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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
 
Location: Oklahoma | I'm so excited. I have a "retired" gelding that I've wanted to put back on the barrels, but his hocks are just too far gone. He's 17 and my husband has wanted me to sell him, but I can't bring myself to let him go to someone that wouldn't get him his injections and keep him trimmed and comfortable and all that. Vet also told me that he would probably start losing teeth in a few years and I want to be able to make sure that he gets plenty of groceries and doesn't go downhill. He's perfectly fine as a walk/trot horse, but I don't really have any use for him because I can't even get my main horse legged up with all this rain.
Anyway.... I was talking to my SIL last night and she said that her daughter (my husband's 13 year old niece) wants to try and ride.... but they know nothing about finding her a horse and all. I told her I have just the guy for the job.
I bought a Triple Creek a few months ago that fits him really well. It's a 15" seat, but I know that's going to be too big for her (she's probably more of a 13.5"). How big of an issue will this be for her? I know we will be able to get the stirrups adjusted for her, but I can't change the seat size and I know that they won't be out on the lookout for a special tree and seat size combo.
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
 
Location: Oklahoma | For what she's learning, seat size should be fine... |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | TwistedK - 2015-05-19 12:47 PM For what she's learning, seat size should be fine...
Agree. I rode a 15" when I was like 11-12 because that's what we had. I didn't get a barrel saddle that fit until I got serious about it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | Three 4 Luck - 2015-05-19 12:50 PM TwistedK - 2015-05-19 12:47 PM For what she's learning, seat size should be fine... Agree. I rode a 15" when I was like 11-12 because that's what we had. I didn't get a barrel saddle that fit until I got serious about it.
Same here I went from a 13 to a 15 inch so I wouldnt grow out of it. I just recently realized a 14 inch is really what I need because I had rode in big saddles all of my life. |
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Look on some tack websites. They have cushions to attach to the back of the seat to make the seat area smaller. I forget what named they give them but that might help! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I started riding in my mom's 15" barrel saddle when I was about 12. It was just fine.
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Growing up, we had to ride in an adult saddle, because it came with the horse, and that's all my parents could afford. We couldn't even reach the stirrups. We got along just fine and didn't know any different.
Now if she starts doing some faster riding, she'll probably need a smaller saddle. She'll be fine, don't stress over it :) |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | As others said - do not stress over the seat size. In fact, it will probably help her out a bit since she will have to learn quickly about balance and using her legs properly -- it will be fine for a beginner at a walk, trot and down the line when she gets confident a strong in a lope. How wonderful of you to provide this girl with the opportunity to learn to ride on a nice horse! |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Thanks, everyone!! I'm pretty excited about it!! I'm just glad the ole guy is getting a job. He loves going and I know he will eat the attention up getting groomed and treats and the works! |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | I also started riding in my mom's and my grandpa's 15" roping saddles. I was about 8 when i started riding. By the time I was going fast enough that it could be an issue I was good enough to keep my butt in the saddle lol. I didn't even get to use the stirrups when I started, I got those when I got my own horse because my mom didn't want to have to switch the stirrup length 30 times a day. I sure didn't rely on the saddle keeping me on. Granted I wasn't riding a 1D rocket, but he wasn't old, slow, or lazy either. You had to be on your game. |
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 Texas Lone Star
Posts: 5318
Location: where ever my L/Q trl is parked | Bucknroll - attaches just behind the pommel to make the seat smaller. Probably get one at a good tack store. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| 15" sounds good to me, make her ride bareback too. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | My first saddle was a 17" roping saddle that probably weighed more than I did! I couldn't pick it up and put it on my horse I had to get my dad to do it!
So a 15 should be fine! Lol |
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