CLIENT INFO

Saddle 1

Current saddle: Kent and Masters S Series Jump

Style: GP

Width: MW

Material: Leather

Length: 17

Panel design: Drop panel – Gussets – Close contact

Flocking: Jacobs wool – White synthetic – Foam

Flocking condition: Bad – Good – Bridging

Flocking job: None – Top up – Total reflock – Balancing fill

Girth: LeMieux Gel-Tek Anatomic Long Stud Girth with Magnet

Girthing options: 2 and 3 used.   

Billets: 3

Saddle flaps: Twin – Mono

Leathers: 

Tree check: Pass –  Fail

Visual marks/damage: None

Saddle 2

Current saddle: xxxxxxx

Weight: 450kg

Height: 14’2

Heel height L: 

Heel height R: 

Head: Normal size and balanced

Neck: Well set on body and in proportion

Wither height: Low – Medium – High

Shoulder muscle: Underdeveloped – Developed – Loaded – L greater – R greater – Balanced

Thoracic trapezius/spinalis region: L atrophy – R atrophy – Developed – Underdeveloped – Even

Scapula angle: Upright(>50°) – Normal (45°) – Sloped (<45°)

Scapula placement: L forward – R forward – L back – R back – Even

Notes:

Back : Normal – Flat – Curved – Broad – Narrow – Roach (kyphosis) – Sway (lordosis)

Back level: Downhill – Uphill – Normal
Notes:

Barrel: Slab sided – Well sprung – Wide to narrow shoulder – Narrow to wide shoulder – Average – Rotated L – Rotated R

Girth: Average – Forward – Backward

Croup: High – Round – Sloped

Lumbar:

Rump/hip: L high – R high – Developed – Underdeveloped – Even

Front legs from ahead: Ideal – Base narrow – Base wide  – Bow legged – Toes out – Narrow chest toes out – Knock kneed – Pigeon toed
Front legs from side: Ideal – Over at knee – Behind the knee – Reverse knee – Forward knee

Back legs from behind: Ideal – Base narrow – Base wide – Cow hocked – Bow legged
Back legs from side: Ideal – Stands under – Stands in front – Too straight

Front feet: Bare foot – Shod
Notes: Small mid toe split L & R, being managed. Strong horn all round.

Back feet: Bare foot – Shod
Notes:

Crest: Good muscle tone.

Shoudler: Well developed

Croup: Well developed, rounded and toned.

Barrel: Light coverage of fat.

Topline: Well developed back muscles along the longissimus and into the thorasic trap area, blending into the neck.

SCORE: 3

DSPs: Dip away (T*) – No dip – Sensitive (T*) – Not sensitive

Notes:

Longissimus: Developed – Underdeveloped – Sensitive – Not sensitive
Notes:

Latissimus dorsi: Sensitive – Not sensitive
Notes:

Thoracic trap/spinalis: Sensitive – Not sensitive
Notes: 

Lumbar: Sensitive – Not sensitive
Notes: Primarily tense when i first put hands on the ponies back, but soon gave in. It may be nerves in this ponies case as they don’t like being approached from rear. Also note that there is currently bridging in the panels so this may have driven pressure back.

Rump: Sensitive – Not sensitive 
Notes: Good muscle coverage.

Thorasic seratis ventralis: Sensitive – Not sensitive
Notes:

Pectorals:  Sensitive – Not sensitive
Notes:

Head: Nod – Tilt – None

Shoulder L: 

Shoulder R: 

Barrel:

Hip L:

Hip R: 

Leg FL: 

Leg BL:  

Leg FR: 

Leg BR:

Foot FL: 

Foot BL: 

Foot FR: 

Foot BR:

Tracking up: Overtracking – Undertracking – Tracking up

Tail: Left – Right – Helicopter – Even

Saddle 1

Overall view: Saddle fits ok, but needs full reflock to bring it up onto the panels as was very flattened throughout.

Gullet: 2 finger clearance above DSP

Gullet channel: nice width throughout

Gullet angle to shoulder: bar is a good fit. Unlike most connemara, this horse has a bit more wither and trap.

Shoulder:Room to fit fingers between flaps and horse once girthed.

Cantle: Sat well on horse

Panel: Both panels have been heavily compressed and there is knotting at front of panels so they need to be reflocked.

Knee roll: Clearance and not restricting scapula

Longitudinal: Balanced along entire panel. 

Lateral: Sits square with no L or R tilt, but Alex mentions she has to pull girth on tighter otherwise they may be some shift.

Cranial nerve: Good clearance around cranial nerve 11.

Saddle 1

Lateral balance: Even – L slip – R slip

Longitudinal balance: Even – Front low – Rear low

Gullet clearance: Maintained – Dropped

Notes:

There’s a lot to do on this saddle It needs a full reflock, after which time i will re-assess the overall comfort and balance on the pony.

The key markers are all positive, so I am confident that the reflock will improve the fit.

My only concern is, once reflocked – will the saddle roll on the more pronounced panels, as currently the panels are so flattened, they match the longissimus musles perfectly.    

Based on my previous statement, I will re-flock lightly, so there is room for the panels to flatten down a tiny bit.

I will probably find that the front will need raising as most connie are a bit bum high, but that would be after test riding.

Another thing to note is how much wider the horse is in front of the scapula and so when the saddleis dropped into place in the thorasic trap , the shoulders widen a fair bit in front of the knee rolls, so they’re a bit tight.

I could try a wider bar, next time i visit.

VIDEOS provided

——

Alex is happy in the saddle as it fits her well.  She is a very experienced rider of competition horses and racehorses, so she is quite happy to assess what feels good for her.

I  watched Alex ride for some time and am happy that she is balanced both in the saddle and light seat. and the pony is comfortable.

Her stable mate, is a physio, who also confirmed that the pony is regularly treated and is comfortable, aside of a tense spot that I already mentioned, that has been recent and a tight spot in the wither region, that came after the pony pulled  back from fall on a cross country fence.   All issues resolved with treatment.