Thorowgood T8 gp or compact gp how do you rate them?

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Slightlyconfused

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Big baby needs a new saddle, he has a flat ish back, I can't afford alot and I quite like the look of these especially the compact.

Saddler is looking at his templates to make sure before I order for her to fit it and thinks it should be okay but until it's on the back you are never 100%
 
I generally like thorowgood, but they can cause back problems i think. Ive finally bit the bullet and taken the skintness to buy a leather saddle, fitted by saddler.
 
equi said:
I generally like thorowgood, but they can cause back problems i think. Ive finally bit the bullet and taken the skintness to buy a leather saddle, fitted by saddler.
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How do they cause back problems?

I have £800ish to spend on one so want to make sure I get my money's worth but I've always liked the look of these saddkes
 
I was looking or half looking recently. I sat in both GP and compact and there is no rider difference.
A friend who is training to be a chiropractor told me to stay away as they put too much pressure under the points of the gullet bars.
That said I've had Tborowgood saddles before and never had any problems. I like the light weight and hassle free ness of them!
 
poiuytrewq said:
I was looking or half looking recently. I sat in both GP and compact and there is no rider difference.
A friend who is training to be a chiropractor told me to stay away as they put too much pressure under the points of the gullet bars.
That said I've had Tborowgood saddles before and never had any problems. I like the light weight and hassle free ness of them!
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I have been told before that the gullet bars are longer than the wintec and put more pressure but I haven't known anyone who has had the problem.

Possibly back to the drawing board 🙇

Anyone know of make that's good in a wide and a flatfish panel for no more than £800? Head is banging against a wall at the moment.
 
A decent second hand saddle would probably be a better option than a synthetic, something like an Ideal would be relatively flat and you should be able to get one for well under your budget, does your saddle fitter not carry any second hand saddles for you to try? I wouldn't want to buy a new saddle on spec and hope it can be fitted, if it proves unsuitable after a while using it you stand to lose a fair bit which is not such a risk with a second hand one bought directly from the saddler or even bought elsewhere if it is a good make it will usually sell on again.

Something like this could suit

http://www.nfed.co.uk/cgi-bin/class...lay_db_button=on&db_id=134477&query=retrieval
 
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I have a saddle which may(??) suit. It's a Barnsby - have a look at my post on East of England thread. PM if you're interested. It's below your budget btw.
 
be positive said:
A decent second hand saddle would probably be a better option than a synthetic, something like an Ideal would be relatively flat and you should be able to get one for well under your budget, does your saddle fitter not carry any second hand saddles for you to try? I wouldn't want to buy a new saddle on spec and hope it can be fitted, if it proves unsuitable after a while using it you stand to lose a fair bit which is not such a risk with a second hand one bought directly from the saddler or even bought elsewhere if it is a good make it will usually sell on again.

Something like this could suit

http://www.nfed.co.uk/cgi-bin/class...lay_db_button=on&db_id=134477&query=retrieval
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I really want an ideal impala, which my fitter agrees would suit him, but I only have £800 on a credit card to spend and it's over my budget.
Saddle fitter doesn't carry thorowgoods.


MrsMozart said:
Have you considered having one made...? I'm sure a friend had one made and it cost no more than £700, possibly a bit less, although that was a couple of years ago.
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Last time I was quoted to have one made it was £1400 minimum so your friend got a very good deal.

Doris68 said:
I have a saddle which may(??) suit. It's a Barnsby - have a look at my post on East of England thread. PM if you're interested. It's below your budget btw.
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Only have a credit card not cash or bank transfer.
 
Who did you have? I can recommend an amazing fitter who doesnt sell saddles so will give you a totally impartial opinon and help you find one second hand if thats what you want to do. I personally like Thorowgoods but I know a lot of people find them horribly uncomfortable so make sure you all have a sit in one before you commit!
 
I know it's each to their own with saddles but I have just swapped my thorowgood (which I had fitted to him and checked every year for 8 years and was perfectly okay with) for a Heather Moffatt Flexee VSD saddle. The change in my horse is really amazing, not just subtle but has gone from always a little resistant/hollow/inconsistent in the contact (with me not knowing what I was doing wrong and no idea how to fix it, I was sure it must be my riding) to this wonderful, free moving, supple, soft, elegant dressage pony who works over his back into a lovely contact. He is even like this out hacking which is completely unheard of, I've always struggled to keep him from going hollow. These changes have happened in the last two months since I bought the saddle do it has to be down to that as nothing else changed, certainly not my riding, other than that it puts my leg into a much better position which sits me more upright and off his forehand I guess. Anywayat, point being I really like it as a synthetic saddle and the pony clearly loves the flexible tree! His thorowgood, whilst professionally fitted and checked obviously didn't make him happy. I'm trying to get some photos so I can do a post showing the difference. It was £645 so perhaps worth looking into?
 
KatPT said:
I know it's each to their own with saddles but I have just swapped my thorowgood (which I had fitted to him and checked every year for 8 years and was perfectly okay with) for a Heather Moffatt Flexee VSD saddle. The change in my horse is really amazing, not just subtle but has gone from always a little resistant/hollow/inconsistent in the contact (with me not knowing what I was doing wrong and no idea how to fix it, I was sure it must be my riding) to this wonderful, free moving, supple, soft, elegant dressage pony who works over his back into a lovely contact. He is even like this out hacking which is completely unheard of, I've always struggled to keep him from going hollow. These changes have happened in the last two months since I bought the saddle do it has to be down to that as nothing else changed, certainly not my riding, other than that it puts my leg into a much better position which sits me more upright and off his forehand I guess. Anywayat, point being I really like it as a synthetic saddle and the pony clearly loves the flexible tree! His thorowgood, whilst professionally fitted and checked obviously didn't make him happy. I'm trying to get some photos so I can do a post showing the difference. It was £645 so perhaps worth looking into?
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I too had that kind of thing. My horse immediately worked better when i got my kieffer. I then put my wintec dressage on him for one ride and he was awful, so yeah synthetic is a no for me now.
 
FrankieCob said:
Who did you have? I can recommend an amazing fitter who doesnt sell saddles so will give you a totally impartial opinon and help you find one second hand if thats what you want to do. I personally like Thorowgoods but I know a lot of people find them horribly uncomfortable so make sure you all have a sit in one before you commit!
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We have the same one 😊
 
I bought the t8 last year for my tb as it's easily adjustable and I find it so comfy. After having leather saddles for the last 25 years I was very sceptical!! I liked it so much I have recently bought the dressage version. I have my saddle fit checked regularly and he also has regular physio and no problems relating to saddle fit have cropped up.
 
I don't rate any TG saddles myself. Give me a horrendous sore back never mind the horse. For £800 you could get a nice second hand one. Have you looked on saddles direct?
 
^^^Was just going to suggest Saddles Direct. I recently got a really nice Ideal event saddle for my new mare from them for £425. She has a flattish back.

I also subsequently trialled their Ideal Impala pro dressage in the same nomimal fitting, 18" MW, but it was much too narrow. Bit weird, but all the trial cost me was the £20 charge.

I already have an 18" Kent and Masters compact GP (same tree as Thorowgood), but it didn't fit her, she needs a flatter tree.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I don't rate any TG saddles myself. Give me a horrendous sore back never mind the horse. For £800 you could get a nice second hand one. Have you looked on saddles direct?
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Tiddlypom said:
^^^Was just going to suggest Saddles Direct. I recently got a really nice Ideal event saddle for my new mare from them for £425. She has a flattish back.

I also subsequently trialled their Ideal Impala pro dressage in the same nomimal fitting, 18" MW, but it was much too narrow. Bit weird, but all the trial cost me was the £20 charge.

I already have an 18" Kent and Masters compact GP (same tree as Thorowgood), but it didn't fit her, she needs a flatter tree.
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Been looking on there but I need a wide. 17.5" in brown and a flatish panel and not much has come up.
Have sent them a message to see what else they haven't as it's a Sunday not expecting to get a reply for a few days.
 
Have you considered an older style Jeffries? The GP and dressage saddles in wide fit both my Gypsy Cob and Section C (when he's fit!) really well.

Are you anywhere close to me? (10 miles west of Oswestry) as you are welcome to try one of my GPs if you are :) They are 17 inch, but wide fit, so would give you a idea of whether they would work.
 
Slightlyconfused said:
I really want an ideal impala, which my fitter agrees would suit him, but I only have £800 on a credit card to spend and it's over my budget.
Saddle fitter doesn't carry thorowgoods.




Last time I was quoted to have one made it was £1400 minimum so your friend got a very good deal.



Only have a credit card not cash or bank transfer.
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That's a shame, because it really is a beautiful saddle and has been little used. I'm afraid I don't do credit cards! Good luck with your search.
 
sychnant said:
Have you considered an older style Jeffries? The GP and dressage saddles in wide fit both my Gypsy Cob and Section C (when he's fit!) really well.

Are you anywhere close to me? (10 miles west of Oswestry) as you are welcome to try one of my GPs if you are :) They are 17 inch, but wide fit, so would give you a idea of whether they would work.
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I'm in Bedfordshire 😊
 
I got a TG T8 compact GP for my flat backed croup high TB x connie youngster and it didn't work at all. The tree wasn't nearly flat enough, it rocked badly and the horse loathed it. Personally, I think they work better on the A frame TB type than anything with a flattish back, because IMO the tree is fairly banana shaped. Shame because I was really sold on it and found it comfy.
 
I had the t8 GP for my flat backed horse and it wasn't the right shape for him, it would have been better suited to something with a more curved back
 
Hello Sychnant, can I ask how old the Jeffries saddles are that you use please, are they the Adler / Hawk etc type? I've just posted in the forum asking for saddle suggestions for a saddle for flat backed horse with low wither and big shoulders. I have my mare in an Origin, but I really need a 17.5 ins as the saddle is too small for me. I've tried a Black Country at the weekend, but this is an 18ins and it's also very heavy, I'd prefer to keep a saddle weight under 6kgs. Thanks.
 
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