English Saddle for an Haflinger

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Hello,

I have a 3 years old Haflinger. I want to start him under saddle this spring. I heard that it is difficult to find an english saddle to fit haflinger horses since they are quite wide and "witherless". Does anyone found the perfect saddle to fit them ? My horse is about 14,2 hands and weigth 950 pounds.

Thank you,

Sylvie

-- Sylvie Girouard (sgirouard@lavery.qc.ca), February 05, 2001

Answers

Hi Sylvie,

I just saw an English saddle especially made for Haflingers. Go to:

www.sipsey.com/english/

How do you like your horse? We are in the market for one. I'd love to find an affordable Haflinger around here. Seems like everything is in Vermont or out west!

Anyway hope this helps,

Best wishes,

Pauline in NC

-- Pauline (tworoosters_farm@altavista.com), February 05, 2001.


My trail riding partner, that I raised from a colt, has a body that keeps shifting. And I kept buying saddles to fit. (I'm not one who will mickey mouse with pads.) I finally was led to the Natural Ride by a friend of mine. It'll fit high, low or no withers, and my Mammoth hasn't much withers! I've had it for years. I do tough mountain riding. It's not for everyone, 'cause you're basically riding bareback, but safely. I also use it on my steer.

http://www.statelinetack.com/scripts/product.asp?company=slt&style=EI3-720766&category=1606

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 05, 2001.


I saw one for sale on eBay a couple months back by a regular tack dealer, someone who runs auctions all the time, so you might look there. It was built just for Haflingers. I think the price went around $800. Of course, you might luck out and stumble onto a used one for less (maybe!). There is also a rather expensive (but very good) saddle out there that you can adjust the width of the spread on, using either an allen wrench or a phillips head screw driver, something like that, to custom fit your horse. But they're well over a thousand, maybe two, don't know how much you want to spend.

I have horses with all kinds of withers right on down to a Connemara/Arab cross that has almost no withers and a drafty-pony little body. I have preferred either a forward seat or park type saddle for comfort for years over western saddles, however, I ended up buying a Bob Marshall treeless saddle because for my 5 horses, it really is One Size Fits All. And it is extremely comfortable to ride, close contact to the horse, and doesn't aggrevate my knees like western fenders were doing, or rub me in the thigh like the english leathers' buckle was doing (altho I got around that by using dressage leathers on the forward seat saddle, altho ridiculed, it was a big improvement)

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), February 05, 2001.


I have similar problems w/ my morgans. I've been looking at the newer line of Wintec saddles. They come in various styles and have a changable tree. You simply undo a screw and pop in the new size. Of course, you would have to buy the correct size, but they have a wide variety. I found the Wintec Dressage saddles very comfy and have seen folks show in them.

-- elle (eagle-quest@juno.com), February 06, 2001.

I know your problem. I have Icelandics,, they have no withers and are very wide in the back. Have been told that the Wide tree Wintec Isabell dressage saddle will fit. Going to go check one out today. You might also want to try the saddles made for Icelandic horses. Good luck!

-- Bergere (autumnhaus@aol.com), February 07, 2001.


Some folks with wide withered mounts buy draft saddles. Here's a site:

http://www.draftresource.com/Draft_Saddles.html

Click Draft Saddles at Whitman

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), February 08, 2001.


I had a haflinger gelding that was 14 hands and about 1100 to 1200 pounds and I have a Syd Hill Austrailian stock saddle and my vet and massage therapist as well as my trainer all felt that this saddle fit the haflingers as if it was a custom fit. If you are interested in the trails or just want a secure comfortable ride you can't beat this saddle. I had to sell my gelding as he was not working out for my needs and the person that bought him only rides bareback so I have the saddle for sale should anyone be interested. It is in excellent shape and I am selling it for $1000 firm which is a great value as it is worth well over $1600. I did extensive research saddle fitting my haflinger and it sure paid off as this saddle is a superb fit for the haflinger breed.

Thanks Doris

-- Doris (shilo66@hotmail.com), April 24, 2001.


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