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  Discussion on Saddle for short, low backed young horse
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Member:
Irwin

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 1:08 pm:

I am trying to find a good trail saddle for my coming up 5-year-old Morgan/Arab. She has a very short back, and it is also low (although my vet says that if she would lose a little weight it wouldn't be so low!! - she's a VERY easy keeper, what can I say??) I am riding her now in a Wintec all purpose, which, using the widest gullett is borderline too narrow. I tried my friend's Bob Marshall treeless sport saddle, and while I loved the feel of the saddle, it covered her from the top of her withers to just above her flank, and I felt like it was just too big for her. I prefer riding English but am willing to go with some type of endurance saddle (no Western - can't deal with the horn!) I am going to start doing a lot of trail riding on her in the spring and need the right saddle for both of us.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 1:17 pm:

Have you tired a saddle made specifically for an Arabian? They fit better than "regular ones" if the horse has a real short back. I ride our two stallins in a QH cut saddle, but they are both pretty big. I ride the smaller mares in a Wintec all purpose with adjustable gullet, or a Stubben dressage saddle, wide width. On the trail, my favorite is an old youth size QH western saddle. (I have Arabians.)
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 4:25 pm:

I have the Bob Marshall treeless saddle also, and like you describe it fits my Arab mare from withers to past her flanks. I have a Wintec Aussie saddle that fits her so/so. Looks huge on her with the long fenders. The saddle that fits her best is an old hornless western/calvary style endurance saddle. I don't care for that saddle myself, but it fits her the best. That saddle is still sold and is reasonably priced. Personally I don't care for the so called Arab saddles so I like Sara's suggestion of a youth size saddle if you fit in it o.k. I originally got the BMS saddle because it was supposed to fit most horses but didn't realize it was way too long for my 2 Arabs. Live and learn.
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 - 4:39 pm:

Angie-? Is the hornless saddle you mention a Stonewall? A friend of mine has one which I tried and I liked it a lot. It also fit my short backed mare good. That made me think of an outfit called "Skyrider" I think; I saw their saddles in Scottsdale. They are beautifully soft, extremely well made, and they make an endurance saddle similar to what you discribe. They will make to your specifications. They are probably on line and I've seen ads for them.
Member:
Kckohles

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 - 10:44 am:

I have had two horses in training that were really, really, really difficult to fit. One was an old style 20 something Morgan gelding and the other an Egyptian Arab. Mule saddle worked on the Arab but any saddle that came close to fitting her really wide back needed a crupper to keep it from sliding forward on any type of downward slope. The Morgan's owner, got a Black Rhino custom made and I would have never ever thought even a custom tree would make this horse comfortable. She paid just about a $1000 but it is western. She took a series of measurments and photos and I can't tell you how well the saddle fits. And this horse has a back that you wouldn't believe.
I wouldn't worry about the length myself, if you have a saddle that works on a horse like you are describing go with it.
Member:
Irwin

Posted on Thursday, Dec 23, 2004 - 7:58 am:

Thanks guys for your help. I have contacted a couple of Morgan breeders/trainers and have gotten a couple of suggestions. I hate to have a saddle custom made for just one horse, but I do plan on keeping her until one of us can't do this anymore, so it may be worth the investment. I have a friend who had a saddle custom made for one of her horses. She sold the horse and can't seem to sell the saddle for what it is worth. I appreciate any input, and thanks for your help.
Member:
Kckohles

Posted on Thursday, Dec 23, 2004 - 10:50 am:

Sherry,
I think you can sell a custom made saddle you just need to find a horse with the same kind of back and the best way to do that would be to market it to the type of horse that it was made for. For example, my sister is having a really custom made tree, the tree maker said that it might only fit her current horse. But then he did say that he has seen quite a few horses come out of TX with this same type back. Just think if you read an ad for a saddle that fits Morgans or wide Arabs you would check into it.
The other thought I had was that the likelyhood of any saddle you own fitting the next horse would be really great but it's not all that common.
KIM
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