John Whitaker saddles, help!

[SupertrampIII]

I've just bought a 5 year old who's not in the best condition and am prepared for him to change shape over the next couple of years, and i need to get him a saddle for now but dotn want to splash out if i'm going to have to replace it soon! Has anyone got any experience or expertise with John Whitaker saddles, because i'm completely new to the adjustable tree idea, can you have them altered more than once? And is it just the tree that can be adjusted or can you sort of 're-flock' the whole thing to fit any horse? I'm completely clueless when it comes to saddle fitting and have to put a lot of trust in my saddle fitters! Please help :S

 

[teddyt]

JW saddles are latex panel, so no they cant be re-flocked. Flocking doesnt make the saddle fit any horse anyway, it basically fine tunes the fit as long as the panel type and tree are right for the horse in the first place.

The tree is nylon, so probably adjustable width ways via infra red or similar. But that only changes the width, the rest of the style must suit the horse.

It wouldnt be my first choice for a poor youngster. You would be better off trying lots of second hand flocked ones to find one that fits and be prepared to change it regularly. Or go for something like a thorowgood or they also do a leather range. If you could afford it a WOW would be worth considering because they are extremely adjustable (tree width and panels via air flocking). I went through 4 saddles in one year with one of my young horses before getting a wow, which i should have done earlier!