GP saddles for odd shaped people?

[Sol]

Now there's a question

Sorry, after this, I will officially limit myself to 1 question per week. I'm full of them and wonky horse is stressing me out a little in every way A week and a bit off and he feels even wonkier so hoping to see vet this week. One blessing was that he was very sane!

Anyway, thinking I might save a little money sometime as I'm guessing he might need new saddles soon - got Bates but their fit is a little 'iffy' at the moment (one worse than other, told to use with sheepskin half pad, other 'ok' apparently) and it does nothing for my confidence as I constantly worry they'll make his back sore *sigh*

But I have stupid long thighs and most people don't think I'll find a suitable GP saddle really. One like a Bates with moveable thigh blocks (not fixed knee rolls, a definite no no) would be good, but not many makes seem to have the velcro bit still, especially to the same extent as bates?

But considering he's only rising 6 and seems quite slow to mature anyway, I think 1 saddle would just be easier, cheaper, better overall! If only I can find one to suit... Any ideas?? Or am I just a stressy lunatic? xD

Thanks for reading my rambling Have cookies!

 

[ThePony]

Hi,
I feel your pain! Both myself and my other half have silly long thighs and no bottomless money pit for saddles! More of a prob for him than me tbh as his mare is rather compact and they show jump so need a forward ut saddle too. My choice (long thighs, need a gp, normal length of back on my mare) is a fairfax gp http://www.fairfaxsaddles.co.uk/fairfax-standard-gp.php. Wonderfully comfy, adjustable (they are uber fancy thorowgoods so have all their adjustable bits - and velcro all over the place for rolls and blocks) can fit on nicely with moveable blocks so we can change them for hacking (which we mainly do) or a bit of jumping. My other half is having more of a prob, currently in a thorowgood gp as can just take the knee rolls off, (he does fit on it and it fits mare - so far so good!) but needing more support for jumping. Saddler has suggested that once he's found a saddle that fits his mare, and is comfy for him, then the seat can be flattened and quilting done on the shoulder bits to allow shoulder movement even though the saddle is more forward cut. A low cantle helps too. There is a dever one which looks promising http://www.deversaddlery.co.uk/saddle-close-contact-jumping-i1.html
For a gp with moveable bits then (depending on your budget) I would def check out thorrowgood (http://www.thorowgood.com/uk/index.htm), kent and masters (http://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/) and fairfax - they are all pretty much grades of thorrowgood, but with extra comfort and fancy bits as you increase the cost (from about £350 to £850 through the brands).
Good luck and thanks for the cookies!

 

[Sol]

Thank you!
It'd be lovely to think I could just buy snazzy new saddles when necessary, but until I win the lottery.... then there's things like the WOW saddles which is a fab idea - for a start I could have a longer seat without making it any longer for the horse (he has a silly short back! not helpful!) but again, silly money!
Will take a look at the ones you suggested, they sound great Thanks again!