Very chunky cob!!!!! Saddle question

[Wizpop]

So, hoping for some good advice and help folks!
Ive got a very short backed, table top cob for the winter- possibly longer- at the moment he’s rather overweight so has started a diet. He is extremely wide!!!!?. I need to get a saddle for him although I know hell be changing shape/ losing weight. Obviously, I’m thinking adjustable or treeless but could really do with something with a twist to help with previously broken hip. I have been riding a narrower horse in a dressage saddle but I doubt I’ll be able to get away with anything treeless in a dressage version on this chap due to his width. So possibly a bitof a tricky one?? Open to suggestions…….please!!!!?

 

[Fransurrey]

If you can get hold of a Thorn Pad or Zoe Snape style pad, These can be used with the Heather Moffat Hip Savers. I've used this setup on horses between 12 and 15 hh (with Christ Lammefelle pad underneath).

 

[Joop2]

Do you use stirrups on your Zoe snape pad?
They seem to put my legs far to far forwards?

 

[PeterNatt]

I had one custom-made for my cob.

 

[sbloom]

Table top cobs tend not to far well in changeable headplate saddles, wooden trees and more close contact panels tend to work better in my experience.

Shetland pads do tend to sit people in a chair seat, I'd recommend, if you can, using a bareback pad without stirrups, such as that made by Christ Lamfelle. However, a very wide ribcage and narrow hips have few options that will truly work well. The HM Hip Saver is worth a try but won't help a huge amount on a shetland pad if you truly have narrow or damaged hips, though it can help a little for those just looking for a hint of a "twist" which shettie pads don't have, or to slightly narrow the twist on a treed saddle.

The Guy Cantin treeless pads are probably the ones I would recommend for an adult or older child looking for a bit more, I'm not sure on the stirrup bar placement, most will have them way forwards which is part of what causes the chair seat. I should add I've not seen one in the flesh but know a couple of knowledgeable people who have them who seem to get on with them.

When you are ready for a "proper" saddle I would recommend working with a specialist in wider horses.

 

[Ossy2]

We have a Chucky monkey saddle on ours, was sceptical but really pleased with it.

 

[Wizpop]

Thanks everyone for your replies-fransurrey and sbloom, I will definitely look in to those suggestions too.

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've used a Christ Lammfelle pad on my cob when having saddle issues and whilst I love it it was not easy on my hips (arthritis), I've also used a well known treeless brand and wouldn't recommend it, happy to talk via pm. We've had AH saddles for the last 6+ years and have been very happy. I've used an acavello seat saver which has helped narrow the twist but marked my saddle!

 

[eahotson]

Table top cobs tend not to far well in changeable headplate saddles, wooden trees and more close contact panels tend to work better in my experience.

Shetland pads do tend to sit people in a chair seat, I'd recommend, if you can, using a bareback pad without stirrups, such as that made by Christ Lamfelle. However, a very wide ribcage and narrow hips have few options that will truly work well. The HM Hip Saver is worth a try but won't help a huge amount on a shetland pad if you truly have narrow or damaged hips, though it can help a little for those just looking for a hint of a "twist" which shettie pads don't have, or to slightly narrow the twist on a treed saddle.

The Guy Cantin treeless pads are probably the ones I would recommend for an adult or older child looking for a bit more, I'm not sure on the stirrup bar placement, most will have them way forwards which is part of what causes the chair seat. I should add I've not seen one in the flesh but know a couple of knowledgeable people who have them who seem to get on with them.

When you are ready for a "proper" saddle I would recommend working with a specialist in wider horses.

You are so right about all of that.As I have found to my cost.

 

[sbloom]

I've used a Christ Lammfelle pad on my cob when having saddle issues and whilst I love it it was not easy on my hips (arthritis), I've also used a well known treeless brand and wouldn't recommend it, happy to talk via pm. We've had AH saddles for the last 6+ years and have been very happy. I've used an acavello seat saver which has helped narrow the twist but marked my saddle!

Glad you love the AH saddles, but yes, the gel in seat saver really marks the top, and I always suggest cutting off the straps that go under the panels, or shoving them between the flaps, if it's not a monoflap.

 

[GoldenWillow]

I cut the straps off before I used it (after taking a deep breath after buying it and immediately taking scissors to it!) but the print and the "a" marked the seat, it was a gel in one, maybe the gel out wouldn't do it as I haven't seen the underneath of one.

 

[ozpoz]

A Smart dressage saddle will fit your requirements and I find mine very supportive for the rider too which is invaluable for damaged hips. You can try them at home.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've got Lavinia Mitchell Dressage saddles on my very wide Arab's one has a very flat back but his tree is more like a hoop tree and it never moves on him I used to have issues with my previous saddles moving and slipping.

Really lovely saddles though so comfortable.

 

[McFluff]

Side saddle?

sadly sore hips plus wide cobs will always hurt a bit.

 

[sbloom]

I cut the straps off before I used it (after taking a deep breath after buying it and immediately taking scissors to it!) but the print and the "a" marked the seat, it was a gel in one, maybe the gel out wouldn't do it as I haven't seen the underneath of one.

Iirc the gel out is different but of course it's much too much stick for most people, I'd certainly not recommend one from the work I do with riders.

 

[Fransurrey]

Do you use stirrups on your Zoe snape pad?
They seem to put my legs far to far forwards?

I have a Thorn Pad and the leg position of that was fine. Never used a ZS, but I know a few Exmoor owners do!

 

[sbloom]

I have a Thorn Pad and the leg position of that was fine. Never used a ZS, but I know a few Exmoor owners do!

Every rider will be different but it would be incredibly rare to have a rider with wide enough hips to be able to sit over their feet in a shetland pad on a native. You're lucky in this instance

 

[Wizpop]

Thanks everyone- I think my main issues at the moment are that he needs to lose weight! So, if I buy a saddle that fits him. Mow, it could well be too wide ( hopefully) if a few weeks; also that I will need something that I can ride comfortably in as my previously broken hip, will start screaming if it’s stretched too much at the wrong angle!
That’s why I was thinking about treeless/ adjustable. I 5hink stirrup bar placement will help me with width but I doubt I could manage the straighter drop of the dressage saddle leather which I’m more used to on a narrower horse.

 

[sbloom]

The trouble is that most treeless are even wider than treed, Solutions are indeed, afaik, the least wide in the twist, but what's under your leg (and your leg length and proportions and where they hit on your horse's ribcage shape) also have a big effect. If you can get a Solutions that is stable etc, at the right price to potentially sell afterwards, then it's not a bad option.