Saddles for barrel shaped horses

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meerkat 2

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I have a little round barrel shaped Dutch horse and I have always had saddle issues , spent loads of money with various saddlers so was wondering what other people did or what saddles they used ? I was thinking about getting a cob Thorowgood dressage saddle as his back is similar to a round cob type any thoughts ?
 
My mare is also v.round and is best in a close contact saddle. Equipes work best on her, and shes in an equipe jump saddle currently!
 
I had one of these - ended up with an extra wide Albion selecta that had had the tree points lifted to clear the shoulder. Great saddle, had the advantage of being able to swap the front flaps for dressage or jump versions.

Sold the horse and it is now sat in my office waiting for me to eBay it, must do something with it!!
 
Have a Thorowgood which fits both of my quarter horses (one of which is almost impossible to fit an English saddle t) ; the Kent and Masters are on the same tree if you prefer a leather saddle.

Interesting about the Albion - my mare was on a dressage yard for a while and when the trainer rode her for me while I was on holiday he used the Albion that fits his big warmblood. He said that it just dropped on her like it was made for her and she went really well in it. Out of my price range at the mo sadly...
 
I have a very round little anglo arab (doesn't look it!) and his Arabian saddle company saddle fits well.

Native Pony saddles are also designed for round horses without much wither.

Finally, Wow saddles should be so adjustable you could get one to fit a round horse, but they're expensive new, and second hand you might stuggle to get the panels etc you need.
 
Thanks for the feedback. He has an Albion at the moment which is a 16.5 as he is so short backed but I find it fits ok in front but lifts behind if I am not stitting on it it also rolls a not in his back so it's nearly impossible to sit straight an even on both seat bones especially when going on the left rein . When I look at the saddle cloth there is alot more contact in the front part than the back . If the bloody thing stayed put I could ride him alot straighter which is our biggest problem he leans away from my weight which is trying to counteract the slipping of the saddle !
 
My flat backed connie has a falcon hawk event gp thats really lovely and an albion lux dressage saddle.
 
I have 2 barrel shaped, witherless horses. They are in an Ideal and an Adler VSD. Both popular for cobs & with point straps.
I wouldn't entertain either a K&M or Throwgood unless funds demanded it tbh. A good leather saddle is always a good investment IMO.
 
The Gullet needs to be wide, the panels need to be relatively thin (as in thickness) but Wide.. mines a Nick Dolman Enigma (built on the semi flex tree).. we have also had Free n Easy which was fabulous but we grew out of it.. both have wide gullets and wide panels.
 
I've got two that shape.

One has a Barnsby Milton, the other has an Albion Selecta. Both are wide, with wide, flat panels, with very short tree points. The one that has the Albion bucks like hell with 'normal' length tree points, daren't even sit a saddle with long points on her back!
 
My irish cob is a barrel with withers oddly enough. He has a Bates Innova dressage saddle, plus a Bates VSD. Both fit him a treat. Mini TX's little mare is also a barrell, albeit a smaller one. Again she has a Bates Innovate dressage saddle, and a close contact Kentaur jumping saddle.
 
If you want to go down the interchangeable route I would say bates/wintec for 'slimmer' types and TG/K+M for 'rounder' types.

Ideal do a good range of saddles for chunkier types.
 
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