Saddle - Help!

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vicksey

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Ive had my horse 3 years and had a saddle made to measure when I first got him but he has since changed shape and grown some withers and shulders so needs a new one as it cant be adjusted. Only problem is he is prone to putting weight on in the summer(although I try to control this with a muzzle and strip grazzing) but then can drop weight lots in the winter. Am I best getting a synthetic which ajustable gullets. All advise welcome, thanks x
 
Either a synthetic one or get a leather one thats a bit wider. That way it will fit when hes got weight on him, and when he drops off, maybe use a half sheepskin pad?
 
Good idea about the sheep skin pad. He is at his fattest now and wont put anymore on now the spring grass has gone, and the saddler is coming next week so hopefully we'll get sorted. I didnt know you could get adjustable leather ones, thats great news! Thanks!
 
I know you can a thorowgood, T4 3D saddle, its fully adjustable and its leather look, not actually leather... She got hers from surrey equestrian for £391 including postage, brand new. She then got her saddler out to fit it
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I'd be wary about going down the synethic route if your horses withers are slightly high. I had this trouble with my previous horse when I put a wintec on him. Although its claimed they fit any horse they do not. My horse had high withers, but his fit indicated medium. As a result of fitting a medium gullet in the saddle the pommel came down to low on his withers, but then if I fitted a narrow gullet it didn't fit on his shoulders/back. In the end I opted for a correctly fitting gullet with a front riser pad which over a period of months caused the area behind the saddle to become sore due to the riders weight (which is pretty hefty) being pushed onto that area. I'd invest in a well fitted second hand saddle. If you are local to Solihull/Birmingham/Warwickshire I can recommend wholeheartedly and without prejudice a brilliant saddlery shop and an equally brilliant saddle fitter who specialise in fitting both new and second hand saddles which they have taken in part exchange.
 
You can get adjustable saddles in leather as well as synthetic, look at the Fairfax and Kent&Masters ranges, they are great saddles.
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I have never seen a wintec that fits! Thorowgoods are much better designed IMO and they do a high wither version. There is more to saddle fit than just changing the gullet and thorowgoods fit along the length of the panel whereas wintecs nearly always sit up at the back. I wouldnt use a wintec if i was given one but i would happily pay full price for a thorowgood.
 
Ive just paid out a lot of money to get a new tree fitted which after 6 months wasnt fitting, and a physio for his back. Just riding bareback at the moment until the saddler comes out to advise but it looks like Im going to have to pay out quite a bit of money as he has wide shoulders but high withers, so not the easiest to fit and I cant find anything second hand! Thanks for all the suggestions and advise glad im not the only one who has this problem x
 
Sorry not sure whether you'd asked them or not but the place where you got the made to measure done, have you asked them if they can adjust the tree or just assumed it cannot be done? Only reason i ask is that i know our made to measure bloke can alter trees.
 
My horse has very high withers and drops loads of weight in winter and he is in a thorowgood synthetic with a changeable gullet it's fab. New gullets only cost about £15 so it's really cost effective if you have a shape changer!! Saddler also recommended a prolite for when he is "between" gullet sizes!! so he's always comfy!! :@)
 
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