Good saddles for big boys!

[Drummer]

Hi, just wondering if anyone can help me with saddles that are good for the wider ones out there.

My boy is a 16.1 maxi cob type. I wouldn't say he is overly huge but apparently he has a broad spine. I would like a working hunter or VSD type saddle and would like to look into some before getting hold of a new saddler (not v happy with my last).

Many thanks

Bx

 

[Breezesbenefactor]

Wintec do a saddle for the larger/ wider horse. My friend is due to invest in one so I can't comment on how good they are however, opt for the "cair" system (I think they cost around £300). With the interchangable gullets it makes it dead easy to adjust the saddle to change with your horses shape and though I still have my saddle regularly checked to date no adjustments have been required.

Hope this helps

 

[Drummer]

Thank you for that info. I had a wintec before I got my leather one which was when my (well drums) problems came about. I would rather have a leather one, but if needs be will happily go back to a wintec.

Thank you!!

 

[Bosworth]

the gullets on the wintec are not really wide enough for horses with a wide spine. Try the Ideal saddles or the Lovett and Rickets - I would really recommend a Barry Swain saddle - with half panels - but it does depend where in the country you are as to whether there is anyone available to fit one for you

 

[hunteress]

Wintec had one of my horses off for a long time even the extra wide is not wide enough for some of these wide flat backed breeds in the end I had a saddle made for my horse and bought a 18" extra wide cliff barnsby of ebay for £300 as a second hacking saddle its only 18months old so recon I got a bargain. If you have too much of a small gullet it pushes the saddle back and hurts the back of the horse and this becomes very sore so you get problems like bucing etc.
Also I wear an elasticated breat girth now which helps especially when jumping so the saddle dosn't ride back.

 

[JessPickle]

GFS fits pickle and he is wide. Lots of the wide ones at my yard have them

 

[fairhill]

My shire x is in a Derby house samber working hunter saddle - it had previously been used on a welsh sec D. The GFS was also a good fit for her until she changed shape.

My CB x has been in a Heritage WH saddle for the last year, but it's now too wide for her - they have an ebay site and do made-to-measure for about £500 and are very nice saddles.

Could you not get a few saddles from a saddler to test drive?

I've got a few saddles from my local saddler to try for the week to see which fit both me and the horse best:

Jeffries WH (fits the horse well, and has a very wide gullet at the back of the saddle, but might be a bit small for me)

Dever WH (fitted neither of us - it's very flat seated and pinched her shoulders)

Black Country Grafter - to be tried tonight, but looked a good fit on her.

 

[Dovorian]

Would a Bates saddle with the XW (white) gullet fitr him - they are leather and do make a VSD.

 

[the watcher]

The problem is that you can widen the front of the saddle with these, but if you look at how that affects the flaps they effectively start to drift backwards..I can see that if you put an XXW gullet in a VSD you would end up with a dressage saddle. Also, unless designed for cobs and built as a wide saddle, they are all medium at the back of the seat.

 

[Drummer]

I have contacted Bettersaddles about a barry swain saddle as just recomended. I need to have a shop around for a new saddler also, which is proving a nightmare in itself.

Does anyone have anything good to say about anyone in Kent!?!

I think getting a made to measure from scratch may be the way to go. Why are horses so complicated all the time. He isnt even that unusual.

Thank you for all your replies, I will have a good look around now!!

 

[hollyandivy123]

there is also a company called duett saddles, american/german but have started over here now and the specialise in the bigger boned horse, just google for them. looked into them with my big girl befor i went treeless as she is to wide for every thing else and wrong shape wintec and thorowgood cob
just found the site http://www.duettsaddles.com/

 

[JustKickOn]

wintec.

 

[Theresa_F]

How about this

Ultimate comfort for big boys

I also had a Bates GP for him which was very nice. Though he is only a wide fitting - for a big boy doesn't have that wide a saddle area.

 

[Drummer]

Owww he is gorgeous!!!! He looks so so sweet!

Maybe I will opt for that in a few years, when we start taking life easy!

 

[lydiaandmiffy]

[ QUOTE ]
GFS fits pickle and he is wide. Lots of the wide ones at my yard have them

[/ QUOTE ]
where u thinking of miffy??
i think field house and idealmake a saddle for wider horses
lydia

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

my bog is very wide - like doing splites when riding, !! he has a wintec

 

[lusty]

I have a working hunter saddle for my cob its made by Martin Wilkinson, and its the most comfortable saddle i have ever ridden in.