Heavy Horses and saddles

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littlemiss1

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Im looking for some advice on saddles for my shire horse, he's just turned 6 he been ridden and hacked out as a 5 year old but the last year i have been focusing on his driving. But now the time has come to bite the bullet to get him a saddle and bring on his riding. Im wanting something with a deep seat which i can feel like not just perched on top of 18h of shire horse:D but something that is also a good fit for him as well. I have been looking at the albion gp but wanted to know peoples experiences with their heavies tia x
 
A friend is currently borrowing my older (90's?) Lovatt and Ricketts saddle for his 4 year old Clydesdale and it fits him like a glove at the moment, and also fits my cob x shire.
 
Sister has a VERY heavy Draught mare, we've had her for five years and she has worn four different saddes in that time! None of them fitted as well as we would have liked, just about everything restricted her shouders. We have bought Solution Saddles and the difference in the big mare is astonishing. Sister finds it the most comfortable and "closest" to the horse. The mare is free in her shoulder and much more responsive than she has ever been. She is an older mare and there is some asymetry in her back muscles, the system of pads and shims mean that Sis feels level and the mares way of going is hugely improved and hopefully the asymetry will become less.
Well worth a look for a shire I woud have thought.
 
I have just bought a Throwogood T4 for my Clydesdale. As he has been a bit neglected, I bought this saddle as an interim, until he develops so to speak. Fits well is nicely adjustable and have lovely supportive panels for the horse.
 
Our Belgian draft is now 9 and we have obly recently put him in a proper saddle. These heavies grow untill a late age and and therefore we wanted something we could alter untill he finished growing.
He did really well in a thorowgood T4 cob GP for 4 years so we could have the plate changed when needed and that worked really well on him.
Now he has a made to meassure 19" ideal GP which is lovely but happy we did not spend that kind of money on a saddle when he was still changing.
 
My large Irish draught has a lovely comfy ideal hunter 18.5inch. Anyone who rides him comments on how comfy it is.
 
I've just started riding in an Isabelle and my horse has a new speed! He's super free and working more forward and also rounder some times (when he's not having fun)
 
Cardanel Classic VSD. Good weight bearing panels, really comfortable deep seat and not too forward so suits the more upright shoulder. They make them up to 19". Used one on shirexcob, retired so will be going on ebay soon sadly.
 
I had my maxi cob in a barrie swain semiflex. these saddles are very good for horses with big shoulders and can be adjusted when the horse changes shape (but this has to be done by one of barriers team) they reflock on site and can also adjust the tree. The dressage model has a lovely deep seat.
 
Thanks everyone for your help, it has given me some options to look at. i was looking at a saddle recent developed by mill saddlery in suffolk especially for heavy horses but i wanted to see what other options people were using also. thanks again for everyones help, it is much appreciated, i will let you know how i get on! :-)
 
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