A Closer Look At Pony Saddles
Author: HorseSaddleStore.com
For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that a pony saddle is the same thing as a child's saddle. While the two are often the same, it is important to note that pony saddles are built for the smaller frames of ponies, and have varying seat sizes to accommodate different rider sizes. If you are looking for a saddle that your child can use on a Quarter horse, pony saddles are probably not what you are looking for.
When place properly, pony saddles will sit above and behind the withers, but will not extend so back as to be over the pony's haunches. Because ponies come in many different sizes, pony saddles will be wider, longer, or higher, to match a particular body style. Pony saddles are available in the same types as regular saddles, including the most popular two varieties, Western and English, allowing you to choose a type as well as a body type.
Most pony saddles are intended for riders weighing under 80 pounds. There are some pony saddles which are somewhat larger, but the average saddle is made for a miniature sized horse, and the seat size for the saddle must be reduced to match. If the pony is exceptionally large, you would probably do well to look at horse rather than pony sized saddles, increasing the size for both the animal and the rider. Pony saddles are not children's saddles, but ponies are children sized animals, and a lot of the pony saddles available are designed for the smaller bodies of kids or small adults.
As with horses, pony saddles should fit the animal correctly. Using saddles that don't fit the back of the pony would result in very severe injury to both the animal and its riders. A typical problem with pony saddles that are too large is that the cinch straps will not hold it in place properly, no matter how tightly it is strapped. This results in the pony saddles moving not only back and forth the pony's back, but introduces the very real danger of a saddle rolling over, effectively putting the rider directly in the path of the pony's hooves and legs.
Likewise, pony saddles may not be effective for large persons. If the seat size is not comfortable, chafing may occur, leaving the rider feeling sore, and producing rashes
in some very sensitive locations. If the rider is too large for pony saddles, it may be time to move up, not only to a larger type of saddle, but perhaps to a larger steed altogether. A pony is not able to carry heavy weights as well as full sized horses, and expecting them to do can be harmful to their back and legs.
The straps on pony saddles tend to be shorter and narrower, owing to the fact that they are expected to both fit a smaller equine, but also because of the much smaller load limits for the pony itself. Occasionally, these saddles will have straps that are too short to fit the pony. If this happens, a regular cinch or girth strap for a horse saddle may be substituted. In fact, with longer straps and cinches, these saddles are a great way to teach children to ride a full sized horse, as well.
