Saddles for friesians - or other chunky monkeys!

[greenlivery]

Hi,
My 16hh big chunky friesian boy needs a new saddle, and I'm not sure what to go for. Does anyone else have a friesian or similar build horse, and if so, what saddle do you have?

 

[JoBo]

I have a chucky monkey cob and I swear by the Thorowgood Cob range (I have a T4 but the T6 is leather look and very nice). Worth a try, and they aren’t that expensive either.

 

[greenlivery]

oooh thanks, have herd good things about Thorowgood saddles, will take a look

 

[9tails]

My Gelderlander wears an wide Albion K2 VSD. I had it made with a wider gullet to give more spine clearance on her flat back. You're looking at £1k though.

 

[batty100]

I have an exmoor - nightmare to fit a saddle as no wither - only one wide enough was by The Saddle Company in '4x extra wide' and was made to measure - synthetic underneath and leather on top for £500. Very comfortable with ability to change width (by saddler).

 

[Walrus]

I have a wide fell with no withers and a back like a table. We have an Ideal working hunter (wide).

 

[EmmaJaneWilliams]

I have a cob x with a flat back, he now wears a Jefferies VSS which was made to measure and again it cost around a thousand pounds - Flat back ponies are not cheap!!

 

[Toffee44]

Another vote for Thorowgood (XW) I have however seen an Ideal saddle for £550 in my local tack shop with 11" D to D.

Batty100--Is that your local saddler or does he do out of area?

 

[katherine1975]

Try the Native Pony Saddle Company, they do made to measure ones for wide horses and ponies. I got a second hand one for my wide cob from local master saddler for £400.

 

[CastleMouse]

I know someone who uses a Kieffer on her Friesians

 

[twinkle]

i have a friesian mare she is in a ideal jessica (dressage saddle) but she has the seat of one ideal the flaps of anothers and the knee rolls of another. my saddle fitter done it to fit us both as im a shorty but she wasnt akward to fit so as long as you have a good saddle fitter im sure it wont be hard!

and ive also had a kieffer (dressage) on her in past but it didnt suit me.

 

[greenlivery]

Thank you all x

 

[AlicePalace]

I have an Albion K2 , for my welsh D, fits lovely on the boy, and very comfy!

 

[batty100]

Toffee44 - I phoned The Saddle Company who were very helpful as they gave me a list of all the saddlers in my area who were able to change the width (I think they need a certain type of machine?) - their website is www.thesaddlecompany.co.uk and their phone no is 01922 628 889. I was able to customise my saddle so that it had extra 2 girth straps at an angle (no wither and very flat back to say the least!) and a D ring for a crupper should I ever need one (which luckily I don't).