Saddles! Oh the choice its giving me a headache!

[Kirsty5150]

Hello All!

As a few of you may know I will be bringing home my giant, ginger teddy bear soon. The problem is, is that he isn't coming with a saddle

Now he is large both upwards and outwards (summer grass issues!) although he does drop weight fairly easily in the autumn. He is a 17.1hh RID with high withers and a huge neck and shoulders. He is at the moment ridden in a Abion Medium Wide 18" and it sits a little too close to his withers for my liking! I have got my saddler coming out to see him when he arrives to get him properly fitted. I just wanted to know if there are any particular makes/styles that you would recommend as I am more than a little confused. He will be hunted/ hacked/ team chased etc and I can only afford one saddle so what would you guys recommend? Thanks in advance!

 

[millport]

I used an Ideal international event saddle on my Irish draught horses when I was living in Ireland. My saddler had to make a few little adjustments for each horse (there were 6 draughts in total over the years) but I never had any problems. They are really comfortable for the rider too, I hunted, hacked, evented to 1metre and showjumped to 1.30 all in the same saddles.

 

[Grumpy Herbert]

They're dear, but how about a WOW? You could adjust it to suit when he drops weight or muscles up or whatever, and you can change the flaps to suit whatever discipline you're doing.

 

[wipeout]

My horse is a 16.3hh clydesdale x. He has quite a high wither and a large shoulder and we have an Albion K2 jump which we had fitted by a saddler. It fits him and me really well. I have hunted, hacked, jumped and done trec competitions successfully in it.
It's great
Here it is, picture taken at a trec competition (new saddle bags!)

 

[stacey_lou]

My Tb had high witheres and I found that jefferies and Frank baines (who I hava atm and love!!!) done a range of saddles with high Pommels to suit and I find their prices very fair. though my first thought would have been Ideal.
Check out frank Baines his saddles are beautiful!!!!

 

[Dopeonarope]

Just a word of warning - whit high whithered horses saddlers and saddlefitters are often tempted to 'fit' too tight a tree / gullet to get the front up. Result is that points stick in behind the shoulder and the centre of the saddle moves back. Just be aware of that, as it can lead to serious problems (speaking from experience).
My 17.2 warblood with very high whithers, strong & straight shoulders is ridden in an Albion K2 GP, 18inch seat. It is the most comfy and secure saddle I have ever sat in. We do hacking, jumping and dressage, all fine. Only problem is that he has a slightly 'sloping' back.
I have used a prolite back raiser so far in the hope that we'll be able to correct the slope with more muscle. He changed shape but not exactly 'as planned' and I am now thinking of replacing the whole setup with a Fairfax saddle (they are the same people as Thorowgood but the Fairfax range is a leather range).

 

[Cliqmo]

My Mother has a 16.3hh shire x tb who has is essentially a barrel with whithers

Bless him his withers are clearly caused my muscle loss over the area and it has been a real battle finding a saddler who doesn't want to put a narrow fitting saddle on him (which would only make the situation worse!)
Mum is now using a Sue Carson saddle which fits him nicely, although personally I would rather see him in a Balance International as I LOVE their approach to saddlery

 

[SNORKEY]

Hi, ive got an Ideal show saddle, not reccomending a show saddle but Ideal saddles can have their tree's changed for only about £60, the saddler will send them away and get them changed, so very good for horses that change their weight abit, I love mine its really comfy and is now about 11 years old and still looks nearly new!

 

[Kirsty5150]

Thank you very much! Will be having a look at all of the above (my saddlers going to be a busy girl!) Another two I have been recommended is a Black Country Grafter Working Hunter (we may do the odd bit of showing but not to the extent I need a special saddle!) so I'm not entirely sure why that has been recommended to me???

The other is the Albion Ultima GP Saddle has anyone got one? Is it any good?? The Ideal seems to be a popular choice and very resonably priced too! Fingers crossed I can get Hugo comfortable in a nice comfy new saddle!!! Thanks!

 

[JenHunt]

as Grumpy_herbert suggests look at a WOW.
my ID has the worlds biggest shoulders - and everything slid back on them. I got a wow (XC flap and shallow seat) and we've never looked back, and his jumping has improved too cos now he can move his shoulders!

the other advantage is that when the time comes it can be adjusted to fit another horse perfectly.