Do my cobs withers look low? fitting a saddle myself :(

CobSunshine

CobSunshine

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Unable to find a saddle fitter who's willing to come out unless i'm spending big money on a new saddle; so i'm using this guide to measure up this weekend and buying a thorowgood saddle.

http://www.thorowgood.com/stills/thorowgood_size_guide_2010_v2.pdf


I've bought a flexicurve to measure wither width and wither height. (hobby craft staff really don't know what a flexicurve is! took me an hour to find one LOL)

Just as a headsup I wondered if anyone could tell me if he has low withers from this pic, the thorowgood site seems to suggest cobs tradionally have low withers. I'd like to get some ideas of price before the actual measuring this weekend, if low wither I can look solely at the cob range of saddles on their site.


wither.jpg


2011-01-16160626.jpg



In terms of saddle length horse is 14.2hh and i'm 5'6" average build every saddlery i've spoken to has said a 17.5" would be perfect. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks everyone :)
 
I would be very reluctant to fit a saddle myself. Can you go onto the Thorowgood website and find out from there if there is a Thorowgood saddle fitter that can travel to you, they are very helpful. My friend thought her fit appaloosa would have had a medium...she got a thorowgood saddle fitter out and turned out he needed a wide cob!

There is much more to it than the gullet and length.
 
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Your coblet is lovely, yes there is very little in the way of wither there but that's typical cobs for you. Thorowgood do have a good range of cob saddles and I would look at these myself. I have a cob with a thorowgood, used them for years on flat backed cobs, though with age my mare has more wither, but she never used to have one!
 
Please don't fit the saddle yourself. Unless you know what your doing don't do it. Useing the flexicurve does not mean the saddle will fit they is so so much more to it.
 
I would say more regular than low, but I'm no expert :)
Have you looked at the rest of the fitting info on http://www.thorowgood.com/fitting_guide.html ?
Might you get a saddle with adjustable gullet as this might help the fit?
To find the correct length, sit on a hard backed chair with your thighs straight in front of you and lower leg straight from knee to floor, and measure from butt to point of knee.#
Good luck!
 
Please dont buy & fit a saddle yourself if you are not experienced. I have seen the after effects of badly fitting saddles and the horse or pony can retain the memory of the pain for years after it has been sorted.

To give you an idea of the ins and outs of a correctly fitted saddle try watching this series of vidoes on You Tube, they will show you the basics of what to look for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2mKz0uP_K8

Sorry dont want to sound harsh but a saddle really does need to be fitted by someone experienced.
 
Just another thought to add, my 14.2 highland really can't take any more than 17 inches - my fitter thought he might get to 17.5 by the time he is full grown but it isn't looking that way!
 
Your pony looks short coupled, if this is the case, 17.5" may be too big for his back.

Pls wait, find a proper master saddler who will offer a full range of saddles. The ones that can turn up the next day aren't worth getting. Look for one with a waiting list.
 
DollyDolls said:
Your pony looks short coupled, if this is the case, 17.5" may be too big for his back.

Pls wait, find a proper master saddler who will offer a full range of saddles. The ones that can turn up the next day aren't worth getting. Look for one with a waiting list.
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Ditto both these points. Contact the Master Saddlers Society to get some recommendatins on saddle fitters.

I am 5'8" and do best with an 18" dressage saddle but I am long from hip to knee but it really does depend on your horse too.
 
Wherabouts do you live? Could you take the horse to a saddler rather than try and fit one yourself?

He looks quite short in the back to me so would probably find a 17.5" saddle too long.
 
Hi, hope you dont mind me saying but your ponys back doesnt look like it could cope with much more than a 16' pony saddle. He is similar to my 14.1 native and I have to squeeze my fat a** into a 16' as anything else is too long. I too would advise a fitter, you usually pay them to come but dont have to buy. Ours charge £35 for the visit and I have found a saddle which fits then bought the same one cheaper elsewhere, its worth doing.
 
PLEASE dont try and fit a saddle yourself. I know you say you cant afford to spend big ££s on a saddle but can you really afford to spend big ££s on a vet bills? Even though a saddle looks ok if not properly fitted it can cause terrible injury to a horse. Saddlers are trained and qualified and payed to do their job for a reason. Remember horses were not built for us to ride so the least we can do is keep them pain free and comfortable. Where abouts are you and how much do you consider alot for a saddle?

ps. my 16hh warmblood wears a 17.5 widefit saddle
 
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appylass said:
Just another thought to add, my 14.2 highland really can't take any more than 17 inches - my fitter thought he might get to 17.5 by the time he is full grown but it isn't looking that way!
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Your chap looks to have the sort of back that deffinatley wont take 17.5inchs. id be thinking 16-17 very max. and id be looking at a VSD type saddle to allow the seat length but freedomn of the sholder. as other have said. a saddle fitter.

pay for the call out and at least see other saddles fit to your pony so that you can get an idea.
 
Ditto the please don't try and fit it yourself. It's not rocket science fitting a saddle but uo do need knowledge and experience and if you're having to ask if your horses is 'low withered' then I'm afraid you don't have it.

And, as others have said, he looks very short backed and I'd be suprised if even a 17" saddle is short enough. I have a pony who'd similar and most 17" saddles are far too long.

This is my (rather cross :o ) short backed coblet demostrating a 17" thorowgood saddle. It's too long for him as it's sitting on his loins. 17" is the shortest cob saddle they do so you boy (who looks even shorted backed) wouldn't manage one.

Gilmertonshow2010071.jpg


Please get a proper saddle fitter out to have a look. There are plenty who will come just to fit a saddle, not sell you one, if that's what you need. What area are in you in and someone couled suggest a fitter. They're not expensive either: most are about £30. Although it would also be worth you going and swotting up on saddle fitting anyways: just becasue they're 'qualified' doesn't mean they're actually any good!
 
Yes, I'd say they're low. I'd be more concerned about the 17.5" though, my pony is 14hh, and we tried a 17" Thorowgood on him and it was way too long for both of us. Also I find Thorowgood saddles are quite bulky.
 
Agree with everyone else Im afraid.
Just as an example, my 16.2 cannot have a saddle longer than 17 inch as he is short coupled and his last rib ends short. Ive had to have a made to measure saddle made at great cost :(:( as I need a 17.5 for my fat backside and he cant take a saddle that big.
Also different saddles have different shaped trees so the one you aim to buy may not even suit your horse.
 
I agree with everyone, get a saddler out, but make sure they have a fantastic reputation! I was sold a thorowgood cob plus for my welsh d mare, the one for flat backed, no withered round barrel like cobs as I was told this was the only one that took the xxwide plate, and I need the slimmer panels as she was so wide etc.

Lots of fiddling and faffing later, wasn't convinced this saddler was right. Got another saddler out who told me I didn't need that saddle as was completely the wrong shape, I only needed the cob, got one out to show me. It wasn't just saddlers competing for my money, it was obvious the saddle was wrong I just didn't know why hence calling for 2nd opinion! I was given some quick fix solutions but realistically I have the wrong saddle and now have to use a prolite pad which I'd rather not as is only a short term solution, I now have to save for a new saddle instead of just having the right one to start.

1st saddler also sold me my saddle as 17.5 inches but noticed not so long ago, the label says it's 17! 2nd saddler has showed me although my mare is quite long backed, she is short coupled (if that makes sense!)

sadly flicking through old posts on here, several people from my area recommend the 1st saddler but she's wasted my money and also incorrectly fitted a dressage saddle to my friends cob causing several other, more serious issues!
 
I agree with the other's

Don't fit the saddle yourself.

I wanted a synthetic changeable saddle because my young TB is forever changing shape. I bought three different thorrowgood saddles and then got the saddle fitter out to see if any of them fit (thankfully one did!) I had a 28 day gaurantee on the others so took them back. My saddle fitter comes every 4-6 months.

There are many ways to cut corners when it comes to cost and your horse - I believe saddles and saddle fitting isn't one of them
 
As others have said get a saddler out if you can, try further afield if the locals won't play ball.
There's SO much more to fitting saddles than a flexicurve can show you!
Oz :)
 
I.ll take a look at the master saddler site and look a bit further a field i think. £40 would be a bargain for someone to come out and measure up.

Here.s a pic of him with the saddle he came with its a 17.5. Too long?

2010-10-17150626-1.jpg
 
it would possibley be to long if it was in the correct place, its sat to far forward.

ad the other poster said it also looks to high.. ie it is not sat level.
 
chameleon said:
Please dont buy & fit a saddle yourself if you are not experienced. I have seen the after effects of badly fitting saddles and the horse or pony can retain the memory of the pain for years after it has been sorted.

To give you an idea of the ins and outs of a correctly fitted saddle try watching this series of vidoes on You Tube, they will show you the basics of what to look for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2mKz0uP_K8

Sorry dont want to sound harsh but a saddle really does need to be fitted by someone experienced.
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Thank you for sharing that video, I found it very educational! :D
 
I agree that the saddle in the picture is too far forward. If that was a more forward cut saddle, it would be right accross his shoulder. Move it back, and see if it sits in front of his last rib.
 
Just to chuck a spanner in the works - but I have had several "fitters" over the years and TBH not that happy with any of them, The last 2 horses I have had I've fitted myself and so far it's been fine, they are happy and the saddles do not slip, tip etc....just putting a second light that in some areas it simply isn't possible to find a good fitter who doesn't try to flog you an expensive saddle that STILL doesn't fit.
 
IMO, the saddle in the photo there is way too big in all aspects. It's sitting too far forward on his shoulder, the panels don't look like they're contacting him properly so I'd reckon the saddle was too narrow and not the right shape for his back. As someone else said if you put it into the correct position it's going to be too long for his back and sit on the wrong bits.
 
jhoward said:
Your chap looks to have the sort of back that deffinatley wont take 17.5inchs. id be thinking 16-17 very max. and id be looking at a VSD type saddle to allow the seat length but freedomn of the sholder. as other have said. a saddle fitter.

pay for the call out and at least see other saddles fit to your pony so that you can get an idea.
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This. Or a WH saddle. My highland is a similar shape to yours....he has a 16" WH saddle in an XW fit- same as the arab, believe it or not.

I'd be looking for a second hand Ideal WH saddle or something similar.

The saddle in the photo is too long and too far forward- it will be restricting his shoulders. Its just not good at all hun.

Some saddlers do have second hand saddles they will bring out - not all insist on you buying brand new.

Trust me....sore backs are not good.
 
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