Help me find a saddle...

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Kub

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My lovely boy is going away to be backed next weekend (eek!) and whilst he is there, I need to get him a new saddle.

I currently have a thorowgood maxam saddle that I've used just to get him used to a saddle, but it's now too narrow for him and also too high at the back, so need to get something a lot more close contact and wider.

I've been suggested something along the lines of an ideal, falcon, general working hunter style saddles, in an extra wide width and 17" seat. Something that doesn't have too much padding at the back, as it will just push me forward the whole time as he's slightly downhill anyways.

I've had a mooch on ebay and some sites but not much coming up in extra wide. It doesn't need to be the best looking saddle, as long as the tree is sound and safe. I want second hand as he's still growing and we'll just be hacking in it, so cosmetic blemishes are not an issue.

I've got about 3-4 weeks to find one, otherwise no riding Harry when he returns, I won't take the risk. I'm in Somerset so if anyone knows of anything in that area, I would prefer to be able to try before I buy, but any suggestions greatly welcomed.

Any suggestions on saddle types too would also be great.

Thank you :)
 
I'd buy something with a changable gullet system and have a saddler fit it correctly.
I say this as youngster change so much in shape.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, but I've heard that even with a changeable gullet, the tree width never changes, so it doesn't necessarily fit wider ponies?
 
I would second the changable gullet suggestion. You are right in that if the saddle doesn't fit the shape of your boy, changing the gullet is unlikely to fix that.

Depending on your budget thorrowgood/kent and masters/fairfax (price rises along the ranges from about £400 to £900) are excellent. They also do cob shape ones as well as high wither and more standard shapes so it gives you a good chance of finding a style that suits.

The gullet will make a saddle wider, but like I said above, the shape must still suit the shape of his back. A wrong shape saddle can't be made wide enough no matter what you do with the gullet. A saddle can be fine tuned with the flocking too so it can be got just right, and tweeks done every 6 months to keep it fitting well.

I would find a local saddler that stocks some of those ranges and get him out, bates always seems to be well thought of too so worth considering them too. Then the saddler can come out and see then on your boy and with you in them too and make suggestions from there.

Without that then unless you are crazy lucky or have an incredibly understanding (for understanding read 'willing to put up with discomfort'!) pony you are very unlikely to get a good enough fit.

Even if he changes shape in the future (which is really likely as his musculature develops) the changable gullet saddles seem to hold their value better as they will always fit a wider range of horses than a fixed width saddle.

Alternatively see if your saddler stocks good quality used saddles - again if your boy grows out of it you won't make such a loss on selling a second hand saddle on as you would if you buy brand new.
 
What breed is he?

Some saddles don't fit all breeds- even with a changeable gullet.....which I have found to my cost.

Tell us his breed/shape etc and that may narrow your search down.

You can get a good second hand saddle fitted for a reasonable price....

Take a look at Rideaway- they will send them out for you to try and you can send them back if you are not happy.
 
Thanks poppymoo, this is what I've heard too. He is a heavy weight traditional cob (see sig). Typical lack of wither, very wide back, round chest and chunkarama lol. I took some pictures of him yesterday which I'll go onto my computer tonight and that might help with suggestions.

On a tangent, can anyone suggest a good saddle fitter in the Somerset area? Might give me a better idea of the sort of saddles that will fit.
 
I've got a cob that looks a bit like Harry.
I had a borrowed 17.5" Thorowgood T4 cob saddle for the first 6 months I had him - (He was backed about 3 months before I got him, aged 4 and a half) then after he grew out of that I bought a 17" Kent and Masters Cob GP saddle - the cob saddle has a slightly flatter tree, designed for wider cobby types, it also has interchangeable head plates so you can widen the saddle as he muscles up underneath it.
A year later we've gone from a standard blue headplate, through maroon, yellow and now onto white! (there's only a silver one left to go!) and my saddler has been happy with the fit on him all along (after changing the headplates!)
I hope all goes well for him over the next few weeks!
xxxxx
 
Ok....sounds like my highland:)

I would go for an Ideal WH saddle- I have one in XW that fits both my highland and arab ( both round with little/no wither).....sits nicely behind the shoulder.

You can get them second hand, they are good quality and comfy, plus if you want todo showing it will be fine for that too.

http://www.rideaway.co.uk/17-MEDIUM-HAVANA-IDEAL-WORKING-HUNTER-3106/default.aspx

I also have one of these for the highland- bought it a couple of years ago thinking that it was cheap and if it was crap or didn't fit it didn't really matter, I could just get rid of it....in actual fact its a really nice saddle- the photos don't do them justice. Obviously the leather is not as nice as the Ideal but it fits lovely, and now it has been worn in it looks really smart and has been used to show in...I have one in XW.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-saddle-WO...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item19c3c28c8f
 
I have a 17" extra wide Jeffries Falcon Hawk Event

Its a beautiful saddle and very comfy and smart looking too :D

it fits Java very well and he is very awkward to fit!

I also am getting a LeMieux Pro Sorb Sheepskin Half Pad with memory foam inserts as he has a tendency to change shape a small amount sometimes

At the moment he has a normal sheepskin on over his saddlecloth to bulk it out as his pessoa caused him muscle wastage so he has lacking somewhat over his wither area just needs his muscle building up
 
Splish - I've heard good things about these but when I was having this checked yesterday, I was told that they would be just as high at the back as my current saddle, and this would cause me to be pushed forward, so should really go with soemthing more close contact.

Ideally I'd need to try one on him and see I guess

Poppymoo - Ideal was suggested for him but I can't find any in extra wide in my price range. What is the make of the other one you use?

Kirsty - Jeffries was suggested too and a friend has one that fits him nicely, so keeping my eyes peeled on that front :)
 
Kub said:
Splish - I've heard good things about these but when I was having this checked yesterday, I was told that they would be just as high at the back as my current saddle, and this would cause me to be pushed forward, so should really go with soemthing more close contact.

Ideally I'd need to try one on him and see I guess

Poppymoo - Ideal was suggested for him but I can't find any in extra wide in my price range. What is the make of the other one you use?

Kirsty - Jeffries was suggested too and a friend has one that fits him nicely, so keeping my eyes peeled on that front :)
Click to expand...

my instructor is a working hunter judge and she says it looks fine for a whp

they are also soooooooo comfy

last for years too

take a look at some reviews or search threads on here with them never a bd word!!

I have seen them very reasonably priced on ebay

not sure what your budget tho :/
 
Well I was thinking the £200 mark, I don't want to go spending too much as I've no doubt he'll grow out of it pretty quick but if I need to spend more I will. Once again having real issues finding extra wide, stupid coblet lol!

Also, is there a general measurement for the width of saddles? And what would extra wide be?
 
kub it might be worth popping into/ringing murphys to see what they have second hand. They had quite a lot in last time I went in. I sold both my old saddles through them.
 
Here's a couple of pics of him from yesterday if that helps. Gives an idea of his shape and maybe help with suggestions :)

200327_10150455476510510_538195509_18053003_5344063_n.jpg


189416_10150455476870510_538195509_18053010_6614610_n.jpg


Excuse his shabbiness, he's a wolly mammoth at the mo lol.
 
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hewish,

just off the motorway up towards congresbury. I can go that way when I go to work so can always have a bit of a nose for you!
 
Ah that is the right site, they put themselves as Hewish, Weston-Super-Mare. Will pop them an email, thank you for the suggestion :) Have you ever used their saddle fitting services?
 
You asked if for a recommendation on a saddle fitter. I'd recommend Chris Harper who is a mastersaddler at Wadswick, Corsham. Yes that is Wiltshire way but he comes out to me in Somerset and I know he has other clients in Somerset.
 
Heya,
I have had a similiar problem, backed my 15hh connemara who is incredibly wide... took ages to find an XW saddle. backed him in a XW ideal grandee saddle!! which semi-fitted. got a master saddler out, who fitted a throughgood T4 cob with changeable gullet, he hated it and I was bucked off 4 times!!! I then had the ideal saddle reflocked as I thought he liked it, as he showed no signs of hating it!! He hated it was bucked off another 4 times!! I am now on my 3rd saddle which is a half panel (owen) saddle which suit native flat backed horses, he likes it at present and I would definitely recommend!! :)
 
depends on the saddle really as what they class as extra wide,

although i think the falcon hawk event xw is 11" D to D could be 10

He looks a good shape for the falcon hawk event,

they do normal one, high wither and xp (thoroughbreddy types)

I would deffs in the long run for when he has stopped changing shape have a look at the jeffries,

however in the mean time you can get second hand ones for about 200-250 depending on condition really as some second hand ones are 900!
 
Thanks Kirtsy, I plan on getting him his final saddle when he's about 6/7, but due to how much I know he's going to change in the next couple of years, I don't want to go buying anything new or too expensive just yet, just for it to be no use in a little while.

On the flip side, I will spend whatever I need to to get him something that fits him well. And so the hunt continues....

Any more suggestions welcome, or if you know of anything suitable. Thanks :)
 
I looked at those ebay saddles...its only guess work but to me don't look right for your horse. Also its so important to get something he is happy in, especially as a youngster, so you don't give him a sore back which might give him a reason to dislike being ridden and play up.
I've tried to buy saddles on ebay and while sellers are honest the fit has never been right.

What about an Ideal h & C saddle? They are flatter with a tree more suited to your type of horse. There are a few of those on ebay.

I've nothing against an older saddle if it fits, but they are cheap for a reason, for example maybe the flocking is old and lumpy and will cause pressure points on his back. It might not seem like much, but if you had a small stone in your shoe and had to walk for 2hrs you'd be sore at the end.

I know we all have to operate on a budget but its important to make sure he is comfortable and happy
 
Completely agree, maresRus, I know this is so crucial for him and don't want him to be uncomfortable. Thanks for the honest opinion :)

Whatever I get, I'll be getting someone to fit it to make sure he is going to be comfortable, and if he's not, then I'll continue my search
 
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