WOW-Saddle fitting

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DESCHWA92

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Hello everyone

Long story, grab yourself a coffe :).

Last year I became a call from a barn nearby, where a girl abadoned her Horse. The horse was a former jumper and to be said to having bad arthritis, thous being in a very bad shape and unable to pick up her hind legs. She was very aggressive but also apathic. I was asked if I would care for her. Thats the story how I got a horse, despite not having anything to do with horses for the last ten years.

I love her to pieces. She has no arthtitis but some chronic SI Pain Issues which we work on with regular physio and special exercises. I took off 6 Months from work to be there for her and coordinating thw further steps. She has made huge improvements, being a happy and somewhat lovely Horse now. I did not ride her in the past year, because i wanted to know exactly if shes fine before i start riding her. After completing the diagnostic tests and giving her lots and lots of time to be horse again, the next step would be to ride her to further improve muscle building.

I lowered my Job pensum to 80℅ so I have enough time for her. Paying for Life and Horse is manageable, but I am happy to save money if I can.

I really want to have a WOW saddle, but they are at least 4000CHF in Switzerland. So I want to buy used parts and then get them fitted.

Now onto the questions:
How do I know if I need a Stitchline?
How do I know if i need Tabs?
I am 167cm and 62kg. I want a Size 1 Saddle. Do you think that fits?
What do you think about the Equitana Flaps? Are the blocks moveable?
Which gullet would you chose?

I opt for an extra deep saddle, Size 1, with DWG Panels Size 1 and Equitana Flaps, Standard Size so far. I plan to ride dressage lessons and lots and lots of hacking uphill. Slow, steady distance training.

Thanks a lot for your help!

Here is the google album with pics of her:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3gNqsAq8FZaM55e8A
 
I'd second to get a fitter if possible....or buy the new saddle fitting gauge they have :)
http://www.wowsaddles.com/products/saddle-gauge/
But even if you get all the correct parts, you'd probably still need a fitter to adjust the flair.

You horse has a similar profile to my wb x tb. She has size 1 DWG panels with stitchline, but no tab. A tab is used to lower the profile of the saddle for the wider, lower withered types (my cob has tabbed panels). You will only need panels without a stitchline if she has really hollow withers, from the pictures she doesn't look so bad.

A size 1 extra deep seat gives you more room than a size 1 flatter seat, for example I have a size 1 ex deep for my dressage, but a size 2 flat seat for my jump saddle. I am about 167cm too and probably weigh a bit more than you. But the important thing is the length of your thigh to knee, the longer it is the more likely you'll need a size 2.

Equitana blocks are moveable and my fitter says they are very popular. I would like some one day :)
 
Hey thanks for replying :)

Yes I will definitly get a fitter who is specialized in WOW Saddles before I ride. But I want to buy used parts because the saddler neraby does not sell new ssddles just fit them. And also to save money. But if I need other parts as suggested by the fitter I will buy them.

Saw a Saddle with Giant High Flaps...
Experiences on this flaps?

I am by no mean a Profi Rider, just start to take lessons again so I wont be superduper surw about how the flaps need to be and which one gives me a better seat etc.. Think I might be adjusting that with time as I get a better feeling for it. As long as it fits the horse I am happy.

:)
 
Are there no fitters covering your area that carry demo saddles for you to try? It could end up getting very expensive if you buy something that doesn't work, is the wrong size / shape / type etc. Whilst a lot of horses go really well in Wows, not all horses like them neither do all riders.

There are now 3 different trees and I think around 12 different types of panel

Equitana are indeed very popular and are my personal favourite dressage flap.
 
Hello

Sadly no, they are not popular where i live. Was writing the fitter that would cover my area but stopped a few years back. So far i she hasnt answered (but i wrote her yesterday so that means not much).
I did not find any informations on new wow saddles being different, can you give me some links or info?

Thanks alot :)
 
DESCHWA92 said:
Hello

Sadly no, they are not popular where i live. Was writing the fitter that would cover my area but stopped a few years back. So far i she hasnt answered (but i wrote her yesterday so that means not much).
I did not find any informations on new wow saddles being different, can you give me some links or info?

Thanks alot :)
Click to expand...

Heavy resin tree in version one. Identifiable by having no stitching over the stirrup bars, and stirrup bars usually visible. Very old. Very heavy.

Version two leather tree. Lighter but not light. Identified by viewing underside with headplate detached. Will have stitching over the stirrup bars, but so did a very small number of version one seats.

Version three plastic tree and plastic stirrup bars. Much lighter. Identifiable by black plastic under side and black plastic stirrup bars. Rare second hand as still quite new.

Newer flaps and panels have also been made lighter. There is at least six kilos difference between a version two and a version three, I've weighed them.

All panels are Velcro sealed. Newer panels can be identified by the wrapping on the air bags. Earlier air bags are just plastic with no cloth wrapping.

All seats are serial numbered and if you email them WOW will tell you when it was made.
 
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Wow thanks a lot!

Are all Equitana Flaps newest version? Or are there "old version" Ones?

The saddle i am maybe interested in was made in 2014...
 
That will probably be a leather tree, I think the plastic tree is 2015 on. Equitana are newer flaps.

Air bags are easy to replace and not particularly expensive, so don't be too worried about air bag life.

Even the newest ones are not light, be sure you are happy with the weight before you buy. Personally, I won't use anything else on my horses, they love the flexible front arch and I love the air. Buy a pump and you can adjust them yourself.

I added some to my post above.
 
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Equitana flaps were launched in 2015 - so relatively new

If they are the ones you really want then I'm sure you would find some second hand. I just sold a 2nd hand pair at the weekend so they do come up.
 
There are also a number of Facebook pages if you are on their OP - 2nd hand stuff often comes up for sale there
 
DESCHWA92 said:
I want them but they are too pricey.... They are on my wishlist tough...

Version 2 Saddles arent bad, right? They are just heavy?
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with any of the versions except their weight. Although be careful of seats, there were some made in the early days of version two (2007- ish) with far too much padding in the seat, the profile is all wrong and I find them very uncomfortable! At the same time, some head bolt mountings were coming loose and having to be repaired. It didn't last long, though, there are only a few.

You won't get Equitana flaps easily, or cheap, I think. They are too new and rare.
 
Thanks everyone

I think I am going for the leather tree at this point, as I will be able to change parts of the saddle later on if I have a month with some money left to spend.

Would still be interested on backgroubd info for as when tabs or stitchline are needed and also which tree you would choose for my horse (especially have a look at the pictures when she was ridden; Do you think she needs a flat tree or semicurved?)

Thanks
 
The seats are just one of those things that has to be tried on - photos can be very deceiving, some horses it is clear that they will need a flat tree whereas others are clearly needing a curved- yours is not clear.

If you contact Wow HQ they may be able to give you some advice - if you require a semi curved then you will most likely need new or at the best ex demo as they only came out last year
 
Would be fun to hear people guessing which options my horse needs, as i will post them here. Saddler comes in July. If someone wants to test their fitting guess accuracy this is your turn :D
 
FlashyP said:
I'd second to get a fitter if possible....or buy the new saddle fitting gauge they have :)
http://www.wowsaddles.com/products/saddle-gauge/
But even if you get all the correct parts, you'd probably still need a fitter to adjust the flair.

You horse has a similar profile to my wb x tb. She has size 1 DWG panels with stitchline, but no tab. A tab is used to lower the profile of the saddle for the wider, lower withered types (my cob has tabbed panels). You will only need panels without a stitchline if she has really hollow withers, from the pictures she doesn't look so bad.

A size 1 extra deep seat gives you more room than a size 1 flatter seat, for example I have a size 1 ex deep for my dressage, but a size 2 flat seat for my jump saddle. I am about 167cm too and probably weigh a bit more than you. But the important thing is the length of your thigh to knee, the longer it is the more likely you'll need a size 2.

Equitana blocks are moveable and my fitter says they are very popular. I would like some one day :)
Click to expand...
I forgot to update. You were spot on! I have a saddle with exact those specifications, fittet by a wow saddler. Couldnt be more happy!
 
There are three generations. The resin treed seat was first and those are extremely heavy. The leather tree is next and those are very heavy. The plastic one is the latest and it's much lighter, it's only heavy :)

There's no getting away from it, they aren't light!
 
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