saddle recommendations for wiiiide horse

[the watcher]

I have a 15.2 dales X mare who I have been struggling to find a saddle to fit. In a bit of a crisis I had to buy a Gallop saddle as they were the only ones to do an 18" genuine extra wide with a fairly straight flap (she has a big shoulder)..but this really isnt doing the job with pressure points appearing either side of the wither and towards the back, suggesting she is a bit hollow for it and it is bridging.
I could probably go to a wide now she is losing a bit of excess weight with work, but still need the 18" as her regular jockey is built for comfort!

I am thinking the Wintec 2000 GP with CAIR might do the job (the wintec side only goes up to 17 1/2) but need suggestions, can't carry on with the Gallop and a gel pad much longer.

My brand new Wintec wide will also be looking for a home............

 

[fairhill]

Has it got to be a synthetic?
We've just got a derby house Samber working hunter saddle for our wide horse (clydesdale x shire), which was previously used on a round welsh section d. They do the larger size, and a WH shape should free up the shoulder a bit for you, but still be comfortable for the rider.

 

[the watcher]

No doesn't have to be, but the Wintec/ Bates option gives us a bit of scope if she changes size again, she is only 6 and has come into full work this summer

 

[TheCount]

I have an 18h IDxTB (mainly ID though) who is pretty wiiiide and the only saddle that would fit him really well was a WOW saddle -

I bought one for him and the difference has been amazing - very exensive but well worth every penny

 

[threeponies]

We have a few natives at our yard and have found the wintec 2000 to be too forward cut for their shoulder, welshie now in a working hunter saddle,highland in a treeless and cob sold on! I aso found the wintec extra wide gullet wasn't wide enough! Hope you get a solution and a saddle!

 

[spaniel]

I would strongly recommend looking at saddles from The Saddle Company. I was a big fan of these infinitley adjustable saddles before but I now have a young Irish Draught who has no visible wither whatsoever and is very well sprung.

I bought a secondhand SC saddle and had an authorised fitter come and re jig it for me. It took ten minutes and I know that in a few months time I can call on her again to check and resize once he is doing some work.

You can get full leather, part leather or totally synthetics in a variety of styles and they are very reasonable to buy new if you cant find a secondhand one.

Personally I wouldnt give Wintec et all house room as I dont think they are actually designed to fit on the majority of horses even if the gullet is adjusted!

http://www.saddlecompany.co.uk/

 

[the watcher]

threeponies, how is the treeless working? I have a highland that at some point I will need to get a new saddle for, the wintec wide just revolves on her. thanks for the comment on the wintec 2000, I was going to have a closer look at Your Horse Live this saturday but thought that might be the case.
Picking one up from Rimells at Shipston later that might do the job, but is Walsall made and not adjustable

 

[mrsbloggett]

Try looking at the Ideal VSD. I'm pretty sure they do those in a 18". I have an XX wide for my chunky shouldered NF. Ideal will also custom fit their saddles at the same price as their off the peg.

 

[Patricksmum]

Definitely agree that wintecs do not seem to fit wider horses & ponies.
Have a look at Thorowgood cob saddles. These come in W, XW & XXW, 17, 17.5 & 18"seats.

Look at www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk & look at their saddle fitting guide (downloadable pdf)

Hope this helps

 

[sojeph]

I have a saddle company saddle for daughters hard to fit wide pony. The advantage of these is that they are adjustable.They are fab. I also have a Samber Working Hunter from Derby House for my shirexcobbie who is veeerrryyyy wide and flat backed. It also fits my other (not so wide) cobby, my friends medium to wide Welsh D type and my daughters 13.1hh highland/connie type pony!

 

[hunteress]

The Wintecs are not wide enough they made my horses back sore I have a thorowgood new 17 1/2 extra wide for sale on ebay at the moment I had one made for my boy in the end be careful !!

 

[threeponies]

watcher, the treeless has made such a difference to my pony,its like having a different horse. You need to be careful how you put it on or it can move, but in general I wouldn't be without it.

 

[MagicMelon]

What about the Wintec Cob saddle? It goes very wide (adjustable) and I think it goes to an 18". If not, you could ask Wintec as they seem to have such a vast range of saddles - they'd surely have the right one for you. I have one on my welsh cob and its excellent. I never liked the look of synthetics, especially wintecs as they were the cheapest however Im very pleased with this one - its really light, extremely useful to adjust the gullet whenever I need to and has CAIR for his comfort. Plus, its actually very comfy for me as well. Id say the saddle is probably a bit VSD, but I SJ and XC in mine with no problems.

 

[the watcher]

Magicmelon, I have one of these, one size down which I bought for the Highland..it doesn't work for her and just spins round, the bigger horse has had it on and it was better but so straight cut that jumping was pretty much out of the question. I think we are going to compromise, local saddler has come up with a Silhouette working hunter saddle that was looking good when we tried it this morning..just have to work out if we (the riders) can adapt to the very flat seat and will then invest in a Prolite pad to take up any seasonal variations, I think.

Thanks for all your suggestions