Saddles - can't make a decision

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Dexydoodle

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Having brain overload and consequently can't make a decision!

Bought my mare a couple of months ago and she came with a saddle that obviously didn't fit. So, had the chiropractor out to do her back (luckily very little wrong) and not ridden in the saddle since. Had 2 saddle fitters out now (recommended by others at my yard) and she's going to be an xw/ xxw fit, and 17". she's only ickle (14.3) but very very wide (not fat just a mahoosive cob).

So my dilemma is now, I can't seem to find a GP saddle second hand to fit her. The second saddler has a nice show saddle but not really suitable for jumping in and would like to do some jumping eventually, but the saddle fits her really well. Also been recommended the kent and masters cob but it would blow my budget and she'll need an xxw which might still not be big enough. Or try a synthetic or treeless, neither of which i'm very keen on - not sure why, just not.

Any suggestions/ recommendations - just want a saddle that fits!!!!!!!! :)
 
Although you say the Kent & Masters will blow your budget, i love mine had it 6 months now, and its sooo very comfy. Is it worth having a nosey round you may find one 2nd hand
 
yeah had the kent and masters recommended by a few people, just worried cos the saddle fitter thinks the xxw might not be big enough!!!!!!! my horse is a sweetie but proving a challenge, lol!
 
There is a two on saddles direct, but they are still pretty pricey, but good makes, one is GFS the other an Albion,

Saddles are a pain my clients horses had two lovely saddles that fit reasonably well on her two babies and both got nicked, now trying to find two 18" saddles which is not easy for reasonable money casue we dont want to loose the same money if these get nicked too
 
Smile_and_Wave said:
There is a two on saddles direct, but they are still pretty pricey, but good makes, one is GFS the other an Albion,

Saddles are a pain my clients horses had two lovely saddles that fit reasonably well on her two babies and both got nicked, now trying to find two 18" saddles which is not easy for reasonable money casue we dont want to loose the same money if these get nicked too
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Thanks - had a quick look at these, she's got such mahoosive shoulders i've been told she'll need a cob fit cos otherwise her shoulders will cause the saddle to move. Just been told one I found on saddles direct is available to try so might give that a shot.
 
Joyous70 said:
Does your saddler not have one with the XXW gullet that they can bring out for you to try first?
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Unfortunately not - she tried to get hold of it and was hoping to have it in this week but isn't going to be able to get it until the end of jan. Just trying to see if one of the local saddlers has it in stock......
 
dafthoss said:
how about geting the one that fits now and keeping an eye out for a GP then you can sell the first one
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Is an option. Think is its at the top end of my budget and really can't afford to lose money if I did resell it. And although it fits her well i'm not keen on riding in it - guess i'm not used to riding in something without knee rolls. Although if it fits her that's what I should be concentrating on. ARGH!
 
Joyous70 said:
Fingers crossed for you with the Saddles Direct one.
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Thank you! Just want something that fits her properly! Had shares for the last couple of years who've obviously always come with their tack sorted, and quite daunted at having to get all of this sorted! Feel like I know nothing about how it should fit, which is why i've had the saddle fitters out! But even I could tell her medium fit saddle didn't fit!!!!!! :D
 
I have just got a Barnsby H & C Haflinger Gp in xxw. I doubt you would get much wider than this saddle as it is VERY wide. It is actually comfortable to sit on, unlike the Thorowgood XW one I had temporaraily which felt like it was dislocating my hips. I also have a Fieldhouse Pro Event in xw which I have had for years, that is comfortable too and seems to fit everything.
 
Will your saddler come out and check the fit, if you can ge the one from Sadddles Direct for you? at least that way you will be confident that the saddle fits your horse & you. Remember you have to be comfortable in your saddle too :)
 
Have you tried the saddle company, they do some cob saddles with the y girthing system too to help stop slipping on those flat back round cobs they have iftters around the countyr nice leather or part leather/synthetic options with wool surge unders for moulding to horse been a few years since i've ridden cobs due to own hip problems i now can't get my legs round them!!! but i remember them looking very smart and being very comfy saddles, i personally love square cantles which they offer
 
dotty1 said:
I have just got a Barnsby H & C Haflinger Gp in xxw. I doubt you would get much wider than this saddle as it is VERY wide. It is actually comfortable to sit on, unlike the Thorowgood XW one I had temporaraily which felt like it was dislocating my hips. I also have a Fieldhouse Pro Event in xw which I have had for years, that is comfortable too and seems to fit everything.
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Hadn't heard of these so will look into it. Thanks!
 
Joyous70 said:
Will your saddler come out and check the fit, if you can ge the one from Sadddles Direct for you? at least that way you will be confident that the saddle fits your horse & you. Remember you have to be comfortable in your saddle too :)
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Yes spoke to her earlier and she's happy to do it so will try that option
 
Hawks27 said:
Have you tried the saddle company, they do some cob saddles with the y girthing system too to help stop slipping on those flat back round cobs they have iftters around the countyr nice leather or part leather/synthetic options with wool surge unders for moulding to horse been a few years since i've ridden cobs due to own hip problems i now can't get my legs round them!!! but i remember them looking very smart and being very comfy saddles, i personally love square cantles which they offer
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Yeah have been recommended these as well, had a look into it and they're a similar price to the kent and masters. spoke to a saddle fitter (not one of those who've come out) who stocks the saddle company, and the kent and masters - and he said for such wide cobs he preferred the kent and masters. seems to be a minefield of information out there which i'm struggling to make heads and tail (excuse the sort of pun - genuinely not deliberate!) of!!! :)
 
If you like the Kent and Masters saddle but can't afford it why not get the Thorowgood T6 saddle? Exact same saddle just made of synthetic material. It's not cheap and nasty material though and looks and feels like leather. I've got one an everyone thinks it's leather.

As for not having a gullet - bollox! You can order them next-day off ebay. The XXwide gullet is pretty wide and there will be very few healthy-weight horses it wouldn't be wide enough for. Tell your saddler to get her ass in gear and buy one, or buy one yourself.

And if the cob saddle does fit then you could always by second hand off ebay - they come up regualrly for £300 or so (unless you need a cob plus saddle, which are much harder to get)
 
I have just bought a Kent & Masters as was recommended by my physio. It does fit nicely and i think for a new saddle it is very good. As someone else said if you can't afford the leather you could go for the synthetic Thorowgood as is essentially the same saddle. I have an older pony though, he is 14.2hh welsh x and pretty wide -0 he has no withers. He's been in an ideal saddle for years and it fits him well. You would be able to pick one of those up fairly cheaply.
 
I had the same problem with my 14.3hh wide cob. I managed to find a second hand Kent and Masters cob saddle for £350 then got my saddler to come and check the fit and gullet size required. If I hadn't found this one I would have bought the Thorowgood cob saddle.
 
Kallibear said:
If you like the Kent and Masters saddle but can't afford it why not get the Thorowgood T6 saddle? Exact same saddle just made of synthetic material. It's not cheap and nasty material though and looks and feels like leather. I've got one an everyone thinks it's leather.

As for not having a gullet - bollox! You can order them next-day off ebay. The XXwide gullet is pretty wide and there will be very few healthy-weight horses it wouldn't be wide enough for. Tell your saddler to get her ass in gear and buy one, or buy one yourself.

And if the cob saddle does fit then you could always by second hand off ebay - they come up regualrly for £300 or so (unless you need a cob plus saddle, which are much harder to get)
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Oh didn't know that - will have a look into that. Have been looking on ebay for the Kent & Masters for the last couple of weeks and haven't found anything. Need to be patient I know (and can't ride cos our arena is frozen solid and the lanes are ice rinks!) I would just love to be able to know I could ride my girl if it ever thaws out! :D
 
ladyt25 said:
I have just bought a Kent & Masters as was recommended by my physio. It does fit nicely and i think for a new saddle it is very good. As someone else said if you can't afford the leather you could go for the synthetic Thorowgood as is essentially the same saddle. I have an older pony though, he is 14.2hh welsh x and pretty wide -0 he has no withers. He's been in an ideal saddle for years and it fits him well. You would be able to pick one of those up fairly cheaply.
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We tried an Ideal H&C but it was too long for her, also a little narrow (one of the girls at the yard was selling a wide fit) but could see if the fitter had an xw and slightly shorter. Yeah she's rather wide, think I bought a table rather than a horse, hehe!
 
D'sMum said:
We tried an Ideal H&C but it was too long for her, also a little narrow (one of the girls at the yard was selling a wide fit) but could see if the fitter had an xw and slightly shorter. Yeah she's rather wide, think I bought a table rather than a horse, hehe!
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My coblet had an ideal H+C in XXXW and it was fantastic, pricey but worth it. Good luck with finding a saddle. :)
 
Look at the Balance International site. There should be a test ride facilitator who can come and show you the saddles, and although brand new they are probably over budget (they are Baines saddles, so very very nice quality), you can ask about trying second hand saddles too. These are often available through the Balance site, through the TRF's or via eBay. They are brilliant saddles for all horses.
 
what about native pony saddles? Often quite a few second hand. Designed for the wide short backed natives? It was what I was going to get my xxw exmoor when I had him on loan. Or flyde show saddles but in working hunter pattern so you can still jump in them? Only problem is flyde are foam so you can't flock to fit.
 
Lots of good suggestions.

With regards to your comment about wanting a GP saddle but the show saddle really suiting her, I've found that cobs do sometimes go better in straighter cut saddles. Perhaps look at VSD saddles too if you find that is the case with your own horse, straighter cut but with a bit of knee roll and you can jump smaller fences in them too. I've ridden in this type of saddle for a while now and find most GPs feel too forward cut for me now lol..

However, I've just bought a second hand GP H&C Ideal for my cob which isn't as forward cut as others and appears **touchwood** to suit him very well - I've found it great for jumping but will eventually look for a VSD or dressage saddle for flatwork.

Good luck in your search :)
 
Sorry, this is me being really ignorant but what is a VSD saddle? think the cob cut saddles would be ok for her, just neither saddler had a second hand one wide enough! managed to find the xxw gullet in a local saddlery so off to buy that later and then hopefully the saddler will be able to come out to try her in it. also saddles direct saddle turned up today, only 16.5" so hopefully my lardy arse will fit in it!

thanks for all the suggestions, has given me much food for thought!

need to have the patience to wait for a second hand one that will fit to come up, or go on a starvation diet to pay for a new one, hehe! :D
 
D'sMum said:
Sorry, this is me being really ignorant but what is a VSD saddle? think the cob cut saddles would be ok for her, just neither saddler had a second hand one wide enough! managed to find the xxw gullet in a local saddlery so off to buy that later and then hopefully the saddler will be able to come out to try her in it. also saddles direct saddle turned up today, only 16.5" so hopefully my lardy arse will fit in it!

thanks for all the suggestions, has given me much food for thought!

need to have the patience to wait for a second hand one that will fit to come up, or go on a starvation diet to pay for a new one, hehe! :D
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V S D - Very slightly Dressage - Straighter flat than a gp, rounder than dressage. Like working hunter flaps. :-)

I have had a T6 cob - great saddle, then I Ideal H&C lovely but expensive for my xxxw welsh cob. I am now buying a second hand Kent and Masters Cob. (I now have an ISH) but my saddler says it will take a medium - medium/wide gullet and is more weight baring than the normal gp and jumping bias, which is what I was looking for.
 
The saddle saga continues - have ended up buying the show saddle the saddler brought out as it's the only thing that doesn't move on her. The Kent and Masters XXW was wide enough for her but not in balance and moved in trot, and the saddler noticed that her right shoulder is much bigger than her left and is causing the saddle to tip to the left. So for now the show saddle is straighter cut and doesn't tip due to the shoulder so got that and then saddler will part x once she's had some physio (the physio had a quick look and is coming back out fri - looks like we've got a few issues to work through) and lost some weight.

Remind me why I bought a horse!?
 
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