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Sep. 7, 2012, 08:40 PM
#1
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Sep. 7, 2012, 08:46 PM
#2
As a final note please excuse the dusty Stubben and ugly/dirty blue pad with flip flops LOL. I am pregnant and have *obviously* (and shamefully) been slacking in my tack care since I've not been riding.
Both saddles when all "padded up" in the pictures are padded with a a Roma wither relief pad (seen here http://www.doversaddlery.com/roma-wi...nt/p/X1-19456/) and a little knit pad (my old trainer always called it a knit pommel pad but I genuinely dont know if that's correct or not?) but instead of laying it across the withers I chose to lay it across the back of the saddle to try and even out the saddles.
Maybe someone has some better padding options/thoughts that might work better for this whole saddle fitting situation?
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Sep. 7, 2012, 08:48 PM
#3
 Originally Posted by redsmom15
Just a question, why so much padding? A saddle should fit with a thin pad, or half pad or nothing, if it doesn't fit that way, it probably doesn't fit with all that padding.
The Wintec looked pretty decent, and the Stubben looked lower in the pommel, but the panels looked nice. What does the Stubben look like with just a regular pad or a half pad?
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Sep. 7, 2012, 08:54 PM
#4
I am also questioning why so much padding. The Stubben looked pretty good when it was just on his back, but when you added all of the pads beneath it went south. The Wintec didn't look as bad all padded up, to me.
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Sep. 7, 2012, 08:54 PM
#5
The way his withers and dip in his shoulders are all put together I cant imagine finding a good solution (except a several thousand $$ custom saddle which is for sure not in the budget lol) without having to do some serious padding combinations. I could TOTALLY be wrong though. However that being said, with no wither relief pad both saddles were *tight* on his withers/shoulder area and both saddle also had the "middle" of the saddle as the lowest point which in past experiences I have always been taught that your saddle should be as level as possible. Again, I'm no expert in this and that's why I am seeking out more opinions 
Here's the Stubben with just a regular pad and the pommel pad in the back (which genuinely only adds *maybe* a 1/4 inch lift);
http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/...les9712019.jpg
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Sep. 7, 2012, 08:56 PM
#6
The Stubben was pinching the top sides of this withers/shoulder with no padding but I do agree that it looked better "nekid" then all padded up-perhaps there's a half pad out there that would provide enough wither clearance/relief so I could ditch all the multiple padding business?
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Sep. 7, 2012, 09:23 PM
#7
If the fit is "tight" to begin with, you don't want to add a lot of padding. It's like wearing thick socks with shoes that are too tight... it just makes the shoes tighter.
Of the two choices, the Stubben (without all the padding) follows the contours of his back the best. The flatter Wintec tree and longer/straighter panels look to be poking him at the rear. Even more so when you're mounted, I'm sure. Changing the gullet will have no effect on that issue.
If a new/"new" used saddle is out of the question, the Stubben would have to get my vote, but I think you can do better than both.
Do you have a budget for something else?
Originally Posted by CosMonster
But hey, if you can't indulge in rampant speculation on COTH, where can you do it? 
www.Melissa-Mason-Hare.com
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Sep. 7, 2012, 10:05 PM
#8
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Sep. 7, 2012, 10:57 PM
#9
You should try something else. I don't think either saddle fits him well at all.
Look at County saddles. They are designed for Thoroughbred-type horses.
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Sep. 7, 2012, 11:38 PM
#10
Cincinnati, I would say both of these saddles are about medium tree size. Does anyone have an opinion on a better tree size? Maybe a medium wide? Or even a wide?
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Sep. 7, 2012, 11:52 PM
#11
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...nid=8827627387
I found this county saddle on ebay, seems like a good deal. Thoughts?
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Sep. 8, 2012, 07:14 AM
#12
Originally Posted by redsmom15
Do you have a good saddle shop you can go to and try on saddles with a knowledgable person or even a saddle fitter?
We don't have an english shop near by so I am doing things longs distance. Even then I have back and wither tracings to send off for fitting help.
You are lucky in the fact your horse is an easier "type" of horse to fit with some withers. My horse is just a really wide AQHA and have limited options.
You may want to look at Kieffers or Passiers, they have nice taller pommels and gusseting that would look better on your horse. Lots of older used ones, too.
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Sep. 8, 2012, 07:32 AM
#13
If you come across a Roosli Pilatus, you might want to try that. I have a mid-90s vintage Roosli and it has fit very well on horses with "TB" type backs, real withers, that dippy bit and a somewhat curvy back. The horses seem to really like it too.
They aren't common, but an older one shouldn't be super expensive if you do find one.
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Sep. 8, 2012, 07:48 AM
#14
With out having a good gullet shot from the pommel I would say the stubben is just a hair wide and is "sucking" his wither up into the gullet. If you look at the difference between the two saddles bare the Wintec is a good inch or 2 high on the wither. I also prefer to see saddles girthed up to see how they will really look once the panels are squished.
From the pictures the Wintec looks like it would fit just fine with a single good quality pad.
That being said. If you like the Stuben the best I would try just an ecogold triple protection pad. It would be similar to adjusting the panels to make a wide saddle a little narrower.
If the dips behind the withers is causing a problem you can buy pads just to fill the dips. Ecogolds is called a Wither care pad. I am sure there are plenty of them out there. It doesnt look to be as bad as some that I have seen.
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Sep. 8, 2012, 08:21 AM
#15
Both saddles are sitting on his scapula which will effect the fit.
Place the saddle on his back, put two fingers in the channel at the cantle and pull back steadily until its feels impossible to slide it further. That's where the saddle will want to sit. If its natural place to sit is correct, you should be able to locate the back of the scapula (shoulder blade) and place at least 3 fingers between it and the front panel of the saddle. Feel free to lift your horses leg to help find that scapula.
The stubben is too wide, and the channel too narrow.
The wintec is too flat in the panels.
Look to get at least 3 fingers all the way through the channel on the underside. You'll want panels that can be heavily flocked, as he will eventually take a M tree but for now probably could use a MN. He, being so long backed and somewhat flat towards the back of his rib age, would appreciate gusseted panels (like the back of the wintec) but softly flocked and on a swoopier tree than a wintec.
Look at butet, lauriche, newer passiers, newer stubbens, frank baines.
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Sep. 8, 2012, 08:23 AM
#16
I didn't mean to imply the Stubben was a good fit, just better than the Wintec, which is just plain too flat for his back conformation. The Stubben, even without pads, looks too narrow (and you can feel that as the "pinch" at the shoulders).
Originally Posted by CosMonster
But hey, if you can't indulge in rampant speculation on COTH, where can you do it?
www.Melissa-Mason-Hare.com
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Sep. 8, 2012, 09:36 AM
#17
Looks like I have some saddle shopping to do! I used to ride in a Kieffer Wein a long time ago when I owned my TB mare and I loved loved that saddle. It was so comfortable to ride in and she seemed to be very comfortable in it. Perhaps I will try to hunt down one of those used to try next.
Unfortunatly there's essentially nobody reputible in my area that rides dressage, no english/dressage tack shops anywhere near by and the nearest person I trust for saddle fit is a solid 3 hours away. However that being said I dont mind trying out a few different saddles to get to the correct one. I think what petstorejunkie said about having a saddle that might be able to be reflocked this time next yearish when I have him back in shape might be a good idea, as I know he is out of shape right now and I'm sure that being back in show shape will change his back conformation. Melissa I agree with you that the Wintec is just too flat after looking closer at the pictures. And whomever said the Stubben is "sucking in" his spine/withers I think is correct with that statement too.
So I'm off to the wonderful world of Ebay and Tacktrader again (lol); this time in search for a Medium/Medium wide tree with a bit more of a swooped tree, that has lots of shoulder clearance and a softly flocked underside....wish me luck lol
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Sep. 8, 2012, 10:11 AM
#18
Feel free to post pictures of the saddles before you take them out on trial
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Sep. 8, 2012, 12:49 PM
#19
Originally Posted by CosMonster
But hey, if you can't indulge in rampant speculation on COTH, where can you do it?
www.Melissa-Mason-Hare.com
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Sep. 8, 2012, 03:04 PM
#20
Widen the wintec, put it on his back, no pad, girth it up and take a picture from the side.
For the padding - keep the regular thin pad, the one right against the horse's back. Keep that one. Throw the other two in in the trash.
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