Wow Panels - DWG and D with tab... anyone with wow knowledge?!

[BonniePony]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the difference between a D panel with tabs and a DWG panel? Would the only difference be a 'reduced TB panel area' on the DWG? Because surely with tabs a D panel is something like a DWG without tabs? How much difference is the 'reduced TB panel area'? And why would this be better than a D panel with tabs and visa versa?

Why would you have tabs on a DWG panel? To make it XW?

Not sure anyone will know the answers but worth a try!

Thanks in advance

 

[ann-jen]

Not sure if my understanding of this is correct but here goes. The DWG - I think is one of the wide gullet options - so for horses the have very wide spinous processes and need a wide gullet to provide adequate clearance.
The tabs are for horses that also have thick bulky withers so that the contact of the panel starts lower down but with a wider support.
I think is possible to have a horse with wide spinous processes that still has high bony withers that wouldn't require the tabs or a horse with narrow spinous processes that needed a narrow gullet but had thick muscular withers and so therefore needed the tab to accomodate them. I think also some horses can have a high wither that is wider and more fleshy at the base so would need no tab wide gullet with a narrow headplate I think. Just so many options... the best thing is to see what the fitter advises or speak to First Thought directly.

 

[flyingfeet]

Firstly D panels are probably the ones that are going to fit most horses and the S panels are for the barrels with no definition.

DWG will have the D shape at the front and you will be able to see a bit of the plastic, which gives it a wider gullet. They also do a DXWG now for a really wide gullet.

Wide gullets are not for wide horses, and the narrower the headplate, the more space you'll probably have to give the spine. So wide gullet are actually for narrow horses!

You only want tabs, if your horse has a very pyramid shaped wither and you are trying to get the push of the panel lower down. As a rule of thumb most horses do not need tabs, as otherwise they can make the panel dig in on a horse that doesn't require them.

 

[BonniePony]

Thanks both for replying. I 'think' I get it! I have tried emailing First Thought a few times before but they have never answered. I am waiting for the fitter to get back to me about dates but it's taking weeks each time for a reply. I just thought I'd do some research about what my horse might need, and also just because I like to know about what I'm getting for my horse rather than simply trusting one person's opinion, especially after the stories I've heard about wow fitters!

I 'think' my horse needs a DWG panel without tabs but I will get the fitter's opinion. He has withers but is pretty wide at the base of the withers. Pics attached, am I on the right track?

Thanks again!

 

[BonniePony]

Here is what confuses me...

http://www.wowsaddles.com/wow/wowpanelgulletoptions.htm

On this page I would see it as (in terms of D panels) A = D panel B = DWG and C = DXWG. D and E are B and C with tabs. So A, B and C all have the same width at the front.

However, this page confuses me:
http://www.wowsaddles.com/wow/nosaddlefitter.htm

On this page it looks as though DWG is much wider than D at the front. Which is why I couldn't see how a D panel with tabs and a DWG panel without tabs are so different. If a DWG panel is the same as a D panel at the front as the first link shows, then my horse would need tabs. If it is as the second link shows, then he would be fine with a DWG panel without tabs!!

Help

 

[ann-jen]

I think the difference with the tab is where the panel comes into contact with the withers. (So there is a bigger arc of the pommel above the panel with a tab if you know what I mean) If you just had a wide gullet in a horse with big withers then the pommel might then sit too low down whereas the tabs would increase the distance of the pommel from the top of the withers. Obviously other factors also come into play such as headplate size which would also affect it too. Hope that makes sense.

 

[DollyDolls]

I wish I had the spare cash so that I could day dream about which panels & shapes to buy!!!

 

[BonniePony]

Thanks Ann-Jen.

I don't have the spare cash either, so planning the saddle is actually quite stressful when I think about my bank account!