Arghh -I hate saddle

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Cloud9

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Am so fed up with saddles - never seem to get something to fit either me or my horse - he is a heavyweight cob with huge shoulders and saddles keep slipping right back - got an albion gp which he seemed comfortable but completely put me in wrong position (felt like I was tipped forward and legs so far back) so traded in it and ended up with a pile of rubbish - not level and sent it back but adjustment but came back worse (bridging). I know what the saddler will say as he has put on a little weight since fitted cause of me not riding etc. Plus she only sends it away for alteration - how can a saddler make adjustment to a saddle for a horse he has never seen!! So bought a treeless - my horse goes well in it but I physically can't sit on its width and feel unsafe. Don't know what to do - I have three saddles in total - all useless - do i sell all and start again - I sick of wasting cash?
 
I would sell them all and start again, no point having saddles that don't fit.

Have you tried a saddle with Flair? I was told D would be hard to fit as she is fairly wide and flat backed but her Barnsby GP with Flair fits her like a glove.
 
Thanks for replying - the horse is your signature is gorgeous by the way - mine is coloured too. Not tried anything with Flair but will look into them - I wondered about just buying a synthetic thorowgood or wintec - just so scared of losing more money - however a good saddle is a necessity so it has got to be sorted no matter what - but who do you trust - think I better put a post for a good saddler in staffordshire/shropshire!!!
 
Heather Moffett sells a seat cover for treeless saddles which gives a wide treeless seat a narrow twist. Its called a hip saver. I think I have seen them on the Better Saddles web site. It may help with your situation with the treeless.
 
I would highly recommend the Thorowgood Cob, but don't just go and buy one, despite the changeable gullet etc, you still need to get it properly fitted. Don't buy a Wintec, it almost certainly will not fit

Without being rude, are you possibly placing the saddle too far forward to start with?
 
I might be - it always goes back to same place so always put it around that spot anyway but instructors tell me its too far back etc and that i am too far from where i need to be but you can'y change his natural physique!! i also think his girth groove is naturally further back to - if i could find a picture of him tacked up it might explain - I like his current treed saddle but am worried as it now bridges.
 
I know exactly what you mean, it is so frustrating. However, I have had two saddles made for me by an amateur saddler who is based near Telford and I am delighted with them. They are also excellent value for money. If you are interested let me have your email address and I will give you her details.
 
If you have a photo showing how you place it, that would be good
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I have the same problem to a degree.

In that my cob has loaded shoulders and a fairly short back, and I have longish legs - esp from thigh to knee and find my knee goes over the edge of most saddles I've tried.

I've tried all the styles of Wintec and Thorowgood GP/Jumping on current pony and the ones before, and I don't fit in any of them!

I've now got an Ideal Event saddle. Fits me great. Fits cob well too except that it's nearly too long on her.

The SMS fitter said he'd prefer her to have a slightly smaller saddle but this one is not outside the 'fit area'/length of her back, just.

I would like to get her a smaller, lighter close contact saddle in the future, but this is the 5th saddle I've had in a year.... and she's 4 1/2yrs, so I need to wait until she's her full width and decides whether she's going to have a wither before finding that special saddle
 
Try an Ideal Highland and Cob (of which I have one for sale
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Havana 17" brand new
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) as they are a great fit on a wide flat horses. Annoying my horse, who WAS wide and flat (hence buying the H&C) has decided to grow again and is now not nearly so wide, hence selling of saddle.
 
We have a wide flat fell pony and have an Ideal working hunter saddle that hardly moves on her. Ideal are expensive, but they seem to fit flat horses well.

Ditto don't go for a wintec. They are hideous saddles to ride in!
 
Don't gpo wintec they are awful, just upgraded for one!! I know hoe frustrating it is its taken me months to buy one! Try the ideals they are really good!
 
Wintecs while not for everyone are not awful. I have a Farrington, Albion and two Wintecs. The Wintec with Cair is the one that fits my horse the best. Her Physio also rates them.

Like most things they don't suit everyone but don't discount them.
 
Seriously try the Thorowgood Cob range. I have tried everything under the sun for my cob (in my sig) and it’s the only thing that really fits him, in the XXW. The ideals just aren’t wide enough, even when sent back to the manufacturer to have made as wide as they would go.
I feel your pain, I have been where you are now!

P.S Well done with the Treeless, I absolute hate treeless saddles, the only time I have fallen off getting on!
 
Hey thanks - I would not say i have done well with it but have managed to stay on!! Hate cantering though - I thought it was the right way to go - so that will now be for sale definitely - they suit some people horses - read alot of posts from people who love treeless but I just could not manage it!!

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I was the same, just didn’t feel I had any stability in the treeless and it rolled big time, might as well have been bareback. The Thorowgoods aren’t expensive either, I just have the T4 Cob GP, but they do a leather version too. I hunt in mine, so in it all day and I find it really comfy.
 
We had a problem with our 16hh cob X saddle - just kept slipping back as he was very flat and had a good shoulder which kept knocking it back, He's girth groove was also naturally set back. My saddler was brilliant, she fitted an Ideal saddle with 4 girth straps so that I can alter as he gets fitter etc and allows adjustments, along with a hunting breastplate, it seems to have done the trick. he hunts 2 times a week plus works in a riding school so his addle has to do the right job !
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have tried everything under the sun for my cob (in my sig) and it’s the only thing that really fits him, in the XXW. The ideals just aren’t wide enough, even when sent back to the manufacturer to have made as wide as they would go.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd argue that - I have a thorowgood XXW (i.e widest they do) and also an ideal Highland and Cob saddle (for sale!) thats set at an xxxwide and is noticable wider than the thorowgood - it's far too wide for my horse, where are the thorowgood fits with a thick pad. I agree that the standard Ideals don't go particularly wide but the Highland and Cob range is probably the widest saddle I've ever seen.

Cloud9 - is that your current saddle? The balance looks good but it does look 'perched' on him. Maybe it just needs to bed down? as for sliding back - get a breastplate!
 
Yes that is my current saddle - which I actually do really like - it is very comfortable - the main problem was that it rolled to the right and it was obvious he had less flocking in it that side so the lady who fitted it sent it away and it came back worse - too tight and bridges!!!
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However I have spoken to a saddler called Andy Wheals who assures me I have a decent saddle and is confdent he will make it fit no problem - so feel better and can't wait till he comes next Friday. I have it on good authority that he does a very good job
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Having seen your picture now I would suggest you need a straighter cut saddle - one designed for cobs, or a VSD or show saddle so that you can clear those shoulders but still have the saddle in the correct place.

I have been won over by Saddle Company saddles for heffalump shaped horses, the gullet can be adjusted to various widths and the flocking can be adjusted too - I have used the Endurance and Dressage models.

Of course this would restrict your options as far as jumping goes
 
Thanks for advice - will look into them too - and don't jump really - I prefer to keep all his feet on the floor!!!!! I am just a happy hacker........
 
Firstly, may I make it clear that the first "saddler" you had out was NOT a real saddler but a saddle fitter, there is a vast difference!
A REAL saddler will assess the horse, fit and flock on site to make the saddle fit the horse if it is at all possible NOT send it away!
We are trained to make saddles and have in depth knowledge of how that saddle is made and the materials and lorinery involved that's used to make it including the breaking strains on it and why saddles are made the way they are so we can easily adjust them, this new breed of "fitters" seem to rely on sending the saddle away and as you have said, how can you flock a saddle on someone else's say so, you can do it but then a proper saddler would need to see it back on the horse etc maybe a few times as they adjust it further!
Let's hope the new guy you are having out is a real saddler not just a saddle fitter!
 
Cloud9, can I just ask what make is your current saddle in the photo? It looks like just what I'm looking for
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Btw, your horse looks lovely and the white parts so white !
 
Thanks - he does look ultra white in that photo - I can assure he does not look like that now after living out this winter!!! The make is a Silhouette Saddle made in Walsall - am told they are quite a reasonable saddle with a decent tree in it - How true that is I don't know as am sure there are differing opinions
 
Hi, you would definately benefit from getting a saddler out. I would sell all 3 and start again as suggested. We have an extra wide flat backed witherless cob mare and she has a Barnsby saddle, which is perfect for showing in and very comfortable. You could buy a limpet pad to stop the slippage!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Seriously try the Thorowgood Cob range. I have tried everything under the sun for my cob (in my sig) and it’s the only thing that really fits him, in the XXW. The ideals just aren’t wide enough, even when sent back to the manufacturer to have made as wide as they would go.
I feel your pain, I have been where you are now!

P.S Well done with the Treeless, I absolute hate treeless saddles, the only time I have fallen off getting on!

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agree with all of above, have just got my thorowgood cob dressage saddle and it is great.. Big cob, big shoulders... it fits better than his albion ever did.
 
I second the advice to go for a slightly striaghter cut - VSD or working hunter cut.

Another thing I REALLY urge you to do is look into Owen-panel saddles. These do not have padding going down the front of the flap, behind the horse's shoulder. Instead, the padding follows the underside of the tree, leaving the horses's shoulder totally free. Humphries and Swain do saddles with these panels - I have owned one in the past and wish I'd never sold mine! You can look at a selection of saddles here:

http://www.specialistsaddles.co.uk/?cat=7

They will let you try a saddle, and I think do a delivery/pickup service too - they are great people to deal with. Might be worth a punt!
 
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