Bates saddles, young horse

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Charlie77

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Hi all just wondering how we feel about Bates saddles, as i have my young boy to back later this year, the last baby i had went through a few saddles while change shape etc, so this seems a good option only i dont know any 1 that uses them, so all thoughts please!
 
I have a rising 4 yo who will be backed this year. I was talking to a master saddler and she recommended the Thorowgood range with the adjustable fish system to be good and economical for babies. Maybe worth investigating that range. I think they start about £400 or something in that region.

Sorry never used Bates
 
I used one when I backed my horse, for no reason than it fitted him really nicely and was reasonably priced. It was a great saddle, relatively light weight and the option to change the width as needed was obvioulsy a bonus with a growing youngster.

I have also just bought a Bates Elevation Jump saddle because I wanted a flat seated jumping saddle and Surrey Equestrian had one at a very very good price. Again, it is a great little saddle, very comfortable and I would highly recommend it.
 
I usually break horses in wintec saddles which has the same system as Bates (I personally hate thorowgood saddles. Really don't like the way they sit people). I don't hugely like wintecs, but as a first saddle, they're very light and adjustable and inexpensive. Once they're established, I'd get a different saddle.

My current youngster is going to have my old horses saddle as it will currently fit. But I have ridden in Bates saddles and some of my clients have one and I haven't heard a bad word about one. My friend is on the lookout for one on ebay as her horse changes shape throughout the year.
 
I've used bates saddles on my gelding since we got him when he was 4. May have to look at something else later this year as he's changing shape more now, but do love them :)

BUT! I do wish I'd got flocked ones instead of cair, as the cair is one of the main reasons they wont fit so well and it's not adjustable.
 
There is more to fitting than just changing the width at the front. Personally i find the tree on bates/wintecs too curved for many horses, let alone a relatively unmuscled flat backed youngster. as said, you also cant adjust cair to fine tune the fit.
 
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