Spot_the_Risk
Well-Known Member
My cob has been 1/2 a tenth lame on each hindleg - as diagnosed by Vet - since he was about 7 (he's now 15) which generally manigests itself as a bit stiff behind sometimes, and can feel a bit unlevel for the first 100 yards of a hack, and then he's fine - well, as good as he gets!
He has two saddles, a wintec dressage flocked which he has outgrown width ways this summer, and a Wintec wide, currently on the middle purple tree, yes he is XXXW. The wide moves sideways, sometimes as much as three inches, then of course it then presses on his spine, and does neither of us much good. I do get people to check on my position when we're riding, and they say I sit straight to the horse, generally I'm trying to ignore the saddle. I had the saddle fit checked this summer at Wychanger Barton, and they said to change up two tree sizes, as he puts weight on very quickly. This did help a bit, but the saddle still slips. I can't get on him from the ground, as it goes right around his belly, it has to be a toe-in-and-on job from a mounting block. He is due a back check up next week, he has had problems in the past, and he's been really awkward recently about being caught, and fidgety when tacking up.
Now, the question is, does the saddle shift because of his soundness issues, or because it's a Wintec? I will willingly shell out for a different saddle, if it solves the problem, but I don't want to spend a fortune and still have an unhappy horse and a twisted rider, so please give me your opinions.
This is us about three years ago with the dressage saddle
And one about 4 years ago showing his typical cob shape
He has two saddles, a wintec dressage flocked which he has outgrown width ways this summer, and a Wintec wide, currently on the middle purple tree, yes he is XXXW. The wide moves sideways, sometimes as much as three inches, then of course it then presses on his spine, and does neither of us much good. I do get people to check on my position when we're riding, and they say I sit straight to the horse, generally I'm trying to ignore the saddle. I had the saddle fit checked this summer at Wychanger Barton, and they said to change up two tree sizes, as he puts weight on very quickly. This did help a bit, but the saddle still slips. I can't get on him from the ground, as it goes right around his belly, it has to be a toe-in-and-on job from a mounting block. He is due a back check up next week, he has had problems in the past, and he's been really awkward recently about being caught, and fidgety when tacking up.
Now, the question is, does the saddle shift because of his soundness issues, or because it's a Wintec? I will willingly shell out for a different saddle, if it solves the problem, but I don't want to spend a fortune and still have an unhappy horse and a twisted rider, so please give me your opinions.
This is us about three years ago with the dressage saddle
And one about 4 years ago showing his typical cob shape