Warmbloods/big shoulders...saddles??

[jaysh]

My mother has a big warmblood x cob, he has massive shoulders (one slightly uneven due to damage as a youngster) He was fitted with an ideal saddle as a 4 year old by a master saddler, this saddle caused massive problems with his back. He was seen by another saddler who claimed the saddle fitted, it just needed reflocking, it came back really narrow and a blind man could see it didnt fit! By this time he was bucking all the time. She had to buy a treeless saddle which she has had on him for just over a year now and he goes very nice in it, but she doesnt want to stay in a treeless saddle for ever and would like to do dressage with him.
There must be lots of horses out there with big shoulders, what do you ride yours in?

She has looked into saddle company saddles, strada saddles but is so worried that he will end up back in pain again. And has lost quite a bit of faith with saddlers now.

Any suggestions welcome.

 

[cob&onion]

Hi, i have a wide cob with no withers and very wide/big shoulders. I found most saddles would roll back or not be wide enough.
I went for a straight cut WH saddle, i have a farringtons xw one which is very nice and doesn't move and accomadates her shoulders very well
I'd say go for something straight cut

 

[ThePony]

My girl goes very nicely in her fairfax gp and Albion Platinum ultra dressage - though tbh her shoulders are really freed up in the dressage saddle, which feels lovely!

Key is to find a saddle fitter (make sure they are registered as such with the SMS as saddle fitter is not a protected title) you trust, and who stocks a couple of good makes. I am a big fan of Ideal, Albion and the thorrowgood/K&M/Fairfax ranges - good brands for flatter broader backs, couple that with choosing a straighter cut saddle and you should be off!

Since he has had issues I would make sure that you get the fitter out regularly after your purchase to make the necessary tweaks to keep it fitting well. OH mare had back problems a couple of years ago, she is still on 6 monthly saddle checks and still needs something doing each time to keep her saddle absolutly perfect for her.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Like Cob&Onion my boy is in a working hunter cut - fits him perfectly so might be worth a try with yours!

 

[Lotty]

My girl is a warmblood x and she has huge shoulders. The first saddle I had for her was the saddle co dressage saddle and that did free up her shoulders. Now I have a Albion Platinum Royale and that fits her like a glove.

 

[Ali16]

We use Lavinia Mitchel saddles on our dressagey horses with ma-husive shoulders. They have built up so much muscle under the saddle since we switched.

Would definetely recommend her saddles, but get someone like Julie Robertson to fit it - she specialises in dressage and native breeds.