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My Tinker, My Friend for Life
The Right Tinker Saddle: Now You've Found It!
Tinkers are true friends. Good-natured animals with charm and a very special temperament. They have strong nerves and a good character. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to training and buying a saddle, so that both horse and rider feel comfortable.
Tinkers naturally tend to have a less load-bearing back. A weight-relieving saddle that distributes the rider's weight as evenly as possible therefore makes a lot of sense. Iberosattel® saddles have an especially large-surface saddle padding, the Iberosattel® Comfort Pad. And their gullet width can be adjusted, and they're easy to re-pad – ideal for the Tinker, a natural late bloomer.
Tinkers naturally tend to have a less load-bearing back. A weight-relieving saddle that distributes the rider's weight as evenly as possible therefore makes a lot of sense. Iberosattel® saddles have an especially large-surface saddle padding, the Iberosattel® Comfort Pad. And their gullet width can be adjusted, and they're easy to re-pad – ideal for the Tinker, a natural late bloomer.
Iberosattel® saddles are adjustable and have an especially large bearing surface. This meets important requirements for a Tinker saddle. — Saddles for Tinkers
Tinker Table of Contents:
Iberosattel® – Who We Are
We are a family business from Bavaria that is wholeheartedly devoted to horses. Alongside our own stud farm, where we breed hobby horses of the Pura Raza Española with a lot of passion, we have been developing and building riding saddles under the name Iberosattel® for over twenty years.
As our name makes clear: our inspiration was, and still is, Spanish saddles – horse-friendly, comfortable saddles that support the horse in its movement and allow for subtle aids. Unlike the Spanish classics, however, our light, modern saddles can be re-padded without any trouble – and the gullet width can also be adjusted within a wide range.
Our saddles sit especially well on horses with Baroque proportions – usually a source of trouble when it comes to finding a saddle. Many popular leisure breeds can be described as Baroque-proportioned in a broader sense. Besides Andalusians, these include, for example, Friesians, Knabstruppers and Haflingers – and, of course, the Tinker too, with its short, round back a "square-built horse" par excellence.
The now fairly extensive Iberosattel® collection includes dressage and Baroque saddles for a range of riders' needs. Iberosattel® offers intelligent solutions for various saddle problems: for example, our Amazona Solution against saddle sores, the Secusad System for hidden saddle identification, or the EWF System for more wither freedom.
As our name makes clear: our inspiration was, and still is, Spanish saddles – horse-friendly, comfortable saddles that support the horse in its movement and allow for subtle aids. Unlike the Spanish classics, however, our light, modern saddles can be re-padded without any trouble – and the gullet width can also be adjusted within a wide range.
Our saddles sit especially well on horses with Baroque proportions – usually a source of trouble when it comes to finding a saddle. Many popular leisure breeds can be described as Baroque-proportioned in a broader sense. Besides Andalusians, these include, for example, Friesians, Knabstruppers and Haflingers – and, of course, the Tinker too, with its short, round back a "square-built horse" par excellence.
The now fairly extensive Iberosattel® collection includes dressage and Baroque saddles for a range of riders' needs. Iberosattel® offers intelligent solutions for various saddle problems: for example, our Amazona Solution against saddle sores, the Secusad System for hidden saddle identification, or the EWF System for more wither freedom.
We develop comfortable, adjustable dressage and Baroque saddles for horses with a short, round back. — Iberosattel®
Tinker: This Back Only Wins the Consolation Prize
For all their friendliness: Tinkers are not "beginner horses with an automatic gearbox." Even the sweetest companion should receive careful training so he can become a reliable partner for life.
The breed's original purpose was as a draft horse. That job calls for strong bones, a high shoulder and well-muscled hindquarters – traits that are correspondingly pronounced in the Tinker. Back muscling, on the other hand, was not given much weight in the breeding – and the Tinker still carries that legacy today: the soft back with little back muscling is typically not very load-bearing, and the high head carriage – another contribution from the draft-horse genes – makes it harder for the back to lift under the saddle.
Of course, a Tinker can still become a resilient, healthy riding horse – but owners should take his particular starting conditions as a reason to pay especially close attention to their equine companion's gymnastic training.
Treat your Tinker to a saddle that makes his job as a riding horse a little easier. Besides a perfect fit, you should also look for as large a bearing surface as possible, one that distributes the rider's weight broadly across the horse's back. Every additional square centimeter reduces saddle pressure!
The breed's original purpose was as a draft horse. That job calls for strong bones, a high shoulder and well-muscled hindquarters – traits that are correspondingly pronounced in the Tinker. Back muscling, on the other hand, was not given much weight in the breeding – and the Tinker still carries that legacy today: the soft back with little back muscling is typically not very load-bearing, and the high head carriage – another contribution from the draft-horse genes – makes it harder for the back to lift under the saddle.
Of course, a Tinker can still become a resilient, healthy riding horse – but owners should take his particular starting conditions as a reason to pay especially close attention to their equine companion's gymnastic training.
Treat your Tinker to a saddle that makes his job as a riding horse a little easier. Besides a perfect fit, you should also look for as large a bearing surface as possible, one that distributes the rider's weight broadly across the horse's back. Every additional square centimeter reduces saddle pressure!
Tinkers tend to have a weaker back and need especially careful gymnastic training. A saddle with an extra-large bearing surface makes it easier for them to carry a rider. — A Back-Friendly Saddle
The Comfort Pad – Extra Wide, Extra Good
The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad is an alternative to conventional saddle padding with wedge or banana-shaped pads. It's especially suited to round-backed horses, whose saddle area "gives" more bearing surface in width than conventional pads make use of.
The Comfort Pad is an ideal solution, especially for rather short but broad horses. By increasing the bearing surface, the rider's weight is distributed better, and the saddle pressure at individual points is reduced. This means no pressure points even on long rides. If needed, we can make our padding especially compact: the Comfort Compact Pad can be shortened down to 44 cm.
What's more, the Comfort Pad, stitched from several thin layers of padding material and additionally cut away at the thigh area, offers exceptionally good contact with the horse: subtle weight and leg aids are transmitted with pinpoint precision. This makes our saddles especially well suited to classical work, where communication through subtle aids plays an important role.
The Comfort Pad is an ideal solution, especially for rather short but broad horses. By increasing the bearing surface, the rider's weight is distributed better, and the saddle pressure at individual points is reduced. This means no pressure points even on long rides. If needed, we can make our padding especially compact: the Comfort Compact Pad can be shortened down to 44 cm.
What's more, the Comfort Pad, stitched from several thin layers of padding material and additionally cut away at the thigh area, offers exceptionally good contact with the horse: subtle weight and leg aids are transmitted with pinpoint precision. This makes our saddles especially well suited to classical work, where communication through subtle aids plays an important role.
Iberosattel®'s saddle padding stands out for its especially wide bearing surface and good contact with the horse. — Iberosattel® Comfort Pad
From "Big Kid" to True Partner … Tinkers Are Late Bloomers
Tinkers are only fully grown at around 8 years of age. Before that, these late bloomers still change quite considerably. Among other things, these changes affect the entire back contour from croup to withers – and with it, the saddle area.
Bad news for the saddle you used to break in your Tinker: it probably won't keep fitting for very long. On top of that, as with any horse, there's further muscle build-up over the course of training – which, hopefully, is especially noticeable in your Tinker, helping to counteract potential back problems.
Tinkers therefore need a saddle that can respond to changes in the back. Iberosattel®'s system has a solution for this: the gullet width can be adjusted on-site by a professional at any time, and the padding can be readjusted again and again – so the saddle can "grow" along with your horse.
An "Ibero" accompanies you and your horse from the very first day of training.
Bad news for the saddle you used to break in your Tinker: it probably won't keep fitting for very long. On top of that, as with any horse, there's further muscle build-up over the course of training – which, hopefully, is especially noticeable in your Tinker, helping to counteract potential back problems.
Tinkers therefore need a saddle that can respond to changes in the back. Iberosattel®'s system has a solution for this: the gullet width can be adjusted on-site by a professional at any time, and the padding can be readjusted again and again – so the saddle can "grow" along with your horse.
An "Ibero" accompanies you and your horse from the very first day of training.
An adjustable saddle grows along with the developmental and training-related changes in the horse's build. — A Saddle with Adjustable Gullet Width
An "Ibero": Back-Friendly, Versatile, and Fits for a Horse's Entire Lifetime
Leisure riders often have big plans for their horses: besides lessons in the arena – classical or dressage – trail rides can be just as much a part of the program as taking part in tournaments. Or attending interesting seminars that broaden your personal riding horizons. And why not try a few jumps sometime? Many of our saddles are exactly the all-rounders you need for that: they cut just as fine a figure in the arena and the dressage court as they do on long outings through forest and meadow, in the cavaletti circle, or on the Working Equitation trail.
Thanks to the adjustable gullet width and the easily re-padded Comfort Pad, an Iberosattel® also provides good service for your horse's entire lifetime: growth spurts and changes in the muscling of the back and shoulders can be addressed via the saddle tree and the padding – for a consistently perfect fit.
Thanks to the adjustable gullet width and the easily re-padded Comfort Pad, an Iberosattel® also provides good service for your horse's entire lifetime: growth spurts and changes in the muscling of the back and shoulders can be addressed via the saddle tree and the padding – for a consistently perfect fit.
An Iberosattel® is an ideal saddle for versatile leisure riders. — A Purchase for Life
These Are the Benefits of an Iberosattel® for Your Tinker
- The large bearing surface of our saddles distributes the rider's weight evenly and reduces saddle pressure.
- The saddles are wide-angled and cut short, making them perfect for the short, round Tinker back.
- Even on a broad back, they won't slip.
- An Iberosattel® offers freedom for the loin area.
- The shoulder is free of the rider's weight and can work unhindered.
- For maximum seating comfort even at the trot, there's the Amazona Solution.
- Our saddles have an adjustable gullet width.
- Re-padding and re-fitting is possible without any trouble.
... And This Is What Our Customers Say
Alexa S. and Tinker Mare with Amazona Dressage Comfort 2000
As a Western rider, I feel completely at ease in my Amazona Dressage Comfort in size 18.5, and I even still have room to spare. I never thought that after all these years I'd sit in a dressage saddle again. The saddle has already been on a few orientation rides.
My Tinker and I are very happy, and I know my young mare will get an Iberosattel® too, once it's time to start her under saddle.
My Tinker and I are very happy, and I know my young mare will get an Iberosattel® too, once it's time to start her under saddle.
We Put a Big Emphasis on Saddle Service
You don't buy our saddles sight unseen – and above all, not without advice. A fixed part of buying a saddle from Iberosattel® is the saddle appointment: we (in Bavaria) or one of our partner saddlers (other German states, neighboring countries) come to you with our saddle van. On this occasion, you can inspect our models with no obligation and try them out. We check your horse's back and advise you on choosing the best saddle for you and your Tinker.
Once you've decided on an Iberosattel®, we measure your horse. We adjust the gullet width and padding individually for every saddle. Models in our Premium Line are made to measure for you and your horse – with numerous choices when it comes to look and functionality.
The first follow-up check is included in the saddle purchase. If your horse's saddle area changes later on, we or our partner saddlers will of course also take care of re-padding and readjusting.
Once you've decided on an Iberosattel®, we measure your horse. We adjust the gullet width and padding individually for every saddle. Models in our Premium Line are made to measure for you and your horse – with numerous choices when it comes to look and functionality.
The first follow-up check is included in the saddle purchase. If your horse's saddle area changes later on, we or our partner saddlers will of course also take care of re-padding and readjusting.
Get in Touch
Would you like to arrange a saddle appointment for your Tinker? Or do you have questions we can answer over the phone? Feel free to contact us!
Hotline: 09179 / 964117
For Tinkers: The Comfort Pad
Short and wide backs for Tinkers: The Comfort Pad.
Short but wide bearing surface for Tinkers.