Question for actual saddle fitters....

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JJones

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I own a round no wither cob, she hasnt got a flat table top back, its just fairly round with no withers.

I read once on another thread that a good saddle fitter should be able to fit a saddle to a horse like this without it sliding all over her but i find it hard to take in as if you sit on a barrel yourself, you're going to slide around.
My previous saddles have slid on her and they were fitted by saddle fitters.

I've got another saddle fitter coming but i want to know what kind of treeor saddle she is likely to need so that i dont look like a total dimwit and end up with another saddle thats going to slip round.
Any advice would be great. thanks
 
I was going to suggest sbloom she specialises in wide flat backed horses and is extremely nice.
Other wise I had black country saddle and fitted my extra extra extra wide cob beautifully
 
I spend a long long time with different saddles and saddles with my flat back, round, no withers, welsh cob. Nightmare!!! Pony saddle company and native pony saddles from the saddles exchange all the way. So happy with mine. Have a look at their website. The difficult ones...... That is what they do and lovely fitters all over the place! Good luck
 
Hey have you thought about the saddle company? I wouldn't recommend non slip pads as they tend to stick to and pull on the hair. Also use girths that are elasticated on both sides or non at all one sided elasticated girths can make saddles slip also try to have girth on second hole on either sides seems to help good luck
 
Shes been in a saddle company cob saddle, doesnt fit her or stay put! She is in a wintec elasticated girth and i use a barnsby grip pad under it.
I read though that you shouldnt need grip pads etc, a good fitting saddle should just stay there on a round horse and that was from saddle fitters on here! So thats why i want to know which types of saddle dont move on these types of horses as personally i cant see how they wouldnt move.
Thanks for all replies so far.
 
splash30 said:
I was going to suggest sbloom she specialises in wide flat backed horses and is extremely nice.
Other wise I had black country saddle and fitted my extra extra extra wide cob beautifully
Click to expand...

cm2581 said:
Native pony saddles are another option. As is a non slip pad such as a gel eze or limpet.
Click to expand...

Same person and agree very helpful :cool:
 
I have your problem!! I have solved it with a point strap and the back strap on a swinging D so its a triangular girthing arrangement. I use a humane girth to keep it all organised. Its the only thing I've found to work.

I have this set up on an Ideal Grandee. Before that I had point and balance straps added to an Ideal Highland and Cob saddle.
 
Can you put up photos? I had a balance saddle which slipper all over the place on my sec d but have no prob with my saddle co saddle. Maybe tree f flock needs adjusting?
 
this is the Ideal Grandee with a point strap and the back strap on a swinging D.
EastAyrshire-20120903-00108.jpg


Its very stable girthed up like that. If I try to use the middle strap though it rolls on him a bit (he is a very funny shape!)
 
Thank you for all the praise :o. I do indeed fit for www.nativeponysaddles.com and specialise in the wide and flat - indeed a well fitted saddle should not slip on them. Do feel free to pm me and I'll see if I can help :cool:

All our saddles come with four girth straps so you can get stable girthing - most natives and cobs need the point strap and third, but if there is an asymmetry we sometimes use the balance strap, but usually only on one side.

Saddle Exchange is another company who are making "Native Pony" branded saddles but they are based on old designs by my "boss", Andrea Hicks, and are not made by the same company, or fitted by the same people. I can only apologise for any confusion and assure everyone that we are seeking a remedy as fast as the "establishment" will allow...
 
Here she is with photos of her & also in the saddle company saddle, This has the point and balance straps on it. With a barnsby grip pad, elastic wintec girth, it stays a bit more put than it used to, but i dont think this is the correct saddle for her.
SDC14692.jpg

SDC14689.jpg

SDC14700.jpg

SDC14698.jpg

SDC14697.jpg
 
You can see the lack of panel contact at the back - the seat is too flat and too wide for her, the head is possibly a little too open. I have several appy/QH types on my books and they need a neat saddle which is much flatter from that from front to back. Oh and it should be a bit further back than that :)
 
Thanks SBloom.
Another saddle fitter that saw the photos (not one i have used) mentioned a saddle that is hoop shaped in the tree and atleast 2 1/2" gusset at back, but this means nothing to me.
How can i ensure that the next saddle fitter fits her with the right saddle, what should i be asking for?
 
We only have one tree that would fit her, and it's nowhere near a hoop tree, it's actually rather neat along the top, I also think that depth of gusset might be too much. I will pm you a recommendation.
 
After an unsuccessful attemp by my local saddlers to fit my 15.1 cob who is fairly round and with no wither, upon which they left me a Kent and Master Highland and Cob 18", which I tried and found it to bridge and generally moved about also had horrible velcro removable knee blocks, and it cost me a £50 booking fee that was non refundable, I was at a loss to know what to do, as I returned the above mentioned saddle and was told by them, they did not have anything else that would fit. Surely I dont have the only horse that would not be able to have a saddle. Really didn't know what to do. Somehow found the Native Pony and Cob Saddles, this in itself wasn't exactly straighforward, as there are two similar companies, one extremely nice and helpful and the other a bit pushy, after a few phone calls I managed to find Andrea Hicks and fitter Stephanie Bloom of Native Pony and Cob Saddles. Weston Super Mare. Before Stephanie came to fit my horse, photograps etc. were sent out, just to save me a callout fee, just in case she was un-fittable, however, Stephanie was sure she could help. Fitting day arrived, turned up on time and no problems, she was fitted with a 17and 1/2"Native Pony and Cob Phoenix Elite Saddle, their Mountain and Moorland also fitted her, but I personally preferred the feel of the Phoenix Elite as it felt more secure. I paid for it there and then and it was left of 7 days trial, unfortunately she developed a sore place, so Stephanie came out again and re fitted this time with a 17" Pheonix Elite, this is slightly shorter, so hopefully will do the trick. It may not have been the length of the saddle, it may have been the asymetric girthing that was being used. However, I think we are both now really pleased with the outcome, and even if it doesn't work, I still have the next 7 days to try. I thoroughly recommend these saddles and their fitters, as nothing is too much trouble, and they certainly seem to know their business, and seem to be very reliable, also the saddles are extremely good value, they far exceed the quality of a lot of saddles on the market at this price point, they also sell fabulous elasticated at both ends leather girths, which I also HAD to have, coz I wanted it, also I beleive these are helpful in stopping the saddle moving on the round cobs. I wouldn't hesitate to use and recommend Native Pony and Cob Saddles, especially Stephanie Bloom, and also the Phoenix range of saddles they do, which mustn't be confused with the Heather Moffat saddle of similar name. Hopefully my saddle will be suitable over the next 7 days, and I shall certainly have them back in 2/3 months time, for my free check, plus callout fee. Please if you want a saddle for a round cob, that doesn't move, check these guys out and make sure you call the correct company, as it is a bit confusing.:)
 
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