This message is from: Amy Goodloe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I have a question about typical Fjord body size. As I've been emailing with people about Fjords for sale, I've come across a few that say that their horses take medium tree saddles, and I've been assuming that these horses will be too narrow for me. I have never ridden a horse that takes a medium tree saddle that I felt comfortable on. In fact I usually know right away that if my wide or extra wide tree Wintec saddles don't fit the horse, it will be too narrow for me, even if it otherwise seems fairly stout or round.
However, I'm now starting to wonder if there could be something about the way Fjords are put together that would make them fit a medium tree saddle, and yet still be quite wide through the body, as nearly all of them appear to be (both in person and in photos). I prefer a wide, flat back both because I feel more balanced and comfortable and also because more narrow horses tend to aggravate an old hip injury. Plus I am also way too tall to ride a 14h horse that isn't very wide. I like riding the type of horse that people describe as "14h in every direction" or "as wide as he is tall" or "built like a brick outhouse." But most horses that fit that description need wide or extra wide tree English saddles, not medium tree (and not even medium wide).
Could it be that some Fjords out there are being ridden in saddles that are not really wide enough for them, or is there something about the way their withers or shoulders are shaped that would allow an otherwise wide, flat backed horse to fit into a medium tree saddle? There are a few Fjords I didn't take a closer look at simply b/c the owners mentioned that they are ridden in medium or regular tree saddles, but now I'm wondering if maybe that isn't a fair assessment of their actual size. The only way I can really know how comfortable a horse would be is to ride it, of course, but if I'm going to have to fly out somewhere and rent a car and go to the trouble and expense, it would be helpful to at least have some idea of how wide the horse is in advance! At least with a more drafty type I can assume that there's a fair amount of width there, but those types are harder to find.
Thanks, --Amy
