cobs and saddles

cob&onion

cob&onion

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What saddle do you ride your cob in?
Am having the saddler out again today to look at my saddle - i have a thorowgood GP which was looked at 6 weeks ago but now its tipping me forwards and making me feel *perched* i just don't think its the right saddle for her!
She is wide with very big shoulders - she has come up in the whiter area though so not completely barrel like.
Its a nightmare!!

I wanted to start introducing some jumping next week but there's no way i would feel secure enough in the current saddle.
I rode bareback a while back and felt much better on her and sort of sank in rather than being perched on top! (if that makes sense?) i think i need a close contact type of saddle with minimal bulk.
 
I use a thorowgood cob saddle for everyday and an ideal highland and cob (h and c) for nice weather or very long rides as it is lovely leather, would rather have the ideal secondhand than a lot of saddles new. They come up a size wider than he thorowgood cob on my mare, hope this helps.
 
Mine is in GFS GP wide fitting, he also has some wither and big shoulders and it fits him like a glove. Its really comfy for me too and feels very secure, may be worth a look.
 
I use a Kent and Masters. Fine until last week, now moving around on his back, saddler called! AGAIN! My cob needs checking quite a bit as he changes shape at the drop of a hat!

My little cob I have just bought him his first saddle a throwogood adjustable. fingers crossed.
 
the 2 at work are ridden in an albion k2 and an ideal close contact event.

i am looking at buying a kent and masters and have an albion gp made by anthony batchelor to try as its belong to my friend but pony is no longer with us

my daughters is in an ideal close contact event that was made to measure by anthony batchelor (his first one under instruction by his father and granfather), he does not make saddles any more as there is little profit in it or i would be paying the extra and getting him to make one.
 
Ours has 2 atm (one fo rme one for OH as I am a short arse). Mine is a GFS genesis with custom shaped gullet, OH's is a Kent & masters GP (also got gullet custom shaped to fit).

Both fit fab :)
 
I did an internet search and came up with here:

www.thepainfreehorse.co.uk

Mine is a flat-backed, low-withered cob, and we'd had every saddle fitter within practically a 50-mile radius. We'd tried basically ALL of the saddles people had mentioned on here, but none of them fitted - one in particular made him hunch up his back as if to bronc; however the fitter said that as far as she was concerned it "fitted".

So I looked around, and came upon this website.

So now we've got the saddle sit. sorted; not only that, but we've recently fitted up my loan mare with something that fits her. Plus my yard-sharer has also changed ALL her ponies' saddles to them!!! Says it all I think.

I would say don't take what every "saddle fitter" says on trust, you need to know your horse and whether they're happy in their backs or not, plus trust your gut instinct on what is the right saddle for you both.
 
I have a gfs haflinger exchange, and in the past have had a barrie swain semi flex which was a nice fit, but he was young then and he is now a xxxw :eek:
I had a comfort intrepid from those people your looking at, I'd use a master saddler if I were you, the comfort saddles are nice but when I got a master saddler out to look at mine she said there was no way it fit or would have ever fit, despite what I had been led to believe.
 
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I have a Kent and masters cob on my haffy who is typically flat backed. She changes shape ALL the time so the adjustability is good, but I feel exactly the same as you, sometimes tipped forward and a bit perched (they are the same tree design as TG) I realised it had got a fraction too wide and then it tips forward more so I put a sheepskin under and it was better but now seems a little bit restrictive, such a faff! So I think I am going to get a local lady out who fits saddle company among others, and is also a fairly well regarded back person. I think this may be the way to go as the saddle fitter who sold me this one is a master saddler of many years but it just doesn't seem quite right which sucks as I bought it new! It does 'fit' but its still not really right :-(
 
mandwhy said:
I have a Kent and masters cob on my haffy who is typically flat backed. She changes shape ALL the time so the adjustability is good, but I feel exactly the same as you, sometimes tipped forward and a bit perched (they are the same tree design as TG) I realised it had got a fraction too wide and then it tips forward more so I put a sheepskin under and it was better but now seems a little bit restrictive, such a faff! So I think I am going to get a local lady out who fits saddle company among others, and is also a fairly well regarded back person. I think this may be the way to go as the saddle fitter who sold me this one is a master saddler of many years but it just doesn't seem quite right which sucks as I bought it new! It does 'fit' but its still not really right :-(
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Sounds like we are having exactly the same problem! :rolleyes:
 
Mandwhy- I got my saddler out when I had the exact same problem. I didn't even need a new saddle, he stuck it in a contraption in the back of his car that squeezed it narrower! He reflocked it at the same time now my much loved saddle fits like a glove again :)
 
Rhodders said:
I have a gfs haflinger exchange, and in the past have had a barrie swain semi flex which was a nice fit, but he was young then and he is now a xxxw :eek:
I had a comfort intrepid from those people your looking at, I'd use a master saddler if I were you, the comfort saddles are nice but when I got a master saddler out to look at mine she said there was no way it fit or would have ever fit, despite what I had been led to believe.
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Bear in mind guys that only Qualified Saddle Fitters are qualified to fit saddles to horses. Master Saddlers are qualified to make saddles and bridles, but unless they are also qualified saddle fitters, they aren't saddle fitters.

I know some people use the terms interchangeably and some people have both qualifications but it's important to appreciate the distinction as a lot of people think Master Saddler is the saddle fitting qualification.

Confusingly both of the qualifications are overseen by the society of master Saddlers, you can look on their website to see if the saddler you propose to use is a saddle fitter, master saddler or both. Or neither!

Hope this helps!
 
The saddler came out today - new saddler i had recommended and he did a fab job!! changed the gullet to a red - we where in a white which was far too wide causing the saddle to tilt forward and push all my weight onto her forehand and making it uncomfortable for her too - thats why cobby has been reluctant to go forward. Now am sat in a central position, my lower leg is where it should be instead of thrusted forward, my seat is better and my whole position is just right now - it was getting to the point where i wasn't sitting on my seat bones, i was sitting on my front which made it really uncomfortable in the *lady area* :o thankfully am back where i should be sitting - had a few mins in the school and she was much more forward :)
We have another appointment booked for a 3 month check, i had to book now as he has a 3 month waiting list!
 
I've got an Ideal FWB vsd.its brill, I had it specially made, its so wide Ideal phoned the saddle fitter to check she'd measured it right.Would highly recommend it,as its very comfy and it doen't move on coblet.x
 
Haha totally know what you mean C&O about being tilted onto the lady area, not ideal! I am on a white gullet at the mo, hoping that I can get some muscle back on horse rather than have to go down again :-/ I think I may need to just buy all the gullets!

My haffy's body shape was not dissimilar to a jelly bean when I first got her, and as she loses weight she develops more prominent withers and shoulders which changes everything!

Good point Lachlan, the guy I used is a fitter and master saddler, I don't doubt his credentials or reputation but I think maybe someone who takes an active interest in the physiology of horses etc might help in my case, I dare say some sort of holistic approach.
 
I rode my boy in an extra wide GFS VSD which suited him as it left him room to move his rather large shoulders. When he'd put on a bit of muscle I tried a Farrington which was soooo comfy for me but unfortunately it was ever so slightly too narrow for him. Put me in a lovely position though!
 
Chellebean said:
I ride mine in a solution gp! His shoulders are to big to cope with any treed saddle
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ShadowFlame said:
We're in a Solution.
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^ This! Since I've had my section d he had constant muscle wastage (first was in a maxam that he came with, then a thorowgood cob, then a fitted wintec.) He had some time off and since having the solution so far hasn't lost any muscle and seems to be filling in the bits that were wasted. He is much more forward in it too and is less nappy! Even though the other saddles were 'fitted' he is much happier now. I got a bargin on Ebay, keep looking and they pop up occasionally.
 
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