Tell me about WOW saddles

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buzzles

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I've been offered a WOW jumping saddles for 350 euro.
I don't know much about them apart from what I've looked up online and have read mixed reviews on them. As I'm in Ireland we're pretty limited when it comes to saddle choice and fitters. Is this a good price for this saddle and how easy is it to get parts for the saddle and to adjust the fit.
Obviously I'll try it first to see how we get on with it, the horse is medium- medium/wide and very fussy, so he'll let me know soon enough if he likes/hates it! The main problem with him is he's quite an extravagant mover and most saddles seem to move a lot on him.
 
I'm afraid WoWs are not quite "fit all". They had parts to fit all, but you need the right parts ;)

It's an incredible price, BUT if it has the wrong tree/panels/ flaps for you it is an expensive mistake.

I suggest you go on the FTE website and read up. Basically, you choose seat style for you, and flap for you, but panels, head plate and "tree" for the horse.

Be aware that a saddle that cheap is likely older- it will have a resin tree, which is neither curved nor flat y bar, it's a half way, and will e heavier if made pre 2007. Post 2007 should have a "flat y bar" or "curved y bar" and will be leather and lighter.

Panels- yes they are adjustable with air, but make sure this "cheap" saddle does not have punctured air bags etc.
and air will only get you so far- you need to determine if you need "tabs", "stitchline", wide gullet, gusset, deep gusset etc.


Seats wise- as a jump saddle it is likely a "deep", "shallow" (rounded cantle) "flat" (square cantle) or XC (v v flat).

Flaps- on a jump saddle could be SJ moveable block, SJ fixed block, or XC with pencil type knee roll.

Head plates can be "u" or "v", steel or magnesium. And size -2 (I think!) to +7 (?!).

It's not a purchase I would recommend until you know what you need. :)
 
Gah, phone!

The air is easily adjustible with the right pump kit, IF you know what you are doing. Getting parts- can be done via fitters, direct from first thought equine, or second hand on eBay or online. Some parts are easier to come by than others- people tend to change panels more so there are often the more common ones around, jump flaps tend to get snapped up in my experience as do competitively priced leather tree seats.

Some of the newer flaps are hens teeth, as are some panel types- trying to find stitchline no tab size 2 DWGs is impossible, SDWG tabbed and stitched likely to be easier, DWG with stitch and tab are quite common ;)
Head plates are easy and inexpensive, so don't worry there.
 
thanks for your reply, they do sound quite complicated in that theres so much choice re panels, seats, flaps, gullets. l think this one is cheap due to the need for a quick cash sale but would need to know alot more about it and get it properly fitted, however as far as l know theres no fitters over here! Still don't think its worth the risk even at that price!
 
Its worth the risk at that price, especially if its a leather and not resin tree

You'd be able to resell on eBay and make a profit even if you didn't want the saddle

Should be around €800-€1000 on there

Edited to add: at that price get the number and check with WOW as could have been stolen
 
tempted now to at least try it if its such a good deal! good idea about checking that its not stolen, will do that though sadly l think its just a sign of the times here atm, a lot of people are getting out of horses and selling what they can to make some money.
 
I LOVE my Wow Saddle

I purchased it in June time last year and I can't fault it.

I have the Competitor Flair dressage saddle with a deep seat and extra large knee blocks. It puts me in a great position, it's super comfy (even after riding for hours!) and it's very secure for my horses big, bouncy trot!

From my horses point of view it's light, fully adjustable and is totally custom fit.

Due to his age, he is ever-changing in his shape, so it's great to have a saddle that can keep up with him.

The other great thing is I could in theory change my professional dressage saddle into a XC within an hour!

Here's some pics of my horse in his Wow

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photo6.jpg
 
Hi

I have an awkward mare, had a wow fitter out on Friday and within a few mins of riding my mare was different. Went out hacking and the mare was relaxed and happy and going forward.

Schooled yesterday for the first time in weeks since a made to measure that was not made to measure damaged her muscles and was causing her to rear and buck and nap all over the place. Within 5 mins she was stretching to the ground and her behavior was very good. She did misbehave a few times initial but more that she thought that it would be sore as she is a thinker and remembers these things. Once she realised it was ok she was great. Even did some jumps first time since September!

If you have an awkward horse and have tried loads of other things give it a go. As someone else said you can ebay it and make profit. :):)
 
The reason they are like marmite is that some fitters are good and some are as useful as a chocolate teapot. Get a bad fitter and you are throwing money down the drain as you saddle will never fit!
 
I **love** mine! I have a wrecked sacroiliac joint & when I got my WOW it was like getting a new spine. I have jumping & dr flaps, & they are both v good. They are also v adjustable - I had mine refitted from a chunky ISH to an ex-racer, which was a lot of width fittings.

The 2 horses I've used it on have gone v well in it. Now that it looks as if my ISH might go back to competing, I need another WOW & I would be delighted to get one for £350!

T x
 
I totally agree about the marmite comment. I used to hate them; I thought they looked ugly and just a gimmick; but back in 2012 I went to the Hickstead Derby where WOW had a stand.

Out of curiosity, I went to have a look at their range of saddles and started to quite like them. I spoke to Maggie (owner of WOW) about my difficulties with finding a saddle that was adaptable for my horse and one that was to keep me secure on my big, bouncy warmblood. She took a few demo dressage saddles aside and stuck them on their mechanical horse (which also has a very bouncy trot!) and asked me to climb aboard.

The first thing I noticed is the comfort and security the saddle offered. It kept me in a great position but allowed me to move my legs independently too. She put me through all the paces on the mechanical horse and I instantly fell in love with the saddles.

After I got home, Maggie was great to reply to my emails and I found the perfect saddle for me and my horse :)

I got it fitted by a professional saddle fitter and Disney loved it. He was a lot rounder, came up through his back and sat well on his hocks. I get it checked every 6 - 8 months and get it adjusted accordingly. :)
 
Quick update. I decided not to go for it the saddle I wasn't able to try it before buying and everyone said they're like marmite so I wasn't going to risk it if myself, or more importantly, the horse decided we hated it! Also from replies here and other reviews I think having a really good fitter is paramount and I couldn't find one in Ireland so would have had to try and fit it myself. I'm quite knowledgeable about saddle fitting but wouldn't have even tried to fit the WOW regards Flair, panels, trees flaps etc! I'm heading over to Badminton so might have a sit in one there if they have a stand, but will probably love them and then be gutted I lost out on a great deal! O Well! I think the jumping ones been sold since but there's still a dressage WOW for sale at the same sort of price if anyone want to PM I can give them the link
 
Llanali said:
It's an incredible price, BUT if it has the wrong tree/panels/ flaps for you it is an expensive mistake.
Click to expand...

Thing is, even if it doesnt fit - you can take off the parts which don't and simply flog them (you'd possibly even make a profit!) and buy the bits you do need. I had a WOW fitter out to my horse so she told me exactly what parts I needed and I went off and sat on Ebay etc. and bought them all second hand which saved me a lot. I love my WOW, it suited my horse perfectly as I needed a 17" seat but he was so short backed he needed 16" panels (which is what we ended up with).

Not sure why some people hate them... I asked my fitter that and she said it was because the old ones used to have very rounded seats (rounded up the way) which could be a bit uncomfortable but the newer ones are comfy as anything.
 
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