The high withered thin skinned thoroughbred recommendations thread

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ghostie

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Since accidentally buying a TB ;) I seem to have spent a lot of time searching old threads on here for recommendations for things that will fit his shape or not shred his thin skin. So.... partly because I'm always after recommendations, and also to help others that are destined to do the same searches I thought I'd start a thread asking for general recommendations for stuff that suits thoroughbreds with stupidly high withers and paper thin skin. I know the same things don't suit all TBs, but it's always helpful to have some ideas to look at I find. To get it started here are my happy discoveries so far:

- overreach boots - the bridleway fleece lined ones are the only ones so far that haven't shredded him - people on here have also recommended sheepskin ones but I haven't splashed on those yet

- rugs - Amigos and Rambos seem to be the only ones that fit him well. Premier Equine were a disaster for his shape, as were Weethabeeta.

- saddles - the only GP saddle we could find to fit him was a Kent and Masters high withered GP saddle. The only dressage saddle we can fit to him seems to be the Prestige Optimax.

- saddlecloths and numnahs - either Nuumed Griffin hiwithered or the high withered Roma ones are a cheaper alternative that seem to be just as good.

So.... tell me yours :D
 
Sooo with you there on the Amigo rugs and the Prestige saddle! Mine is a jumping saddle but yes, good for TB.

Also an Eskadron grooming mitt in microfibre. He is so tickly to groom but one side of the mitt is soft microfibre and the other is the same with a sort of nylon fibre through it which is great. Makes him slightly less hysterical to groom!!
 
VickyP said:
Sooo with you there on the Amigo rugs and the Prestige saddle! Mine is a jumping saddle but yes, good for TB.

Also an Eskadron grooming mitt in microfibre. He is so tickly to groom but one side of the mitt is soft microfibre and the other is the same with a sort of nylon fibre through it which is great. Makes him slightly less hysterical to groom!!
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Ooh, might try the Eskadron grooming mit thank you - he's a pain in the arse to groom :)
 
After having many saddle cloths slipping down and rubbing my poor girls withers I had found these: http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/LeMieux_Dressage_Square_Plain_Cotton-(2157).aspx Expensive but well worth it :) They also do them in GP/jumping too. Where the girth goes through it is reinforced so the material doesn't rub away.

Also the sheepskin half pads! So soft and don't slip, even when used without a saddlecloth. Sounds a bit daft, but my mares attitude totally changes when I use the sheepskin, it must be alot more comfortable for her; even though her saddle was made especially for her! Horses ay:p http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/LeMieux_Lambskin_Half_Pad-(2150).aspx
Only bad point about the sheepskin is it takes a couple of days to dry, which is expected really.

Can you tell I'm a fan of LeMieux :D?

I also have the roma high withered numnah, but I find that it slips and doesn't really fit to the shape of my saddle even though its a GP.
 
While you're at it if you need a girth sleeve they do a microfibre one which sadly is white, but you can wash it at ridiculous temperatures and it comes out like new!!

I don't work for Easkadron by the way.;)
 
Hi, I had same trouble finding a saddle to fit, and finally found the same as you Kent & Masters hi wither gp. I will be looking for dressage saddle, so thanks for tip, i'll look out for a prestige!

I have to use a soft goat hair brush to groom him, even with his winter coat as he is so sensitive. Also i can not use fly or coat sprays on him as he comes up in lumps!

His numnahs always have to be sheepskin & always wears a vest to stop his rugs rubbing!
Hes very high maintanence bless him
 
Yes sheepskin is my new best friend! But on the rug thing the Amigos are generally sort of slippy nylon material lined so rub less than cotton lining. Have not yet had to use a bib to prevent rubbing with these rugs.
 
It's cheering me up no end to know I'm not the only one with a high maintenance money guzzling monster on my hands :)

Tycoongirl said:
Hi, I had same trouble finding a saddle to fit, and finally found the same as you Kent & Masters hi wither gp. I will be looking for dressage saddle, so thanks for tip, i'll look out for a prestige!

I have to use a soft goat hair brush to groom him, even with his winter coat as he is so sensitive. Also i can not use fly or coat sprays on him as he comes up in lumps!

His numnahs always have to be sheepskin & always wears a vest to stop his rugs rubbing!
Hes very high maintanence bless him
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I think I'm going to be investing in a lot more sheepskin! Thankfully I managed to get a secondhand Prestige as they are hideously expensive, but it seems to suit him very well. According to the saddler they put the rider's weight further forwards than most dressage saddles, which apparently suits the way TBs find it easiest to carry weight.
 
I use Amigo or Rambo rugs which fit TBs well and don't rub.
I like LeMieux high wither shaped saddle cloths and sheepskin half pad.
And I really like Eskadron overreach boots as they never rub even if they need to be left on 24/7.
 
HollyhedgePippa said:
After having many saddle cloths slipping down and rubbing my poor girls withers I had found these: http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/LeMieux_Dressage_Square_Plain_Cotton-(2157).aspx Expensive but well worth it :) They also do them in GP/jumping too. Where the girth goes through it is reinforced so the material doesn't rub away.

Also the sheepskin half pads! So soft and don't slip, even when used without a saddlecloth. Sounds a bit daft, but my mares attitude totally changes when I use the sheepskin, it must be alot more comfortable for her; even though her saddle was made especially for her! Horses ay:p http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/LeMieux_Lambskin_Half_Pad-(2150).aspx
Only bad point about the sheepskin is it takes a couple of days to dry, which is expected really.

Can you tell I'm a fan of LeMieux :D?

I also have the roma high withered numnah, but I find that it slips and doesn't really fit to the shape of my saddle even though its a GP.
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I've just bought a Stephens sheepskin half pad and he seems to be a fan of that. Wondering if he might prefer it used without a cloth though as he's still not 100% happy in the back (despite endless vet, saddle and physio checks)
 
I find the Amigo/Rambo rugs fit my TB well too although I also have cheaper rugs that fit ok but not as nice at the Amigos or Rambos.

I found the high-wither Kent & Master saddle and the Thorowgood version, fit my TB badly. They rocked, slide forward and were too "banana" shaped for her good topline. I have the T4 cob with the narrow/medium gullet in and it fits a TB with a nice topline and high withers nicely.

DO NOT use those plasticy waffle weave girths on thin skinned TB. I made the mistake of buying one in March to go with my Thorowgood saddle, rode in it for 30 minutes (nothing either strenuous, just walking around and a bit of trotting) and it rubbed two bald sore patches which are JUST starting to grow hair back on them. LeMeiux sheepskin girth covers are your friend too.
 
Saddle-wise, look at Balance International. The impression of a high wither is usually linked to atrophied muscle in the area just behind the wither - Balance help to remedy that. Their products are absolutely lovely too - nuumed pads and really nice prolite padding systems, and of course beautifully made saddles.
 
Mine has Prestige saddle and a micklem bridle, Roma saddlecloth or polypad with sheepskin half pad, have also found marktodd good!

Rug wise- horse wear weatherbeeta and snuggy hoods and jams!

Boots- he is either bandaged or sheepskin lined, he also has trizone for Xc and hacking

Sheepskin o/r boots or rubber ones if for a short period!

Eskadron are fab for head collars boots etc!

Also use a leather girth
 
Agree with most on here , Amigos and Rambo brilliant fit.

My saddle is a black country Kur that was adjusted to fit my mare, the saddler suggested I get one of my half pads on as well for her as she will be more comfortable, tried all 7 that I have and everything made the saddle perch up to high all over so new purchase I can highly reccomend - Acavallo half pad with sheepskin, best of both worlds really - gel pad on its own takes ages when tacking up to line up with no crushed bits, but the gel with sheepskin just stays in place perfectly! and no perch and very comfy horse!

Premier Equine Heavyweight in the winter was great, if only they made trouser attachments she would have been happier to be out!

Jumpers Horseline Pro-dressage bridle in full, my mare is exactly half way between a cob and a full, but these come up a bit trim so fit perfectly!

Tiny 5" Neue Schule verbindend fit for a pony NO!!! - perfect for a TB!!!

Equilibrium brushing boots in cob fit perfectly

Made my own bungee for lungeing having tried all the pessoa and various other contraptions including side reins! this is the only thing madam doesn't try to kill herself with when she flips out on the lunge for her Pessoa = throw self on floor, Side reins = run backwards wildly whilst trying to kill self and drag mother on floor, bungee is forgiving and flexible, thanks ebay it cost me a full £3 for the bungee line! We have come to an understanding and that is great for me!
 
snopuma said:
Agree with most on here , Amigos and Rambo brilliant fit.

Made my own bungee for lungeing having tried all the pessoa and various other contraptions including side reins! this is the only thing madam doesn't try to kill herself with when she flips out on the lunge for her Pessoa = throw self on floor, Side reins = run backwards wildly whilst trying to kill self and drag mother on floor, bungee is forgiving and flexible, thanks ebay it cost me a full £3 for the bungee line! We have come to an understanding and that is great for me!
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Ooh, this is interesting, tell me more please! :D
 
Amigo rugs, Frank Baines Omni dressage saddle. Half Sheepskin Dressage cloth. The only girth that doesn't rub is a Stubben Soft washable Neoprene one, otherwise I have to use a sheepskin sleeve.

When I first got him off the track everything rubbed him but he can wear any over reach and brushing boots now, the more they're washed and softened the better.
 
-My boy is in a Wintec 2000 GP with the green/narrow gullet bar atm, but I am getting him the Thorowgood High-wither GP soon.
-I use a shires fully lined half pad for extra comfort and wither clearage, it's the best thing I've ever brought!
- I have a very old shires saddle cloth with sheep skin lining just on the wither area, which is fantastic, it doesn't rub at all and is especially good in the hot whether over here!
-Caldene training wraps are fab, otherwise I use "Jumpers" bandages, recommended for sensitive skin :)
- Bridleway fleece rug is brilliant, as is the Mark Todd waterproof rug that I have.
 
ghostie said:
Ooh, this is interesting, tell me more please! :D
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Oh the bungee, easy, I just bought 4 metres of bungee line 8mm thick in black, basically made to fit made so you just attach an old brass leadrope clip to each end ( big knot) then put the middle of the line over the poll and each end down through the corresponding bit ring then clip onto the girth buckle of your saddle or the girth buckle of roller, I always go on the girth buckles just because its the right height for me for the line to be horizontal to the ground when horse is just infront of the poll, fit it when horse relaxed in stable and don't crank them in, is madam wants to go round with her head up in the gods for a bit it won't hurt her it will just encourage her to relax and come back down, I am not into all this cranking in, I just wanted something that mimics good hands, the pessoa just saws on the mouth and p**ses her off, so anyway when I want to adjust for canter I just clip then clips on the back buckles of the girth and that gives me a 4-5" take up of reins, what she really worked out quickly was to stretch down and when she comes up above the bit I just ask her to be more forward and she works out to come back into a rounder outline all by herself!
 
I find that wetherbeeta fit my boy well, who is a 16hh chunky tb type with quiet abit of bone although he is full tb I swear! He has Rambos and amigos too.

He has woof wear kevelar over reach boots for turnout, and wood wear sheepskin over reaches for riding. He had stretch and flex wraps, but now wears woof wear brushing boots as they offer more protection.

He has an ideal jessica vsd saddle that fits him beautifully, but we both hated our made to measure bates gp saddle!! Normal rubber bell boots rubbed him raw though.
 
totally agree with the amigos nothing else fits!!! although fleece lined over-reach boots seem to rub him more so now ive opted to vaseline his legs before boots go on especailly if hes jumping in them, works wanders no rubs or sores..... just need to take shares out in vaseline and then im sorted!! :D
 
All this reminds me of a lovely 17hh ex chaser I used to have, about 30 years ago. He was so ticklish that we used to groom him with a baby's hair brush and a chamois leather. Even then he would have hysterics, bite the wall and his legs would collapse! Was great fun getting him ready for a show! Fortunately he was black, so didn't require too much scrubbing :)
 
See now I find it funny that my WB hates me using a shedding blade on him anywhere, yet my TB mare loves it especially on her belly as hard as you like even with her summer coat, she is a funny one!
 
Really useful thread, thanks ghostie. New horse is a WBxTB so high withered and seems to have much thinner skin too, although hopefully not quite as senstive as some on here !!

But I reckon I will be making use of these recomms when I do my "I've bought a new horse, must have shiny new matching tack" shopping trip. I might have to alert the bank first... :)
 
Argh - trying really hard not to dead sheep up my horse (WBxTB) this thread is not helping!! Will a half pad and sheepskin girth cover really help?

I have found weatherbeetas to be excellent rugs for mine - fits like a glove :)
 
Joeyjojo said:
Argh - trying really hard not to dead sheep up my horse (WBxTB) this thread is not helping!! Will a half pad and sheepskin girth cover really help?

I have found weatherbeetas to be excellent rugs for mine - fits like a glove :)
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Dead sheep, you know you want to..:)
 
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