This message is from: Robin Churchill <rbc...@yahoo.com>
What type or brand of saddle would be best for your fjord is going to depend on many factors. First off, what type of riding do you want to be able to do in the saddle? You may choose a different brand depending on the discipline. You want to find a saddle that not only fits your horse but also fits you. You should give some consideration to what your access is to a decent saddle fitter which in my experience are few and far between. If you have no access to a saddle fitter you may want to consider a saddle with a changeable gullet or adjustable tree. Your budget is also going to affect which saddle you will choose. I only ride dressage or hack, but I have had a bunch of different dressage saddles for my fjords some which fit them and didn't fit me and vice-versa. In fact, I just have gotten a new saddle last week after having a terrible time fitting the fjord that I bought last July because all fjords are not the same. I have had fjords since 2004 so you would think I would have had a saddle to fit another fjord but I tried 7 different saddle brands and 8 saddles before getting one to fit him and also fit me. Wintec, Bates and I think Thorowgood saddles can work well for fjords because they make models which are for wider horses and have changeable gullets. Most of them also seem to have a gusseted panel which tends to do well on fjords, which seem to have broader and flatter backs. These saddles are also relatively inexpensive compared to some of the more high-end brands as well. Some people also recommend Barnsby or Black Country saddles for horses that are built more substantially. Be aware that some saddles have trees that can be adjusted by a saddle fitter but don't believe that it means the tree will fit any horse. A saddle fitter can adjust the fit with flocking or by changing the tree if the saddle allows it and they have the proper type of saddle press but you have to have a good fitter to tell exactly what needs to be done to make it fit and some saddles just won't fit certain types of horses. Some people also like the Duett saddles for fjords and I think they are helpful but I don't think the trees on those can be changed. They can tell you how to do a wither tracing to help you find the right size though. I just bought a saddle for Levi from a company called Equine Inspired. The fitter is a guy named George Guillikson and he has some unconventional ideas but is extremely knowlegable and I have never had anyone spend the time and effort that he has spent trying to get us into the correct saddle. He will work on any brand of saddle and he does have the correct saddle press to change the saddle tree and knows which trees can be changed. He also adjusted my Hennig saddle for the other fjord and I have had 2 other fitters adjusted it in the past and neither of them made it fit nearly as well as he did. He is very fair in his pricing for fitting, but to have them make a new saddle for you is in the $4000 range. That being said, the first time he was here, he spent over 5 hours and adjusted 3 saddles and didn't charge me anything because I ended up making a deposit on a new saddle. Fitters usually charge a consultation and fitting fee depending on what they have to do. Most, I think will waive the consultation and fitting fee on a horse that you buy a new saddle for, but I have certainly never had one fit other horses for free before this guy. In fact, some fitters will still charge you a consultation fee even if you buy a saddle. If possible, see if anyone you know has saddles you can borrow and try before actually buying one. I would advise against buying a saddle that you can't really ride in several times prior to purchase. If you are interested in a dressage saddle, I have 3 for sale that have fit fjords in the past. Email me privately and I will tell you about them. One is nearly new and has an adjustable tree. It fit both my fjords but not me and I ended up with it because I didn't really ride in it before I bought it, thinking that I could get used to it. Don't make the same mistake. Hope that helps, Robin in very hot humid SW Florida--Magnus and Levi want the summer off :) ________________________________ Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
