damn big flipping shoulders!!! help please re saddles!

Pharphar!

Pharphar!

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Please please help! I've got a problem with finding a saddle to fit my TB. He has fairly high withers, and has ma-husive shoulders! my RI described him as 'if he was a man he'd be the perfect shaped body builder, little ass and big shoulders!!' i've a gorgeous jumping saddle i got from his prev owner which fits him beautifully but she got if off some barmy woman and it was a one off! Its set back quite a lot with loads of room under the rolls for him to extend back into. I bought a KES GP leather saddle which seemed to fit him ok, until i started to ride more after winter and noticed he wasnt going as well in it and seemed to be getting rubs from it. RI had a look and said it fits him lovely over his withers and back, but it's too tight on his shoulders. I can't afford to have one custom made, i have the KES saddle to sell of part-ex and its worth about £300-350 but i have no idea what to look for! i also need a good but not mega expensive saddle fitter to come out too so can anyone recommend any fitters in the scunthrope area/that will travel to scunthorpe at all? obv i cant keep riding in a jumping saddle for hacks and general schooling! help!!!

*if anyone is interested in the KES saddle please pm me*
 
really? I got told not to!! that's why i got a GP saddle!! my jumping saddle has massive knee rolls and the likes, got told to get a gp as i wouldnt be allowed to do ode in my jumping saddle!
 
I share your pain, I'm afriad you just have to go out saddle hunting and try as many as you can, trust me there will be one out there, it's just a long drawn out affair.

Make sure your not going bigger than you need to as well, if you can take 17'' (for example) don't go with a 17.5'' little things like that can make a big difference when it comes to problems around the shoulders because the tree may be a tad too long in front.

I've had saddle fitters out to my lad a while ago and neither stocked anything to fit him so I had to search myself, only thing is the one I bought last year no longer fits (not the one I'm using now) as he's muscled up and expanded slightly (6 year old) so I'm saddle hunting this weekend and hopefully putting it in part ex.

I've been using a CC jump saddle for everything, if anything its the best type of saddle for what we need, stickability factor :D
 
Pharphar! said:
really? I got told not to!! that's why i got a GP saddle!! my jumping saddle has massive knee rolls and the likes, got told to get a gp as i wouldnt be allowed to do ode in my jumping saddle!
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Don't know who toldl you that - it's utter twaddle!

I hate GP's as they are not one thing or the other, so rubbish for every discipline IMHO

Jumping saddle great for xcountry and showjumping, so its only the dressage - and a dressage saddle would be better than a GP if you "really" need another saddle.
 
You can use your jump saddle for everything.

If your saddle is very close contact with very small latex panels you may want to use a gel pad or similar under it for every day use.
 
lol thanks kenzo nice to know im not only one with issues! and thanks for the advice. At least i have his jumping saddle for time being, not ideal but he's comfy in it and i can still ride! i think i'll have to do some saddle hunting these next few weeks and see what i can get...
 
Jen_Cots said:
Don't know who toldl you that - it's utter twaddle!

I hate GP's as they are not one thing or the other, so rubbish for every discipline IMHO

Jumping saddle great for xcountry and showjumping, so its only the dressage - and a dressage saddle would be better than a GP if you "really" need another saddle.
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trust me, i get a lot of 'good advice' from a lot of well meaning people.... i hate the gp saddle, nice to sit on, very pretty saddle but just doesnt fit him. think i might just sell it and see how we go. thank you for your advice though very very much appreciated! :D
 
You are in a pickle aren't you!
How old is your horse?
What's his history?
Have you got a picture?
On some horses, usually but not always youngsters, the trapezius (end of shoulder blade) tends to enlarge, especially if the horse is on the forehand, it is a common problem and a nightmare to fit saddles to.
There is a remedy for this though.
As Jen_Cots has said, you can use your jumping saddle.
Oz :)
 
unicornleather said:
You are in a pickle aren't you!
How old is your horse?
What's his history?
Have you got a picture?
On some horses, usually but not always youngsters, the trapezius (end of shoulder blade) tends to enlarge, especially if the horse is on the forehand, it is a common problem and a nightmare to fit saddles to.
There is a remedy for this though.
As Jen_Cots has said, you can use your jumping saddle.
Oz :)
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pickle! whole jar of them! pic is as on profile, he's 10yo Tb. ex flat and hurdler, BE evented for last 2 years but wasn't cut out for it (too laid back lol!) he is very on the forehand, having to do a lot of work to get him to track up and use his bum, tends to get overbalanced jumping and rushes off so working on that a lot. Tbh its not end of the world if i end up just with his jumping saddle, i know he's happy in it and i love it (like riding in an armchair so comfy!) plus would save the nightmare o trying to find another saddle!
 
There is absolutely no reason not to do everything in a jumping saddle- perhaps very high level dressage would be better/easier in a purpose built saddle but we compete in everything in a henri de rivel close contact jumping saddle.....including winning Novice dressage at RC Area and being well placed in riding tests.....The saddle fits all sorts - 13.2 NF to 16.1 TB and has 'worked' at endurance rides, dressage, s/j (to F/H) - Like to get our money's worth! Just ride in it! :)
 
northernnewfiediva said:
There is absolutely no reason not to do everything in a jumping saddle- perhaps very high level dressage would be better/easier in a purpose built saddle but we compete in everything in a henri de rivel close contact jumping saddle.....including winning Novice dressage at RC Area and being well placed in riding tests.....The saddle fits all sorts - 13.2 NF to 16.1 TB and has 'worked' at endurance rides, dressage, s/j (to F/H) - Like to get our money's worth! Just ride in it! :)
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lol loving the advice there! think you lot have made up my mind! bye bye GP!!! :D:D
 
Ha! I love people's 'advice' on these issues - you can ride it whatever saddle you want for any discipline. Granted a GP or dressage saddle will help your leg position if you are doing a lot of dressage / ODEs but there is no rule about what saddle you can do these in!

However, if you are looking for a saddle for you high-withered, large-shouldered horsemhave you tried Kent and Masters? I got one for my horse early this year as I felt his saddle (whihc he'd had as long as I can remember and I've had him 16 years) was just not fitting him well any more. I chose K&M as they are under £700 brand new and I knew they came in varying widths which you can alter and they also do a high wither version. I thought my horse would need this one but apparently not. I went for the GP with a square cantel as I was advised by the fitter that thebars are set further back in square designs so gives the shoulder more room.

I did have a lesson on it and was told by my instructor the saddle didn't fit!!! Was not impressed but the reason was that it actually needed padding out - which i hadn't done but was intending to as knew this) as he needed to fill out a little across his wither area (I think his previous saddle caused some wastage there). I have padded it out and it fits better now. At the time of fitting the saddler had said I should pad it out and actually the instructor said not to get saddles that are 'made to fit', you are better getting ones that you can add padding to if needed (no idea of the validity as that - this particular instructor swears by balance saddles and pads).

At the end of the day so many people have different opinions on what's right and what isn't I find you have to take a bit of everything and make up your own mind! If your horse is going well and is comfortable in the saddle and you are comfortable riding in it then i wouldn't change anything. If not then something needs changing!
 
ladyt25 said:
Ha! I love people's 'advice' on these issues - you can ride it whatever saddle you want for any discipline. Granted a GP or dressage saddle will help your leg position if you are doing a lot of dressage / ODEs but there is no rule about what saddle you can do these in!

However, if you are looking for a saddle for you high-withered, large-shouldered horsemhave you tried Kent and Masters? I got one for my horse early this year as I felt his saddle (whihc he'd had as long as I can remember and I've had him 16 years) was just not fitting him well any more. I chose K&M as they are under £700 brand new and I knew they came in varying widths which you can alter and they also do a high wither version. I thought my horse would need this one but apparently not. I went for the GP with a square cantel as I was advised by the fitter that thebars are set further back in square designs so gives the shoulder more room.

If your horse is going well and is comfortable in the saddle and you are comfortable riding in it then i wouldn't change anything. If not then something needs changing!
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ooh interesting thank you! well think I'll def be selling the gp and will take my time finding another one. will google kent and masters though to see what they have. tbh i'll not be doing loads of dressage or odes (dannt isnt exactly keen on dressage, he gets bored!) so for time being jumping saddle it is! :D
 
My WelshxTB was described as "an abomination" by my saddler as he has a huge welsh shoulder, huge TB wither and short back :rolleyes:

We eventually got him an Albion selecta and fitted it on a prolite pad....she said something about it was the only thing that would fit him due to where the points are (I smiled and nodded as if I understood). The big bonus is that I have all the interchangeable knee rolls so it can be a GP dressage or jump saddle :D:D
 
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