Fuming! I hate Thorowgoods and saddles in general now

[Ellietotz]

Trees are manufactured in certain sizes, in a hand made saddle as opposed to the TG type you can extend the cantle, but even then, the saddle is sized as the tree size and stamped as such. The nail head can indeed be put on in slightly different places, and then add in the fact that actually you can easily lose or gain 1/4" on a well padded cantle depending on exactly where you decide the highest spot it and you can see how measurements will vary.

However I would expect that this is a manufacturing fault in this case.

That's interesting to know. Thank you.
The seat is rather large, I think if the panels didn't sit about an inch or so longer than where the seat ended, it might have been okay. It's a shame as it's such a lovely saddle.

 

[Ellietotz]

Well it would be hard to get at the tree to measure it properly without dismantling the saddle unfortunately.....but it doesn't really matter what measurement you can manage to get - if it's too long then it's too long, so sell and try again.
Have you tried looking at saddles direct? You can trial saddles before buying so that you can get a fitter to come and take a look at 3 at once. Useful if struggling to find a saddle fitter with a variety of second hand saddles to try

That's a good idea. I have someone booked in for next week, I may have a look at what Saddles Direct have and get a couple in to try for then too.

 

[KM-R]

Interesting! I had the T8 dressage (very briefly) and found that my boy absolutely bloody hated it. Fitted by a fully qualified saddle fitter with a decent local reputation. Rode in it for a bit, and it transformed my saintlike gelding into a rodeo horse. Sent it back, changed saddle fitter, and got something we both loved. But I'm now wondering if the problem was intrinsic to the saddle, rather than the fit or tree shape!

 

[Ellietotz]

Interesting! I had the T8 dressage (very briefly) and found that my boy absolutely bloody hated it. Fitted by a fully qualified saddle fitter with a decent local reputation. Rode in it for a bit, and it transformed my saintlike gelding into a rodeo horse. Sent it back, changed saddle fitter, and got something we both loved. But I'm now wondering if the problem was intrinsic to the saddle, rather than the fit or tree shape!

How odd! I wonder what it was. The end of the panels on this one are so massive so even if it wasn't too long, it would be far to wide on the back. They work great for some people. Everyone is different though I suppose, like having a suit tailored to fit!

 

[C1airey]

My saddler came out and said change the gullet, but when she went to the measure Dusty and measure for the right one it came up as the gullet it already had in it. Having to get her out again now as the saddle rubbing either side under her withers.

We recently had exactly the same problem with an adjustable saddle (Bates). The points were too short and were poking him in the muscle just under the wither. I guess this is a common occurrence with an adjustable saddle, as longer points would make changing the gullet even more of a challenge.

We recently switched to a normal, fixed-sized saddle, and all is well.

 

[DabDab]

Surely you can dismantle the thorowgood to change the gullet so she can measure from the tree

Ellie, is it actually too long for your horse, can you show us a picture

Not really, you can get at the front to change the headpiece (the term 'changeable gullet' is a bit misleading), but the rest of the tree is tucked away between the panels and the seat.
Sizes given in inches of mass produced saddles are fairly misleading as they are not made to a size, they are made from parts of a certain size, which will all be subject to manufacturing tolerances that are wider than if hand made. So two saddles made from the 'same size' parts could end up a significantly different size when formed into a whole saddle. If that makes sense

 

[dulcie_dustyxx]

We recently had exactly the same problem with an adjustable saddle (Bates). The points were too short and were poking him in the muscle just under the wither. I guess this is a common occurrence with an adjustable saddle, as longer points would make changing the gullet even more of a challenge.

We recently switched to a normal, fixed-sized saddle, and all is well.

Ooh this is good to hear! The only problem is she changes so much throughout the year and before I got my interchangeable I'd already had to buy and then sell 4 saddles!

 

[C1airey]

Ooh this is good to hear! The only problem is she changes so much throughout the year and before I got my interchangeable I'd already had to buy and then sell 4 saddles!

Same here. I have come to the conclusion that we may have to indulge in a summer and winter saddle.

 

[Annagain]

Same here. I have come to the conclusion that we may have to indulge in a summer and winter saddle.

A pad that you can build up with shims might be an idea for you. My share horse needs one in Feb/March as he drops a bit of weight behind the shoulder then.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I borrowed a Thorowgood T4 and tried it on my cob: had to get off and walk after 30 mins into the ride as it was so bleddi uncomfortable!

If I was uncomfortable, then IMO very likely so was my horse.

Like OP, I "hate Thorowgoods". Can't say I've had any degree of success with other synthetic/adjustable saddles like Wintec either. Tried their Wintec wide and it was the most unstable saddle I've ever sat on, rolled around like a ship at sea, awful thing.