sidesaddlegirl
Well-Known Member
Well, it seems that my favorite close contact saddle no longer fits Hattie as it has given her a sore bump at the side of her withers. Unfortunately, it has foam panels so can't be adjusted and even a front riser pad, it's now too big and coming down on her withers. I've given her time off and am going to have the vet out to make sure all is alright but it looks as if now i'm going to have to go through the ordeal of looking for another saddle for her.
Hattie is a nightmare to fit as everything slides forwards on her as she has a wide barrel, straight back and a forward girth groove yet has high and thick withers! Wide fittings, although they clear the fat base of her withers, sit too low on her. Medium width, clears her withers but pinches the fat base of them.
I was looking at the Thorowgood Hi-Wither T6's and T4's and they seem to have a nice wide gullet channel that would clear the fat base of Hattie's withers and spine yet the panels seem supportive. I like the fact that the new ones can be flocked up by a saddler (she changes weight through the year) and that I can change gullets and add Fish in them.
The new ones also have points straps which Hattie needs and I can fiddle with the girth strap placement too as my saddler often has to do this on my side saddles (and he did on my CC saddle) to stop saddles from sliding forward.
The thing I'm worried about is if the panels are banana shaped like Wintecs? Wintecs do not fit Hattie at all, the panel shape is all wrong for her. They rock on her back.
Do the Hi-wither saddles have flattish shaped panels? I tried the Cob saddle on her back and although the tree was much too wide, the panels were nice and flat and fit the shape of her back quite well. I'm hoping the T4's and 6's are built with that shaped panel as then I'll be in business!
Are the Hi-wither T4's and 6's comfy? I like close contact saddles as the narrow twist doesn't bugger up my hip. I've ridden my friend's ponies in the Thorowgood cob saddles and I found them quite comfy but then again, I noticed that they had a square cantle close contact style seat. are the Hi-wither saddles similar?
I rode once in an old model Thorowgood GP and HATED it as I felt like my legs were being pushed forward but I don't feel like this when I ride in the Thorowgood Cob saddles.
Sorry for all the questions, but there isn't anywhere around that has any for me to try so have to do some research before I make the plunge and buy one!
Hattie is a nightmare to fit as everything slides forwards on her as she has a wide barrel, straight back and a forward girth groove yet has high and thick withers! Wide fittings, although they clear the fat base of her withers, sit too low on her. Medium width, clears her withers but pinches the fat base of them.
I was looking at the Thorowgood Hi-Wither T6's and T4's and they seem to have a nice wide gullet channel that would clear the fat base of Hattie's withers and spine yet the panels seem supportive. I like the fact that the new ones can be flocked up by a saddler (she changes weight through the year) and that I can change gullets and add Fish in them.
The new ones also have points straps which Hattie needs and I can fiddle with the girth strap placement too as my saddler often has to do this on my side saddles (and he did on my CC saddle) to stop saddles from sliding forward.
The thing I'm worried about is if the panels are banana shaped like Wintecs? Wintecs do not fit Hattie at all, the panel shape is all wrong for her. They rock on her back.
Do the Hi-wither saddles have flattish shaped panels? I tried the Cob saddle on her back and although the tree was much too wide, the panels were nice and flat and fit the shape of her back quite well. I'm hoping the T4's and 6's are built with that shaped panel as then I'll be in business!
Are the Hi-wither T4's and 6's comfy? I like close contact saddles as the narrow twist doesn't bugger up my hip. I've ridden my friend's ponies in the Thorowgood cob saddles and I found them quite comfy but then again, I noticed that they had a square cantle close contact style seat. are the Hi-wither saddles similar?
I rode once in an old model Thorowgood GP and HATED it as I felt like my legs were being pushed forward but I don't feel like this when I ride in the Thorowgood Cob saddles.
Sorry for all the questions, but there isn't anywhere around that has any for me to try so have to do some research before I make the plunge and buy one!