Where to go for a VERY COMFORTABLE saddle for wide horse?

[SarahK]

I am going to be taking on a large cob type horse most probably from a dealer so will need to start from scratch with tack and rugs.

I have never actually bought a saddle before as all my previous horses have come with their own. Where do i start?

I want a very comfortable leather GP saddle - cannot stress enough that it must be comfy. The last two saddles i have had (stubben and ideal) have been very hard and i have been rubbed

and had to use a seat saver.

Will be doing lots of long hacks, fun rides etc. along with the usual rc stuff.

Can anyone reccomend a good make/style of saddle that is comfortable and available in wide fittings?

Thanks

 

[Maisy]

I used to have a Cliff Barnsby (sp?) and though very comfy it made me look like I was in an armchair (so I am told!)

I not have an albion and find it fairly comfy......I have always found whichever saddle I have had is ok for a short time and then makes you bum numb after that!!

I would get a saddler to come out with a selection of saddles and then you can try and see which you like best!!

 

[myhorsefred]

I have a very comfy Martin Wilkinson GP for my wide cob. Wide, soft seat and very comfy. I have just bought a Jeffries for him (as he has got wider) so my M Wilkinson is for sale.....

PM me if you want details.

 

[CBAnglo]

Black Country is quite good for a cob. I wouldnt try an Albion (wrong shape).

 

[nuffield]

one of my mares has a Thorowgood xxwide and the other a Thoroughgood xwide. they fit very wellare lightweight and comfy. I use a seat saver, one has a heather moffatt and the other a sheepskin.

 

[the watcher]

I have an extra wide Silhouette W/H saddle that is straight enough to accomodate big shoulders that we use for shows, for everyday Saddle Company saddles are multi adjustable by a trained fitter, and I have two widened out to extra wide (the style with the momory foam seat is very comfortable)

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

my cob is a wide and has a jefferies event/all purpose saddle and it is soo comfy you can imagine yourself at home on the sofa lol

 

[MaverickMD]

I have a Jeffies Pro Hawk Event WW (Extra Wide) on my cob and it is soooo comfy - I use it for everything ! Reasonably expensive (£850+) but worth every penny I would say !

Hope this helps !

 

[Halfpass]

I can highly recommend fusion saddles. Not only are they very comfy extremley well made and also very cheap but they are also really helpful along with it. Couldn't fault the service at all and will let you know in a few weeks what the saddle is like but so far so good!!!

 

[niagaraduval]

I like Wintecs.. although not leather, they look and feel like it.

 

[Nari]

I was very limited about what I could have as my welsh cob is so table backed almost nothing fitted. Horrid creature, the saddle has cost far more than he did (to be fair I did buy him as a 2yo though)!

What I've ended up with is an Ideal H&C Apex with a wide seat for my big bum. In XXW!!! It's very comfortable even though I'm still breaking it in & it will get better with time too. I just hope he doesn't grow out of it because I hadn't wanted to spend this much on a saddle for a 4yo.

The most comfortable saddle I've ever had is my Wow that I use on my ID - lovely padded seat, air flocking cushions me & I find the cut supportive. I can't afford two though & although they can be changed to fit almost anything I can't be doing that every day. Anyone care to tell me the winning lottery numbers for tomorrow night? Pretty please?!

 

[highlandhart]

Frank Baines and company in Walshall does STELLAR work ,custom to fit your beast .Also contact Saddler Boy on this forum , he owns his own firm and I've seen his product .Also a nice chap to deal with !

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I would start with a Thorowgood XW or XXW adjustable saddle, I got one as a stop gap but have never changed as it is so comfy and fits my roly poly girl so well, and also you can resell it easily if it doesnt work out (and its cheap to start with!). It has a 4th breeching girth strap which really helps stop slipping round saddle.

I always thought I hated synthetics but now am a convert.

If you insist on lovely leather then I ve heard only good things about the Ideal H&C (Highland and Cob), lovely saddles!

 

[ladylisa]

My mare is in a wide saddle.
I have had a wintec for my mare for the last 2 years and although it was very comfy the knee is to far forward and puts your leg in the wrong place.
I have just bought a general purpose Jeffries falcon hawk event saddle and i can honestly say i don't think i have ever sat in anything so comfy in my life.

 

[Nari]

Meant to add if the horse is very wide you may have a rather limited choice. Particularly if it's flat backed like so many cobs are. I wanted a synthetic but none of them had a flat enough tree, even the T6 cob ones were the wrong shape & the Wintec wasn't close! Ultimately the saddle has got to fit the horse, you can always add a seat saver if you want more padding for you.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

I like the wintecs for cobs, easy to change for their ever changing widths

 

[hellybelly6]

My clydey x highland has a very comfortable Barnsby and I love it. You can imagine how wide it is!

 

[jules08]

my very good friend has heavy weight show cobs but has very bad hips and thought she would have to stop riding she must have spent £1000s buying every saddle any one suggested and failing "expensively" she then bought a wow and it is the horse goes fab and somehow feels 1/2 the width and you really could fall asleep on it!!! try a fitting they really are worth the money if you have it, personally lottery win and its my 1st stop