Kid Saddles: English, Western, Australian, Basket, etc.

KarinUS

KarinUS

Well-Known Member
May 20, 2001
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Have been looking into kids' saddles and got some great suggestions on another thread.
The more I look the more options I find! :)
I guess the most commonly known is the Cub style leadline saddle. I've also found some with removable knee blocks in addition to the movable panels. I recently learned that you can completely remove the panels and place the saddle on top of a regular saddle so you could make use of tree and panels of a well-fitting bigger saddle!
http://www.frontierequestrian.com/getProductDetails.cfm?ID=235

The seat still seems rather flat to me but lots and lots of people say it's very secure.
The little Western saddles seem cute and very secure but I am worried about the tree fitting.
http://www.horseloverz.com/Childs-Western-Saddle-Brown-12-Semi-Qh-bars-pr-188156.html

And then I came across Aussie saddles! Wow! How could they be more secure?!
You'd have to have somebody pull you out of the saddle or you'll be riding forever!
DSCN2492.jpg


Aussie saddles can be ordered with two different kinds of panels and the whole panel thing on the Aussie saddles seem very interesting but also a bit confusing.
Here's something about them:
http://www.kates.net/aussiepanelstyles.htm

And then for the littlest riders there are these cute basket saddles!
http://www.users.waitrose.com/~davidfarmer/
They even include a seat belt. Hm...

I'd so appreciate feedback from you guys as all of this is really interesting to me. I am especially looking forward to learning more about the Aussie saddles and their panels. Does it mean the serge panels are so pliable that tree size doesn't exist (as long as you don't choose it for a flat/wide back)?
 
I'd be interested in any responses too as I need something to fit my Welsh D (who is med/wide) but will also fit my 5 year ols for a couple of years without being too huge. :)
 
I was wrong on the Aussie saddles. They do have different trees. Well the regular sized ones anyway. You don't have a tree choice in the kids' models but that doesn't mean the tree will be perfect for whatever horse.

I think I am going to settle on the Cub Model type saddle and perhaps use it to make Duncan his very own treeless Western saddle. I found some very cool 'shrunken' (wrinkles for better grip) buffalo leather in electric blue!
I envision it with the blue buffalo leather seat and perhaps a tooled skirt in natural leather...

But for now we will start in the Shires Bambino Cub saddle. ;)
 
Wow. That looks VERY secure! But wow, that's almost $800.

I am totally motivated now to make one myself!

Great contribution to the thread! I'd consider them if I had the extra cash!
 
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We got our little Cub Saddle. The panels are kind of flimsy but it's just for leadline/toddler and it was cheap (only $50 US!). I think it will work for now.
Since there's not much structure I need to get better at eyeballing where it needs to sit...

1-19.jpg
 
Beth has the cub saddle, in fact it isn't even the real Thorowgood one its a version of it. It is not a solid saddle but it does fine for the amount she does at this age, once she is riding regularly and more competantly she will get a better saddle, but I am working on the principle at up to about 5yrs the cub will do fine.
 
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