going to be getting twig a saddle after new year, recommendations?

[georgiegirl2]

At the moment we are borrowing a saddle for twiggy. she is a 3yo out of training so will change shape dramatically (heres hoping! Although she isnt too bad to start off with!) At the moment we are borrowing a bates gp saddle which either has a medium or narrow medium plate in it (cant for the life of me thing which it is) in combination with a breastgirth and sheepskin numnah, as i say she is a bit weak and skinny at the moment!

I'm looking to event her in the future although i dont like flat seated saddles. I do like the bates gp although the one im borrowing at the moment is a little big for 5'1 me - its 17.5 inch! If anyone has any suggestions as to what we should be looking at (at a reasonable price!) then I would love your advice, I do think she is going to change shape a lot though so its proving a difficult desicion. I will be getting a saddle fitter out after new year when my funds are a bit better though their stock is pretty limited so you can request saddles to try.

 

[KatB]

Bates Close contact? Flexibility, not too shallow in the seat, and should do you as a sole saddle until she is a 5 yr old and you may decie to get a dressage saddle too?

 

[georgiegirl2]

well i do have the wintec isabelle for my other horse horse george so hopefully should be able to change the plates on that (it currently has mw) as you know i hate flat seated saddles, am i right in thinking the bates cc is the same design as the wintec pro jumping becuase if so I didnt get on with that one! Really like the look of the albion k2 jumping saddle as you suggested the other day but i cant really justify spending that much on a saddle with a horse that will change shape so much and having looked about they dont seem to turn up second hand all that often!

I have thought about trying to pick up the bates gp second hand if i can though i am wary as i would like the to be fitted by a proper saddle fitter!

 

[Governor]

Dependant on your budget - i'm not overly keen on synthetics so i'd probably go for a Kieffer.

I had one (the Munchen I think) for the first two years I had Governor (ages 3-5) and it had an ajustable plastic tree. I had it changed loads and it was a fantastic saddle - he went from N-M to M-W in that time. Unfortunately it was 18" and both my saddles now are 17" so as you can imagine I floated around in it a bit.

 

[KatB]

No it is a slightly different tree to the 2000, but the only way of knowing is to try one!

The Albions have alot of scope for adjustment within the flocking, and you can certainly pick them up cheaply second hand. I personally dont like GPs for jumping any decent height, but all depends on personal preference!!

 

[Ginn]

I have the bates gp, a wintec 500 and a Saddle Company 1/2 leather 1/2 synthetic custom made saddle. My least favourite is the wintec since is can be squeaky and makes me feel a little perched but for every day hack etc its great!!

My SC saddle was made with a dressage (deep) seat but slightly bigger flaps (so a wee bit shorter than dressage length pannels) but with a sufficient knee pad that I can jump in is shouuld I wish (sounds odd but it works and looks really nice!) and with a youngster suede knees and seat were a must with it! This will now be my main gp saddle for hacking and very light schooling as I won't be jumping for a good while!

Then there's my lovely bates - fantastic saddle, very comfy, really like the seat etc and perfect for me for jumping atm as I haven't converted myself to jumping saddles yet! However, this will only come out for "posh" events as I don't want to ruin it yet and have another 2 to use

All 3 are adjustable, the bates and wintec by the changable gullet system and the SC by a qualified fitter who manipulates the special tree to your horses shape. And the SC ones are fantastic value for money and look really smart as the 1/2 1/2 ones have leather on the bits that show and are synthetic on the bits that don't (easy cleaning too) and the manufacturers are allways more than happy to build a saddle to suit your needs....

pm me if you like...

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If your horse is continually changing shape, & at 3 years old I expect he will be, then a Bates is the answer.

I initially bought a Bates GP which was great & over the past couple of years I now have their Close Contact & Dresage saddle. The interchangable gullet system is great & so quick to change. They really are a saddle for life.

The GP I bought new, the other 2 I bought off ebay & both were only a couple of months old & in 'as new' condition. They all fit well, very comfortable & the quality is really good. Depending on what you want to do I would just get the GP, if you want to jump big heights then get a CC but a GP should do an all round good job.

One tip though, always buy Bates leathers as well. If you use any other make on the saddle they will mark the flaps terribly,(A friend of mine found out to her cost). Good Luck

 

[KatB]

Ive got the momentum and don't use bates leathers and the flaps are fine. Just make sure it is cleaned and conditioned regularly, and treat the saddle before riding on it.

 

[MagicMelon]

Bates are quite nice (although too long in the seat for my boy unfortunately - when I tried it, he promptly bronc'd me straight off!).

Fieldhouse saddle are SO comfy! Definately the comfiest Ive ever had. Otherwise Kings saddles are nice.

Bates are changeable though so they're likely to be your best bet. Or if your really worried about him changing shape you could buy a cheaper Wintec (I cringed too when I bought one of these but it was the only one to fit my Welshie and actually its very very comfy too and so lightweight as its Cair, and obviously has the changeable gullet as well).

Failing that, aren't WOW Saddles changeable?

 

[air78]

I had trouble finding a saddle to fit my high withered skinny TB when i first got him, i tried about 12 diffrent ones

- and nearly gave up! he is always a narrow fit, but because he was only four i wanted something to tie me over untill he built some muscle.
Kieffer saddles were good on him, as was an ideal jessica, but i ended up getting a Passier jumping saddle. Bates don't suit him at all, they restrict his shoulder.
Also, my saddler recomened always using a prolite type pad on TB's with prominent spines,, just for a bit of extra comfort.
He has just about outgrown his sadle now, and i am getting my new WOW delivered next week, Yippieee!
The wow's are fully changeble for width, have flair- so more flexibilty there, and have lots of diffrent pannel options (i've got the fully gusseted ones to fill wither hollows). Also, you can get extra flaps, so i've got dressage and jumping ones.
I'm hoping this will be the last saddle i need to get for him.

My beautiful G Passier & Shons black 17'' narrow jumping saddle will be looking for a new home, along with my prolite pads etc. If anyone has any suggestions as to what i should do with it PM me!