Owners of WOW saddles....

[Kerryleigh]

Please can anyone tell me if they have had a similar problem and if so how did you resolve it?

I have the WOW VSD with moveable blocks. The problem is that when I have any blocks attached, the flap rubs against my horses shoulders as he moves. It is worse when the saddle is in its GP position but it also happens when it is in its backwards dressage position.

He does have very big shoulders and this rubbing was a concern when I had the saddle fitting but I was told that this problem would resolve itself as the new leather softens and the elasticated inserts would allow outwards movement.

Any ideas?

 

[teddyt]

I expect that with the blocks attached you may 'grip' with your knees more OR your legs push into the blocks, which pushes the flap down against the horse and it then rubs.

Sometimes the flap has a natural curve inwards towards the shoulders, which is made worse when blocks are attached and then worse again with a rider on board. I dont think theres much you can do about it, except maybe a wool numnah that is big enough to clear the flaps by a decent amount.

 

[charlimouse]

[ QUOTE ]
I expect that with the blocks attached you may 'grip' with your knees more OR your legs push into the blocks, which pushes the flap down against the horse and it then rubs.

Sometimes the flap has a natural curve inwards towards the shoulders, which is made worse when blocks are attached and then worse again with a rider on board. I dont think theres much you can do about it, except maybe a wool numnah that is big enough to clear the flaps by a decent amount.

[/ QUOTE ]

Surely no saddle that fits a horse should rub, regardless of make. If the saddle is rubbing it will be causing your horse discomfort. I notice you are in Yorkshire (as am I), I had an awful lot of problems with my Wow dressage saddle, which was fitted by a saddle fitter from Yorshire

. Check your fit of the saddle. Have you ever had this problem with a different saddle?????? It may be that a Wow doesn't suit your horse

.

 

[flyingfeet]

Not sure if its any help, but my jumping flaps have 'bananas' so float away from the shoulder. My horse moves a lot and would push a fixed flap back with his movement, however with the bananas and saddle cloth there is no rubbing at all.

 

[cptrayes]

The panel on a WOW sits behind the shoulder blade. The flap sits out in front of the panel, distance depending on what kind of flap. So if you have a horse with really deep shoulder blades, the panel can sit so far down behind them that the underside of the flap then touches. If this causes a problem, one solution is to use double deep panels, which will lift the saddle clear of the shoulder.

If you can't change your panel I would use a full sheepskin (not wool backed sythentic, the whole sheepskin, skin and all) numnah.

VSD's don't have the bananas, by the way.

 

[teddyt]

No, the saddle shouldnt rub. But if its the flap rubbing, rather than the actual weight bearing panel i expect its to do with my explanation above rather than the saddle not fitting. The flap rubbing wont cause damage like the panel rubbing would but its obviously preferable not to have rubbing anywhere!
The lower side of the flap on a wow saddle is quite thick and the panel doesnt extend down as far as other saddles, so the flap can curl round towards the shoulder. This is increased with a rider on board.

 

[Kerryleigh]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. You have all made logical points!

I am quite disappointed that after spending a fortune on a saddle, I now have to go and spend more on additional tack to make it fit properly! I just want my saddle to FIT MY HORSE WITHOUT DISCOMFORT!!!!!!! He is so stoic about it all, he just grits his teeth and gets on with it but he shouldnt have to!

Getting seriously miffed about this - I have spent 2 years and a lot of money on three different saddles and thought that I had solved the problem but maybe not...

My saddle was fitted by David at WOW himself so surely there is no scope for error there?