WHOBAA COMMUNITY MESSAGE FORUM - By digitalcreations

Does anybody know of a solution to fitting a saddle to a 2y.o. waler? I've been to see a saddler at Breadbo, who said I wouldn't find a saddle off the rack to fit him due to his shape- most saddles are made for today's popular breeds (ie quarter horses), so I would have to get one custom made, but he said not to bother because he's going to fill out a lot. I asked about an older saddle, from when narrower horses were a more popular breed and he said if I could an old stock saddle to fix up (worth fixing up!) that he could adjust it to fit. I've tried the Wintec changeable gullet stock saddle, but even at the narrowest, with a front riser it pressed on his withers. The Syd Hills were a no go- once I found out just how bad mine was I vowed never to buy another! I've found a Wayne Walker NSW stock saddle, nearly dead, it fits me and Trooper like a glove, but it will need about $1000 worth of repairs. It's incredibly comfortable to sit in, but does anyone know anything about them? Are they a good saddle, worth fixing up? Or does somebody else have something else that could work?

How about a treeless saddle? Just a thought!
I know a Wayne Walker who owns Newmarket Saddlery in Sydney but I've never heard of a Wayne Walker saddle, Sorry!

Yes, I've looked into them, one of my friends has one, but she says that the treeless saddles tend to need breastplates and cruppers to keep them in place, and we live in a very hilly area. Does anyone here actually have one? If so, does it suit their waler, and do they slip as much as she said? I'd prefer a stock-type saddle, but sadly I don't think I've found anything really good yet!

Immagine Trooper will only be getting very light work as a 2 y.o., and he will change shape a lot over the next 5 yrs or so before he matures so you wouldn't want to put a lot of money into a saddle that will need changing.
We used "better quality" Indian stock and all purpose saddles with reasonable trees for commercial trail rides and lessons, for 10 yrs. Had the arches replaced by proper "spring" ones. Was not expensive to have done, and could easily be changed. Still have them and are in good servicable condition. We found the Australian stock saddles much to rigid and heavy (needed a crane to lift onto the horse), and much too expensive !
A lot of todays Indian saddles are quite good - they had to get their act together to compete. Naturally I would rather buy Australian, but I am not wealthy enough to stand on principle.
I recently brought a Status synthetic stock saddle, because I am old enough to be lazy & couldn't afford a Wintec. I am most happy with it - light, compfy, flexible and easy to keep clean. Worth a look.
Appears that Trooper is a "light" type - what is his breeding ?
Hope this may help a little.

I think Trooper is a medium type- he's got very chunky legs, and most people think he's around 4 when they just look at him, but he really hasn't grown into himself at all yet. I bought him from Snowy Waler Stud- he's "Snowy Idriess" out of "Talara Alpha Limerick" (probably a light/medium type) by "Newhaven Ryrie" (medium). The saddler said he had thoroughbred shoulders/withers and the hindquarters of a heavier breed, with good bone. I did buy a new Indian stock saddle over the phone, but it was so wide it was almost flat (not exaggerating!!), so we sent it back to the shop, and didn't try again! Was there a particular brand of Indian stock saddles you used, and where did you get them from? Trooper gets a light ride most days after school, up to a neighbours where I'm breaking in another pony (he waits in the yards for a while, then does some flatwork or goes on a short bush ride), and a better one on the weekends, where we go for a (longer) trail ride or do some cattle work.

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This picture is about six months old now- he's filled out a bit more since then, and he's greyer in colour. But as you can see, he's still a big baby.

Nice looking boy.
Had a look in the saddle shops, so many different Indian saddles now. Years ago I bought a "Kincaid" for Pat., her horse had a high wither and was quite narrow there. Fitted him well, but they have all changed now.
Also have a Cordillo Downs horse of the same type, now retired, will look to see if we still have his saddle which you would be welcome to try.
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I think I would try a "Status" or similar ( if you are o.k. with synthetics ) on a "try before you buy" - see how it goes. Can get same with narrow gulletts.
I had a "Barcoo Poley" at one stage for a high withered horses - fitted him well but he hated it - much to heavy and rigid.
Some of the old Aust. stock saddles are great e.g. Winneke, but are either stuffed ( and I don't mean as in what is inside them ) or too costly.
Or put it on a saddle shop - "sell me a saddle that suits the horse and I don't have to mortgage the house for !".

*laughs* So true about the old stock saddles! I'm taking my Wayne Walker up to the saddler next week if we get the time (it'll take all day to get there and back!) to see if he reckons its worth fixing, and to give us a more accurate quote. I've gotten most of the mould out of the poor old thing, soaped it until I can actually move the flaps comfortably and given it a bit of an oil. It looks like a different saddle, but I'm not sure how it will go. If it doesn't work, I'll definitely be chasing up all of your leads there! Thanks.

Just out of curiosity.... Why are you breaking him in at 2 yrs old? How much work do you plan to do with him? I broke in a colt I bred just recently - at 28 months old - got him to the walk stage where we could stop, start and turn (2 weeks work) and he has now been put in the paddock until Nov when he will be 3. I found that my Status all Purpose fit him extremely well and he is the same build as trooper.

Hello folks.

I use a treeless on my lovely Waler mare. It is sensational. I am in the Perth hills and it is the best investment EVER!!! Yes I use an endurance Zilco breastplate on her but mainly for safety. It hasn't moved yet but better safe then sorry. She moves much more freely in the treeless plus the bonus is I've not suffered with my back (as a result of riding) since using it. I have nothing but praise for it. Also I can put it on anything. My very old TB with a wither that mirrors Everest wears it too. Chalk and cheese body types that can use the same saddle with out any modifications.

Here's a photo, oh what a sexy girl. Hope it works, LOL. Feel free to ask any questions you like if you have any.




I thought I would add that...
I sent her off to be started when she was 3years and 2mths. I'd had her for 5 months and we'd played and generally spent time bonding and becoming friends. When I got her back I rode her for a few months in a Bates Kimberley Poly Stock saddle which always ended up halfway up her neck. She seemed reluctant to move forward without gentle persuasion (big stick LOL). I was also concerned about how well her muscles would develop whilst having the pressure/interference of the ridged tree. So I looked into an alternative and the treeless was the direction I took and I haven't looked back.

Wow, she's really gorgeous! Awesome shade of bay, too. What brand of treeless have you got for your girl? I don't mind breastplates, my friend that taught me how to break prefers to use them on all young horses. (He's also a "better safe than sorry" person.) So, with the treeless saddle, it does have good wither clearance then? And it hasn't tipped up at all? (On either horse?) Also, what model have you got? And do you know if the different models affect the fit of the saddle at all? Trooper was a bit reluctant to move out for a little while too, but a couple of cracks from the horse chiropractor solved that problem over a weekend.

Trooper was broken in at just over 2, because that's when my friend had time to keep an eye on me. We did constant work (never more than 20-30 mins a day, because thats all the time they will learn well for), for a little over three weeks, which was all it took to get him going nicely with walk, trot, canter, stop, back up, side pass, cattle, cars, creeks, bush etc. when he was turned out for a few weeks. (Please note- we were using a variation of the Jefferies method.)
At that time, the Wintec stock saddle (narrow with front riser) fitted nicely. I worked him fairly gently for a few months (trail rides, giving riding lessons (not the kids on him, but me, using him as a demo horse), moving the cattle and some flatwork), turned him out for over a month over the EI and my exams, bought him back in and did the same sort of work for a couple of months, then turned him out for 2 months to fill out some more over summer while I got another horse ready for sale.
I brought him back in about two months ago but his shape had changed and no saddles (that are mine, or could be mine) fitted. I've been borrowing a different old one from my friend but it really needs to go back to him before it falls apart at the seams any more. (The stuffing really has been knocked out of it!) I'm not sure what work I'll be doing with him over the next 6 months, but due to HSC I can see him getting a nice holiday at some point.
And as I'm having my brag here, I'd better go all out and say Trooper's learnt to lie down for me! Yes! Didn't take him long either- only 5 lessons of no more than 2 lie downs each time, and he now lies down within 5 or 10 seconds of being asked. You just have to love working with a horse like him!

Thanks very much.

It's a Barefoot Cheyenne. She has people around that can come out and you can ride in them and see which one suits you best. By tipping up you mean when I get on does it slip? Only if the girth isn't tight enough. I always use a booster to get on where possible anyway milkcrate, log, etc. I think it's a little nicer to not put my body weight on one stirrup to get up if I can avoid it. It's also saves my back too. Good luck.
http://www.horse-connection.com.au/

Thanks heaps for that- I'll definitely look into it and I can only hope I have the luck you did!