Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Changing musculature on a young horse's back

From: Kirsten

Hi again. I'm going to be starting my two year old filly Denpasar (then to be three) next spring. I'm going to have to buy a saddle for her then.

I'm wondering if I should get a nice used saddle for Denpasar (Stubben or Passier A/P: I'm not sure if I'll end up doing dressage or CT with her) and wait until she has been working under saddle for a few years, and her back muscles have developed, and get my *great* new saddle then. Or should I go ahead and get the new saddle right away?

Thanks.

Kirsten

Hi Kirsten! My advice would be to get a good used saddle for now, for several reasons. First, your concern about changing musculature is valid -- a saddle that fits your filly like a glove when she is just beginning under-saddle work will not fit the same way when she has developed her riding muscles. There are withers to be considered, as well -- the spinous processes that make up the withers AND the area behind them (where the saddle goes and where the rider sits) are the last parts of the skeleton to develop, and you won't know precisely what her conformation will be in that area until she is fully developed, somewhere around the age of six (eight or later in many Warmbloods).

Second, since you don't know whether her area of specialization will be Dressage or Combined Training, it would make more sense to wait until you DO know, and then buy your "perfect" saddle. By that time, she'll be fully mature anyway. I'm assuming that no matter what direction her later training takes -- dressage only, or eventing -- her basic training will be the same: you'll take her through the lower levels of dressage and, by the time she is six or so, get her to the point where she can jump comfortably around a 3' course.

If you buy a good quality used saddle in good condition, and maintain it well, you'll almost certainly be able to sell it in a few years for the same amount you paid for it. Saddle prices are going in only ONE direction -- UP. And good saddles hold their value. You can always find a buyer for a GOOD used saddle. If you look for a VSD model, you'll be able to do exactly what you want: dressage up through at least third level, and jumping up to at least three feet. Beyond third level and above three feet, you'll probably want to go with a more specialized saddle: a D model (dressage) or a VSS (all-purpose/ jumping).

This will also give you several years to sit in every single saddle you can find, at tack shops, at friends' barns, EVERYWHERE. Try everything, look at everything, take notes, collect catalogues. When you are ready to buy that brand new perfect saddle for Denpasar, you'll know exactly what you're looking for.

Jessica

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