Those of you with Traditional cobs/cob x.....what saddles?

Bertolie

Bertolie

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As title, what saddles do people use on their cob/cob x?

Had my saddle fitter fit my GFS saddle to new mare, 15.1 cob X Clydesdale/Shire, but even though it fits her she doesn't seem to like it!

Just looking for ideas of makes that would suit a flat backed, wide horse, and possibly see if I can try a few before getting the saddle fitter back out.
 
Have a look at the thorowgoods with changeable gullet, I have both the GP and dressage cob versions and they are flat trees and Ive found the changeable gullets invaluable for when my mare changed shape. Mine are T8's which are half leather (leather seat and knee rolls) and give you the feel of a leather saddle without the weight. I've had some very expensive leather saddles which I've loved in the past and I'm extremely impressed with the thorowgood T8s.
 
Another vote for the Thorowgood T8. I love mine and so does my cob! She's a 15hh Irish cob (She's a show cob as opposed to a Traditional though) and she's very happy with it. Ours is the T8 Cob GP saddle and we currently have the red wide gullet in there which works well for us at the moment. She changes shape regularly though so I'm hot on getting the saddle fitter out every 6 months!
 
I have a shireX heavy cob type and a traditional gypsy cob, both are ridden in Heather Moffatt treeless , one 17" and one 16" . After years of trying I gave up on treed saddles.
 
Barrie Swain/Lauriche/Andy Forster - all can be found with the same tree, flat, wide and usually serge lined - expensive but worth every penny. My friend bought a Barrie Swain for her cob after huge problems with another make marketed for cob types - he was like a totally different horse; moves freely and willingly and was clearly some much more comfortable. I have a Section D x TB and use Lauriche/Andy Foster saddles but they are only available second hand; there is a saddler in Barrie Swain's workshop who made them and restores them for me.
 
In 2 years I've gone through a Fitform treeless (horse loves it, not enough support for me as he's sharp and bendy!), original HM FlexEE which he just didn't seem to like much, a Black Country GPD which was lovely but he outgrew it, Kent & Masters cob gp that worked for a year or so but he grew a bit of wither and it started bridging. He's been in the new changeable gullet HM FlexEE for 2 months now and seems very happy, so fingers crossed this is it for a good long while!
 
I've been there done it with saddles for mine :(

Have tried Thorowgood T4 (so darned uncomfortable I had to get off and walk after 30 mins); Wintec Wide Purple Gullet (very unstable, and very uncomfortable); and various treeless.

Went to a car boot, with my template, and picked up a slightly battered but otherwise OK little Lovatt & Ricketts for fifty quid, saddle fitter tweaked it a bit and its a satisfactory solution, for now.

I've also got the new GP version of the "Tor" saddle from Tree Free saddles (treeless): really nice saddle with a narrower twist than any other treeless I've ever ridden in :)

Please note: the Andrea Hicks saddles are specially made for cobs so well worth a look. Tho' do make sure you get the Andrea Hicks website and not others with similar-sounding connotations of "native pony"........
 
My problem is that I won't have a very large budget. My GFS saddle is a synthetic Genesis and I loved it on my old horse but new mare didn't seem to like it and I found it extremely uncomfortable when I ride her in it. In not sure i would get that much for my saddle, even though it's in excellent condition, they don't seem to go for much second hand.

I am currently riding in a Shires Hi-Lite Elite that came with my horse, and I must say she goes really well in it, but I don't hear particularly good things about these saddles.
 
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