New member - saddle fitting ideas please

Hi All,

I am new to the board so I hope I have posted this in the right place.

I have a beautiful thoroughbred ex-race horse mare. She is 17hh and 11 years old. I have had her two years, in which time I have been re-schooling her towards eventing. As you would expect during this time she has changed shape considerably as she has grown muscles in new places.

Her muscles are still changing but are now much more settled, compared to the dramatic changes we had initially.

However, she is a ‘typical thoroughbred’ in that she piles weight on in the summer and drops off in the winter, so is constantly changing shape. She also has poor muscle development over her back, and whilst this is improving all the time I don’t think she is ever going to have a fabulous topline. In addition she has an enormous wither, really huge, which runs quite a long way back into her back.

This, as you can imagine, has led to some saddling issues! I currently have her in a Thorowgood, high-wither, GP. Whilst this does seem to fit her (and has been checked by a master saddler), I know it wont for long. It also does absolutely nothing for my position for flat work, though it is pretty good for jumping in.

So, to come to the point (finally!) I think a treeless saddle would suit her well, allowing for her continuing muscle changes and for her annual shape shifting. But I am not sure whether one could be found that can accommodate her massive wither without contacting her spine – I have noticed that even some saddles that seem to have decent wither clearance will contact her spine about a hands span back from the wither. She has a long back so can accommodate big saddles if needed.

I also need something that I can school in, hack in and jump in, up to about 3’3” but including xc type jumps, drops, steps etc. I realise that eventually having two saddles, one for flat work and one for jumping, would be ideal – but for the moment funds only allow for one saddle.

To further complicate I have arthritis in my hands and wrists. Having such a big horse means that I need a light weight saddle or I find tacking up and untacking very difficult. Along this line I would also like to avoid any faffing about with pads and shims etc if possible.

Not sure if it is relevant but I am 5’3” and 8.5 stone.

Can anyone help?