Saddle recommendations please...

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BigBird146

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I got a new saddle about 18 months ago, primarily because my old one kept slipping over to one side. Realised after a while that the new one was doing just the same!
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So, I've spent most of the summer having lessons, trying to improve my straightness and my horses', and we have definatley improved. The saddle is slipping less, but still going a bit to one side (probably needs repacking again). My instructor loves Wow saddles and I've had a try of a couple with Flair. They felt so different I couldn't make up my mind wether I liked them/ thought they were worth it. My boy certainly felt very free in it behind his shoulders, but to the point were he completely buggered of with me in the school! Not sure that's such a great thing?!
Anyway, can anyone give me a bit of advice as to what saddle might be best.. so many people seem to have a vested interest in selling you a certain type it's hard to get a balanced view. My horse is 16, hanovarian x TB with a wide fit. I'm tall with narrow hips /pelvis so something with a narrow twist would be best I think. I need it as a total GP saddle (we have a go at all sorts), althought the one I currently have is VSD to allow his shoulder back.
Failing that could anyone recommend a decent saddler with a broad range of saddles that covers the north derbys/ cheshire border area?!
Sorry, very long, tea and biscuits for getting this far!
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I have a very similar horse and same thing with my hips. I've just brought a Amerigo that seems to suit us both really well. From what I can gather Albions are not narrow rider wise.

I've never ridden in a wow - but I know that Flair is many physio's nightmares! Purely as it can wear down unevenly etc.

I'm sorry I am useless with area's of the UK but we fly Chris Gohl over and he is fantastic.
 
I like my warmblood horses and i always have trouble fitting jump saddles my saddler tried ever saddle i liked the jag pessoa albion and in the end i had to get stubben which i was not happy about as i never liked them but it was the best fitting saddle by far with a little alteration it fit my mare lovely during the progress of this i found out the the stubben is the only saddle with longer side pannels built in the saddle you could not tell by looking at it but it makes it so much more fitted so maybe give one a try and ask your expert
 
Gaynor at hound, horse and rider has fitted all my saddles, and she always has a great selection in (lots of 2nd hand/part-exes).
She's based in Dukinfield and near Buxton if that's close to you?
 
Thanks Fairhill, Gaynor did this one I've got actually! It's not bad but it's not great and I think we might be a bit awkward to fit collectively. They don't tend to have many different makes there, all the one's she brought were Silhoette (their own comissioned make) and one of those with allen keys to adjust the width.
Thanks for the other recommendations, the Reactor panel one's look just the ticket but need to find a rich hubby before I can afford one of those!
Just looking on the Master saddler's websites Crewe & Derbyhouse @ Matlock are the nearest listed. Any good anyone?
Re the actual saddle I think the thing for me about the Wow is that you do feel that your seatbones aren't going anywhere when you're on it... in my saddle I feel like I'm sliding about in it a bit. But the Wow made me feel very 'perched' on top of my horse, a long way away from him, which i didn't like.
 
Have you looked into why your saddle slips to one side? is it you, your horse or the saddle, or maybe even a combination. If your horse has any irrugularities from one side to the other -which most horses do have to a certain degree, then an adjustment to the flocking may help. if not the horse then carefully check the sadle, as even brand new ones are sometimes faulty. If it is you, well, enough said..
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At 18 months old if you have not had it rechecked, then it is way past time to do so, and you may find a saddler can adjust it and save you lots of money!!
 
I have had it reflocked once already. I have been having lessons and def improved my seat and my horses way of going so we are generally straighter. I will probs get it reflocked again but that won't change the fact that it doesn't really fit me properly, so I will take my time (this was a rush buy) to find one that fits us both well, but just wanted some ideas for where to start.
 
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