Bates saddles for thoroughbreds

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kandm

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As the title said really. What are people's experiences with bates saddles, preferably dressage and jump rather than gps on thoroughbred horses? I know all horses conformation differs however as a general view.

Thanks,

Kiri
 
I have a Bates Caprilli Close Contact for a TB and haven't had any problems. It was fitted by someone who only deals with Bates/Wintec, and I'm very happy with it. The horse seems happy too.

If you take the range of TB sizes/builds, she's probably in the middle: about 16hh, athletic, not ultra fine.
 
I have a Bates dressage on my high withered TB - it's the only saddle she's ever been happy in and which has fit her so well. It was expensive but worth every penny. I had it fitted by a specialist Bates fitter though.
 
I've had a bates innova for an Irish tb.....beautiful saddle and best I've ever had for him! Fitted really well and air bags helped with large shoulder movement!
 
I have a bates momentum jumping saddle, I use it on ben now but it was purchased for ebony who was very TB in build, fitted her wonderfully and she went like a dream, lovely to ride in.
 
I have a Bates Isabell on my TB. Saddle fitter said she couldn't find him a better fitting saddle if she tried. Fits him like a glove. :)

My friend has a Bates Dressage on her TB and loves it. Fits him really well and she is really happy with it.
 
Bates and Wintec don't go anywhere near my 7/8 TB. Not really the right shape for her - the points are too long as she has a huge shoulder plus they don't go wide enough - really!
She is in a 6 plate in a WOW saddle (medium is roughly equivalent to a WOW 1 or 2 plate, depending on panel set up) even at 25yo and basically retired to happy hacking. She was even wider when she was still competing :eek: My saddler describes her as a cob with withers :lol: hate to think how wide she would be if I let her get fat.
 
Wintecs and Bates were designed for TB so usually a good fit. The tree and panels are pretty much the same for the GP and dressage but quite different for the CC jump ( much flatter panels). You may however find the front of then panels aren't deep enough for a hollow, withery TB.
Also bear in mind that the older style wintec and Bates are VERY different to the newer (last couple of years) models.
 
I have a Bates Inova for my TB and we love it. Had it fitted by saddler who deals in Bates and I can honestly say it's one of the best dressage saddles I've ridden in. Puts you in a great position and my horse is going fantastically. He is ex polo, fairly high withered and light/middle weight as TBs go.
 
Would only ever put Bates on my tb now. He has worn the Bates Caprilli Jump style one, which on him didnt fit great but thats purely because no forward cut saddle fits him so any jump style one wouldnt fit. He also wore the dressage one which I couldn't fault on him it was a great fit.

We sold those two as he didn't need the two saddles and just got one Bates All Purpose Saddle and it is absolutely fab, fits him great and fits me and my OH fab too! They are so versatile that with an ever changing tb, it is able to change with him.

(I also tried other makes on my boy that people love and recommended however on him somehow they were really uncomfortable to ride in!)
 
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