Chunky monkey saddles

poiuytrewq

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My horse and his saddle……. 😫

I’ve just seen for sale a Chunky Monkey saddle.
It’s not a brand I’ve ever taken any notice of but my ideal saddle one day will be a nice black leather monoflap jump type.
I’d kind of resigned myself to the fact it’s not going to happen and for now I’ll make do with whatever we find that fits and isn’t expensive.

Horse isn’t a huge solid cobby type by any means but does have a broad back and big shoulders, he’s quite wide.
I’ve looked at their site and like what I see. It’s obviously not going to happen tomorrow as you request a fitting and they cover the whole UK so assume a probable wait.
Does anyone have one? Are they recommended? Fitter wise and actual product?
 

Melody Grey

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A friend bought one new at great expense insisting on having thigh blocks despite never having tried a saddle with them at all before, either theirs or any other! Fitter who only carried CM saddles was quite happy to take their money and order regardless. Draw your own conclusions- I appreciate you’re buying second hand but I don’t think it inspires confidence with the brand personally.
 

Mahoganybay

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I’ve not heard reviews good nor bad about Chunky Monkey Saddles.

However, i have a very broad backed, big shouldered Warmblood who often changes shape. We have tried so many saddles from very expensive to everything in between.

I currently ride in a Thorowgood T8 Cob GP for hacking and a Kent & Masters S Series Standard Wither Dressage Saddle MDM Model for dressage/schooling. Both have a wide gullet in them and I have extra wide gullets when she puts on weight with summer grazing.

Maybe one of the above you could try? 🤷‍♀️
 

poiuytrewq

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Saddler was supposed to be here this morning but was taken ill on the way so has postponed.
Current plan is Wintec with XW gullet and cair removed so flicked to fit until I can sell my decent saddle and raise the money for another but also because I need to get weight off him and get him and me in a school riding circles without looking like prat’s or me falling off.
It’s such a vicious circle this saddle fitting!
He’s so fat the saddles not fitting so I can’t ride properly, I need to get the weight off so he needs exercise 🤦‍♀️
 

Ossy2

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We have one on the dressage cob I ride, have to say we absolutely love it, his owner got it new from chunky monkey themselves (Sam) and for the price thinks it’s great quality and super comfy and fits this massively wide cob brilliantly. Wouldn’t hesitate to Recommend.
 

OrangeAndLemon

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I have a Suffolk and I love my CM saddle. Very comfortable to ride in, horse absolutely loves it.

Previous horse was in an Ideal Heritage and was doing well but his big shoulders needed more room. CM was recommended by other HH owners. You could instantly see the difference in the horse, he just moved better and used himself better straight away.

New horse is a baby Suffolk and not as broad but the same saddle is fitting well enough and he is very comfortable in it.

ETA: the wait times for an appt with Sam are long but the customer service is excellent. I already had a 58" CM girth which cost around £125. The new saddle needed a 64" girth. Sam traded my old one (about 6 months old) for a brand new replacement and only charged me £15.

She's done the same again with new horse when I had to switch back down from 64" to 58"
 

forever broke

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I've got a dressage and a gp CM. Both bought new from Sam and I've had her back fairly regularly for fittings since. I like them and find them both very comfortable, and pony goes well in them both. I think they're great for the price, and I know a lot of other people who use them too
 

Pippity

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I have a VSD on my wide cob, bought new from Sam three or four years ago, and fitted regularly since. Horse likes it; I like it.

When I first bought it, I wasn't entirely sure I liked it. (I'd been riding in a bareback pad and moving to a saddle felt very odd in comparison.) Sam was happy to leave the saddle with me for a few weeks for me to really try it out, with no charge and no hard sell.
 
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