Saddle advice for the girl on a budget

sandi_84

sandi_84

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Ok so here's the score...
My lad is a borrowing pauper at the mo :( Bought him his new bridle today so I don't have to keep using the yard's one and going to measured him to check he's definately in the right bit size, but we are still having to borrow the one saddle that fits him from the yard.

I'm a complete dunce when it comes to saddles and saddle fittings so obviously when I do buy one I'll be having a qualified saddle fitter out.
My YO (experienced with horses) has suggested I hold off on buying his own saddle just yet becuase he is still low on muscle tone and obviously as we work him and he builds muscles up his shape will change. He is a 5 YO cob.
The only problem I have with this is that the horse who's saddle we are borrowing is one of the most popular horses (safe for the kiddies walks and great for those who are more competent, can turn his hooves to anything) at the yard so the saddle is very much used.

If hypothetically I did buy him his own, second hand - hence the budget bit, could it be reflocked as he changes shape or would this not work very well and be a total waste of money?

Or

I've head about these changeable gullet/tree system saddles but have heard mixed reviews would one of these work/be better?
 
reflocking a saddle can work out pretty expensive.

You could have a look at Thorowgood or Wintec saddles as they are good quality but very economical and much cheaper than leather saddles. They also have the benefit of being easily adjustible to fit your horse's changing shape without needing to get an expensive saddler out to adjust it for you.
 
I borrowed a Shire's adjustable gullet saddle for my horse before Christmas, you do get what you pay for and it is a very cheap saddle but my god was it a good fit!

I tried to keep it cheep on the saddle front but eventually gave in and bought an Albion!
 
Puzzles said:
reflocking a saddle can work out pretty expensive.

You could have a look at Thorowgood or Wintec saddles as they are good quality but very economical and much cheaper than leather saddles. They also have the benefit of being easily adjustible to fit your horse's changing shape without needing to get an expensive saddler out to adjust it for you.
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I was told by YO it would cost approx £50 a go for reflocking, is that the norm or is that quite cheap? I wouldn't mind that as long as it wasn't every month! Couldn't afford that I don't think :o
I had a look at the Thorowgood/wintec ones online a while back but as I really am inexperienced with saddles (have just been given the right saddle for a particular pony and told to put it on :)) I wouldn't know wheather it was a good fit or not, would they be ok to return if not? and is it cheeky to ask the saddle fitter from the tack shop to check it? - they sell saddles of their own there.

flying solo said:
Why not check Online for the exact saddle you and this other horse share, if the model fits your horse it should only need reflocked
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That's a really good idea but the one he borrows is a dressage saddle, I'd like to get a GP if possible as I don't really plan on doing much dressage but would like to do a bit of jumping eventually if he's amenable :D

Dizzle said:
I borrowed a Shire's adjustable gullet saddle for my horse before Christmas, you do get what you pay for and it is a very cheap saddle but my god was it a good fit!

I tried to keep it cheep on the saddle front but eventually gave in and bought an Albion!
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Hee hee! I don't mind spending a bit of money later on down the line really but it needs saving for and I've just been told cobs can keep growing up till 8yo! :eek: Never knew that before, was expecting him to stop at about 6! :rolleyes:
 
sandi_84 said:
If hypothetically I did buy him his own, second hand - hence the budget bit, could it be reflocked as he changes shape or would this not work very well and be a total waste of money?
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How tight is the budget?

Our saddler came out with a stack of second hand saddles and we plumped for a maxam that he was able to fit to our TB - £125 or so for the saddle including messing with the flocking... The horse was still being built up after being neglected so growing room and fit was an issue as he was obviously going to change shape and was in really poor condition...

It's not a sensational saddle by any means but it has done the job (with a few visits to tweak it when necessary) for the last year and should be fine until his shape settles and I can afford the style I want as a more permanent saddle... :)
 
I think the best you'll do financially for your horse is a Wintec, they're better than the cheaper changable gullet ones and you only need to buy a different gullet when he changes shape. If you ever felt really flush, you could maybe get a Bates Caprilli, same make as the Wintec but leather and very good quality, again they are completely adjustable (albeit a bit fiddly)
 
Ladydragon said:
How tight is the budget?

Our saddler came out with a stack of second hand saddles and we plumped for a maxam that he was able to fit to our TB - £125 or so for the saddle including messing with the flocking... The horse was still being built up after being neglected so growing room and fit was an issue as he was obviously going to change shape and was in really poor condition...

It's not a sensational saddle by any means but it has done the job (with a few visits to tweak it when necessary) for the last year and should be fine until his shape settles and I can afford the style I want as a more permanent saddle... :)
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Wow that sounds like a really good deal! I could probably manage a couple of hundred pounds if I'm really careful about my spending for the next wee while :o I think I'm going to have to have a chat with the saddle fitter and see what she says, if i'm extra charming that day she might take pity on me and knock a few quid off ha ha! :D
 
First, get your local saddler to come out and measure him :). There'll be a charge, which around here is about £25. Ask lots of questions and learn all you can from the session. Cobs tend to be flat backed and low withered, so you'll need a saddle that suits that shape (if that's what he is). The tree shape is also important, as is the length of the points. Lots to learn :D

Remember that the saddle will have to fit you as well :). I have a big bum, so need an 18" saddle, but I also have a long thigh, so even when my bum finishes shrinking I will still need a longer saddle, even on my big lass (16.3hh DWB).
 
I bought my horse a new Wintec, with a more forward cut, and my legs kept comming off the front of the general purpose one when I jumped, and I know a lot of people don't like the synthetic cheapo ones but I think its brilliant. It does its job perfectly fine and yes everything is interchangeable. My horse has also changed a bit of shapre through muscle increase and it still fits him very well with no changes so far. I'm sure you'll be able to find a saddler with lots of secondhand things they have got in part exchange, so I think it may just be a case of seeing what they have for your budget. X
 
^ This. Can't quote on my phone but agree with sbloom that you're not really going to get any answer without fitter or horse in front of you! I'm all for synthetics but no one brand will fit every horse so keep an open mind. Can't see from phone if you've posted your area but ask around here and offline for a local fitter with a good reputation for second hand stock (some won't carry any; others understand 'budget' a lot more).
 
I got a saddle fitter out when i was in your situation. (scarily similar. 5 yr old cob with low wither, flat back) and ended up with a new wintec as the only second hand leather saddlebthat fitted him didnt fit me. When i upgraded i switched to a bates (leather version). Wintec was fine and easy to look after, bates was beautiful. Really comfortable and got losds of compliments for it.

The plus side of both is that they resell really well. I got a great price for both when i sold them on ebay.
 
Thank you everyone! :D
Will be going in to speak to my saddle fitters to have a chat hopefully in the next week (again depending on how much time I've got on my hands :eek:) and hopefully they can give me a few ideas, looking forward to learning about all the wonders of saddle fitting! ;):D I quite like learning about stuff like this really :D
 
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