How heavy are WOW saddles compared to others?

[Marigold4]

The eternal search for the right saddle for my horse is back on as he has changed shape again. Short back, enormous shoulders, wide, long wither and needs a wide gullet. Pondering WOW saddles. I don't want to put too much weight on his back and have heard that WOW saddles are very heavy. How much heavier are they than other saddles and why are they so heavy??

 

[Slightlyconfused]

It depends on the version.

The newer ones aere very light, the older versions is heavy. I have a resin seat on mine which is why i saved up and got a new bliss of london saddle, though I am going back to my wow as the bliss is not a good fit for him, half my fault as I shoyld have asked for the panels to be like the wow.

I am in contact with wow to ask them which version of seat is the lightist so i can swap seats over while i sort out my bliss, and cry in the corner as its a really lovely saddle.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I don’t know about Wow weight but SMART saddles are infinitely adaptable to changes in condition/shape and accommodate large shoulders without impeding foreleg action and are lighter than conventional treed saddles. Tori Aylmore has some relevant case studies on her Facebook page.

 

[shortstuff99]

While yes they are heavier than your average saddle, in the grand scheme of a rider being on top they aren't adding that much. The only time it would be an issue is if you were on the border of 20% and the saddle would probably take you over.

Of all the horses I have had a wow on, none have found the weight a problem (and none have ever had any back or muscle issues).

 

[HelenBack]

While yes they are heavier than your average saddle, in the grand scheme of a rider being on top they aren't adding that much. The only time it would be an issue is if you were on the border of 20% and the saddle would probably take you over.

Of all the horses I have had a wow on, none have found the weight a problem (and none have ever had any back or muscle issues).

I agree with this. My now retired horse had a Wow after trying many other saddles. Although it was probably a bit heavier than the others we'd had, the difference was marginal once I was sat on it and the physio said his back was the best it had ever been. Mine was a circa 2016 version so not the original really heavy ones but as not as light as the newest ones.

I've got an Albion on my current horse but Wow would have been my first choice and if the Albion doesn't work out it's what I'll get going back to.

 

[Ratface]

I have had two WoW saddles, one each for my Arabians. Both short-backed, high withered Crabbet breeds. This was when I was in a highly-paid professional occupation.
I found them useful (interchangeable parts, so each saddle was "made to measure") but both were quite heavy. I gave them away to people who needed them and bought the complete opposite, a sheepskin pad which suited me and my subsequent horses very well.

 

[poiuytrewq]

A horse i used to ride had a WOW saddle and i really liked it. I did find it incredibly heavy though and when i was looking for a saddle for my own horse and combination of the weight and the fact the fitter was rude imo- not to me but the horses owner really put me off!

 

[ycbm]

The newer ones aere very light,

Sorry, compared to other modern saddles no WOW is very light.

I have the latest version, I can weigh it for you if you like, Marigold but I'm not home till Wednesday.

They are heavy because they are modular and all the parts have to be bolted together. So the main bit has to be strong enough to hold the rest together with just eight fixing points. Also because their other main feature is a flexible carbon fibre joint in the tree which gives the horse great ability to move the shoulders.

I love them, but you definitely should not buy one if weight is already an issue.

 

[ycbm]

It depends on the version.

The newer ones aere very light, the older versions is heavy. I have a resin seat on mine which is why i saved up and got a new bliss of london saddle, though I am going back to my wow as the bliss is not a good fit for him, half my fault as I shoyld have asked for the panels to be like the wow.

I am in contact with wow to ask them which version of seat is the lightist so i can swap seats over while i sort out my bliss, and cry in the corner as its a really lovely saddle.

What seat do you need? I know of a plastic tree, latest version, almost new brown deep size 2 for sale by a charity I gave it to recently. PM me if you are interested.


The flat seat , which is not flat, and the xc seat, which certainly is flat, are the lightest.

 

[SEL]

I've got a WOW on my 13h pony and it's definitely heavier than what we had before.

But it also fits her quirky shape and because of that her back is looking a million times better, she's got about 2 inches longer (stable rug bought 2 years ago came out last night and looks silly) and is much happier.

With the saddle I'm heading up to 20% but WOW have made her wide back a set of special short, wide panels so we spread the weight much better than any other saddle has done.

ETA hers is heavier than the WOW I have on my bigger cob and I must remember to ask my fitter why that is next time she's out.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

What seat do you need? I know of a plastic tree, latest version, almost new brown deep size 2 for sale by a charity I gave it to recently. PM me if you are interested.


The flat seat , which is not flat, and the xc seat, which certainly is flat, are the lightest.

I am looking for a brown, size 2 semi curved deep or semi deep seat.

 

[ihatework]

WOWs are noticeably heavier than other saddles. I wouldn’t be too bothered about that provided the saddle works and you aren’t close to the overall weight limit, the air design distributes weight well which mitigates things.

As for WOW in general, I’m not the biggest fan of riding in them, but if you have a tricky horse and you can get the saddle to work, they are worth considering. I had one horse transformed by their WOW, so I just had to suck it up!

 

[asmp]

I am looking for a brown, size 2 semi curved deep or semi deep seat.

So are we!

ETA will also consider any other - continental, flat, etc but not extra deep, if anyone has one lurking at home

 

[ycbm]

Semi curved IMO is difficult to find. It's a relatively new introduction unless you include the very early resin ones.
.

 

[Marigold4]

What seat do you need? I know of a plastic tree, latest version, almost new brown deep size 2 for sale by a charity I gave it to recently. PM me if you are interested.


The flat seat , which is not flat, and the xc seat, which certainly is flat, are the lightest.

That's kind. Thank you. He can only take a 16.5 seat max, he's xw and needs a large rear gusset

 

[Marigold4]

I don’t know about Wow weight but SMART saddles are infinitely adaptable to changes in condition/shape and accommodate large shoulders without impeding foreleg action and are lighter than conventional treed saddles. Tori Aylmore has some relevant case studies on her Facebook page.

I tried a Solution when I first backed him. I tried various configurations but he wasn't happy in it. He's happiest in his Torsion but it's awful to ride in.

 

[Marigold4]

Sorry, compared to other modern saddles no WOW is very light.

I have the latest version, I can weigh it for you if you like, Marigold but I'm not home till Wednesday.

They are heavy because they are modular and all the parts have to be bolted together. So the main bit has to be strong enough to hold the rest together with just eight fixing points. Also because their other main feature is a flexible carbon fibre joint in the tree which gives the horse great ability to move the shoulders.

I love them, but you definitely should not buy one if weight is already an issue.

Thanks for that explanation. That's helpful. We are probably alright weight-wise but I'd rather not go heavy unless I have to.

 

[Marigold4]

It depends on the version.

The newer ones aere very light, the older versions is heavy. I have a resin seat on mine which is why i saved up and got a new bliss of london saddle, though I am going back to my wow as the bliss is not a good fit for him, half my fault as I shoyld have asked for the panels to be like the wow.

I am in contact with wow to ask them which version of seat is the lightist so i can swap seats over while i sort out my bliss, and cry in the corner as its a really lovely saddle.

I'm interested in Bliss of London saddles too. I like the fact that there are different shapes of trees to choose from. I think I need either a baroque or warmblood tree. Hoping they do the tree in a 16.5 as many saddle makes don't. They just do a general "pony" saddle. There are no fitters near me unfortunately.

 

[sbloom]

While yes they are heavier than your average saddle, in the grand scheme of a rider being on top they aren't adding that much. The only time it would be an issue is if you were on the border of 20% and the saddle would probably take you over.

Of all the horses I have had a wow on, none have found the weight a problem (and none have ever had any back or muscle issues).

Yes this, the difference between a light and a heavy saddle is often less than our weight fluctuation as a rider. Saddle weight is usually only about the rider being able tack up easily.

I'm interested in Bliss of London saddles too. I like the fact that there are different shapes of trees to choose from. I think I need either a baroque or warmblood tree. Hoping they do the tree in a 16.5 as many saddle makes don't. They just do a general "pony" saddle. There are no fitters near me unfortunately.

Pretty much all brands have a choice of tree, ven French close contact brands (where I'm not generally a fan of the tree shapes but it's not trie they they're often only on one tree).

I sell more 16.5 in both my brands than any other size, you're quite possibly looking in the wrong places.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I tried a Solution when I first backed him. I tried various configurations but he wasn't happy in it. He's happiest in his Torsion but it's awful to ride in.

I think they have evolved a great deal since the early days. I also think Smart do the majority of their customers a disservice by stating their saddles can successfully be fitted remotely. In my experience they require just as much professional, trained fitting as a treed saddle but in places like Ireland, where the idea of saddle fitting is considered some sort of crank cult, a remotely fitted Smart will do much less harm than other options. Smart now have more trained advisors available for in-person fittings which is a huge step forward.

 

[Marigold4]

I think they have evolved a great deal since the early days. I also think Smart do the majority of their customers a disservice by stating their saddles can successfully be fitted remotely. In my experience they require just as much professional, trained fitting as a treed saddle but in places like Ireland, where the idea of saddle fitting is considered some sort of crank cult, a remotely fitted Smart will do much less harm than other options. Smart now have more trained advisors available for in-person fittings which is a huge step forward.

I had the fitter out several times though, and never remote fitting. The fitter sold me an older version of the saddle for £1200 that "folded" in the middle at canter! It was very "squishy" and probably should have been consigned to the bin!

 

[SEL]

I had the fitter out several times though, and never remote fitting. The fitter sold me an older version of the saddle for £1200 that "folded" in the middle at canter! It was very "squishy" and probably should have been consigned to the bin!

Whereabouts are you?

My pony couldn't get on with Solutions but there is a fitter near me who rides all her horses (events) in them so I think it is very fitter dependent. AH saddles are often good for short backed types, but its worth seeing the weight of the WOW because although its 'heavier' it isn't 'heavy' per se and that modular system really comes in useful as the horse changes shape (or is just an odd shape to start with!)

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I can also recommen SBloom as a fitter, she fitted my old elephants saddle.

I love my Bliss, it just doesnt work with my horse.

Which area are you in?

 

[Marigold4]

Whereabouts are you?

My pony couldn't get on with Solutions but there is a fitter near me who rides all her horses (events) in them so I think it is very fitter dependent. AH saddles are often good for short backed types, but its worth seeing the weight of the WOW because although its 'heavier' it isn't 'heavy' per se and that modular system really comes in useful as the horse changes shape (or is just an odd shape to start with!)

I do like AH saddles but because he has a wither their saddle trees don't suit him. He needs a large rear gusset and a wide open arch.

 

[lrw0250]

We have one with the older, heavier resin tree that came with my daughter's 13hh loan pony. It isn't heavy enough that the pony was bothered by it plus all 4 stones of skinny 10 year old on top but does mean she can't tack up herself! As it is, we are likely getting rid of it (with the owners permission) as it sits so high off our ponies back that the lightweight rider has no seat contact and is very perched and tipped forward. I am waiting on our fitter getting back to me with the full spec but if anyone is looking for a complete size 0 set up (I know they are rare as have spent the last year looking for an alternative seat!) let me know.

 

[SEL]

We have one with the older, heavier resin tree that came with my daughter's 13hh loan pony. It isn't heavy enough that the pony was bothered by it plus all 4 stones of skinny 10 year old on top but does mean she can't tack up herself! As it is, we are likely getting rid of it (with the owners permission) as it sits so high off our ponies back that the lightweight rider has no seat contact and is very perched and tipped forward. I am waiting on our fitter getting back to me with the full spec but if anyone is looking for a complete size 0 set up (I know they are rare as have spent the last year looking for an alternative seat!) let me know.

Is it just the seat that's wrong? Could it not be adjusted to sit level? The air flocking can do remarkable things with a decent fitter.

I have a 0 on a curved tree which needs to go up for sale, but you do get different style seats if you ask on the 2nd hand FB pages.