Saddle for youngster

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telfs

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I've got a 3 year old and I'm looking for his first saddle. Does anyone have any reccomendations of good changeable gullet saddles? He's an ID and I'm just about to start him. I'd need a 17 1/2 seat but completely open to the type of saddle. I've heard mixed reviews on wintec/bates saddles. I know there's collegiate, Kent and masters, thorowgood, gfs that all do changeable gullet but I've never had a changeable gullet before so I'm a bit clueless. I know there's a massive price range in those makes but I don't mind spending a little more if it'll last him a few years

Thanks!
 
I've been researching for a long time now for a first saddle and top of my lthorowgood t4 are reasonably priced, synthetic, light weight (if you like the look) come in high wither or standard with the interchangeable gullets, looks a winner to me, around £400 new or a good second hand for £200.
 
Thanks :)

I'm not keen on treeless but I'll take a look at that saddle anyway.

I've been looking at the thorowgood saddle but I really wanted brown tack and the mismatched colours on the suade and synthetic parts just look a bit odd in my opinion. I like it in black but had my hopes set on brown tack!
 
I went for a flexee. Seemed the most sensible option. Not really treeless. Mine is a 3yo warmblood and will prob grow for a long time. I think they do a flexee in brown.
 
There was a thread on here the other day asking which saddles can be altered. Changeable gullets are not the only option. Some saddles like kieffer and prestige can be altered by saddlers and many others can be altered by adding and removing flocking along with minor adjustments to the tree.

Changeable gullet saddles don't fit all horses so my advice is to get a saddler who stocks several makes of new and second hand saddles to fit one for you, if it can be altered then that's a bonus

I bought a saddle this time last year for my then 3 yr old, it has only needed minor alteration with the removal of flocking this year.
 
Well, I have a Wintec wide saddle, 17.5" in brown that I need to sell. I bought it brand new this year to back my youngster with. I opted for the one with Cair (rightly or wrongly), but although it was fine to start with it soon became apparent my horse was not happy. Turned out (we think) the width of the saddle all the way down the gullet was not enough for my horse even though the width at the front was fine as that's adjustable! I think the brown Wintec look aesthetically better than the thorowgood brown. I do like my Kent and Masters that my other horse has though.
 
Well I've just bought a collegiate GP changeable gullet leather saddle and even though I havet tried it on my horse yet I love it! Only paid £150 for it but it's in fab condition. It's black which is a shame as I had my heart set on brown but I realised I can't be too picky! Hopefully it'll fit him but one quick question.. Collegiate don't sell their own gullet bars, does anyone know which make they use?
 
I have a thorowgood T4 (change-able gullet) on my youngster and I absolutely love it. I would really recommend them. Absolute bargain too (I bought mine second-hand for £120)
 
I'm veering towards the flexee now! Still got a year to go though. £425 for brown new - rare to see the brown gp second hand, although the website says not to use then on several different horses so I'd feel better buying new.
 
I have the thorrowgood T8, its adjustable and half leather/half synthetic so looks nicer than the T4! It looks like a proper leather saddle though, really comfy and lightweight too :)
 
I had my heart set on a T8 for my youngster, the saddler came out and they just did not sit right on him at all. Fitted a Wintec AP Pro in brown instead, quite a nice saddle really. Unfortunately he is so compact he will only take a 16.5" seat!!
 
The best saddle for your youngster is the one that fits - Wintec, TG etc are all good, always avoid the budget ones. They do not however fit all horses, despite the impression some of their marketing gives. Buying a second hand saddle and exchanging it when required is a good approach and you won't lose any more money than buying a new synthetic and having to sell it on, used saddles devalue very little if you look after them. And as has been said there are plenty of other slightly adjustable options - even regular wooden treed saddles can be adjusted a handful of times if you but from a fitter who works that way, most prefer to sell you a new saddle :)
 
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