Thorowgood gp or cob - slight wither and flat back

serenbach

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Hi, another saddle question I'm afraid!

Just wondering if the cob version is only suitable for those with very low/flat withers? My welsh sec d is 5, and does have a slight to moderate wither.

What type of horses are wearing the cob version? All replies greatly appreciated :D
 
i tried the cob t4 on my ISHxcob and she went well in it and but it felt straight cut. but i am used to riding in a forward cut leather saddle. i didnt try the gp as i have on order the t6 gp and cob and will ride in them both and see which one i and the horse like best.
 
You can only try. I did have a cob one for my horsey as a youngster, but when he grew his wither was too close to the saddle in front. Now he has a gp version, and i prefer this as they have more knee rolls, the cob version is straighter cut.
 
You can only try. I did have a cob one for my horsey as a youngster, but when he grew his wither was too close to the saddle in front. Now he has a gp version, and i prefer this as they have more knee rolls, the cob version is straighter cut.

Thanks, does he have quite a flat back, or more of a curve, as i know the standard gp tends to have more of a curved tree? :)
 
i tried the cob t4 on my ISHxcob and she went well in it and but it felt straight cut. but i am used to riding in a forward cut leather saddle. i didnt try the gp as i have on order the t6 gp and cob and will ride in them both and see which one i and the horse like best.

Hi, i take it then that the tree shape fitted her, it was just the cut that didn't suit?
 
I have exactly the same problem!

Harley's a 10yo 16.1 Section D, a little bit on the porky side, but has really big withers for a Section D - a good 4" above the level of his back. Being a chunky lad though, they're big boned and wide, and he has big shoulders too.

So far I've tried:
Wintec 2000 - he needs a wide for his profile, but the pommel is then too close to his withers
Thorowgood T4 high wither - seems to be designed for razor sharp withers, so come in too close to the sides of his withers
Thorowgood T4 Cob - way too flat for him - actually sat on his withers once I was on board!
Thorowgood T4 std wither - I thought this was the best fit and have been using it on him for the last year in a wide gullet. It's never had much clearance around the pommel, but never actually touched. When I clipped him last week though, I found he's got patches of white hair coming through either side under the stirrup bars, so must be too narrow still. I can't go wider though as it's too close to his withers then.

I'm going to arrange for a saddle fitter to come out and give me some advice as I'm going round in circles!

Some clickable pics (excuse the state of him, this was just before clipping!)

Harley - general conformation and saddle rubs:


Thorowgood T4 - std wither
Thorowgood T4 - Cob
Thorowgood T4 - hi wither

There's a wide gullet in the first and the second saddle and an X-wide in the third.
 
Hi, i take it then that the tree shape fitted her, it was just the cut that didn't suit?

yeah the tree suited her, i wasnt used to the straighter cut it did seem to tip me foward a bit tho. hence why im going to try them both when the t6's arrive at the shop.

i felt a little less secure in the cob but i havent tried the gp yet to compare. the gp was put onto my horses back and there really wasnt much difference apart from it being slightly more foward cut round the knee (it was chucking it down with rain hence why i didnt ride in the t4 gp as well!)

only other thing to think about is that the cob gullets are different to the normal gullets and come in bigger sizes (s-bar and r-bar gullets)
 
xena-wales - what a lovely boy he is! He does have a high wither:eek: don't see many of those on a welshy!! Along with the wide back, makes fitting a nightmare. Good luck with the saddle fitter - who do you use? We seem to be in the same area - I'm in ceredigion.
 
Aw thanks, he looks terrible in those pics though - here's a better one:
34201_442965917641_669187641_6129424_1438724_n.jpg


I don't have a saddle fitter currently, and never have with Harley. I've been scared off by some of the horror stories people have about saddle fitters :( I thought by getting a selection of adjustable saddles of my own, that I'd be able to fit him myself, but I need to admit that I need help now!

These are the two saddle fitters that I'd be tempted for in this location:
http://www.llwynonsaddlery.co.uk/
http://www.hrsaddlery.com/

There's also a Huw someone in Bridgend. I've heard positives and negatives about all three of them though, so am still making my mind up which road to go down, and in the meantime having a good play around with the saddles and gullets that I currently have so I can build up a picture of what *seems* to suit best in case it is of help.
 
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