foxy1
Well-Known Member
Has anyone tried the new Whitaker changeable gullet saddles yet? Wondering what back shape horse/ pony they fit, considering buying one for a try....
Whitaker changeable gullet saddles fit? Overton, Barnsley etc.
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Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
We tried one for my homebred sports horse, who has a tricky broad tube like profile with low withers. The saddler liked the concept, but when she received it from JW, it was clear that in the XW gullet we needed, it had become very banana shaped and was a mile off fitting. Maybe in the narrower gullets it would be ok.
foxy1
Well-Known Member
Thanks, hmm I will probably have the same problem then! Which model did you try?
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
It was a jump saddle, but I can't remember which model. We ended up with an ex demo Black Country Dante jump saddle, after going down the usual route of trying Kent and Masters etc beforehand. Good luck with your saddle hunting!
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Tree shape only changes fractionally in most cases with a width change, it very unlikely to be MUCH flatter in a narrower fit.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Erm, haven't you stated in the past that tree shape becomes curvier in the wider gullets? Whilst advising folk against using changeable gullet K&M/TG saddles for wide types?
My saddler knew exactly what she wanted for my mare's profile, she asked JW in advance whether the tree would be flat enough when in an XW. They replied that they didn't know! So they sent it out to her, and she sent it straight back.
(She's a former saddle maker with one of the major saddle brands, and she knows her stuff both in saddle construction and in fitting).
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Absolutely I have, but it's about the fit on an individual horse - if the tree was flat enough if a W, it may not be in an XXW, usually two sizes means a flatter tree needed, but that's because the horse becomes flatter too, as it gets wider, not just that the tree becomes slightly curvier. It's the combo. My comments are almost always about how a changeable headplate does not mean a saddle will always fit, even if it does now. A flat tree is a flat tree, a curved tree a curved, tree, the difference will be very small as you adjust the width, in most cases.
JW also has an upswept panel shape which means the panel is curvy - useful on some shapes but will exacerbate a too curvy tree. And yes, TG cob trees, and panels, aren't always flat and close contact enough for many flat backs.
I think it's hard to say definitively whether a tree will fit a horse in a certain width, depends how much info they were given, but they should be able to have a sensible discussion and give some guidance with sufficient information.
JW also has an upswept panel shape which means the panel is curvy - useful on some shapes but will exacerbate a too curvy tree. And yes, TG cob trees, and panels, aren't always flat and close contact enough for many flat backs.
I think it's hard to say definitively whether a tree will fit a horse in a certain width, depends how much info they were given, but they should be able to have a sensible discussion and give some guidance with sufficient information.