Saddle suggestions

[scewal]

My current saddle is a 17.5 kent and masters cob gp in the red gullet. But i am finding i am too long in the thigh and my knees end up off the knee rolls. I ride a little short but as i plan to eventually try x country (only small fences) i feel looking for a new saddle is the way forward.

My old saddle was a symonds vsd which was perfect but sadly isn't wide enough for my new girl who is a solid cob x tb.

I quite like the black country saddles or do you think a working hunter saddle would be better to give my mare freedoom in her shoulder?

I am 5' 8.5 but am long in the thigh.

 

[sbloom]

The last saddle I saw that was restricting the shoulder was doing so because the top of the panel at the front was off the horse and the only part of the front resting on the horse was the end of the tree points and the panel under the foward cut flap, so it was all supported on the scapula. I fitted a straight cut showing saddle and the horse loved it, but it wasn't just the straight cut that worked in my opinion, the tree was a slightly better shape as well.

To do XC you really don't want a straight cut saddle in my experience - I thin kyou need a GP to a jump saddle, with the former you may find that a higher placed (on velcro perhaps) triangular block would work, so your knees fit in underneath when you ride short - ever noticed how the tall top riders actually have their knee off the flap slightly, it's not a problem if the block isn't in the way. The block pushes the knee away from the horse if too low, but if higher up it still offers support.

If your horse has muscle loss, which the one in my example had, and/or a prominent scapula, then using a sheepskin lined pad or half pad will lift the saddle away from the scapula, plus is the best way for the blood flow to help repair any lost muscle.

Hope that helps.