Thorowgood saddles

C

chestnut cob

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Any opinions on Thorowgood saddles?

I have an Ideal Jessica but would quite like a cheapish GP just for hacking and generally tatting about in (might also go hunting a handful of times this season though unlikely to jump much bar the odd rail, def nothing big as horse doesn't really jump anymore). My saddle fitter has suggested looking for a second hand Thorowgood T4 as he thinks they're good value for money.

What are they like to ride in? I haven't ridden in a GP for years so no idea how they compare to other GPs (just sold my jumping saddle, which I did everything in). All experiences gratefully received and I might even be able to rustle up some lovely home made Battenburg! ;)
 
OH had one for a while when his mare was coming back from a back prob and (despite being a total leather saddle snob!) he really liked it, and rather more importantly his mare did too! He jumped up to 1m rounds in it happily, though he is v long hip to knee that more than this would be pushing it really as he needed to take all the blocks off to be able to do that! Comfy to hack in, and to school in too. We were both impressed with it, esp given the price!

Lots on ebay (ours too atm!) so worth having a look to get an idea of price. Do be careful of the age of the one you get as the older ones don't have changeable gullets, also budget for getting the flocking re-done as if the saddle has been used for a few years it will prob be getting a bit lumpy by now.

Happy shopping!
 
Thanks - feel free to PM me the details of your saddle if you like! :) I'm watching a few now, your's is probably one of them!

Good point re. reflocking though I'm a bit unhappy with how my Jessica has been reflocked so saddle fitter may be being asked to come back to look at that anyway, which means it would be ideal for getting him to look at a GP too.
 
Hate them! Tried both T4 and T6. T4 has god awful swead and I felt it was incredibly bulky, either that it was because I stuck to the swead! T6 itself was comfy but yet again bulky, and 17" seat was way too big so wasn't in right position. Both were the cob models.
 
My elderly cob has one - after years of mis-fitting saddles (by recommended saddlers), I finally found a decent saddler & she fitted him with one.
He goes fabulously in it - wish he'd had one when I first owned him & it puts me in a good position, but I do find it quite hard to sit on - after a couple of hours I'm glad to stop for pint to get the feeling back in my bottom :p
 
w1bbler said:
My elderly cob has one - after years of mis-fitting saddles (by recommended saddlers), I finally found a decent saddler & she fitted him with one.
He goes fabulously in it - wish he'd had one when I first owned him & it puts me in a good position, but I do find it quite hard to sit on - after a couple of hours I'm glad to stop for pint to get the feeling back in my bottom :p
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Thanks - is the seat of the saddle hard then? I suppose I could put a seat saver on!
 
After years of faffing with saddles, and a few happy years with a treeless I got a Thorowgood because we'd started hunting and jumping so I needed something I could jump in and with such a hard to fit cob I needed something I could adjust. (Cob with withers who muscles up like a bull!!:rolleyes:)

I do find the seat a tiny bit hard for long rides but otherwise I'm extreamly happy with it and more importantly the horse goes very very well in it. I have the T4 Cob and it adjusts to jumping, GP and dressage (never used it for dressage though..cob and me don't like it!). I recently called the fitter out because I was finding a few problems with it rubbing his back and dreaded hearing the worst...he smiled at me and literally moved the girth straps into different position and hey presto fabulous well fitting saddle again!! Cost me £10 as opposed to the hundreds for a new saddle I was expecting!!! Even with a lottery win I doubt I'd swap saddles now! My instructor borrowed my horse recently for a XC comp and said how surprised she was at the saddles grip and comfort..she ride's her horses in a saddle that cost thousands and she really was impressed by mine!!
 
Great saddles, and very lightweight too......ideal if breaking a youngster.
Bear in mind there are a few different varieties....griffins are lovely, I really like mine, but unlike some of the others, the griffin does not come with changable gullet system.
 
I bought a T4 Cob to back my youngster earlier this year, even though I have always previously thoroughly disliked the whole synthetic concept re saddles.

Now I have to say I have completely revised my opinion, its a lovely comfy saddle, fits the horse extremely well and I would definitely have another one in future if necessary.

F
 
I wholeheartedly recommend Thorowgood saddles! I used to be a "synthetic snob" but
Mum made me try hers, and I now ride my TB in a Thorowgood T6 GP and a T4 Dressage! Because she's got a typical shark fin TB wither she has the high wither versions, and she's very happy in them. I love the suede on the T4 because it holds me in place, which is great for my dressage position!! I find the seats v comfy, they are gel filled so I'm surprised that other people find them hard - maybe I just have more padding on my bottom ;) When we start jumping bigger (over 3ft probs) I'll need to invest in a jumping saddle with big knee rolls, but until then my GP suits me for hacking, schooling (when I can't be bothered to change my stirrups on to the dressage saddle!) and jumping.
 
We have both of our horses in them! We have a dressage version for mine, and a GP VSD for mums.

Horses go well in them and they're comfy!! Happy days! :)
 
i detest the GP and cob versions as i find them too bulky and feel perched.

however I love my T4 dressage and T6 jump:D I find the seats softer than my kent and masters jump was.
 
I, like others that have posted, have always been a "synthetic saddle snob" but since trying a Thorowgood T4 hiwither I absolutely love it! It is really comfy and actually looks quite smart (well I think so!) Have done all 3 phases in it jumped up to 1m in it and although I prefer my jumping saddle for jumping it is perfectly good enough :)
 
The T6 ones are lush. i don't much like the look of the griffin and T4 - but they are very adjustable and seem to be adaptable to a lot of horses (more so than wintecs). the T6 look veyr leather-like and i LOVE mine, I think they're amazing value for money.
 
Are you anywhere near Eccleshall (I see you are in Shropshire) the tack shop there has a great second hand saddle department and last time I was there they have some second hand TGs in. If nothing else you could sit on it in store (on the saddle horse) and see what you think.

Liz
 
I'm selling a T4 cob plus 17inch black if you're interested?

I find them really comfy to ride in but as others have said some find them a bit hard
 
smudge99 said:
Are you anywhere near Eccleshall (I see you are in Shropshire) the tack shop there has a great second hand saddle department and last time I was there they have some second hand TGs in. If nothing else you could sit on it in store (on the saddle horse) and see what you think.

Liz
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Yes, I am actually. Will go along and have a nose, good idea! :)
 
moveon said:
Feel like I am the only one saying I don't like them! I'm just not a fan, find them bulky and don't think they look very nice.
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I did ask for positive and negative opinions though so I am taking notice! I'm going to have a nose at local saddlery, as someone suggested earlier, and see if I can sit on one to make sure I like it. When I was looking for a DR saddle, I had my heart set on a Bates Isabell Werth but when I actually tried one on my horse, I instantly hated it so was pleased to have tried before buying!
 
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