Thorowgood T8 Cob for Section D?

[AGray825]

At my wit's end with saddle fitting to be perfectly honest!

Had saddle fitter out to try for a new saddle.... ended up having only one working hunter saddle in the back of her van that even somewhat fitted her. So took it away, trialled for a couple days and I could not ride in it. I felt more secure in the slippy saddle she's already got. Also her way of going didn't feel improved enough to warrant my own discomfort so that got sent back.
Saddle fitter didn't even suggest finding or trying a different saddle (I know, I know... I'm not pleased either!)

Would like a different saddler to come a fit her but the one I want is booked up until July! And we just can't wait for that.....

Now, my girl measures around XW/XXW and is quite long in the back (she's in a 17" but saddle fitter said she fitted 17.5" better). Quite table-top-esque, but not to an extreme amount!

Does anyone have any experiences with the Thorowgood T8 cob's for Section D's? I'm very tempted to get one from David Dyer saddles and then have the different saddler (who deals with Thorowgoods, among many others) to check it when he has availability

Pictures for shape examples


(I'm sure my mum will be happy to have her mini-riding-lesson picture on here..... it's the most recent one I have of her shape as ridden)

 

[ImmyS]

I had a T8 on my xxwide Welsh D x Cob, it fitted him last year as a rising 4 year old but after having a few months off and filling out, it wouldn’t fit even go near him in the widest gullet. Since then I picked up a little Silhouette leather saddle and it fits him great, is a lovely saddle and not very expensive. He’ll probably change shape again but there’s some wiggle room for when he changes shape a bit and it was affordable. I would highly recommend! They really suit broad types.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I have a barrel of a D too, when he was maturing a T8 fitted him perfectly for a few years but then started to slip both backwards & side to side especially in the school - limpet pad & breastplate helped but still not perfect. I've now got an leather show cut Cliff Barnsbey & he loves it & it doesn't roll at all - they're older but cut nicely so they don't interfere with shoulder movement.

 

[AGray825]

I had a T8 on my xxwide Welsh D x Cob, it fitted him last year as a rising 4 year old but after having a few months off and filling out, it wouldn’t fit even go near him in the widest gullet. Since then I picked up a little Silhouette leather saddle and it fits him great, is a lovely saddle and not very expensive. He’ll probably change shape again but there’s some wiggle room for when he changes shape a bit and it was affordable. I would highly recommend! They really suit broad types.

I have a barrel of a D too, when he was maturing a T8 fitted him perfectly for a few years but then started to slip both backwards & side to side especially in the school - limpet pad & breastplate helped but still not perfect. I've now got an leather show cut Cliff Barnsbey & he loves it & it doesn't roll at all - they're older but cut nicely so they don't interfere with shoulder movement.

They both sound great, but my problem is that without it being an adjustable gullet I would definitely want a saddle fitter to come and check the fit.
I'm not too concerned with too many shape changes (at 19 I think she's as mature, at least shape-wise, as she's going to get!) so if she's currently in a w/xw and it's only slightly slipping in the faster paces and the T8 goes all the way up to xxw (I was planning to get her the xw/xxw gullet in it).... I was assuming that would be wide enough on her

I did think about a silhouette saddle, as my current saddle fitter said she's like to see her in one but she didn't have any to try on her, but I'm just wary of buying a non-adjustable saddle without it being fitted

 

[ImmyS]

They both sound great, but my problem is that without it being an adjustable gullet I would definitely want a saddle fitter to come and check the fit.
I'm not too concerned with too many shape changes (at 19 I think she's as mature, at least shape-wise, as she's going to get!) so if she's currently in a w/xw and it's only slightly slipping in the faster paces and the T8 goes all the way up to xxw (I was planning to get her the xw/xxw gullet in it).... I was assuming that would be wide enough on her

I did think about a silhouette saddle, as my current saddle fitter said she's like to see her in one but she didn't have any to try on her, but I'm just wary of buying a non-adjustable saddle without it being fitted

The problem with the adjustables is that no matter how wide the gullet goes it still doesn’t mean it’s going to be the right shape. As with my boy, the gullets could technically go wide enough but the gullet shape is more like a pointy mountain whereas he needs a ‘hill’ shape, so more of a hooped tree. But he is extremely broad. It completely depends what shape your horse is, but whether it is adjustable or not it will still need to be initially fitted as obviously it’s not just the gullet that needs to fit correctly, it may need flocking in the panels etc. I know what it’s like as no saddler local had anything wide enough to try, I just had to go by advice and after a couple of pints which didn’t fit well enough I finally found the silhouette which with slight adjustment fit pefectly. I managed to sell the saddles on that didn’t fit quickly and for similar money I purchased them for but I know it’s not ideal.

 

[AGray825]

The problem with the adjustables is that no matter how wide the gullet goes it still doesn’t mean it’s going to be the right shape. As with my boy, the gullets could technically go wide enough but the gullet shape is more like a pointy whereas he needs a ‘hill’ shape, so more of a hooped tree. But he is extremely broad. It completely depends what shape your horse is, but whether it is adjustable or not it will still need to be initially fitter as obviously it’s not just the gullet that needs to fit correctly, it may need flocking in the panels etc. I know what it’s like as no saddler local had anything wide enough to try, I just had to go by advice and after a couple of pints which didn’t fit well enough I finally found the silhouette which with slight adjustment fit pefectly. I managed to sell the saddles on that didn’t fit quickly and for similar money I purchased them for but I know it’s not ideal.

I think in that case I might go for the purchase of the T8 then in the xw/xxw, but begin a search for a silhouette with a view to sell on the T8 if it doesn't work out at all!

(Luckily my youngster is very content in his Martin Wilkinson VSD for the time being so I have a little bit of money to play with.... not much but enough!)

 

[Pinkvboots]

I haven't used the saddle you mentioned but I have x wide Arabs so know how it can cause problems with saddles, I find Ideal are good for the rounder horse, I have also used black country and have a Heritage and a Lavinia Mitchell, there is a Facebook page for used native pony saddles they sell second hand wider saddles on there, you may be able to find what you want.

 

[sbloom]

The headplate is very V shaped, the opposite of a hoop tree, so when it doesn't work, that's the main factor, plus the impact of that shape on rail shape, and the construction of a changeable headplate saddle and the fact many of them sit you a long way from the horse. I can generally get people at least an inch closer to the horse. And of course if your horse gets wider than XXW then you're stuck anyway. Plus not everyone gets on with the seat shape especially where space is limited, you may need that extra space in the 17.5 though I disagree with your fitter, no horse "needs" a bigger saddle unless the rider needs it. I run the used FB group Pinkvboots has mentioned.

 

[Unicorn]

I had a T8 for my lad. Admittedly he's a Connie not a Welsh D, but he's a chunky boy and was in the widest gullet they do. It was a great fit for him, though not the most comfortable for me.

Thorowgood have some very useful templates and guides on their website that were a great help when I was trying to figure out what would fit him.

https://www.thorowgood.com/fitting/9-measuring-your-horse

 

[Hormonal Filly]

She is ever so similar shape to my Welsh D gelding!

He was in a Thorowgood for 3 years but I have recently swapped to a GFS Monarch in the second widest gullet they go and it fits him much nicer and more comfortable. Thorowgood was very hard and didn't enjoy riding in it if I am honest, had all the pads to make it comfier.

You need to find a decent saddler, where are you based?
My saddler will fit from a £100 saddle to £3,000 saddle if you ask him. Has tons of second hand and will tell you if they don't fit, he actually recommended a S/H cheaper saddle as it fitted better compared to a new one years ago! Took me years to find a good one.

 

[AGray825]

I had a T8 for my lad. Admittedly he's a Connie not a Welsh D, but he's a chunky boy and was in the widest gullet they do. It was a great fit for him, though not the most comfortable for me.

Thorowgood have some very useful templates and guides on their website that were a great help when I was trying to figure out what would fit him.

https://www.thorowgood.com/fitting/9-measuring-your-horse

Oh interesting... I might print that out and try that tonight with her... see what shape she comes out as!

She is ever so similar shape to my Welsh D gelding!

He was in a Thorowgood for 3 years but I have recently swapped to a GFS Monarch in the second widest gullet they go and it fits him much nicer and more comfortable. Thorowgood was very hard and didn't enjoy riding in it if I am honest, had all the pads to make it comfier.

You need to find a decent saddler, where are you based?
My saddler will fit from a £100 saddle to £3,000 saddle if you ask him. Has tons of second hand and will tell you if they don't fit, he actually recommended a S/H cheaper saddle as it fitted better compared to a new one years ago! Took me years to find a good one.

Funnily enough I had a 'test sit' on the dummy horse at the saddler's on site saddlery shop. It was so comfortable to sit for myself, though having just sat on a T8 beforehand I wasn't sure it was £300 worth of more comfortable (but I don't know what the difference would be fitting to her rather than just me)
I did sit on a T4 as well and that was horrid to sit on >.<
Also sat on an Ideal and that was quite nice, however it was second hand and slightly above budget if I don't use David Dyers finance option and I don't know if it would still be there by the time the saddle fitter could fit me in :/

I'm based in the fens (between Wisbech and Chatteris)

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Funnily enough I had a 'test sit' on the dummy horse at the saddler's on site saddlery shop. It was so comfortable to sit for myself, though having just sat on a T8 beforehand I wasn't sure it was £300 worth of more comfortable (but I don't know what the difference would be fitting to her rather than just me)
I did sit on a T4 as well and that was horrid to sit on >.<

Maybe thats a newer shape or I had a uncomfortable one! Have you had a google for a decent master saddler in that area?

My saddler has always come out, told me what will fit and then I've written it down, gone and found one second hand, then hes come out to adjust it. He told me a GFS monarch would fit lovely on my D last year but they're £950 new.. wow! I said i'd look around for one in x size. After 3 weeks I managed to find one, 2 miles down the road. I ended up buying it for £260 as she was desperate to get rid as her horse died and it was practically brand new. He fitted it the week after.

https://www.martinwilkinson.com/ - Just found this website?

 

[AGray825]

Maybe thats a newer shape or I had a uncomfortable one! Have you had a google for a decent master saddler in that area?

My saddler has always come out, told me what will fit and then I've written it down, gone and found one second hand, then hes come out to adjust it. He told me a GFS monarch would fit lovely on my D last year but they're £950 new.. wow! I said i'd look around for one in x size. After 3 weeks I managed to find one, 2 miles down the road. I ended up buying it for £260 as she was desperate to get rid as her horse died and it was practically brand new. He fitted it the week after.

https://www.martinwilkinson.com/ - Just found this website?

Martin Wilkinson is the one that fitted my old boys VSD saddle, which is now fitted to my younger boy and is literally the best saddle I've ever had.

Unfortunately it just didn't fit my girl and he's just that bit too far away to come and fit for us

http://www.woolcroftequineservices.co.uk/saddle-fitting <---- this is the saddler I'm wanting to have come see my girl (who's currently booked up right now) and he's about 30 minutes from me by car

I need to keep a close watch on the second hand market to see if anything comes up!