Opinions on saddles

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dickybobx

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Just wondered what thoughts are on thorowgood saddles and kent and master one

I have an ever changing youngster so after an adjustable gullet saddle for now. Which are better
 
Well, I believe they are made by the same company. With kent and masters being the leather version of the thorowgood one. They use the same tree so the fit will be very similar. I bought the thorowgood t8 for my youngster and couldn't get it to fit at all. She is tbxconnie and the tree wasn't flat enough for her. Tried the cob version and that didn't work out either as the panels were too wide so didn't contact enough. Shame though as the t8 was a lovely saddle and extremely comfortable.
 
Same company and as far as I know same trees. Not super flat or stable on flat backs as springtime1331 found out. Fine if they fit your horse but an adjustable gullet doesn't mean a lot, especially when you consider that wooden trees can be adjusted a handful of times if you work with the right fitter (not all will do it, much better to sell you a new saddle!). Bear in mind also that as a saddle is widened it gets curvier, but as horses get wider they get flatter, you start to see the problem, even if the tree fits to begin with there are no guarantees it will work as a horse changes shape.
 
Another one who couldn't get the T8 to fit. Numerous adjustments from the saddler and my mare hated it. Sold it after about 6 rides when my horse tried to duck out run away when she saw it :-(Thank God she let me know so clearly!)
 
Tried Thorowgood T4 on my flat-backed cob. Thought it would be the best thing since slice bread. It wasn't! After only half an hour I was so uncomfortable I had to get off and walk home :( - luckily I'd borrowed the saddle to try it so hadn't spend £££ on it.

Kent and Masters? one of the many "saddle fitters" we've had through my yard came and said Oh yes I'll fit your cob OK, and put it on his back. He bunched himself up as if to bronc - didn't look at all happy in it and I didn't need to climb aboard to know what his intentions were!

Not saying they're rubbish saddles, just that they weren't any good for my traditional, short-backed, flat-backed, low withered cob!!

Am currently trialling a Heather Moffatt FlexEE VSD on him.
 
To add, my mare is a haflinger. My friend also has a haffy and has a kent and masters saddle that she loves :-) my mare is now in a saddle made by my saddler - not made for her but she's happy in it!
 
I have a K&M GP, it is a fantastic saddle and really comfy. Like all saddles, they have to be the right shape for the horse, they weren't so good for my very flat backed highland but suit my fjord beautifully. It's handy having the slight adjustability when she changes weight although I have only gone up or down by one or two gullet sizes.
 
Haffies frequently need a tree that is VERY flat from front to back, but not super wide in the pommel, twist or seat - a true hoop tree with wide pommel, twist and seat may swim on them and be unstable. The Haffies I fit would be 75% in the neater tree, and 25% in our super wide cob tree.
 
My saddler rates K&M saddles and the newer Wintecs for a cheaper option. That said, he rates them for the quality of their build, obviously, not necessarily because of how they fit your horse.... I would always opt for "best fit" rather than the name on the plate.

He recently came to reflock my lovely second-hand Barrie Swain and unfortunately once the panels were off it was condemned. I'd bought it from my ex-YO who always used the Barrie Swain team for reflocking and adjusting since she bought it brand new for her now-retired old boy. So I am still reeling from the shock of the shoddy workmanship of the internal condition of the saddle. That was £300 down the drain then.....:(
 
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