diff --git a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
index a4db52429..befaae8f6 100644
--- a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
+++ b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
@@ -2088,6 +2088,9 @@ shop bug: buying a container with unpaid items in it could produce impossible
 	"unpaid_cost: object not on any bill" warnings
 when walking into/against a locked closed door, 'autounlock'==kick didn't
 	execute kick when player answered yes to "Door is locked.  Kick it?"
+having a 1% chance of creating rideable monsters with worn saddle gave knights
+	a 1% chance of creating an extra saddle for starting pony; it wasn't
+	tracked with other objects so produced a trivial memory leak
 
 
 Fixes to 3.7.0-x Platform and/or Interface Problems Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/src/dog.c b/src/dog.c
index a80b3679d..7fffb6da9 100644
--- a/src/dog.c
+++ b/src/dog.c
@@ -217,7 +217,12 @@ makedog(void)
             petname = "Sirius"; /* Orion's dog */
     }
 
-    mtmp = makemon(&mons[pettype], u.ux, u.uy, MM_EDOG);
+    /* specifying NO_MINVENT prevents makemon() from having a 1% chance
+       of creating a pony with an already worn saddle; dogs and cats
+       aren't affected because they don't have any initial inventory
+       [if anybody adds stranger pets that are expected to have such,
+       they'll need to modify this] */
+    mtmp = makemon(&mons[pettype], u.ux, u.uy, MM_EDOG | NO_MINVENT);
 
     if (!mtmp)
         return ((struct monst *) 0); /* pets were genocided [how?] */
@@ -225,7 +230,7 @@ makedog(void)
     if (!svc.context.startingpet_mid) {
         svc.context.startingpet_mid = mtmp->m_id;
         if (!u.uroleplay.pauper) {
-            /* initial horses already wear saddle (unless hero is a pauper) */
+            /* initial horses start wearing a saddle (pauper hero excluded) */
             if (pettype == PM_PONY
                 && (otmp = mksobj(SADDLE, TRUE, FALSE)) != 0) {
                 /* pseudo initial inventory; saddle is not actually in hero's