[faroutfax]

Soon it will be time for Stormy to start undersaddle training (after we get her feet fixed), so of course she'll need a saddle. She has been very flat backed since she was born, and when I say flat backed I mean she is a table I know she is overweight and she should shed some pounds once she can move comfortably on her feet again.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a saddle that has a chance of fitting her? I'd prefer western but if english is the only option that's OK too

Here are some pics of her back so you can see just how flat she is.



And a pic of her just for fun.


And Misty too

[Heavenly Jumper]

Good googly moogly! You could serve dinner on that!

Uhh...

I have found more variability in the english saddles for width and such. It's not just that though, she's wide and flat. I wonder what the angle of the bars would need to be for her, plus how far apart they'd need to be.

[haunani]

One I can recommend from the western side is a Specialized. They're not cheap by any means, though. But a bonus to them is that as she changes shape, you can change the fit of the saddle to go along with her. They have a wide tree option which is for super wide horses. Their regular tree fits even my draftX gelding. They have a number of designs in western styles.

Here are two of them:

[Trace]

You could try and Aussie Stock saddle - I got mine from Down under saddle supply in Denver and they can fit the saddle to your horse from a fitting kit.

[faroutfax]

Originally Posted by Heavenly Jumper

Good googly moogly! You could serve dinner on that!

Uhh...

I have found more variability in the english saddles for width and such. It's not just that though, she's wide and flat. I wonder what the angle of the bars would need to be for her, plus how far apart they'd need to be.

She really is. I think I'm going to dfinately needa crupper and breastplate for her. Maybe some super glue would help too. And she is only 14.3h

Originally Posted by haunani

One I can recommend from the western side is a Specialized. They're not cheap by any means, though. But a bonus to them is that as she changes shape, you can change the fit of the saddle to go along with her. They have a wide tree option which is for super wide horses. Their regular tree fits even my draftX gelding. They have a number of designs in western styles.

Here are two of them:

Oh, I really like both of them. Do you know what price range they are usually? I don't mind having to save for a nice saddle if it fits and if comfy.

Originally Posted by Trace

You could try and Aussie Stock saddle - I got mine from Down under saddle supply in Denver and they can fit the saddle to your horse from a fitting kit.

I'll go take a look at them Thanks.

[haunani]

Originally Posted by faroutfax

Oh, I really like both of them. Do you know what price range they are usually? I don't mind having to save for a nice saddle if it fits and if comfy.

The western ones start at $1649 and go up from there. They also have a demo program so you can try out their saddles and fitting system to see if you like it before buying one (and waiting for it to be made).

I'm currently waiting for mine, which should be done any day now. The one I got is their endurance model, which looks like the first one I posted, just without the horn. (and starts $100 less)

[faroutfax]

Originally Posted by haunani

The western ones start at $1649 and go up from there. They also have a demo program so you can try out their saddles and fitting system to see if you like it before buying one (and waiting for it to be made).

I'm currently waiting for mine, which should be done any day now. The one I got is their endurance model, which looks like the first one I posted, just without the horn. (and starts $100 less)

OK thanks Not too bad, especially since they look like nice saddles. I'm going to book mark their website and take a look into them

[luvs2ride79]

Wow, that is a FLAT back! lol And yes, she's definitely overweight. I'd try to shed a good 100-150 lbs off her, or more.

I would personally look at Treeless options. You can use different pads and such to use the same saddle on both of your horses. I have a Bob Marshall and LOVE it! That said, Bob Marshalls are the best for really wide horses like yours (they have a fixed pommel at the front). I would look at Sensation, Barefoot, and Freeform saddles. All three have western-y models. A good pad like a Skito pad will create good weight distribution and spinal clearance. A 100% mohair roper cinch and an aussie style breastcollar will keep everything in place nicely.

Here are some good treeless saddle dealers. All have a demo program so you can try them out. Be sure to get good pad(s) with the demo saddle, and girths. You'll need a saddle 1" larger than your western saddle, or with freeform or senation, 1" smaller than your western saddle (they go by english measurement).
http://kaarenjordan.com/SensationWesternSaddle.html
http://www.actionridertack.com/catal....php?cPath=148
http://www.barefootsaddles.net/western.htm
http://www.saddlingsolutions.com/TF.html

I would really suggest trying a treeless. They can be great, very stable and comfortable for horse and rider.

[TrailBlazer]

Sorry, not to offend you but I personally would not even look for a saddle until she has dropped some weight and is in a little better condition (when she is better that is). Maybe you could borrow one or find a used cheaper one for a while (when it is time).
I think you will find she is going to change a lot once at the desired weight and then you could buy a better quality saddle. I usually do not like to suggest cheap but I think you might end up changing saddles if you get one now.
Billy Cook saddles are fairly wide but I am not sure about that wide. Maybe after she sheds a few pounds.

[Lou3]

thats not overweight - thats morbidly obese, there's a channel running down that back it should go UP to the spine. I'll be willing to bet she isnt as wide as all that when she's at a healthy weight. I agree with trail blazer - she's not in a suitable condition to be carrying a rider for the first time at the moment - a horse needs to be relatively fit for that.