Wow saddle - seat and flap options

G

Ginn

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 November 2005
Messages
4,003
Visit site
After all the saddle issues I've had with T recently, her being narrow through the tree but unusually wide through the gullet and the fact that suddenly she is developing muscle and instructor thinks she will go from nm - mw over the next year or so I have decided to bite the bullet and buy a Wow (ex demo! Not paying full whack for one!).

The problem with ex demo is 1) I have to choose from what they have available and 2) I don't have the advantage of trying all the various combos.

I've ridden in Tempi's lovely saddle and also tried various combinations on the mechanical horse and have also got Kiri to try and see what she likes so have narrowed it down to what I don't want so no problems unless T hates them (but given she never objected to that saddle that has completely buggered areas of her skin to the point those bits now don't sweat I doubt she'll care as long as it fits!)

I'm planning to get a deep seat as hopefully this will offer me security in the saddle without being too anchoring to jump in (if anyone feels I would do better with a shallow seat and can't jump with the deep seat please let me know though!). I find wintecs/bates GPs too flat, really like my barnsby GP seat, Found the Ideal Impala and Albion K2 Jump about right, maybe a little on the flat side though to give you an idea so if anyone can tell me how the Wow deep seat might compare to these I'd be greatful!

As for flaps... will be getting either the fixed block sj or the xc and this is where I have my first quandry....

How secure is the xc over the sj? And does the thigh block get in the way? Would probably use this saddle for all disciplines unless they can do me a good deal on the dressage flaps or until I've saved for some and given tilly's acrobatic skills I want something that is very secure with both long and short stirrups but is forward cut enough for me to really crank my stirrups up.

I really liked the Albion K2 jump wrt flaps to give you an idea but found the thigh block restricting with my stirrups right down....

Also, what are the fixed block dressage flaps like - never ridden in a dressage saddle except Tempi's so not used to big blocks. I quite like thigh support but not so much knee support as I find it forces my leg too far back. On the mechanical horse I really liked the 'fixed thigh block', didn't dislike the giant fixed block but wouldn't have it through choice as felt it forced my knees back, liked Tempi's which I think is a giant fixed block high??? but so far Wow have only offered ex demo on the standard fixed block.

Any advice greatly appreciated! Equally if anyone is looking to rehome any of the above then I'd be open to suggestions
wink.gif
 
Well sounds like you have some decsions to make. We were lucky I bought one for my daughter on ebay and managed to get David to fit it to Rafi for dressage. I knew she wanted an 18" deep seat and the rest she had to put up with. I now know this can be an expensive mistake but for us it was fine. Nothing needed changing except the headplate and he needed an H girth as he was flat and every saddle slipped. We have never had it fitted to our eventer but he loves it [he is a totally different shape but it seems to fit]
We have just had it rechecked by David and the headplate needed to come down a size and he hasn't worn the H girth for about 6 months now.
We talked to David about jumping flaps [ he said he would sort out some ex demo one for her] and he made Claire practice changing them which took about 3-4 minutes each side. I asked if the seat would be ok with jumping flaps and he said they would be fine.[She jumps at home in it anyway with the dressage flaps up to about 3'6"]
Think hers has the movable blocks and they are not very big. She hated the Wintec Isabelle that she had before as it held her too much but really loves her Wow.
Good luck with getting your sorted and hope it works out for you as it did us
Hope it works out well for you
 
Thanks, really helpful re: deep seat and jumping.

That was my other question (knew I'd forgotten 1!) I *think* I tried a size 1 seat when I had a play on the mechanical horse. T is currently in a 17.5" saddle and I find that fits me perfectly but wow don't do a 17.5" seat....

Not sure she'd get away with 18"??? (16.1, tb, 6'3 rugs and fairly short coupled)???

How do the size 1 and size 2 seats and panels compare to regular saddle sizing? (i.e. do they come up true to size? Or are they generous? Stingy?) Don't want to spend £££s to find its too big or small!!

ETA: If I saw what I wanted on ebay I'd get it but I have no idea what panels I'd need - atleast this way I get the right fit....
 
Rafi is tiny [ 16 hands and short] and his is size 2 [I think] which I thought was 18" but I may be wrong.He wears a 6'6" rug. Here is a pic to see what you think. This was last year when he had the H girth

rafi-1.jpg


DCP_0396.jpg
 
i have the xc flaps and the shallow seat, and do everything in it. i event up to pre-novice level, show jump up to 3'6" ish, and we hunt in it. it's the most comfortable saddle i've ever had and i find its great for show jumping as well as xc.
 
I tried to PM you.

I have fixed blok jumping flaps, nearly new, in brown (only knee block no thigh). They are in fantastic condition and in need of a new home.

The XC flaps and deep seat wouldn't work at all as you seat would be pushed back by your short stirrups .

Wow do a dressage flap with just a high block that sits above the thigh at te front which we have on the dressage saddle with a shalow seat.

We also have a XC seat with XC flaps for jumping.
 
Sorry Thistle - have emptied a few pms now! Deffo interested in flaps if you want to pm me more info.... do you think you could jump with the fixed block jump flaps in a deep seat - I understand what you're saying about the xc seat as it was a concern of mine.
 
I havent read everyone elses replies so sorry if i am repeating anything said.

I started off with deep seat and giant fixed block, and normal fixed block jumping flaps.

This was all fine on my mare and suited us well although tbh with my long thighs the xc flaps probably would have suited better.

With D however i found with his bigger jump i did catch the back of my deep seat (more xc than any other time) and although it was not an issue i just wanted to change. So i went for the xc seat (the flattest) which i get on well with and although onbiously not as supportive of the deep i get on fine at the moment.

I sold my dressage flaps and only use my wow for jumping, purely as on D it seemed like i could not get my leg around him enough - however with my last horse it was fine- it really depends on the horse i think.


The xc flaps thigh block does not get in the way at all. I shall find a pic of me riding in mine....be one minute
 
gallop2.jpg


The following are when i had a deep seat (although is an 18") and the xc flaps (just while i was waiting to have the flat fitted)
cornerover.jpg


hanginglog.jpg


shavingsoxer.jpg


Hope they help.

i would also have photos of deep seat and fixed block jumping if you want to see them
smile.gif
 
Thanks TC - seat doesn't actually look that deep in those pics (about compareable to what I am currently using:

DSC02136.jpg


Tillylunge1230thMay08.jpg
 
Thanks Fran - yes, would love to see pics of those too.

When you bought yours did you try the normal fixed block dr flaps and if so how did those compare to the giant ones?

Atm don't want anything too shallow as I need the security! Current plan is just to get the one seat (saddle) and depending on how I get on with it ultimately have 2 but cannot justify expense of that atm....
 
the shallow seat is similar to the seat on my sisters old stubben jumping saddle (no idea what style it is i'm afraid!) or to the Bates momentum i guess.

It looks really flat, but i find that its deep enough for show jumping and dressage. the wow XC seat is proper flat and i found when i tried it that i was sliding back in the saddle too much!

ETS: re seat size, i think they relate to 17" and 18" but can't remember which is which. Ron is 16.3 and short coupled and i'm not the smallest 5'9" you've ever seen. we went for the 17" seat and the same panel size.
 
Hmmm, I have a natural tendancy to slide back (defensive hunting seat!) so need something that does not reinforce that but almost sits me more central.... Will steer clear of the xc seat! Bates Momentum was too flat for my liking too (the gp was on the flat side tbh - I really like being anchored and have very short stirrups so when I am out the saddle I am completely clear of the seat if jumping any height). Gahhhh! How would you say yours compared to my current one in the pics above as that is about spot on for me for jumping?
 
Re. the knee blocks...

They have just brought out some dressage giant high blocks... basically they support the thigh but taper off so do not obstruct the knee at all. They are the ones I have ordered and it should be here at the end of next week!!!!
 
there is no way on earth I would find it possible to jump in a wow deep seat
blush.gif
I personally found the wow deep seat very deep.. would find it very tricky to get into a half decent jumping position in one, although I am very long in the thigh which does exacerbate the problem.
 
Well I have a deep seat and XC flaps and it is fine! However, I started with a 17" seat but it was too small, so I now have a 18"....I find it big, I shift my seat around in it, but that could be my crapness
wink.gif
 
I only tried the giant ones ...so can not comment on the others. The giants in the end just got in my way (but that may just be beacuse of my length of leg)

DSC02393.jpg


img153.jpg


DSC01411.jpg


DSC01924.jpg


sorry the rest are not really close enough to show the saddle!
 
[ QUOTE ]
The deep seat isn't very deep at all, it is about the same as a standard GP IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Brilliant! That was exactly what I was hoping to hear!! I HATE flat/shallow seats but had decided if I found I wanted one then the nice thing about Wow's is you can swop or build a new saddle with the bits you've got and have 2!
 
Thanks Fran!! Out of interest is that a size 1 or size 2? I'm a little worried the size 1 might be a little snug as I'm use to a 17.5"
confused.gif
 
Jenhunt - thanks
smile.gif


Fran (and possibly also weezy) - sorry, another qu... How big was your mare/digby? And what size rugs?. Beginning to wonder if I should be looking to get a size 2 as arse and thighs are a little chunky and it would give me more room to move around a bit.... BUT don't know if T would take it? *runs off to measure current saddle for reference*
 
they are both about 16.2 and are 6ft6-6ft9

i think i am right in saying you can have smaller pannels (for the horse) and a larger seat. I would say you would want some room if you want to jump in the deep
 
OK, center of stud to center of cantle is 17.5", lenght of gullet (underside) is 18" and length of panels is 18-19" depending on how much I allow for the curve of them.... So I suppose we might get away with a size 2??
 
Thanks Fran
smile.gif
so if fitter said no way could she take the size 2 panels but I'd committed to buying a size 2 seat it shouldn't be too much of a problem? That is the one drawback of buying ex demo - I have to commit to the sale as obviously the sale is limited to what stock they have with the exception of panels as they have to suit the horse. Don't really see any point in spending £50 to see what she needs, to buy the saddle and spend another £50 on having it fitted!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top