What's your opinion on this saddle?

I saw that, it's among the most watched saddles ! At that price it might be worth a go, but you would definitely need a saddler to check the fit. :)

Still "patiently" awaiting my barefoot.....
 
penhwnllys_stardust said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-self-adju...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item9503344ca3

I think it looks quite good but just wanted to see if anyone has any experiences with this type of saddle, both good and bad. I have a welsh section D x arab and was thinking a saddle like this would be good because it could adjust to his shape (he is only 3 atm) Thanks very much for taking a look :)
Click to expand...

If your horse is a section D x Arab thn he is likely to have a very flat back and low, wide withers that will get wider as he matures. The saddle you have linked to is totally unsuitable for this type of horse. You can see (especially from the rear view) that the panels are built to fit the TB shape and not the cob or arab shape. If you want an adjustable saddle then you need to go for those that are designed for wider horses such as the wintec wide or the thorogood cob. It is no good getting a normal wintec or other adjustable saddle. To give you an indication, my well built thoroughbred needs a WIDE gullet in his two wintec saddles. He will be far narrower than your horse.
 
Hmmm, I'm being a tad cynical here; coz (sorry, not hijacking) this is exactly the dilemma I'm having with mine.

You might be able to adjust the gullet and/or it might be "self-adjusting" (but I'd take that with a pinch of salt TBH); BUT the problem is gonna be the fit from pommel to cantle in this type of saddle, not just the issue of what gullet plate you put in.

Mine is a flat backed cob type, and we've been there done it as far as trying synthetic saddles is concerned; we've yet to find something that doesn't create space under the rider's seat/cantle area, or that gives a degree of bowing from front to rear, and you can adjust the gullet plates all you like and it still won't make any improvement to the fit.

So personally, I'd want to get a saddle like this properly fitted and checked, coz it just might not be the best thing for your horse.
 
Two words....Barge and Pole....
Cost wise, fixing the damage it will do will far exceed the cost of a correctly fitted saddle.
 
Agree with Wagtail.

I would be very wary. It may seem cheap but it'll be a complete waste of money if the saddle is totally wrong for the horse.

I tried my old Bates saddle on the horse I'm buying (a Welsh D). The tree is totally wrong for her, it's like a banana sitting on her back. The gullet was the x wide one and only just wide enough.

Do you know anyone with one that you could at least pop on her back to see if the basic shape of the saddle would fit?
 
Wagtail said:
If your horse is a section D x Arab thn he is likely to have a very flat back and low, wide withers that will get wider as he matures. The saddle you have linked to is totally unsuitable for this type of horse. You can see (especially from the rear view) that the panels are built to fit the TB shape and not the cob or arab shape. If you want an adjustable saddle then you need to go for those that are designed for wider horses such as the wintec wide or the thorogood cob. It is no good getting a normal wintec or other adjustable saddle. To give you an indication, my well built thoroughbred needs a WIDE gullet in his two wintec saddles. He will be far narrower than your horse.
Click to expand...

Ditto above.

It's likely that the shape of the pannels at the back will create pressure points on the outside at the rear of the saddle as well as being perched on his back and the fact that it's one of those horrible cheap things, not that's a buyer of expensive saddles or anything but the quality on these is pretty poor and will look quite shabby after a bit of use, better off spending a bit more on a synthetic (if that's what you are after) and trying a cob version of the Thorowgood saddle.
 
penhwnllys_stardust said:
I think it looks quite good but just wanted to see if anyone has any experiences with this type of saddle, both good and bad. I have a welsh section D x arab and was thinking a saddle like this would be good because it could adjust to his shape (he is only 3 atm) Thanks very much for taking a look :)
Click to expand...

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No, no, no! :mad: Awful saddle.

Get a qualified saddle fitter to see if he will fit a Thorowgood cob saddle (T4 or T6) or a Wintec wide (or possibly the close contact one). I would also go for flock panels.

You need to make his first experiances of wearing a saddle comfortable, imagine if he learns that wearing a saddle (and being ridden) = pain?

You might need the saddle adjusted a few times as he grows (and possibly a new saddle at a later date) but don't cut corners at this vital time, it's worth the extra pennies in the end. :)
 
I'm afraid I do not like it at all (sorry). It has one of those seats that puts you too far away from the horse and the cantle looks like it will hit you up the backside all the time.

For a youngster I would always prefer a good secondhand saddle that is worn in a bit, the last thing you want is to be perched on a newly backed horse on a brand new saddle with all the flaps stuck out and stiff straps etc.

Also agree the fit would not be suitable for Arab x Welsh if flat backed, low withered.
 
I saved up my pennies for a lovely shiny new saddle when I decided he'd finally stopped growing, tried loads of beautiful, soft, comfy, stylish expensive leather saddles, the Wintec (not this one) was the only one that he didn't buck, lunge or rear in (it was a fairly traumatic saddle fitting session).

So my horse thinks his Wintec is great, I heave a sigh every time I reach for the stiff plasticky girth straps or have to take the stirrup straps off the incredibly awkward stirrup bars, or have a sore backside from riding for any length of time, but the boy likes it, that's the important thing, bless him :mad:
 
Thank you everyone for all of your great opinions, I shall stay clear of this saddle! I was just having a brows really and came across that saddle and thought it looked good. I will be getting a qualified fitter out when it is time to get him one. It's lucky people have a great place to come for opinions from people with experience :)

I will look up the ones recomended on here and hopefully i'll find one that will suit us both when he is mature enough to start backing. Thanks again :D
 
Just to add; I bought one of these which fitted a high withered TB beautifully but would be totally wrong on a cob shaped horse as the panels will be too stacked (as previously mentioned)

It was actually nice to ride in!
 
Glad you are going to avoid it as some of the others have rightly said (Wagtail for one) it won't fit your type of horse if it has a flattish back.
The hi lites are made in India and shipped into country by the likes of Shires etc, they are primarily designed to fit horses that have withers.
Oz :)
 
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