Bates saddle for a thoroughbred?

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Fingerontheneckstrap

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Have a TB who I got last year to do some retraining. She’s been doing great! has built up a tonne of muscle over time and has filled out quite a bit. Saddle fitter is out again the end of next week as she definitely needs an adjustment, however I seen someone I know is selling their bates GP adjustable saddle. I know the gullet being interchangeable is not a one size fits all rule, but if it did fit it would be so much easier! I am going to see if I could trial it for next week when my fitter is down.

Before I do this however, I just wanted to ask how people find bates saddles? Are they comfy for the rider, and does anyone with experience with TBs find they have fit them in the past? My horse is a bit chunkier now that she’s muscled up and gained a bit of weight, not super chunky that said but she isn’t your typical very fine thoroughbred either, does have a high wither.

Only reason I’m asking is I don’t want to waste the sellers time and seem interested in taking it for a trial and then let them down… even though that’s the point of a trial 🙈
 
I've ridden in a Bates dressage saddle and found it like riding a cloud - so lush and I didn't even ache after an hour without stirrups which was pleasant. I'm a short gal (5'1) but a size 14/16 so am large in the chest area and my bottom is slightly plumper than your average rider, so saddles are a bit hit and miss for me as I'm kinda difficult to fit a saddle to aha!

I've also ridden in a Bates jumping saddle and loved it too - sadly my now retired lad was too short backed for it (rode a friend's horse who was the one selling the saddle BEFORE putting it on my lad's back!) so I had to let it go - but I was proper gutted aha!

My friend has a TB and she rides him in a Thorowgood T8 high wither which seems to work for them and it's adjustable too - so a potential option if the Bates doesn't work out :)
 
AppyLover1996 said:
I've ridden in a Bates dressage saddle and found it like riding a cloud - so lush and I didn't even ache after an hour without stirrups which was pleasant. I'm a short gal (5'1) but a size 14/16 so am large in the chest area and my bottom is slightly plumper than your average rider, so saddles are a bit hit and miss for me as I'm kinda difficult to fit a saddle to aha!

I've also ridden in a Bates jumping saddle and loved it too - sadly my now retired lad was too short backed for it (rode a friend's horse who was the one selling the saddle BEFORE putting it on my lad's back!) so I had to let it go - but I was proper gutted aha!

My friend has a TB and she rides him in a Thorowgood T8 high wither which seems to work for them and it's adjustable too - so a potential option if the Bates doesn't work out :)
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Ah that’s good to hear you found it comfortable! They look like they’d be lush to ride in to be fair 😊

I’ve heard the t8 is great for a high wither! I do know some people have said the GP saddlr has a very deep seat/tips you forward which wouldn’t be ideal as my plan is to event which would mean a lot of jumping and I don’t really want to be tipped forward for that 🙈 might keep an eye out for a Thorowgood jump saddle - they seem to be like hens teeth at the minute though!!
 
I love my bates saddle but I'm not sure they're really that good to fit to most horses, most saddle fitters have told me that its too flat for my connie x tb but we've made it work with a prolite pad. remember they're just wintecs made out of real leather. also be careful with the saddle, check whether its flocked or cair. I got my saddle from new a the cair burst in 2 place after about 7 years, so I've had to have it flocked! also when its cair, you find most saddle fitters struggle to fit them, unless they're wintec trained.
 
kerrieberry2 said:
I love my bates saddle but I'm not sure they're really that good to fit to most horses, most saddle fitters have told me that its too flat for my connie x tb but we've made it work with a prolite pad. remember they're just wintecs made out of real leather. also be careful with the saddle, check whether its flocked or cair. I got my saddle from new a the cair burst in 2 place after about 7 years, so I've had to have it flocked! also when its cair, you find most saddle fitters struggle to fit them, unless they're wintec trained.
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I found with my Bates saddles, I had two, one dressage and one GP that the air bags slowly went down so that you didn't notice at first. They were comfy but I would not have one again because of the air bags.
 
I started with a Bates cc for my TB. It wasn't quite big enough for my leg and it was an older style one (as in....15 years ago it was an 'old style') and I really liked it. The problem in recommending a specific saddle or brand is that the horse and you will be a completely different shape to me and my horse. So while it worked well for him and mostly for me, it might not be appropriate for you.
 
I had a Bates Capelli gp. Very cold and felt secure. One airbag went in it and I got it flocked instead. I did find that I as I started to jump higher I couldn't shorten my stirrups enough so changed to a jump.
 
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