High withered TB's with not a lot of topline - GP saddles?

FestiveSpirit

FestiveSpirit

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I asked in Competition Riders and hardly got any response, so am trying in here :D

I am looking for a 'cheap and cheerful' GP saddle for my 15.2hh TB, he is high in the wither, hasnt got the best topline yet, and is quite short backed.

What does everyone use on their high withered TBs?

(Original saddler sold me an Albion K2 jump, new saddler says this does not fit as it is too low at the front and is trying to suggest a Thorowgood synthetic saddle to me)

Thanks :)
 
I have a loveson saddle designed by my saddler specifically for tbs, it's fab I love it, can't find any info anywhere on the web about them though :( It was cheap and cheerful for a brand new saddle as well (about the same as I paid for a second hand jeffries event saddle for my boy)
 
I use an Albion Kontrol on my TB and love it. The pommel is slightly more cut back than the K2 I think so maybe worth a try?
 
Gazey if you want to try my saddle for a while (I'm happy for you to have it reflocked by your saddler to boblet) you are more than welcome, its sat gathering dust atm. I don't want to sell it because I plan to have another tb in the future and its the best saddle to hunt in! But am happy to lend it out until you can sort another one/built bob up more/whatever really!
 
The thorowgood saddles are really nice, i have one and i love it. It looks as smart as any leather GP and is much easier to keep looking that way also because they are so adjustable they are great for horses that are bound to change, and they dont loose much value either
 
This is brilliant, thanks so much to everyone for all the suggestions (and also to those who suggested Kent and Masters on the other thread, havent forgotten that! :))

Vizslak that is an incredibly generous offer from you, thanks so much :):):) It has actually made me quite tearful ;) I will keep it in mind but I think at the moment I am not in any particular hurry to get a GP, my dressage saddle is back from being reflocked/refurbished next week (yay!) and I need to learn to ride in that first :D So I will be hacking and schooling in that for a couple of months until I get the hang of it :p

Gingernut and Summerleft, I think the T4 was the saddle she showed me, but it wasnt a leather look one :confused: Are they the T6s? I have seen a leather look Thorowgood and would agree that I couldnt tell the difference until I was really close up - if they fit Boblet well then that is fine with me :)
 
Libbylou said:
We have a wintec with cair and a prolight pad underneath.
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My new saddler is also a prolite fan, we are going to see whether Boblet needs a saddlecloth with integral prolite pad (gulp! £74!) or whether a riser with changeable inserts will do the job better for him :)
 
Thats ok, if you want it at a later date I can always bring it to the AAD meet up for you. As I said Cat can't use it and I have no plans to have a fourth horse for a long while! Its only 3 years old, although I'm not the most careful with my tack!! :p :D Let me know if you need it.
 
Another vote for the T4 hi-wither, I had to use a Prolite pad at first when she had no topline but once she filled out, I was able to get rid of it.
 
The thorowgood T4 or T6 high-wither saddle would probably be your best option and the most cost effective too. They come with changeable gullets and if you get the 3D or 'fish' inserts then you have even more adjustments to work with. Look on their website and ask your saddler for advice.
 
Thorowgood T4 High Wither (get the one with changeable gullets and the fish system) and jobs a gud un, well you did say cheap and cheeful and as your horse fills out (weight/muscle) you can alter the saddle to keep a good fit (providing saddle is suited to your horses shape to begin with) also they are lovely and light weight, you also have the option to have it re-flocked or alter the flocking by a saddler just like a leather saddle should you need to, in fact even if your horse doesnt have huge high withers, I'd still go for the high wither model with a TB horse as they tend to sit better and put you in a better position, there also recommended by the Veteran Horse Society and the Veteran Welfare Trust, so they must be doing something right.
 
Have you considered the Saddle Company saddles? My experience of their fitters is that they are the best I've found so far, both for my IDxTB high withered and roly-poly New Forest.
 
Another vote for thorowgood hi wither - my dressage saddle fits my high withered, topline lacking TB v well. Also, Albion 5000 GP with TB panels fitted him like a glove, too. :)
 
4leggedfurries said:
Bates VSD with cair, fits him a treat and we both ride well in it, very comfy!
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I agree, when I got my TB straight out of training, he was so narrow. My saddler recommeneded the Bates VSD, which I used initiallly with a polypad and a prolite. I am really pleased with it, now as he is slowly building some top line, we can alter the gullet to accomodate his change in shape without having to spend more on a new saddle.
 
I have thorogood high wither. It was the ONLY thing that fit my high withered, elderly, lacking top line TB. I really wanted the barnsby that the saddle had that was really comfy and looked lovely but it was the damn synthetic that fit the horse so thats what we got. I have had it for years now and its still as good as new pretty much, still fits, have had it checked several times, and takes no looking after. Bargain.
 
Thorowgood high wither saddles are brilliantly designed for thoroughbreds. Kent and masters is their leather version. TBs dont always need a narrow tree as some can be quite wide. But they do need a deep panel and often rear gussets to clear the wither and spine and the thorowgood and K&M have this, as well as the ability to change the width if needed.
 
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