Adjusting Wow saddles..........

[air78]

Does anyone do their own? I'm thinking of getting a pump to do mine.

Also has anyone ever fitted a larger headplate than indicated by the gage to allow 'wither hollows' to build up underneath?

Any ideas/ recomendations would be great thanks as I'm a bit unsure of what to do with mine at the moment

 

[Tiffany]

I think they charge about £100 for a pump although a local saddler has told me you can buy a pump from Halfords, make a slight adjustment and it does the job?

 

[Weezy]

If you fit a too big headplate all that will happen is that the saddle will not be level and will tip you forward and the panels will not lay correctly on your horse! The correct headplate is absolutely crucial and especially because of the Flair system the muscles WILL build up under them.

 

[ann-jen]

I've got a pump and have adjusted the air with the help of my instructor but to be honest I find it really nerve wracking and am still more likely call the saddle fitter. I spoke to Dave at WOW one time (not David who owns it but another fitter there who is very knowledgable) and he said that the air adjustment is just the "icing on the cake" and the saddle must basically fit well via headplate size, girthing arrangements etc first and the air is literally just to tweak it to make it perfect. Its impossible to adjust the air without someone knowledgable on the ground to tell you if its sitting straight front to back or to the side so you would still need a good assisstant anyway.

 

[air78]

I've had the saddle for about 18months now, and have gone up one head plate. The size he has in now is correct according to the gage, but IMO the saddle is VERY snug on him and he is not developing any more muscle.
The size diffrence between the headplates is only small anyway, so I was thinking about getting a bigger headplate and attempting to 'fill' the void' as it were with air, then gradually deflate the pannals a bit as he builds up?????????
I'm at a bit of a loss with it as the fitter checked it recently and said it was OK

 

[Weezy]

But it won't "fill the gap" - with a bigger headplate you will be causing MORE surface contact with that area and the incorrect points/parts will cause pressure in the incorrect places.

If you want to go up a size you WILL feel unbalanced (I know, I have just had to chanfe mine down against my will and the difference is amazing - I too questioned all about the muscle growth directly with David the creator and he gave me all the above info!)