Kent and Masters Experiences?

WelshD

WelshD

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Ive been looking at the Thorowgood Pony Club changeable gullet saddle for my pony

Whatever saddle i buy i would like it to be adjustable and suitable for jumping so it lasts him years

My lovely brother has offered to pay the difference up to the Kent and Masters pony GP leather changable gullet saddle which does look a lot nicer

A search on here has thrown up an issue about the quality of the leather in 2012

Has anyone bought one recently and is it a nice saddle and wearing ok

Any other thoughts on the saddles in general?

I have discounted Wintec as they simply arent the right shape for the pony
 
I have a K & M GPD and I love it

just because the saddle has an adjustable gullet does not mean it will fit every horse, the only K & M one that fitted mine was the GPD and it fits like a glove.

bought mine this summer just gone
 
Thank you both

If its not the right one for him i am happy to discount it just like the Wintec but up till now i didnt think it was in budget to even get the saddler to bring one

The other one on my radar is a Tekna saddle but they look very forward cut and the pony doesnt have much front!
 
I might be remembering this wrong though I don't think I am, but I'm sure the 'bad batch of leather issue' has been on and off for a while longer than 2012?
 
The k&m tree is more curved than the wintec - I had a new k&m for 10 weeks and now it's sat doing nothing *hint hint* (pm if interested) and bought a bates with a flatter tree.
 
abracadabra said:
I might be remembering this wrong though I don't think I am, but I'm sure the 'bad batch of leather issue' has been on and off for a while longer than 2012?
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I think you're right. The bad batch was earlier than that. Not sure if it's been ongoing though.
My GP was bought in 2009, and it's fine. It's not top notch leather, but it's not a top price saddle. It's wearing absolutely fine.
My dressage is probs a 2012 one, and that's also fine. :)
 
I got one in may 2012 and rode in it a couple of times and was left with all leather peeling off it they then took it off me and 6 weeks later i got a new one no idea what its like cause i have never used it couldnt wait 6 weeks to ride new horse who had not long been backed so had to get another one
 
I have both the GP and the dressage and both are perfect for my cob. My dressage was one that had the bad leather but was replaced immediately and no problems since. Fabulous saddles.
 
I'm sure I read somewhere that the leather issues affected one colour only, but can't remember where I read it.
OH has one, a havana GP bought in autumn 2011, and is really pleased with it.
 
the saddle it self is nice enough but its down right uncomfortable if you are on it for a long time (rubs you in all the wrong places - sorry if its tmi but its true!) i have the the gp model and its fine for pretty much everything although i would say it was a bit too forward cut for dressage but its good for jumping and xc... if only it had narrow twist!
 
Mine was lovely although tipped me forwards a lot. I've heard it's better to get half a seat size bigger than normal to stop this but I wasn't advised this at the time hence I didn't
 
rachaelstar said:
The k&m tree is more curved than the wintec - I had a new k&m for 10 weeks and now it's sat doing nothing *hint hint* (pm if interested) and bought a bates with a flatter tree.
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I have a Thorowgood saddle....which is like the k&m so the tree is the same? Would this more curved tree account for the more curved panels on the horses back? Or is it just my saddle? And the way my saddle fitter has flocked the panels?

Love said:
Mine was lovely although tipped me forwards a lot. I've heard it's better to get half a seat size bigger than normal to stop this but I wasn't advised this at the time hence I didn't
Click to expand...

I also wish I had known this.....it would explain a lot!
 
IIRC Bates are made by same company as wintec and K&M are same as Thorowgood.

Wintec have quite a curved tree but I've no experience of Bates saddles.

I've got a K&M high wither GP and the tree isn't curved. Always found Thorowgood quite flat.

I've had no issue with the leather quality and I find it comfortable.

Best bet is to get one to try as perception on fit, tree shape etc will differ depending on what type of horse people own and what other brands of saddle they have experience of.
 
Thank you all very much

The saddle fitter is booked for Tuesday

The pony seems very hard to fit and being only 11.2 with a growing teen or adult rider It complicates things further

The fitter is bringing Wintec, K&M and Thorowgood saddles plus anything secondhand that may suit
 
I've got a dressage saddle, had it for a couple of years now and I love it.

Find it v. comfy, it doesn't force me into place like some DR saddles and had no issues with the leather at all.
 
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