is the only one that really fits him well so, I am not ‘anti’ dressage saddles.
I have adjustable trees to most of my saddles, they widen and narrow with a key at the pommel so I can adjust for each horse if needs be. That would be the best way for you to go because he will alter shape as he comes into work so what fits him now might not fit him in a couple of months.
************** ADD ON YANKEELU *******************By no knee rolls I mean that they are not forward cut and often with young horses you need to get off their backs to allow them freedom to balance. Dressage saddles do not really allow this.
You should get a GP saddle. They have a nice deep seat, knee rolls and are very comfortable. A dressage saddle is cut straight to show off the horse’s shoulders and are designed for the rider to have a looooooooong almost straight leg position. No good for jumping or hacking. If it’s his first saddle then you must get him fitted properly by a saddler. He may find an almost new one for you which is ideal for the horse. He knows what he’s doing. Don’t take a chance on getting one and finding it’s wrong for your horse. He will get sore and eventually resent the saddle being put on. Spend a little more money on it and you will both have years of joy.