Saddles for big bums and short backed ponies???

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tangosmum

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Just used the thorowgood website measuring advice and went out and bought a Thorowgood Cob Wide fit 17 1/2 "for my 14.1hh gypsy cob. The saddle is way too long and completely wrong....hence my next step is to call out a master saddler.

Anyway, I just wondered what peoples experiences were, getting a saddle for a big bum which fits a short backed native type without being way too long?

Please, someone point me in the right direction!
 
If you have enough money you can buy a WOW saddle (£1700 new) and put a 16 inch panel on a 17 inch (fits like 17 1/2) seat. They also have changeable gullets up to xxxxwide. Suggest you try one first though, they are an aquired taste to ride in!
 
hmmn I think the WOWs are a little out of my price range....costing more than the horse at that price!

I am in Herts. Not finding a saddle is starting to depress me.
 
I had the same problem but on a 16.2 mw that cant take a saddle bigger than 17 inch! Was told my saddle was sitting past his last rib and nothing in my price range fit................ so had to bite the bullet and get one made to measure as he also couldnt have the regular tree. My saddle cost nearly as much as my horse, it was the Jaguar dressage saddle, hubby had to sit down when told the cost :D. That was 8 yrs ago, saddle still going strong and has only needed tweeking in the mean time. Oh meant to say, saddler told me to accomodate both me and the horse, I needed a sweeping back. These typically are the expensive ones like Jaguar, passier. Awful thing is Ive never really liked it to ride in and the one I loved was half the price :(
 
Is it the older thorowgood version you bought? sounds like it might be as the new T4/T6 don't have width fittings as they are adjustable.

The new thorowgoods are short panelled than the older ones so a 17" might fit - they have a decent length seat too - I'm 5'8 and find it the correct size for me.

Ideals have fairly short panels and they do a highland&cob version.
 
tangosmum said:
Just used the thorowgood website measuring advice and went out and bought a Thorowgood Cob Wide fit 17 1/2 "for my 14.1hh gypsy cob. The saddle is way too long and completely wrong....hence my next step is to call out a master saddler.

Anyway, I just wondered what peoples experiences were, getting a saddle for a big bum which fits a short backed native type without being way too long?

Please, someone point me in the right direction!
Click to expand...

Its the ultimate dilemma, big bum and short back go well together in terms of weight carrying, but not saddle fitting.

Your saddler may suprise you - twice now a saddler has said that horses in question for me can actually take 18" saddles - both 15.2hh cobs.
 
I ride my Fell in a 16.5" Thorowgood Pony Club saddle. It only has FISH though as I actually won the saddle years ago in a H&H competition (Thorowgood sent it to me without the PC badge!!) The dilemma I had was that she measures XW but also has withers. I'm about 5'6" so not particurlarly short either.
 
Cheap synthetic alternative rhinegold ,around eighty pounds new i have had a few of these my saddle fitter fitted one as my boy changes shape a lot and hes shortbacked, but the make puts people of as not a brand i dont compete him yet though but think depends on what you want to do with him
 
I have an Ideal saddle which came with the horse. Its V comfie for me and fits him fantastically well.
 
I find that TG saddles come up quite big, due the style, the end of the panels tend to stick out quite far at the back, which is good in some ways but not when your typically measuring a saddle the 'normal way', which is the tree your measuring. If you compare two 17'' saddles, one a TG and a one another make, flip them over and measure them both up properly or take a mould, you'll see quite a surprising difference, using the website chart is about as much use as a chocolate fire guard when it comes to saddle fitting I think, after all it’s only a rough guide but I wouldn’t rule out a TG saddle, the new style cob (or at least I think they brought it out as I’ve seen the demo they made) has a bigger seat, more forward cut and still has the interchangeable bars


I wouldn’t write off a TG Cob saddle just because the one you have now doesn’t fit, maybe worth getting a saddler to bring a few so you can get the correct size, but again like you say it doesn’t mean it will still fit you.
 
Hi All

The one I bought (following the TG online guide) was a Brand New Thorowgood T4 Cob (adjustable gullet plus fish). It came with a Wide gullet in it...but yes, I know these are easily changed.

I got the 17 1/2 " as I am a dress size 16 to 18 on the bum...and I am 12.5 stone.

The pony is 3.5 years old.....Now just to make it clear I am NOT currently riding him!....he is in the process of being backed by me, (with support from an IH associate) and the person doing the sitting on and plodding round the yard occasionally is an experiences 7.5 stone 5ft adult. So I can assure you it is all being done by the book.

I dont want to spend a fortune on a saddle now...as he will change shape. Just need something comfy to back him with and I was hoping to find something I could ride him in in a years time....hence going for a 17.5"

I am now thinking I should go for the pony club version perhaps....to suit his short back and 7.5 stone jockey for this year and then once he is up to my size at age rising 5 start again with the saddle....which I will probably have to do.

I have been in touch now with a local master saddler and I working out a suitable appointment. Hopefully they can help!

Young horses are a nightmare for saddles...so I am finding out. The one which was fitting fine 4 weeks ago is now no good following a month on grass....I am guessing it will all change again in another month too!

Thanks for the help
 
I'm 11 stone and dress size 14-16 and I have a 16.5" Ideal Working Hunter for my Fell - fits us both really well and is comfy. I backed him in a 16.5" Ideal as well (just slightly narrower to the one we have now).
 
I'm having similar problems with my 14hh cob (I'm 5ft 4 and a size 16 inch).

Barefoot cheyenne treeless - too long resulting in sore back
First saddle fitter said he could take no more than a 16inch
Ghost treeless - very fiddly to fit.
Second saddle fitter says he can take a 17inch no probs - have a t4 cob plus on order - no idea if it will be ok or not?

Good luck :)
 
Unfortunately the saddle length is dictated by the horse, not the rider. If the rider needs a bigger seat size than the horse can take then its tough- unless you want a horse with a bad back! Its the distance between the back of the shoulder and the last rib that dictates the length of sadde a horse can have. Some trees/panels do come out 'shorter' than others though. Trial and error im afraid
 
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