Saddle fitting advice pls: Thorowgood GP saddle, Kent and Masters S Series GP or original GP

[Heccyd]

Hi all - had a saddle fitting on Saturday and tried the Thorowgood GP saddle which I loved....afterwards when researching I realised Kent & Masters are the same company and I want a full leather version. Does anyone know if the K&M original GP is the same seat size/style as the Thorowgood GP - or is the K&M S series GP the same as the Thorowgood? (Important note: I have a big arse/hips). Have also emailed K&M but in the meantime thought I'd see if anyone has some advice. Thank you in advance!

 

[Wheels]

Does your fitter not sell k&m? If they do then check with them exactly what you tried and whether there is an equivalent?

 

[sbloom]

I would ask your fitter, they're the only ones that have see you and your horse.

 

[HeyMich]

I'd get the saddler/saddle fitter back out and ask to try the K+M saddles. I tried a whole variety of K+M GP saddles (the low pro compact, the standard compact, the universal S-series etc) and they all felt very different. What suits on paper may not suit you or the horse in person, and you can't buy a saddle without a proper fitting in my opinion.

.

 

[Heccyd]

Thanks all for your advice. My fitter sells all three brands from this company but lives quite far away - because I said I didn't have a budget for a new saddle at the fitting, she adjusted my current one then at the end convinced me to try the Thorowgood which I loved.....and that evening, I discovered the link between the companies - I've asked her to confirm that the K&M I have now paid her a deposit for is the exact same size, cut etc,as the Thorowgood, just full leather, which she did.. Now I feel really stupid!

 

[Myloubylou]

I think they are on the same tree, there’s several models of the gp, compact, cob etc but they have same across the ranges. Is the saddler coming out to adjust the K&M? It will feel a bit different as different material. Some people I know preferred the synthetic but the K&M is the mid range so should have more comfortable seat

 

[Heccyd]

I think they are on the same tree, there’s several models of the gp, compact, cob etc but they have same across the ranges. Is the saddler coming out to adjust the K&M? It will feel a bit different as different material. Some people I know preferred the synthetic but the K&M is the mid range so should have more comfortable seat

Yes, she will fit the K&M - thank you for your reply, really helpful. I've emailed her again to make sure - a bit more tricky as I live in France and my French is not perfect! She's a listed rep on their website for all 3 brands - I assume to be a rep they must have some sort of training on the models and styles...hopefully K&M will also reply. Was kinda hoping a saddle fitter might pop up on here who can answer definitively and in English Thanks again. I worry too much. But also, I could not believe the difference in how my horse went, testing that Thorowgood....

 

[sbloom]

I'm a professional fitter, I think the only one who actually actively fits that's on here (though I might be wrong) but I don't fit them sadly.

 

[hellfire]

Amazing what a difference a saddle can make in how your horse goes and how your seat feels. I’ve had thorowgood and K&M for the same horse. Both were very very similar and fitted him the same. Both were the cob 17”. I did find they both felt similar in seat and style but the leather k&m more comfy in my opinion. I do like a nice leather saddle. Although the synthetic is much lighter. Edit to re spell thorowgood ?. My phone does type some bizarre things!

 

[Heccyd]

Amazing what a difference a saddle can make in how your horse goes and how your seat feels. I’ve had thiriwgood and K&M for the same horse. Both were very very similar and fitted him the same. Both were the cob 17”. I did find they both felt similar in seat and style but the leather k&m more comfy in my opinion. I do like a nice leather saddle. Although the synthetic is much lighter.

Aha! Thank you for this, just what I wanted to hear! I couldn't believe the difference in how he moved in the Thorowgood compared to his Wintec - although both the osteopath and the fitter said his saddle wasn't a bad fit, and the fitter did make some adjustments to the cair. I feel very foolish - I'm meticulous about hooves and diet and bit - and although I'd had plenty of advice about his saddle, and adjusted the gullets accordingly, I'd never had a fitter out or tried a different one. Lesson learned.

 

[Myloubylou]

This hopefully will help. The model code is stamped on the saddle flap. The picture shows the standard gp model for the T4 thorowgood all synthetic, T8 thorowgood part leather and K&M all leather

 

[Heccyd]

This hopefully will help. The model code is stamped on the saddle flap. The picture shows the standard gp model for the T4 thorowgood all synthetic, T8 thorowgood part leather and K&M all leather

Now that was a good idea....thank you!

 

[poiuytrewq]

They are supposed to be built on the same tree and I therefore once figured I could just upgrade my horses fitted T6 for a Kent and masters. For some reason, although fine on the horse i really hated it.
Definitely get the fitter back out so you can try before being landed with one!

 

[hellfire]

Aha! Thank you for this, just what I wanted to hear! I couldn't believe the difference in how he moved in the Thorowgood compared to his Wintec - although both the osteopath and the fitter said his saddle wasn't a bad fit, and the fitter did make some adjustments to the cair. I feel very foolish - I'm meticulous about hooves and diet and bit - and although I'd had plenty of advice about his saddle, and adjusted the gullets accordingly, I'd never had a fitter out or tried a different one. Lesson learned.

It’s so important to have a saddle fitted correctly. The wintec is so different. More of a curved tree. No good for a horse with a flatter back. Some horses don’t show any signs a saddle is a poor fit and you won’t know unless you have a fitter or try something else and think wow he goes better. One of mines so sensitive if the saddle isn’t fitting even slightly you know. I have a fitter out once a year just to check things are ok. He’s been growing so been more frequent for him.

 

[LegOn]

I had a Thorowgood GP for my last horse, the half leather version & loved it! But when I tried a K&M, I couldnt get on with it at all - it felt more perched on the horse than the Thorowgood... I know they are on the same tree but I couldnt get the same feel with the K&M.