Update and recommend me a saddle Holly the shetland please

[MissMare]

Little Holly has made a little friend who would like to ride her. I originally got her for driving, which she is like a little saint at. Yesterday she drove under a train (bridge) going at full speed, and had some huge vehicles used for moving train carriages backing along a narrow country lane. She went straight past with them flashing and making noise bless her.

She is 10hh and whilst people have said she can take my weight, she will to sit but isn't happy moving (bareback) so I gave up and put it down to me being too heavy and left it. All I know of her history is she was broken by travellers in London, then her owner (she is on loan to me) broke her to drive, very properly and she is a great little pulling pony.

Anyway, she has had a few people on her bareback lead around the field with no problems. However said little person wants to ride and learn properly, she has been great around the stables and really cares for Holly doesn't just want to jump on and run off. Which is what Holly has decided she wants to do.

I realised she probably wasn't broken to ride all too well so have taken her back to square one. Which for me not being able to ride her, I'm finding confusing but that's a different story we have bonded and are making progress. I just think she was a bit of a run around rodeo pony, which isn't safe!

Now to a saddle, I got a saddle when I first got her. A shetland saddle from Equestrian clearance. It was a present, but does not fit at all. It is really small and Holly is really really wide (we are working on that). The tree stands out so with much weight (like little person) the tree puts pressure on a small area. I can't return it and have been using her lunging in it with light weights attached as it really isn't doing any problems. Just to get the feel of moving with something on her back. I'll probably sell it soon though.

Then a friend lent me a saddle, which little person rode in a few times before I decided she needed re-breaking and teaching about riding. It was ok but for long term, and because I would love said little person to really go far with Holly, it isn't suitable. I think it's too long in the back for her and there seems to be a lot of space wasted at the front with a big handle, which means where little person needs to sit is further back than is ideal.

I will probably get a saddle fitter out at some point, although cost wise I don't think we can afford a specialist made one, and she is now driving 3-4 times a week so will loose a lot of belly and change shape.

Anyway I will stop babbling now and ask what I came here for. Can anyone recommend a saddle/treeless/pad etc that might fit her and still fit her when she changes shape, and fit little person.

Little person is 10 but not very tall for her age and thin. I haven't actually measured the small saddle with her, the larger seat fits but like I said, a lot of wasted space.

Holly is nick named table top. She is so flat and wide at her withers which is why I think we will have a problem. This wont change but the extra flab will.

I haven't measured her back length yet but with a weight tape she is 240 haven't measured the saddle either.

Thanks for reading my longest ever post, here is a picture of said lovely and beautiful shetland. (Taken 3 months ago but gives an idea of shape). Edit: Sorry having trouble with our server so will try later.

 

[pauline w]

I use the cub saddle but it would probably be too small for a 10 year old child. Wintec do one and barefoot too. I still have a couple of felt pad saddles somewhere.

 

[popularfurball]

Libra also do a childs saddle which I would loive for Rascal - expensive though but prefer the idea to the plastic cubs saddles as they look a bit uncomfy although I would still use one

 

[laceyfreckle]

I would try a thorowgood saddle, the maxam ones are fine and fairly cheap, or you could spend a bit more and get a thorowgood T4 which would have changeable gullets. (I think the maxams can only be changed slightly).

Anyway thats what my little Dartmoor will be having, she's 11.3hh but 245 on the weight tape with a very flat back. the x wide maxam fits her well but there is a measuring guide on the thorowggod website. My Dartmoor has a 15" saddle which my 11yr old daughter (very short and about 4 stone) fits into fine.

If you get a secondhand one it would be worth getting a saddler to check it doesn't need reflocking and also to come out and fit it though.

 

[Wally]

We use the pony club thorowgood saddles, Ex wide. Frances' 16 year old daghter fits in them, 15 inch is the size the big boys take. Mind , it also fits a Whiffy for little dots to ride her.

 

[MissMare]

Finally managed to get some photos up! I really must take some more recent ones though. She isn't fluffy anymore. These are from the day she arrived.

Thanks so much for the advice, and so quick. I'll have a look into the brands mentioned and see how we get on.