Which makes of saddle are adjustable?

[Spot_the_Risk]

I know about Wintec, Thorowgood, Kent & Masters, but think I'm behind the times and that there must be others out there too. I have a Wintec 500 which so long as it fits will be my youngsters starter saddle, but it's always good to keep an eye out for other types - I don't find it that comfortable, and I really don't like the high cantle. Any recommends?

 

[OpalFruits]

the saddle company saddles

 

[Cheiro1]

Saddle company, albion do ones with changeable headplates, pretty sure Barnsby do too, Wow, Fairfax (same tree as K&M), GFS

Those are all I can think of off the top of my head

 

[StormyMoments]

Bates.. Saddle company.. Some albions ermmm cant think of any others

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Bates and wintec are made by the same company....only diff it one is leather the other is synthetic

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Thanks guys, that gives me something to look at!

 

[Wheels]

Prestige and kieffer are both adjustable by saddlers, sure there must be more too

 

[PandorasJar]

Op... Make sure if buying second hand you check as not all of each brand are adjustable. I got caught out thinking I was one model later with my last one. Still a bargain but bit annoying when I realised my stupid mistake!

 

[hannahmurphy]

Tekna - these can be heated up and re-molded to fit.

 

[McW]

Ideal

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Loads then, thanks for replying everyone!

 

[Wheels]

Ideal

I wasn't aware of this, which models are adjustable?

 

[fizzer]

www.specializedsaddles.co.uk

 

[domane]

I think a lot of saddle manufacturers have realised that us owners are more saddle-fit aware and that a lot of us have horses or ponies that change shape over the year.

 

[lucindakay]

Bates are adjustable, and i think ideal are but you have to get someone to come and do that for you

 

[tilly_monster]

Ideal impala are, I've just had mine changed from Wide to Medium

 

[BijouBabe]

Kieffer can be heated to be reshaped for the horse.

 

[sbloom]

Ideal

"Adjustable" is not a black and white deal. Saddles can be adjustable in two ways, and to varying extents (as well as adjusting flocking etc).

The first is what I think the OP if asking about - being able to change the width of a saddle.

Second are all the other adjustable saddles of which there are a myriad of types - flexi panel, treeless, systems like Balance, and brands like Podium and Specialised, many of these are aimed at the endurance market. They have an element of adjustability, directly or through pads, not just in the front arch width.

So back the the first. There are several brands where owners or saddle fitters can swap the headplates, keeping cost of adjustment lowish and quick. These are all synthetic trees and have screws etc at the front to be able to drop the front panel out. Two main companies:

Wintec - Bates
Thorowgood - Kent & Masters - Fairfax

And Thorowgood headplates also fit Hastilows. I believe some other smaller brands may also use them.

Other synthetic trees are adjusted directly, no removal of headplates. These all have different methods of widening - Kieffer uses heat, others do not. Many continental brands come into this category plus Treetec trees used by The Saddle Company. Some of these can be adjusted many times (indefinitely?!) but others only a handful of times. The latter therefore qualify as only partly adjustable.

Then come brands like Ideal. These really aren't adjustable in the truest sense as, like the synthetics mentioned last, the traditional beech laminate trees can only be adjusted a certain amount in each direction and only a handful of times. The metal headplates will fatigue if adjusted too many times, especially if widened and narrowed. Only some fitters will adjust these saddles and often you will be faced with sending the saddle back to the manufacturer for them to replace the headplate or put a new tree in, depending on the brand.

Hope that helps, saddle lecture over