WOW saddles - thoughts?

T

the watcher

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 November 2004
Messages
15,064
Location
in a happy place
Visit site
So, they've been around for long enough not to be fashionable any more and I was wondering if anybody is still happy with theirs, whether they are still using them or whether they were an expensive flash in the pan.

toying with buying a new saddle later in the year and one that could be adapted to fit more than one horse might be a wise choice so this is one option I am considering and know a number of you tried them....
 
I have not had any problems with mine really - from posts on here the general concensus is to make sure you have a good fitter.

I originally bought one for my mare as I could not get anything to fit her properly and i bought two sets of flaps so I could interchange between jumping and dressage. I had no problem changing flaps etc only took about 7 mins after practise!

When i sold her and bought Digby he was actually easier to fit and I ended up changing to a xc seat and flaps and sold my dressage flaps and bought an Ideal dressage saddle - just for ease really (and as I say much easier to fit something to him).

I think a few people on here adjust their own as well and seem to get on well- personally I don't trust myself enough!

What will you be wanting to use yours for? It may be worth keeping an eye on ebay etc :)
 
I havent got one, but have followed them quite closely over the years and spoken to them at events etc...

I have to say I am impressed at how they have continued to change the design as they have received feedback to do so, and would look at one more seriously now than i would have done a couple of years ago.

However, as Fran says, they are only as good as your fitter... and a lot of the Wow fitters out there are HORRENDOUS so seek recommendation first ;)
 
Thanks for that Fran. I would be looking for something for a big built warmblood who is lacking topline to give him the maximum opportunity to use his back properly and really only considering the dressage option - so with standard dressage flaps or possibly VSD as I am quite short in the leg.

I have had a little browse on ebay but without even trying one on him that could be quite a risky direction to take. He is currently Wintec wide fitting but could see him changing shape quite radically with proper work.

The other consideration, being pragmatic, is that he has some arthritis issues and there is no telling for how long he will stay sound so an investment as massive as this needs to be adaptable to another horse in time, either to retain some resale value or for another horse of mine.

Is there a really good fitter in the Home Counties or South Midlands (or even South West i suppose)?
 
the watcher. - Unfortunatly not in that area but I am sure someone else will be able to help. Probably best to ride in one anyway first as some people hate them - personally I have been fine with mine and know several other people have as well.

You may even find a fitter with some second hand parts / ex demo bits :)

Good Luck!
 
I've had them on 3 different horses, two have loved them, one was not so sure about it, but then I had his teeth done and he then loved it. One horse had a serious back problem, and would not go in any other saddle- I even had a few other models of dressage saddles made to measure for him and he was so stiff and uncomfortable in them, so I was delighted to find the wow saddle. Two horses seriously muscled up after using these saddles for a few weeks and their way of going was much improved.

If you get one second hand, be aware that the company went through a phase of putting the locking plates the wrong way round in the panels;( not their fault; they got a new saddle maker in who took a while to realise his mistake ) this is something that has caused loads of problems over the years and even the best saddle fitters have missed this. It was only a very astute friend that noticed my panels were completly upside down- but I sent them to wow and they sorted the problem free of charge and sent them back within 48 hours ( but still charged me for the postage!!)

I am also happy ( well took me a few years!) changing the dressage and jumping flaps myself,it takes about ten mins- its a bit of a flaff but fairly easy, its great tho to have one saddle for both disciplines!
 
Although I have already told watcher this, just for anyone else's information, the only fitter I will use in Ox/Glos/Wilts is

Julia Duffin
Upper Stratton
Swindon , Wiltshire
Tel: 01793 825658
Mobile: 07977 114896
 
It is good to hear that horses have genuinely improved through their backs and that is primarily what I am hoping for.

I'm not too worried about changing flaps but it is useful that they can be slightly rotated so that I can convert a dressage saddle to something that would be more useful for hacking, for example.
 
Hi, i have 2 wow saddles, one dressage, one jumping-they are fantastic-well worth the investment. Ive had them 8 years and in that time my horse has been competition fit/off work/living out/fit again etc etc and so changed shape so much i would have been through quite a few conventional saddles in that time at considerable cost as part ex always ends up costing more than you think!

My horse has high withers and i could never find a saddle to fit, i ended up sitting uphill all the time and then they moved at the back, causing rubbing/soreness.
They are easily adjustable and if you dont trust yourself you can always set the air bags to neutral and continue riding knowing that the saddle wont cause discomfort to your horse, while you wait for the saddle fitter.

The only downside, that has already been mentioned is the lack of decent wow saddle fitters in the south east. I'd rather not do it myself, but then it ends up costing a lot for the call out of a decent wow fitter to adjust it.
 
Going against the grain, but all my horses have hated the Wow saddles. None of my horse have gone well in them, and I have had problems with the quality. However in Wow's defence they were very good at rectifying the problems I had with the saddle, they ended up putting in a completly new flair system, and a new headplate, which they did FOC, and were very quick about doing it. Unlike another well known make which uses flair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ended up selling mine, I just didnt get on with it, nor did my horses. Definatly try before you buy!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Thanks for that charlimouse, I guess for every rider that doesn't like them there could also be a horse that genuinely doesn't like the feel of them too so will definitely try one before i buy
 
Well I've got 3 thus far, I had horrible problems to start off with, but then I do have the weirdest shaped horse!

<- The grey refuses to go in a normal saddle. I tried an Amerigo Vega saddle on him and he wouldn't jump a cross pole in it. He loves the air, but has also had the WOW specially adapted for his weird girth line too.

From my point of view I think the jumping flaps don't really 'help' my position jumping, but then I've come a long way in stabilizing my lower leg and now much more balanced. Question is should you rely on a saddle to "help" you?

I now alter my saddles myself, as besides David from WOW, I don't really think anyone out there can help me.

The greys brother is quite happy in a wow, or ordinary saddle, but then he is easy going by nature.
 
I use a WOW on my cob. Before the WOW, I used a vsd - it crawled up Star's neck, slipped sideways and she wouldn't settle or stretch. Tried her in a WOW......omg - the first thing she did was walk along with her nose on the ground, really over tracking and so relaxed.
The way the seat is designed is a revalation as well - the notch where the seat joins the flaps allows the leg to hang down off the hip, and makes the rider feel very secure.

I love my saddle, and would only swap it for another WOW (in havanna with vsd panels :D)
 
I have a wow that im selling actually pm if you want details. I bought it for my old horse who went very well in it, he always suffered from muscle pain behind the saddle and had very high withers so everything slid back, riding in my wow never gave him muscle pain and it never moved an inch. Like everyone has said your fitter is the most important bit and this is why im selling, living in scotland i could not find a good fitter and my new horse just didnt seem to like it. he is very tense in it and goes crab like. Try and have a sit on one, before i bought mine i got a demo to try for about two weeks which i went jumping and x country in before i made up my mind. Its very diffrent to normal saddle to ride in. Hope this helps.
 
I've got one with dr & jumping flaps. I find that both are fantastic for my position, & the saddle has also 'fixed' my back. I was rolled on 25 years ago & have a wrecked sacroiliac joint & the WOW takes all the jarring out of riding. It is like having a new spine, & would no longer class myself as having a bad back when I've spent a lot of my life pretty well crippled.

I'm about to have mine adjusted from fitting a chunky ISH to an ex-racer TB, & it's pretty well the only saddle that can make that sort of transition.
 
Ive had WOW saddles for years now, i have my fitter out every 6 months without fail. Horse goes really well in it & it hasnt stopped or caused us any problems. When i had the saddle my horse was below Prelim level dressage he's now working at a good adv Med level & started Piaffe & passage.

So you could say my WOW has seens us through a lot, ive only had to change panels once so there has never been the dramatic change in horses Topline that some get, my horse has always had good topline.

But I find my WOW a really lovely saddle i have it set up perfectly for me & the horse. As said before a good fitter is the key to the WOW saddles fitted well there fab fitted badly you will have a horror story on your hands, however this can be said for most saddles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top