saddle advice please?!

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karenjj

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Hi had the saddle fitter out recently who said my boy needed a new saddle, the saddles she had that fitted him were too expensive for me so she gave me a pad to put under another saddle I have and said I can use that for the time being while I save up but would need to buy a new one soon. She is recommending either a Kent and Masters or a Bates as they both have the adjustable trees. She didn't really mention synthetic versions such as the wintec or thorowgood? Can anyone give me any advice on what to look for? I was going to buy one elsewhere then get her back to fit it? Thanks
 
The Saddle Company make saddles that can be ajusted too. And they arnt very expensive to buy new - which means that 2nd hand is even cheaper!
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I have a Wintec VSD with Cair and it's great!!! It's very comfy for me and for George, with the advantage of changeable gullets for if he changes shape. It doesn't need saddle soaping just a quick wipe over with a damp cloth. (Never worry about getting your saddle soaked if the heavens open and you are a mile away from home!) I'll admit I had reservations as it doesn't have the traditional look that you get with real leather but having owned it for 8 months I wouldn't swap it! I got mine as a package including Stirrup leathers, irons, a girth and a numnah for less than £300 from equestraian clearance and then had someone come to check the fit.
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In a lot of ways you'd be better getting a second hand, non adjustable leather saddle then changing it. A second hand leather saddle will hold its value if you look after it. A plastic fantastic will cost you 300 - 500 and you'll be lucky to gett 100 back if you need to sell it. Also, even though you can change the width on a wintec/thorowgood etc., the shape of the saddle still isnt always a good fit.
 
If she thinks the Kent&Masters would fit, then a Wintec won't . Thorowgood are extremely good synthetic saddles, with K&M and Fairfax being their leather ranges.
 
The K&M is the leather version of the thorowgood and the bates the leather version of the wintec. They are completely different trees so there is no way they could both fit your horse.

I would get another saddler out to check existing saddle and bring second hand leather and new thorowgood and wintecs (hate them) for you to try.

If you are looking at saddle company you will need a specific saddle company fitter as they are only adjustable with a machine (I know as I fit SC saddles).
 
Exactly what I was thinking - if one fits, the other won't.

Get a better saddler! And get them to bring out both thorowgoods and wintecs (though there are a large number of saddle fitters who won't fit wintecs as they're a rubbish fit on most horses). As CBAnglo said, they are the synthetic version of the K&M and Bates, and therefore a hell of a lot cheaper!
 
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