saddle Question? Saddleseat

[onlyanarabian]

I am on the search for one for my 6yr old. The smallest seat I have been able to find for her is a 17 just wondering if this is the smallest that is made?

She does her lessons now in one that is way to big for her (21) so I would like to find her one that we could take with us. Lesson barn only has girls much older than her so there is really no need for them to have one this small now. I also figure if I buy her one she can use it at home. I know that they are ok with me bringing one that she can ride in as I bring my own saddle to do lessons in.

Thanks for any advice on places to search

[shakeytails]

Yup, 17" is the smallest they make, and they can be quite hard to find.

[Renae]

A 19" with adjustable bars works fine for most 6 year olds. The bars can be put all the way back and moved forward as she grows. A 19" lasts most kids until they are 8 or 9 or even 10 if they are small. Good saddles http://www.4showhorsetack.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_23&products_id=54 or http://www.bennettstack.com/barnsbysaddles.htm both of these tack shops also carry used, call and ask.

FYI if you are used to dealing with hunt seat seat sizes your saddle seat size is roughly what you ride in hunt seat + 4". So a 19" saddle seat saddle is equivelant to a 15" hunt saddle, whereas a 17" saddle seat saddle is like a 12" hunt saddle if it has a true 4" cutback. But, with saddle seat saddles being commonly available with adjustable bars it is much easier to get a saddle a bit big and have a kid grow into one.

[Deuce]

As Renae said, the 17" is REALLY small... and a 19" with adjustable bars is not a bad thing.

I think both World's Champion Horse Equipment and National Bridle carry cheap 17 & 18" saddles... but be warned, the leather on them resembles cardboard.

[jrchloe]

Sstack.com has a 18" cutback with set back bars and its on sale for less than $700.

[Amwrider]

I have the 17" saddle that we bought for my niece when she was 5 years old. She used it for about 2 years and outgrew it. She was then in a 19 inch flat for another 3 or 4 years. She now rides my 22" Shively with adjustable bars.

For longevity, I agree with going to a larger size (probably a 19") and getting the adjustable bars. As she grows, she will probably only need two saddles, the 19" and then an adult saddle (a 21 or 22") if they are both adjustable.

I still have that little 17" saddle though from National Bridle Shop. I use it for my other niece and my nephews.

[Amwrider]

As Renae said, the 17" is REALLY small... and a 19" with adjustable bars is not a bad thing.

I think both World's Champion Horse Equipment and National Bridle carry cheap 17 & 18" saddles... but be warned, the leather on them resembles cardboard.

The one I have was purchased 12 years ago and still is in good shape, just scuff marks from the stirrup leathers. It is cheap and not the prettiest leather but a saddle that small doesn't take as much wear and tear as a larger saddle due to the lightweight riders that sit on it. It has held up very well.