Still no saddle - 15 tried & £120 spent on fitters & trials :(

Having been through this with both a haflinger and a cob, I would definitely try a new model thorowgood cob GP, as they have a flat tree.

My cob is currently in a black country VSD which I bought secondhand off preloved and my saddler stripped and completely reflocked but I see you have already tried a black country. He was originally in a medium wide saddle when I bought him but within a year was in a wide saddle (not fat just needed to grow!).

Your cob will need a straighter cut than a standard GP probably, to allow for those shoulders.

Lavinia Mitchell saddles also come up secondhand.
 
sollimum said:
Having been through this with both a haflinger and a cob, I would definitely try a new model thorowgood cob GP, as they have a flat treed.
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This is what I had for my short, flat backed cob when I got him. He was very fat and had no withers and huge shoulders. It fit him really well, but I didn't much like it as I always felt very perched.

p.s. I now have a second-hand Heather Moffett Fhoenix treeless which we both love, but I'm not sure I'd want to jump much in it so probably wouldn't suit OP.
 
if a kent and masters cob doesnt fit then a thorowgood t4 wont fit either as it is basically the same saddle.

Id suggest a different saddle fitter. TBh £120 isnt a huge amount - i was that amount for 1 visit last week and that was the fitting and flocking of my saddle. where are you located? Can i suggest you message sbloom on here and ask if she knows a fitter in your area. Good luck
 
I had to give in and spent £1200 for a custom made new saddle for my mare. she is 16'2, very chunky and very very wide, so the saddle she had was perching and was always slipping. most makes simply would not go wide enough- even XW was not big enough! so in the end I found a great saddler who helped Ideal make one for her. the first one they tried was still not right so the saddler took it back and they made another one. perfect :) took a while but worth every penny and she is much happier as am I. As I spent over £1000 she did not charge for the 4 visits it took and is also going to come in a few months to check it once it beds down.

I again would try another saddler. A previous saddler had told me the saddle was fine, when it was just perching on top of her.
 
Andrea hicks saddle, speak to sbloom they are designed for natives, they used to do second hand too! alternatively keep eye out for one second hand and if you get it at good price you should be able to resell, you will need to know width and saddle size required though (think I saw one on Facebook in yeovil)

They used to be branded as native pony saddles not sure if still called the same!
 
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I completely feel your pain... I've got a high withered, short backed 15hh cob with a slightly dipped back. I've been struggling for 2 years trying different saddles, numnah's & padding, 6 saddlers & still to no avail yet... They all say he's the hardest they've come across??! Thought I'd triumphed when he'd changed shape enough for a T8 cob to fit in the Summer so I ordered up a K&M leather version but now I'm hunting & he's lost a little weight it's now sitting too low on his wither & narrowing gullet size is pinching!!!! I'm trying the T8 hi wither compact next... Reads like it ticks all the boxes but my saddler isn't convinced :-/ I'm scared of a made to measure as he changes shape so much & there's only one local saddle maker who doesn't seem to do a lot tbh... So fed up.. Sorry I can't be of help to you but thought I'd say you're not alone out there!!! :'(
 
not sure if this has been mentioned already as cant seem to read all messages but try the up to date thorowgood cob saddle. It fits my short flat backed cob really well. adjustable tree and can be flocked for a perfect fit if necessary.
 
Have you tried a thorowgood T4 cob? I know it's meant to be the same tree as a K&M but I have found they fit quite differently. I sold my K&M cob as it was very perched and bought the T4 instead. Much better fit and in your price range. Just a though.
 
Are you on a livery yard? Can try other people's saddles? When my new horse came we had a morning trying different saddles on him - think we tried 15 on! It was really useful to see what sat right on him then lunge him, some moved loads when he did. From that we worked out that bates or wintec in wide was the best. Bought one, got a fitter to check and we were correct.
 
I had a Black Country WH on something that sounds the same shape I loved it (as did she). It was not too straight cut and had knee rolls so was nice and secure and fine to do a bit of everything in. It had a lovely close contact feel too. I paid £300 on Ebay for it.
 
Any luck with photos yet? If you can put them up somewhere, or even email to me (me@stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk) I can advise which of our trees/models might work.
 
I would definitely have a look at Thorowgood, I can highly recommend the T8 cob (half leather) and having struggled finding something to fit my mare, the T8s fit her so well I now have both the GP and dressage versions for her.
 
dilbert said:
I have had saddles from SBloom before which were fab.

I've just got a new flat backed mare (wide coloured cob) and have gone for this option:
http://www.ponycobandhorsesaddles.com/saddles/Countryside-Saddles.html#generalpurposesaddles
really nice saddles.
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These are the people who made my saddle for me and I was really not happy with it (neither was my horse!) and they refused to take it back and in fact got quite nasty and aggressive. Therefore I would not recommend them. I'm sure they're all sweetness and light if the saddle's right but are awful it you have a problem!

Also the saddle flaps show wear from the stirrups even though it was only on my horse a handful of times. I have never seen a saddle do this and the company would take no responsibility for this and tried to blame me! Well I have used the Barnsby A LOT both ridden and lunge work and there is not a mark on it so I strongly suspect the leather quality was the issue 😔
 
Feel your pain definately! Except mine is also croup high! I have an absolutely brilliant Barnsby show saddle that fits- it actually replaced my brand spanking new Native Pony Tor Saddle which did not fit (I too was told that it did- sorry sbloom-not one of yours- but from the other company that sells them), I bought the Barnsby a year ago second hand for £500, but another one to try would be the Jeffries/ Falcon Hawk Event Saddle as this will also fit my mare.
 
Have you thought of/tried treeless? I appreciate they aren't for everyone but after struggling for ages to get a saddle to fit mine I went treeless - never looked back and now all 3 of mine are in treeless.
 
I completely feel your pain. I spent quite a few months looking for a saddle. I the end (and I appreciate this is easier said than done) I bit the bullet and threw money at the problem, increased my budget and bought brand new from AH native pony saddles, it was worth every penny for the progress my pony made after we got it. About 2 years later he had changed so much I ended looking for another saddle (I also wanted a dressage saddle) and again the budget went out of the window with a second hand Equipe which fits him like a glove. I have spent at least double on saddles vs what i spent on the pony and i joke that if he ever out-grows the Equipe i'm going to keep it and buy a pony to fit it as it woudl be easier!!
 
Have you thought about looking at a wow saddle? They are completely adjustable, including the seat, panel and flaps. Would recommend giving one a go - good luck with the rest of your search!
 
You can hire the solutions saddles for circa £50 per week. I'd give that a go first, and try and source one second hand if it suits you both.
 
serenityjane said:
Feel your pain definately! Except mine is also croup high! I have an absolutely brilliant Barnsby show saddle that fits- it actually replaced my brand spanking new Native Pony Tor Saddle which did not fit (I too was told that it did- sorry sbloom-not one of yours- but from the other company that sells them), I bought the Barnsby a year ago second hand for £500, but another one to try would be the Jeffries/ Falcon Hawk Event Saddle as this will also fit my mare.
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Don't worry, we no longer use the brand name and have rebranded ourselves as we and our customers are so fed up with the confusion, especially with incidents such as you had!
 
OK so I've looked at the suggested saddles:-
NO GOs:-
Amerigo Vega - too expensive - unless I can find 2nd hand
Sollution saddles - too expensive - unless I can find 2nd hand
Andrea Hicks - too expensive - unless I can find 2nd hand

POSSIBLES:-
Duett saddles - Is there a UK fitter?
Fylde - but do they do GP/VSD?
Lavina Mitchell
Barnsby - Need to try
Thorowgood T4/T8 cob
Ideal Made to Measure - is there a fitter in Leicestershire
Black Country - are the trees super flat?
Wow - What's the price of these?
Kent & Masters - flat back? cob? compact? Anatomic? - need to try
Treeless - is there a treeless fitter in Leicestershire?
Bates/Momentum - do these do a cob/flat tree?

ponycobandhorse - I have arranged for them to come and measure up next week but am having second thoughts due to Ladyt25's xperience??
 
ester said:
tbh I can't see how the saddle you posted ever fitted!

do you have any pics minus saddle?
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It did fit when I bought it or so I was lead to believe. It was made to template 3 years ago and he has filled out and muscled up a bit since then.

Is it really bad that I have no recent pictures on my phone?! I do have some at home so will upload them this afternoon - now that I'm a photo pro an all that! :)
 
Oh dear!! He must have filled out a mega amount. I'm sure you will find something, but looks as if you need an experienced saddle fitter who is used to fitting cobs. The Thorowgood Cob might be suitable BUT you need to have it properly fitted and ensure the size is correct for both you and the horse.
 
I would contact saddles direct as they are very good and helped me find a saddle which no one else could help me find one which fit him. You try before you buy so it is quite handy
 
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