Hi there, Maria will be the one to sort this I am sure, but looking at your pics and comparing with my horse who is a pain to fit as she is a wiiiiide mare, I would say your saddle is too far back, which makes it seem too wide... BUT I think if you pulled it forward to where it should be it would be too narrow and all the weight would sit on two points on either side of the wither and the hips - bridging, and also it may not be rigged in the right place for your horses shape.

In case you don't know that simply means the cinch is not attached in a place that works for your horse, unlike English saddles, western saddles can have different points of attachment for the cinch, back a little, forward a little, check out the web or a good book and you'll see "3/4 rigged" or "center-fire" and stuff... makes fitting all sorts a little easier... for those with an unlimited budget and huge selection of course!

Either way, if that saddle does fit, or you are getting another synthetic, I HIGHLY recommend you invest in a set of stirrup turners as those fenders will KILL your ankles and knees. They are not expensive, dead easy to fit and you'll be so very glad you did.

Hi Ho Hi Hi it's off to work I go... have fun with your horse he looks real nice!

Hi

Well, there has been some great replies so far

The photos are a little small to get a proper idea of what is happening but it is definitely too long from what I can see in the pictures. Also, it looks like it may be a little too wide at the front. The main reasons for saddles coming up at the back are that they are too wide in the gullet or the tree is the wrong shape for the horses' back. Do you have any photos with no saddle on?

On a young horse I will often fit a little wide at the front (to allow for growing room), and it may come up a little at the back. (On a mature horse you would not look to fitting wider.) BUT once the rider is sat down in the seat it should not move. You should see no evidence of the saddle coming up at the back with a rider in it. I always like to see riders in sitting and rising trot to ensure the saddle is nice and stable.

Is it leather or synthetic? (Photo a little too small for me to clearly see.) Sadly the majority of synthetic saddles I have seen do not fit. Our horses backs are not usually flat enough so normally do bridge (like Liz was saying). Could you get any pictures standing looking towards his tail from his shoulder showing how the saddle fits over the withers and shoulders? In fact, if you could email them to me so they are bigger - that would be great info@western-saddler.co.uk (also put them here as I am sure it will be interesting for others too.

BTW Jude did you get my text? My phone ran out as it was sending it and I am not sure if you got it?

Post edited by: westernsaddler, at: 2008/07/05 17:35

Many thanks for your replies, it would seem the addage that western saddles will fit anything is just a myth!!
I was told this saddle would fit him by someone who had seen the horse and sold it to me, but due to his age he does change shape all the time (three rugs in one winter - NO FUN!!)
It is a synthetic saddle yes, a wintec western which is a "full quarter tree" (what does that mean please?!!!)

I will post some more photos as soon as the rain stops and I can take them!!

Well... imo a Wintec synthetic FQHB basically means it MAY fit your clothes horse...

In the real world, a FQHB should be wider in the gullet and possibly flatter in the angle of the bars then, say a semi QHB but it's kind of like buying jeans... buy from one store you fit a 10, another you keep trying til you just about burst out of a 16... I think there is supposed to be a standard formula for gullet widths and angles, but I have yet to find out the saddle makers that agree on it! I'm sure Maria will be able to explain the technical stuff better... I just know the only synthetic that would fit my ever widening baby was a Weaver that Ray Cooper got in for me... he hates synthetics too, but agreed that it was best of a bad bunch if you don't have the cash for a "baby" saddle. Nice and wide.

I have to say... I have found an awesome CHEAP saddle over here ... I know some will groan, but it's a Royal King roughout with a "veriflex" tree... I love it. and more importantly so does Molly. Her movement has changed so much, and she feels so comfortable and relaxed in it.

First time I rode in it I had not ridden her since before she shipped out in December, and it was now near June... I put it on her, it looked ok ... that new saddle stiff thing had me a little concerned, but I stepped up, it didn't move despite loose-ish cinch, and I rode her for a bit, all paces, she loped off on the lead I asked for every time... she even managed a nice slow jog, and when I asked for a back up she dropped her head and rounded up beautifully... considering I was barely asking for this stuff as I had been unable to brush her back end properly cause she was having such a sore muscle day... I was thrilled!

And it put me in the right position, my feet are under me, which helps me get the weight off her back if she is a little tender... and keeps me on her back if she wants to test out my ability once in a while!

Every other saddle I have owned she would fight a little if she was sore because it wasn't helping her, but this one, even she seems happy to wear it. She doesn't wring her tail or give me dirty looks now when I cinch her up, and I am pleasantly surprised with the quality... it's actually really nice... which is weird as I am certain I have seen a Royal King that was like compressed cardboard... but anyway... I know it's not my usual standard, but it's a real nice saddle if you just want a work saddle you can trail ride with and not freak out every time a branch whacks it... which is alot over here!

Changing subject for a second... anybody use Equine America More Muscle? Well I do, because the stuff in it "gamma oryzanol" helps Mollys muscles alot... some protective thing, don't understand, just see it... anyway, in England I was paying 80.00 gbp +... over here... $21.00 yeah.. TWENTY ONE DOLLARS! Can you even believe that? 80. gbp is near enough $150 dollars...we are ALL in the wrong business people.

Still miss ya. Hope show season is going well. x