Find me a saddle for a high withered dipped pack cob

wattamus

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She is xxw but needs wither clearance. Also I haven't got a huge budget £250 max really any ideas? currently riding in an uncomfortable synthetic one! oh and i have a rater round rear end so 17" min please! xx
 
OK, I'll play devil's advocate and ask why her back is dipped? Is it a conformation fault or is she lacking in muscle? If it is the latter, I suggest you dedicate 4-6 weeks to working her from the ground, lungeing in a training aid for short periods and long-lining to encourage her to work long and low, from the rear and to get her topline working. If she muscles up a bit, she won't be so hard to find a saddle for. Simplez :)
 
I would tend to agree with domane - and bear in mind that even a dropped back will lift a little in work, and will need a flatter tree than you might imagine. I find that higher withers tend to be only an XW as a maximum, and I specialise in fitting natives and cobs, so your horse is an unusual shape.

Higher withered saddles tend to be made for a "roof shaped" back at the rear of the saddle which will be your problem. Cobs obviously tend to have flat backs at the rear - if he does not, again worth asking yourself about why there is a lack of topline? Discomfort from any part of the body, feet included, can cause muscle loss as can of course an ill fitting saddle.

I do fit some higher withered cobs successfully but I only fit new saddles at about £1000. I have a sort of mantra that the more of these you have stacked against you, the harder a time you'll have:

- hard to fit horse
- low budget
- in a hurry

If you are not in a hurry you might find something eventually - but I'd recommend using a saddle fitter. If you can up your budget you will make life easier - you might not end up having to spend it all, but it opens up a lot more choice. Most of the owners I see have spent hundreds if not thousands on used saddles and synthetic saddles bought unseen and "self fitted". Sadly also many ahve spent huge amounts on custom saddles, umpteen saddle fitters, you name it - you need a fitter that understands your shape of horse. They could have spent less than that in the first place on a saddle that worked....
 
My old boy had this problem although not a cob. I was recommended a saddle with a banana tree, which are not easy to come by Im afraid and not cheap either. Mine had an extreme dipped back, so saddle was padded out underneath as well to avoid "bridging"
 
kent and masters are good :) you might find one second hand but i dont think for your budget as new they are about 800 and they tend to hold their value, however you could look at the thorowgood t4 which are built on the same principle both with changeable gullets and come in high wither and are very comfy although they are synthetic again maybe have a look at the t6 as well :) good luck :)
 
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