Thorowgood T4 cob saddle - thoughts?

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Horsekaren

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Has anyone got a Thorowgood T4 gp cob saddle? I'm looking for some feedback :)
I'm struggling to find a good fitting saddle for my horse and this has been recommended. I'm not going to lie it doesn't look like the leather beauty I imagined but if its best for his back then so be it.
 
Very useful saddles, horses like them and they are comfortable to ride in. I don't think they look too bad either, but in any case you can get the same saddle in leather: K&M cob GP.
 
I was looking at the K and M ones, is it the same company that makes them?
Thanks for the good feedback, I have been reading a lot of mixed opinions.
At the moment he is in a standard GP wintec but I find it very uncomfortable to ride in, I don't feel like it connects me to him very well, I just feel plonked on his back if that makes sense lol my Wintec is slipping back at the moment. Saddle fitter has suggested Thorowgood so I am keen to hear all the good and the bad :)

Has any one tried both a Thorowgood and a Wintec?

AnShanDan said:
Very useful saddles, horses like them and they are comfortable to ride in. I don't think they look too bad either, but in any case you can get the same saddle in leather: K&M cob GP.
Click to expand...
 
Hi
I have the T4 pony saddle, and it fits my wide, flat-backed highland very well. Love it for it's lightness and it was easy on my pocket (plenty second hand on ebay).
But, like you, I hated riding on it as I felt 'perched' and just couldn't find my seat. That then had a knock-on effect on my confidence.
I spend hours (actually, more like days!) scouring the internet for something that might still fit him but be comfortable for me and there was nothing less than £1000.
Then I came across the acavallo gel out seat saver and thought I would try one. Wasn't really expecting much but it is amazing (and no, I don't work for them!) and has transformed the saddle. I feel secure and have a nice deep seat. This morning I was riding down a very steep hill and the flies were bothering my lad so he was jittering about and tossing his head a lot. I probably would have got off before as would have felt like I was going to fall off, but with the seat saver on just hunkered down a bit more and felt as safe as houses.
If the thorowgood ticks all the other boxes I'd definitely suggest trying the seat saver with it.
 
Years ago I bought one, not the cob version but a T4 because I had a new horse and it was the only thing in budget the saddler had that fitted well.
I was a bit disappointed as had my heart set on leather but absolutely loved it! I loved it so much I tried to upgrade to a T6 then a Kent and Masters but have to say I regretted both and always wished I'd just kept the T4!
I'd definitely say ride in one first as I usually am fine in a 17" but felt a little tipped forward which my saddler said is common and fixed by going up a seat size. Of course writing that I think the cob ones are a flatter seat so you actually might not find that but bear it in mind!
I'd buy another.
 
I tried one years ago when my gelding was a very awkward to fit youngster , I personally couldnt stand it . There was so much between me and the horse that was unreal and I just didn't find it comfy at all. Also tried the t6? Version as I thought it was maybe the suede I didn't get on with but that was just as bad and put my into such an awful position . Sorry probably not what you were wanting to hear but that was my experience of them . I ended up going for a wintec until he filled out and he now has had is Ideal saddle for ages which is fantastic .
 
Horsekaren said:
Has anyone got a Thorowgood T4 gp cob saddle? I'm looking for some feedback :)
I'm struggling to find a good fitting saddle for my horse and this has been recommended. I'm not going to lie it doesn't look like the leather beauty I imagined but if its best for his back then so be it.
Click to expand...

The T6 or T8 are the same but upgraded quality.
 
I've had the thorowgood t4 cob and the high wither one, both because they fit great on the horses, I did use a seat saver but that's because I spent a lot of time in the saddle! I also had a wintec cair but hated it was like plastic and found horses didn't go as well in it. These are all different horses not the same one with all those saddles btw!
 
I have this saddle, I had the standard version for a while before swapping to the cob version as this fit better. When I swapped I could really tell the difference with the flatter seat and I felt less supported in the saddle, although adjusting the knee blocks has helped with this a little. Overall it's not my favourite saddle I've ridden in but it seems to fit well and is affordable so I'm happy with it for now. I will probably upgrade to a leather one in a few years once my horse has stopped growing and changing so much!
 
Have to say I hated my T4 Cob. Extremely solid perched feeling, you cant sit into them and they offer ziltch leg support for jumping. Depends what you want to do in it but Id never have one again (only had one for a short time as was the only thing to fit my horse, got rid as soon as I found something better).
 
I had a T4 high wither which I loved with a previous horse. Couldn't get the T4 cob to stay on my new girl, so we have a Wintec cair, which I don't find very comfortable but she goes well in and it doesn't slide.
 
I've had a high wither GP, and a standard dressage over the years, and currently a cob GP for the impossible to fit horse. No complaints about any of them. I find the cob GP pretty comfy and they're all lightweight and easy to maintain.
 
I have the T8 for my cob (so exactly the same fit) I love it as does my horse, being adjustable is handy as he drops off in winter and gains in summer!
 
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