WOW saddles - anybody tried one on a wide native?

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the watcher

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Increasingly desperate to find a saddle that will not aggrivate my creaky hips and lower back have concluded I need to find something with Flair (unless anybody has another suggestion). I know WOW do a fitting to suit broad horses without a wither - but has anybody actually bought one - I only seem to see them on much slimmer competition type horses
 
Rafi is a dutch warmblood but has a problem with saddles ,they slip sideways. He has a wow but has an H girth,it is like two girths joined underneath ,it works ,it doesn't slip but hope oneday he will grow withers!
 
I have no experience of WOWs, but Thorowgood also do a fitting for native types (as well as a Warmblood High Wither - I've been very pleased with mine!) If you're still a leather stalwart, the T6 range would be more to your liking as it is hard to tell the difference!

http://www.thorowgood.com/uk/products.htm
 
Cotswold SJs horses are broad backed with no wither (I think, well, they are wider than my horses anyway) and although she has had her probs tweaking them, she has got them right now - deffo worth a try I would think.
 
I have the T4, and the seat is sooooooo comfortable! (although I'm told that the earlier versions were absolutely hateful to sit on - I looked at one from Ebay and swore I'd only ever consider new!) I have the dressage one, so cannot comment on GP/jumping, but I would assume they would be similar in terms of comfort - my dressage instructor also has the T4 GP for hacking only and she loves it! They certainly seem nice for the horse, too - I havent had a single problem with mine since I had Ellie fitted, and as long as you can recognise your horse's changing shape throughout the seasons, fitting the Fish is no problem! They are very versatile; I'd be surprised if they cant find one to fit your horse, because if Ellie (she of the weird-shaped-back-and-shoulders) can have one off the peg, any horse can!
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I've just got a WOW for my wide 'traditional native' (part bred Dales) and it is amazing. Because of the way the flaps are attached to the seat, there is a 'notch' which allows your inner thigh to fit into. Your leg hangs straight off your hip because of this notch.

Star has been a pain to find a saddle for - she's so round and flat, that they slip around her or they shoot up her neck despite having point and balance straps fitted, but the WOW doesn't move. You won't regret it.
 
A friend at the yard has one for her highland and it fits him a treat.
The flair is very comfy and the saddle looks smart. I know nothing about the fitting etc but she loves hers!

I have also ridden in the Wintecs with flair that are very comfy and the Bates with flair too. Also nice.

Sue Carson saddles may be worth a look too? they are quite narrrow through the seat and may offer a comfy ride for your hips?
I rode in the dressage saddle for ages and loved it, felt odd at first but very nice once you were used to it, also its air flocked.
 
I have a Wintec Wide for my Welsh Cob. Its got CAIR in it so basically like Flair. I actually really like it (and I hate synthetics! I LOATH a Thorowgood one I have). Its very comfy! It does still move a bit side to side if Im honest but not nearly like all the other saddles I tried. Would love a WOW, but too pricey just now
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Is Cair the same as Flair, or have I just re-spelt flair?????
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I ride in a Bates Cair on a broad welsh D and thoroughly approve.
 
Both the Wintecs with Cair and the T4's are nice and comfy (I have arthritis in my lower back and hip problems and find both 'better' to ride in than most of the traditional saddles), I use a Heather Moffett Seatbone Saver when riding my cob and find I'm less stiff after riding and more comfortable during longer hacks.
 
Just let me know when and we will set it up - obviously there are different seats too, mine is a flat seat, but they all have the twist and I can bung my dressage flaps on so you can have a play
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