Synthetic saddles?

[GREYSMEADOW]

Hi, I’m looking for a 18” synthetic wide saddle, with a cross between a jumping/event/GP type (with a bit more room at the knee rolls) with a good panel length for a growing 16.1 draught/cob type and be able to change into an extra wide fitting if needed. Are there any close contact types available with a flatter/wider seat (for the rider) at all. I have tried a couple of GP Wintec’s but they were really quite straight cut and more like a dressage type and didn’t find them very comfy but my leather dressage saddle is a dream if only it wasn’t so narrow.
Can someone please tell me about the CAIR system too. Perhaps recommend me the best synthetic ones to look at as I don’t really want to have a leather made-to-measure one yet as he’s still growing. Also, can they all come with 4 x girth straps too.
Thanks for your help.

 

[sbloom]

Not having a synthetic does not mean having a totally unadjustable, made to measure leather saddle. Many horses and ponies, if you find the right fitter/company, already have leather saddles in stock that will work, and even beech laminate trees can be adjusted a handful of times if the fitter is prepared to do it (my company does indeed adjust trees). Synthetics won't fit all horses, there are too many variables to fitting a saddle - they will work on some shapes but even then just being able to change the tree width does not mean the saddle will always work and change with the horse.

I'd avoid Cair like the plague - I hear too many reports of horses and riders hating it, and of it going wrong.

It sounds like you'll need a jump saddle - Wintec, Thorowgood and Tekna all make them, ideally you need a good fitter to decide which one will fit the best.