Come you HH-oers - Saddle advice needed!

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Sunny08

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I need to buy a new saddle for my 16.1hh, ISH X AA, GP, 17 1/2 inch. My horse is four and rapidly growing in all directions. I want something that can last!
What type of saddle should I be looking for? I need a medium/wide, have about £500 - £800 to spend and happy to buy second hand.
I mainly hack, school with a little jumping, future plans include low level show jumping and eventing.

So what should I be looking for???
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I reluctantly paid a lot for a saddle for my then 4 yr old as hes a funny fit and I didnt have much choice apart from the mega dear ones, typical. But I still have the same saddle now and hes 10 yr old now. Ive had it checked, re flocked when needed and its fine. I was assured when I bought it the tree could be tweaked if neccesary. Its a Jaguar and did cost a lot Im afraid. My friend has the same saddles and one of hers was altered from a medium fit to an extra wide, it had to sent to Jaguar for a new tree but it can be done without having to keep changing saddles.
 
Get something that is flocked so it is adjustable. Barnsby have fab trees which are easily flocked up/down and the tree can be adjusted too. They are available second hand too!! I havent yet ridden in a bad one
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QR- unfortunately there is no such thing as a saddle to last a four year old (no guarantees for an older horse either). If he changes shape you will have to change your saddle. All part of owning a horse im afraid, you have to be prepared to buy several saddles. Although saddles are a large lump sum, its no more expensive than shoeing, in fact normally cheaper. e.g. £600 a year to shoe. Buy a saddle for £600. If it lasts 6 months before you need a new one. Sell for AT LEAST £400 if its looked after. Thats £200 for 6 months. All part of the expense of owning a horse
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"unfortunately there is no such thing as a saddle to last a four year old (no guarantees for an older horse either). If he changes shape you will have to change your saddle. All part of owning a horse im afraid, you have to be prepared to buy several saddles. "


Not true! You need a WOW off eBay for £650 - £850 plus £50 for a fitter to come and fit it. It will fit him and you for ever with gullet changes and pumping up or letting down the airbags. You can buy a pump and 4mm hex allen key do that yourself. I have five, I swear by them. I buy my horses unbroken and I have never once had to change their saddle for another one as they mature. The horses love them because of their carbon fibre flexible tree and air flocking. They can take some getting used to ride in, but they genuinely are one saddle for the life of the horse and rider.

PM me if you want some advice as to which seat/flap/panel you need for your horse. I am not a WOW dealer and have nothing to gain by this.
 
I must disagree with teddyt too, but 'you need a WOW!!'

Heck, no need about it. A possibility, another choice. The Thorowgood/fairfax/kent&masters ranges offer a vast variety of saddles, of different types and either synthetic or leather, and a large price range.
Wintecs are another possibility, although I personally don't like them.
 
I'm on my 4th or 5th saddle for my 3-4yr old!

Bought the latest one just yesterday. Borrowed 3 2nd hand ones from a local saddle shop. 2 didn't fit at all. The third was lovely but rocked a bit.

So took horsey and saddle down to another tack shop with fitter/saddler man who said this saddle was a good fit, just needed flocking altered, which he did in 2 mins. Saddle no longer rocked.

Rode her in it today - lovely.

Price was far less than you're prepared to pay and it's virtually new, plus a very good well known brand, so I'm dead chuffed!
 
cptrays and donklet - thanks for pointing out 2 great saddles! However even if adjustable they are not necessarily for life! I have a young horse that had 4 saddles in one year (4-5years) then i bought him a wow aged 5. He is now 7 and on to his 2nd wow because he has changed shape now he is more mature and he needs a different panel type. So yes, wows are fantastic, they are more likely to last than any other saddle and they are very adjustable but not necessarily for life. Ditto thorowgood/kent and masters are good saddles too and they will last longer than many other brands.

There is however no such thing as a saddle for life! So many things can affect/change a horses shape that you would have to be very lucky if you had one saddle that lasted a 4 year old horse for its life. They change too much and dont start developing their muscles until around aged 6 for a start.

With regards to WOW, be careful buying off ebay unless you are totally sure of the panel and tree type you currently need. The only way you would know that is to try it first and/or have a consultation with a wow fitter who can assess your horse for you. As with any other saddle you need to know it will suit your horse first.

There is more to fitting a saddle than just changing a headplate and if the panel/tree is wrong then no amount of changing the front will make the rest fit. thats why i am not a fan of wintecs, as the trees suit very few horses IMO.

Madhossy has done a good job! Its just time consuming, but very important to get it right.
 
Thanks for the advice - i have the saddler coming out with a range of saddles next week so wanted an idea before. i have heard many things about the Wow saddles. At the end of the day of course my horses comfort and health is far higher priority to me the money.
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