Saddle for a young cob

[Flora]

I have a bit of a dilemma, I recently bought a 5 yr old cob who has quite big shoulders. I cant get a saddle fitter for a few weeks but thought I would see whats out there first. I have measured him and he is in the yellow Kent & Masters gullet. I tried a Kent & Masters cob saddle but the same thing happens with that as with other cob saddles I tried. The saddle is either too low on the withers and good at the shoulder or fine at the wither but tight on his shoulder. What other cob saddles are there that fit a flat backed cob with big shoulders!?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I’d be tempted to try a Wintec at an affordable price and changeable until his working shape stabilises?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

For very wide flat horses the changeable gullet saddles rarely work, I would get a cheapish second hand saddle for now, a black country, ideal or an AH saddle they all work for cobs ir similar types.

I might be biased because I hate Kent and master saddles and not a lover of wintec either, they are not brands I would ever consider but accept thet work for some.

 

[tda]

2nd hand.....Ideal WHP, Farrington WHP

 

[Goofus]

What other cob saddles are there that fit a flat backed cob with big shoulders!?

I second the recommendation of AH

 

[sollimum]

For very wide flat horses the changeable gullet saddles rarely work, I would get a cheapish second hand saddle for now, a black country, ideal or an AH saddle they all work for cobs ir similar types.

I might be biased because I hate Kent and master saddles and not a lover of wintec either, they are not brands I would ever consider but accept thet work for some.

Definitely this. My 5 year old cob does not fit a monarch or thorowgood and he has both. He is now in a second hand Farrington which has been totally reflocked and is doing the job for the time being. Older cob has a black country.

 

[eahotson]

I’d be tempted to try a Wintec at an affordable price and changeable until his working shape stabilises?

They are very affordable and if they fit I expect good saddles.My own experience with a monarch adjustable saddle on a round cob is that they tend to slip.Had a Thorogood for my old boy,a Welsh D but more horse shapped and it fitted well.Considering an AH for current round cob.These are adjustable and they have a supercob saddle that is designed to fit very round cobs.

 

[southerncomfort]

I have a Thorowgood Pony Club Saddle for my very wide, big shouldered Fell pony.

I've tried several different saddles that on paper should have suited him, and he hated them all, so I keep coming back to this one.

I recently had a different fitter out who brought a selection of saddles to try, but he took one look at him in his TG and asked why I wanted to change since it fits him so nicely! So we didn't change.

 

[eahotson]

I have a Thorowgood Pony Club Saddle for my very wide, big shouldered Fell pony.

I've tried several different saddles that on paper should have suited him, and he hated them all, so I keep coming back to this one.

I recently had a different fitter out who brought a selection of saddles to try, but he took one look at him in his TG and asked why I wanted to change since it fits him so nicely! So we didn't change.

And a good honest fitter.

 

[SEL]

I have two cobs and a part bred draft - changeable gullets aren't really the answer sadly.

Ideal make super wide cob style saddles. I have a 17.5" which needs reflocking which came off a Highland and that really allows shoulder movement.

Andrea Hicks specialises in cobs and often has 2nd hand saddles available.

Silhouette come up wide but the one I briefly had was too 'showing' cut for me - I needed something to get my knees into because cobs can do acrobatics and I'm too old.

My part bred draft was briefly in a Balance saddle which was designed to be wide with shims etc underneath. That worked nicely on her but was a bit long so I sold it.

The smaller cobs are now both in WOW which are hugely adaptable. Microcb is short back, croup high, forward girth groove and no withers and with special 15.5" super wide panels and a forward placed girth arrangement the saddle is stable and she's happy. Baby cob took my draft's old WOW and with a new set of panels it has allowed his trot to really open up. Initial outlay obviously pricey but useful as young horses change shape so can the saddle.

 

[sbloom]

Happy to answer any questions on AH and general pointers on fitting wider and/or flatter backs, overall a wooden tree and a slightly more close contact panel than you get on changeable headplate saddles are likely to work better. Less adjustable but I always say that once you go up or down two tree widths you're likely needing a different shaped tree/panel combo, so, coupled with shims and perhaps a little adjustment of the tree, you don't lose as much as you think by going with more traditional saddles while a young horse is changing.

And just because a saddle fits a horse well doesn't mean it's the best for the combo, rider included. Rider fit actually makes as much difference to the horse as it does to the rider.

 

[southerncomfort]

Happy to answer any questions on AH and general pointers on fitting wider and/or flatter backs, overall a wooden tree and a slightly more close contact panel than you get on changeable headplate saddles are likely to work better. Less adjustable but I always say that once you go up or down two tree widths you're likely needing a different shaped tree/panel combo, so, coupled with shims and perhaps a little adjustment of the tree, you don't lose as much as you think by going with more traditional saddles while a young horse is changing.

And just because a saddle fits a horse well doesn't mean it's the best for the combo, rider included. Rider fit actually makes as much difference to the horse as it does to the rider.

To be honest, I didn't feel good in any of the other saddles we've previously tried either.

I was very unbalanced and didn't feel at all secure, but suspect that was at least partly because he wasn't feeling very happy.

Unfortunately I don't have £2k + to spend on a saddle, so sometimes you have to go with the next best thing.

Andrea Hicks herself has recommended the TG pony club saddle, so they can't be bad!

 

[suestowford]

And just because a saddle fits a horse well doesn't mean it's the best for the combo, rider included. Rider fit actually makes as much difference to the horse as it does to the rider.

A friend had a saddle made to measure for her pony. It fitted the pony beautifully but she could not get on with it and had to sell it on in the end.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Total Contact Saddle.

 

[Muddywellies]

I’d be tempted to try a Wintec at an affordable price and changeable until his working shape stabilises?

I got a wintec for my young welshie and it's a really good fit

 

[sbloom]

To be honest, I didn't feel good in any of the other saddles we've previously tried either.

I was very unbalanced and didn't feel at all secure, but suspect that was at least partly because he wasn't feeling very happy.

Unfortunately I don't have £2k + to spend on a saddle, so sometimes you have to go with the next best thing.

Andrea Hicks herself has recommended the TG pony club saddle, so they can't be bad!

Used saddles rareish but much less expensive , yes I think she fits/recommends a few, every combo's different.

 

[exracehorse]

For very wide flat horses the changeable gullet saddles rarely work, I would get a cheapish second hand saddle for now, a black country, ideal or an AH saddle they all work for cobs ir similar types.

I might be biased because I hate Kent and master saddles and not a lover of wintec either, they are not brands I would ever consider but accept thet work for some.

Agree. I have a flat backed Welsh x. Short coupled. The saddle fitter said most changeable gullet types. Especially the Wintec are not a great fit. I got a second hand Morris and Nolan XXW. And she flocked at fitting.

 

[billyburgers]

Worth having a look at a close contact saddle. I’ve a flat backed cob with big shoulders , minimal withers and a Walsall riding company close contact saddle fits lovely, the under panel is very small so it clears the shoulders