Which saddle for large shouldered hunter?

J

jomoomin

New User
Joined
29 August 2010
Messages
2
Visit site
Any recommendations on suitable saddles that allow my large & deep shouldered IDxTB boy to move more freely through his shoulder.

Currently have a Nathaniel Barton GD which is 'pretty good but could be better' (as per my saddler & trainer) but when he's at reasonable extension the point of his shoulder would be under the stirrup bars so I know he cannot fully move his shoulder! This is inhibiting his performance noticably now.

Have been recommended Falcon Eventer as the tree is cut back to allow for the jump style but any others anyone could suggest I look at?

Someone suggested treeless but not sure that's quite right for my boy or me -we do a bit of everything currently.
 
Firstly please get the best advice from a saddler!

Secondly, if you are placeing the saddle on the horses shoulders or the saddle shunts forward when you ride then this saddle doesn't fit.

If your horse is big moving then I can reccommend a Black Country Saddle with a freedom tree, I had this problem with my dressage horse, and my Black Country Eloquence solved the problem immediatly.
 
I have a horse that had a similar problem, although hes not huge he has big shoulders, and we had a nightmare fitting saddles, eventually tried one of the bates new jumping saddles and the fit over the shoulder is perfect, I also do a bit of everything and find it works for me :)
Just a suggestion though x
 
Exactly the same problem, same type of horse. Goose has a lot of shoulder and my saddler (master) went through a lot of saddles including made to measure but couldn't get something she was happy with that didn't impede his movement. She ended up picking out an Albion K2 jumping saddle for me and as usual she was right - didn't like the Bates!. She said I should think cob type middle on my boy. I really wanted a close contact for showjumping but everything we tried seemed to restrict him. The saddle is now girthed on straps 2 and 3 and does the job. Interestingly, on him, these saddle looks almost like a GP, yet on anything else it is quite clearly a very forward cut saddle. Happy to post pictures if you are interested. The K2 also has quite a deep seat which is probaby better for hunting anyway. Goose is showjumping regularly and working up over height at home and it has made a real difference.
 
Last edited:
I have a bates AP (the new style) on my youngster who is full ID and has mahoosive shoulders :D It fits him well and doesn't intefer with his shoulder movement, this is girthed on straps 2 & 3. I am also getting my wow comp fitted to him, this will allow total movement of the shoulder as the tree is designed to flex where necessary (not the technical jargon but hopefully you get my drift :p). That has a single flap as well so would interfer less anyway.

Hope you get sorted :)
 
Wow was suggested by someone else at the yard but they really are marmite saddles and I can't get on with them - they make me feel too perched on top of the horse. I've been told that there is a new version out which has a much deeper seat so will be interested when my friend changes her current Wow to the new one.
 
With the wow competitor range you choose what seat you want, anything from pretty much flat to a really deep seated one. They even do a western range now I think! :)

eta - as part of fitting the wow it is balanced not only for the individual horse but also the individual rider, which may be why you feel perched if the owner of the saddle you have sat on has a different riding posture etc
 
All our guys have big fronts and great shoulders - we only have Stubben saddles - the Seigfried, the Daland and the Parsifal models.

They fit great and have loads of room for them to move in :) :)

We hunt all day so need comfortable saddles :)
 
No - I tried one from another saddler who comes up to our yard but will admit it was ages ago... but very happy with what I have so not looking to change!
 
I struggled to find any off the peg saddles suitable for my wide shouldered ISH, luckily found All saddle solutions who made a custom saddle for him and suprisingly it only cost around £1000. I have been using it since last Oct and absolutely delighted with it!
More info can be found www.allsaddlesolutions.co.uk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top