The Best Children's saddle for The Pony Club

In this article we will discuss the best saddle's for children and pony club activities. Let’s be honest, our small four-legged friends are very versatile. They can turn their hooves to anything. From dancing pretty to jumping brown fences to jumping solid fences to jumping multi-coloured fences, and big ones at that!

Therefore, pony saddles also need to be able to cope with every discipline. The following saddles in this blog are great for use for general use, or if you are lucky that your little one knows what they want to specialise in, there are some saddles below specific to each discipline. These saddles are top picks for the best saddles for children and for general pony club activities.

The right pony saddle for your discipline

Firstly, before we dive into the popular brands of pony saddle and how they may work for you, we need to consider the discipline your child rides in. You child may be a novice, enjoying happy hacking or just learning to ride. In this instance a GP saddle would be ideal for your junior rider. However, your child may be a bit more experienced and need something discipline specific such as a dressage or jump saddle. In the case of children they often haven't found their niche yet, so if you are really invested in your child and their pony, you may need both a dressage and jump saddle. 

Pony GP saddles

Pony GP saddles traditionally feature a semi deep seat, standard forwardness in the flap and often have a moveable knee block which can be positioned to suit the rider. They are ideal for flatwork, jumping and low level dressage. Pony general purpose saddles are the ideal all rounder. If your budget only allows for one saddle and your child is doing a bit of everything, then a GP saddle would work well for you. 

Pony Jump saddles

Pony jump saddles are often a bit more forward cut in the flap to allow your child to shorted their stirrups and achieve the ideal jumping position. They can also be flatter through the seat which is ideal to ensure their body protector does not get stuck on the cantle. You should consider investing in a pony jump saddle for your child if their are focused on jumping and competing at show jumping competitions. It will help your child to adopt a better position as they further their riding experience. They can also work well for taller children on smaller ponies as the more forward flap can allow a little extra room for their knee. 

Pony Dressage saddles

Pony dressage saddles are the least popular type of pony saddle, but certainly one that should not be overlooked. If your child is competing at dressage, having a dressage specific saddle will really help them develop a more classical riding position and enable them to ride the pony correctly with a longer leg. Lengthening their stirrups in a GP saddle will position their knee off the knee roll and limit the aids and communication between pony and rider. Therefore, if your child does compete at dressage and your budget allows it would be worth investing in a dressage specific saddle for them for use in their schooling lessons and dressage competitions. 

Popular Brands of Pony Saddle

Here at The Saddle Bank, we are the experts in the most popular brands in the market. We know what people want, what fits well, what works well on certain types of ponies and so forth. Therefore we can help guide you to making the right decision for your pony and rider. 

Many people nowadays look for adjustable gullet saddles. The reason for this is that horses and ponies change shape so frequently, there needs to be an easy way to adjust the saddle when this happens. For example, a pony drops off a little weight in winter, and gains it all back on the spring grass. They then lean out and muscle up during the summer when they are competition fit. Your pony will not be the same size throughout this time. Therefore having something which can be altered easily is a top priority for most horse owners. With this in mind we will focus on the adjustable gullet saddles which are popular within the market.

The key brands of adjutable pony saddle include; Wintec, Bates, Arena, GFS Monarch, Whitaker, Kent and Masters, Thorowgood and Cavaletti. 

There are quite a few brands mentioned here, and each offers a variet of models so we will look at each in turn to enable you to establish which is best for your pony and rider. 

If you are unsure you are welcome to email photos of the pony, along with full details about the rider, discipline, budget etc to info@thesaddlebank.com and our lovely team of experts will gladly assist you in narrowing it down. 

Wintec Pony Saddles 

Wintec are a fantastic choice when it comes to pony saddles. They offer a great range which is affordable and adjustable. Therefore the saddle can work well whether your pony is a petite narrow framed type, or a rounder type. You can also insert shims known as Easy Change Risers into the panels to create a custom fit for your pony. 

When trialling a wintec saddle we strongly advise you to take a selection of gullet bars for the trial and also the Pony Jump Easy Change Riser pack which fits into the pony range of saddles. This will enable you to achieve an optimum fit for your pony. 

Key features of all saddles in the Wintec Pony range include:

• Beautiful detail
• CAIR Cushion system
• Easy-Change fit solution
• Changeable stirrup keeper
• Dual flap
• Velcro blocks to suit rider position
• Elastiflex tree guaranteed against breakage for the lifetime of the saddle
• Elastiflex tree is Lightweight, symmetrical and Ultra Durable
• Ergonomic stirrup bar
• Super-soft panels
• Take gullet bars from Narrow - Extra Wide

Wintec 500 Pony All Purpose

The Wintec 500 Pony is a great entry level GP saddle. This wintec saddle is ideal for everyday use, schooling, hacking and jumping. It has a semi deep seat to support young riders. The Wintec 500 range is made from 'Equi-Leather' which is a synethetic material which is lightweight and easy to clean. 

This model also comes in a 14 inch so is ideal for those short backed ponies and typical 12hh ponies. 

Key Features

• Equi Leather = easy to clean (you can hose it down!!) 
• Synethetic girth straps

Wintec 2000 Pony All Purpose

The Wintec 2000 Pony All Purpose is exactly the same as the Wintec 500 but with some upgraded features. Therefore if you like the fit of the 500 but want a little extra grip or prefer leather girth straps, then this is the model for you. 

Key Features

• Equi Suede seat and knee pads
• Leather girth straps 

Wintec 500 Pony Dressage saddle

The Wintec 500 Pony dressage is essentially the dressage version of the Wintec 500 pony GP. It has the seat seat, but with a longer flap and longer girth straps which traditional to a dressage style saddle. If your child is looking to get started with dressage and you don't want to invest too much in the saddle initially, this is a great low budget option to get them started. 

Wintec Pro Pony Dressage saddle

The Wintec Pro Pony dressage saddle is the upgraded version of the Wintec 500 Pony dressage. Again it has the same seat as the GP model, yet with the longer flaps and girth straps. However, the 'Pro' model features the upgraded girth straps (leather rather than synthetic) and the suede effect seat and knee pads for extra grip. This can really help your child stay seated in the saddle. Therefore, if your budget allows, this is a great option, particularly for dressage. 

Wintec Pro Pony Jump saddle

The Wintec Pro Pony Jump saddle is a fantastic pony jump saddle, featuring the suede effect seat and knee rolls for extra grip. The only downside is that it is only available in 16 inch. Therefore is not suiteded to smaller ponies. This works well on those around 13-14 hh provided they can take a 16 inch saddle. It also works well for taller children/teens/petite adults on ponies as the forwardness of the flap allows for extra leg room. 

Bates Pony Saddles 

Bates saddles are from the same family as Wintec Pony saddles, yet offer a full leather more luxurious feel. If you prefer a leather saddle, or have a larger budget, the Bates Pony saddles would work well for you. 

When trialling a Bates pony saddle we strongly advise you to take a selection of gullet bars for the trial and also the Pony Jump Easy Change Riser pack which fits into the pony range of saddles. This will enable you to achieve an optimum fit for your pony. 

Key features of all saddles in the Wintec Pony range include:

• Beautiful detail
• CAIR Cushion system
• Easy-Change fit solution
• Full leather
• Dual flap
• Velcro blocks to suit rider position
• Elastiflex tree guaranteed against breakage for the lifetime of the saddle
• Elastiflex tree is Lightweight, symmetrical and Ultra Durable
• Ergonomic stirrup bar
• Super-soft panels
• Take gullet bars from Narrow - Extra Wide

Bates Pony All Purpose

The Bates Pony All Purpose is essentially the same as the Wintec 500 and Wintec 2000 Pony All Purpose saddles in terms of tree/seat/flaps and fit. However it is a full leather version. So if you do prefer leather then this would be an ideal saddle for you. 

It is extremely customisable in terms of fit by using the Easy Change Gullet bars, Easy Change Riser Shims and by using different girthing options by moving the girth straps to the metal loop provided. Therefore you can achieve the perfect fit.

Bates Pony Elevation 

The Bates Pony Elevation Jump saddle is similar in design to the Wintec Pro Jump, but again it is a full leather upgrade. It is also available in a 15 inch seat. Whereas the Wintec is only available in a 16 inch. Therefore this is a great model for junior riders who are serious about jumping. 

It is available in two leather options; Oppulence and Luxe. Oppulence is a full grain leather and Luxe is a beatiful soft and grippy calfskin leather. The Luxe leather is more expensive, but if your budget allows we would recommend upgrading as it will really aid your young rider with their position from the grippiness of the leather. 

Arena Pony Saddles

The newest addition to the Arena range are Pony saddles! They are available in 15 and 16 inch seat. The Easy-Change fit solution systems ensure you are able to get the right fit for your pony, with the gullet bars ranging from narrow up to extra wide. You or your fitter can then perfect the fit of the CAIR panels with the easy change riser system. A super adjustable saddle with a lifetime guarentee on the Elastiflex tree.

Keep reading to learn more about the 3 Pony saddles in the Arena range.

Arena Pony General Purpose

The Arena Pony GP is a super everyday saddle for the pony riders who want to have a go at everything! Whether that is cantering across stubble fields with your friends, perfecting your centre lines in the dressage boards or splashing through a water jump have a look at the Pony GP here!

With the same leather as the standard GP this dual flap leather Pony GP is available in black or brown.

Arena Pony Dressage

If being a full time dressage diva is more you and your pony's thing then the Arena Pony Dressage is the saddle for you! Based on the Arena Dressage it features a moveable velcro knee block so you move them into postition to suit the rider. 

The pony dressage is available in 15 and 16 inch seat and in black or brown. Click here to order yours now!

Arena Pony Jump

The pony jump available in black and brown in the 15 and 16 inch seat.
This leather dual flap saddle is based on Arena's super popular jump saddle. Featuring velcro knee blocks so they can be positioned to suit the rider and super soft panels to ensure your pony's comfort too!

If your little one is aiming towards the showjumping ring, check out this link!

GFS Monarch Pony Saddles 

The GFS Monarch Pony GP and Pony Jump Saddles

The first saddle here is a luxurious saddle which is suitable for pony riders at all levels. This saddle is a general saddle so therefore it is suitable for a variety of disciplines. This saddle is a full leather saddle with a lightweight and flexible tree. Technical part – the channel through the middle of the saddle offers clearance either side of the spine, this means it can be suited to a wider pony as well as those ponies with the average size wither.

There are knee blocks and rear flexi blocks which give extra support to the rider too. This saddle also has an easy change gullet system. So don’t be put off buying this saddle for a young pony, because it can be adapted to suit them when they change shape.

The pony jump saddle has a variety of benefits. But, as the name says on the tin, this saddle is specifically designed for jumping. This saddle is a fully double stitched covered leather. The panel allows for a closer feel enabling a greater communication between horse and rider. The difference between the jump and the GP is that it has a square cantle and is a forward cut saddle which gives the rider a secure seat and more flexibility.

Monarch Pony Trophy

Available in full leather or leather and suede the Trophy Show saddle is super popular for lead rein and first ridden ponies.

With its classical straight cut, neat show saddle look but the bonus of being and adjustable gullet saddle it really is an all round super show saddle.

It has a low profile flat seat to show off your ponies features whilst having a small removable adjustable knee block to give your little rider some support with our distracting from the ponies shoulder.

Here at The Saddle Bank, we stock both the Pony Jump, GP and Trophy Show saddles new, ex demo and second hand, so if you are wanting to trial a GFS Monarch Pony saddle check out this link:

Whitaker Pony Saddles

Whitaker Barnsley Pony Saddle

The Whitaker Barnsley pony saddle has a quality calfskin seat for comfort. These saddles are made apart of John Whitakers company, a legend in himself. The panel is made from synthetic leather for maximum durability and minimal care. The tree can be modified quickly and easily by using the interchangeable gullet system.

This saddle is also padded using a memory foam cushioning which moulds to the exact shape of your pony. The Barnsley comes in a standard, medium gullet but many gullet sizes can be purchased separately, from narrow to extra, extra wide.

This saddle is very universal for individual ponies, despite their conformation as it can be adjusted accordingly. This saddle is made for the general disciplines. Due to their synthetic parts of this saddle, the price is more favourable too. 

Click here to trial your next Barnsley Pony Saddle.

Whitaker Essentials Pony GP (George)

The ideal general purpose saddle for the young/junior rider, with the seat and knee rolls being made form leather to provide stability and grip and the flaps and underside are synthetic for a light weight easy to clean saddle.

The Essentials (George) Pony GP is a semi forward cut GP saddle, great for all activities! 

Click here to order your Essentials GP today!

Whitaker Highgate Junior Dressage

Designed with dressage rules in mind the Highgate Junior dressage saddle is styled on classic panels feauting a large moulded knee roll and a deep seat to encourage a proper dressage leg position whilst providing security without restriction.

The whole upper part of the Highgate is made from leather for that added comfort with the underpanles and sweat flaps made from a durable easy to clean synthetic leather which needs minimal care – meaning you can spend more time in the saddle.

To trial your next Highgate Junior Dressage saddle simply click here!

Whitaker Junior Pro Jump

A fabulous full leather, close contact jump saddle for the Junior rider from John Whitaker.

Featuring large padded calfskin knee rolls for comfort and support and a forward cut flap to ensure a correct, secure jumping seat, ideal for building confidence in the showjumping stars of the future.

To get your Junior Pro Jump saddle simply click here!

All these John Whitaker saddles are ajustable gullets from Narrow upto XXW.

We stock new, ex demo and second hand John Whitaker saddles, so check out this link for the the full range of John Whitaker saddles.

Cavaletti Collection Pony Saddles

Cavaletti GP

Available in both leather and synthetic the Cavaletti GP is super adjustable gullet wool flocked saddle.
It has a classic mid/low seat so it can be used for flatwork, hacking and jumping. The knee blocks are on velcro so these can be move to suit your junior rider. Taking bars from narrow medium upto extra extra wide this is a great saddle for a wide range of ponies.

Click here to view our range of new, second hand and ex demo Cavaletti GP saddles. 

Cavaletti Collection Show Saddle

Unlike the majority of show saddles the Cavaletti Collection Show saddle is available in black as well as brown. This quality full grain leather saddle has an adjustable gullet taking bars from narrow medium upto XXW, making it a great saddle for a vast range of ponies big and small!

With its flat seat and straight cut panels it is ideal for the show ring, the small moveable velco knee blocks and soft padded knee rolls offer support and security for the rider without distracting from the overall picture ready for the show ring.

Click here to view the Cavaletti Collection Show Saddles we have in stock!

Kent and Masters Pony Saddles

The Kent and Masters Pony Saddle

The Kent and Masters Pony Saddle is a saddle designed for all Pony Club activities. Its specifically designed shape encourages an independent seat for these young riders, or small adults. Their open headed tree provides good wither clearance. Their Velcro blocks under the saddle flap which can be positioned to suit the rider. This saddle is also promoting British with their British wool flocking. The best part of this saddle is it comes in two options. A standard version, and there is a version with longer saddle flaps, and have been adapted for the taller people. So, for those long-legged riders this option is for you.

So, if this saddle appeals to you, then take a look at our range here

S-Series Pony Jump Saddle

Designed specifically for ponies, the S-Series Pony Jump has forward cut flaps and ghost stitching for rider support and comfort with moveable knee blocks so they can be moved to suit the rider.

Although it looks similar to the S-Series Jump saddle the Pony jump is on a tree more suited to the pony confirmation as well as taking the shorter S Bars.

If your young rider is wanting to soar over jumps then this may be the saddle for them! Click here to see the saddles we have in stock!

Thorowgood Pony Saddles

T4 Pony GP

The T4 Pony GP is a super popular all round saddle helping the younger rider to develop a balanced and independant seat. This full synthetic saddle is easy to care for as well as being super comfy for the rider and pony!

The panels have maximised bearing surface whilst being a shorter panel design to enable it to fit short backed ponies. Like the Kent and Masters Pony GP there is also a Long Leg version in the 16 and 16.5 inch seat size for the longer legged rider.

T8 Pony Jump

Similar to the Kent and Masters Pony Jump the Thorowgood T8 Pony Jump has the moveable blocks and is on the pony tree, however it is a mix of leather and synthetic. The seat and knee pads are full leather for rider comfort with the underside being synthetic for easy care and maintenance.

Click here to trial your next Thorowgood Pony Saddle!

Not sure which pony saddle is right for you?

If you are still a bit confused about which saddle or any saddle related product is best for you why not get in touch with our friendly customer support team. Via phone on 01733 301 488 or email info@thesaddlebank.com. Our lovely team are always happy to help as much as they can and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for you and your horse.