Saddles for wide welsh D?

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SaddleUpSin

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A friend had a saddler out for her new older welshie and she advised a 17.5" Wide Ideal highland and cob saddle. Only thing is these are rather pricey and hard to come by secondhand! Anybody know of anything similar that maybe doesnt cost a bomb?
 
Ideals do tend to be ideal (pun intended) for wider types. A lot of people, myself included, also do well with Farringtons for cobs and their ilk, so they might be another brand worth trying.
 
JJS said:
Ideals do tend to be ideal (pun intended) for wider types. A lot of people, myself included, also do well with Farringtons for cobs and their ilk, so they might be another brand worth trying.
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Thank you :) although, having to have a badly fitting saddle until a new one is bought within budget is less than... ideal xD
 
What about a SMART native style saddle by solution saddles? I have a GP one, but they also now do a VSD which is slightly straighter cut. Best investment I ever made for my cob. Worth looking into!
 
Could it be worth looking at second hand show saddles? Obviously not the most supportive but suitable for everything (and develop a better seat!). They tend to be pretty wide horse friendly- that's what I currently have on my C for all purposes and my D I sold had one and competed to 1.10 in it. Second hand some are within budget :)
 
rara007 said:
Could it be worth looking at second hand show saddles? Obviously not the most supportive but suitable for everything (and develop a better seat!). They tend to be pretty wide horse friendly- that's what I currently have on my C for all purposes and my D I sold had one and competed to 1.10 in it. Second hand some are within budget :)
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Do you know what sort of makes/models she should be looking for? :)
 
I'm sure there will be some ideal H&C saddles for sale second hand but she might need to up the budget a bit. £250 is really quite low if she wants something in good condition.

Ive seen an ideal H&C Apex for sale locally but it's double her budget
 
I have an Ideal Jessica on my Sec D. Fits perfectly and everyone who had ever sat in it always comments on how comfortable it is. I love it
 
I've got an extra wide jefferies...think it could be a VSD or something like!! Fits my super wide mare and I find it very comfy...cost about £350 secondhand but in excellent condition.
 
Its going to be out of your price limit if you want to spend £250 max, but i had a made to measure black country saddle, it cost a hefty £1150 but fits a horse that did have no withers and was flat backed up until recently, he suddenly has withers and is somewhat more narrow! I would try second hand off a saddler. I had a decent secondhand gfs for a welshx w/b around 250 years ago thinking about it.
 
£250 is a really low budget for anything other than easy to fit that will take a used synthetic. Older leather saddles that are sound, in that price range, are few and far between, and don't tend to be wide. This is all about averages - if she can wait an age she might be lucky. Horses are expensive and the harder to fit with a saddle then the more budget may be needed.
 
I have an old M&J on my new boy. Fits like a glove, which was really lucky, as it was the only thing I had 'just sitting around' that was in decent condition, and it has a slightly cut back head which is just perfect for him.

OP, it's not really about the brand, you really have to look at the shape of the back, the shoulder and the movement. With practice you get an eye for what will fit (and even then, you'll get it wrong plenty). If you're not confident, try to see if you can find a fitter near you who has a good second hand stock, otherwise you'll be buying a lot of turkeys before you find the right one.
 
Mines a D and is in a thorowgood t4 with the changeable gullet think mine is extra wide or extra extra wide. It is synthetic so not sure about showing but very comfy for hacking.
Got it new for not much more than your budget if I can recall as I've had it a few years now. I got mine direct from the saddlery near me and fitted by them too.
 
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I have a like new highland pony, Scottish made in quality leather, saddle but I would guess it would be too wide for a Welsh I put it up for sale on facebook yesterday lot of interest as it is within budget it is very wide though it is about 13 inches inner d to d and 8 inch gullet shoulder pad to shoulder pad. Selling it as my pony is now slim and fit and it is too wide for her. So there are some out there within budget just like gems and no this is not a sales advert just saying they are out there if you look
 
If she doesn't mind an alternative, then the Heather Moffett Enlightened Equitation Flexee saddles come in around £250/£300 second hand - they're built on a leather tree, the older ones don't have a gullet plate, the newer ones do. I have an older version (dressage, but they come in GP/VSD) for my D and we both get on with it really well.
 
Thanks all :) Just to reiterate, not my horse/saddle issue, I just happen to have frequent access to the internet and like to help my friends where I can :)
 
I have a GFS Haflinger XW saddle 17" on my Sec d. Beautiful saddle and designed for the flat backed native type. I did get lucky as I took a gamble on Ebay and bought it for £175. Had the saddle fitter out and it was a perfect fit. Worth trying one out if your friend can find a saddle fitter locally.
 
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