Bates wide saddle or Kent and master cob saddle?

I've just been through this same choice.

I had the saddler down to fit and take a templete, and I didn't think the K&M Cob fitted well. He tried every gullet and none were as wide as she needed, plus I just didn't like the look of it on her. I also don't like the thin feel of the leather on the knees on the Kent and Masters saddles, it felt so plasticy. And I didn't like their customer service when I rang K&M up with a question afterwards. I found one of the girls in particular very rude. So, not a fan (plenty of folks are though, this is just my experience).

In the end I bought the Bates Wide (Cob). Not keen on the Cair idea (had to compromise somewhere I guess) but I will be checking it regularly. So far, I am pleased with it. I bought the VSD. It looks very smart. The fit is lovely on my xxw mare and there are still a few gullet sizes upwards available if needed.

Let us know which you choose! :) Good luck.
 
Fit is everything. Though there are plenty of other options for very wide horses, and trees that come up flatter. I see lots of these that perch and roll, tip forwards or run forwards ie sitting on the shoulder, so whichever one gets fitted check that none of these happen, and don't be told it's normal for these issues with wide flat horses.
 
Thanks for reply I went to R&R country to have a look at both models today and asked their Saddle Fitter which is best saddle and she said Bates. She told me to hang on as they have a cheaper saddle on order which is on a flat tree but not sure I want that one! I'm not convinced about the CAIR either, some love it some hate it and I'm inbetween. Out of the 2 saddles bates was much nicer quality.
 
Really liked my K&M on a narrow tb but hate it on my w/b cross (cob saddle). Brand new, Rocks from side to side - have fitter out regularly, ok for couple of weeks after then back to rocking! Hate it!
Would consider again for tb but not for anything else!
 
Our ID mare was ridden in a bates GP saddle for years with a medium gullet, but as she has got older and her back has dipped it has stopped fitting her.

Our saddler came out and has fitted her with a Kent & Masters S series GP which fits perfectly. He explained that the K&M has a much bigger gusset which fills in the hollows behind her withers, and says that they are a good fit for horses with a prominent wither or dipped back.

Therefore I'm agreeing with Evie 91 that K&M suit narrow horses, and Bates are more suitable for rounder animals.

Fiona
 
I have a standard Bates GP on a pretty wide horse (he's 3/4 ID) which I really like. I tried so many different saddles trying to find one that didn't rock/move or throw me around everywhere. That was the only one that fit the bill! I like the K&M saddles when I've ridden other horses in them, but I found that the ones I tried just didn't fit right on mine. I'm another who isn't 100% by the CAIR system, but horse seems happy with it so far and I get it checked regularly anyway. Plus, I'd rather have a saddle with CAIR that fits and doesn't move than one that moves around everywhere but doesn't have it! I'd say you'd have to get both models out to try on your horse and see which fits best :)
 
My mum bought a k&m cob saddle yesterday for her horse and she seems pretty happy with it. Her cob has wide withers and a dipped back and the fit seems quite good. He has the white bar in it. This has replaced her old Jeffries hawk event that was too narrow and the saddler couldn't make it fit anymore.
 
Thanks. My mare has no whithers, big shoulders and a slight curve in her back as she's a little croup high so I'm thinking she'd be better off with the bates? I have a fylde working Hunter that l will use just for showing but wanting something with a bit of knee roll for jumping without restricting her shoulders!
 
Just thought I'd update you all. I tried both saddles and the Kent and master was horrible sending me downhill. The bates however is a great fit , it never budged and didn't need any altering which the saddle Fitter was shocked about on such a round pony. Out of the 2 saddles I found the Kent and master cob saddle much comfier to ride in, but Im buying the bates x
 
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