WOW Saddles=Your Opinions - Saddlers= Advice- Is my saddle really that bad???

Can anyone recommend a good wow saddle fitter that will come to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire? Can you trial them without having to buy?

Been recommended one for my awkward to fit horse but not sure if he'll like the air in the saddle. :(
 
stilltrying said:
This is spooky – I’ve had a very similar experience to you!

- Started stopping, then refusing to walk downhill. Got my saddle checked and adjusted by reputable saddler, horse still not happy. Anyway, the similarity is he went to Newmarket for a bonescan and they couldn’t find anything wrong with him.
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What I also didn't mention was I had the re flocking done in Feb, shortly after this I nearly threw the towel in when he started spinning and being really really spooky (where as normally he can be sharp and do the odd spooky spin, this was awful). It got to the point where I would walk him approx ten steps and he would just spin round...I really thought it was just me loosing my nerve but now looking back it may well be the saddle?
My horse can also be aful down hills. We have grass paths around the land when I keep him and some very steep hills. Most of the time down a certain hill (probably one of the steeper one's he bucks when we walk down it, which is not the most convenient place to be bucking lol :D
I started to have to trot him down the hills as this way he didn't buck, so like your horse, maybe he felt resticted somehow but I put it down to having the trouble with his stifles?
 
Britestar said:
Get your physio to check underneath him around the girth area for any potential problems.
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I have mentioned this to my sister about his girth. He use to be ok when I did his girth up but then over time he has certainly got more grumpy, although he doesn't bite he has been known to pull faces.
When I go to a competition in the winter I was using a sheepshin cover on his girth but left it on during the summer due to the heat. Perhaps it is something as simple as his girth...now wouldn't that be simple :D I will be using his sheepskin cover from now on though, just to see.
he also has issues when walking downhill, which is steering me towards shoulder restriction perhaps?
Also when we started training about four years ago in Dressage he could do a decent medium trot, however this has declined but again I put that down to the stifle trouble but it could in fact be the saddle and again restiction through his shoulders perhaps? :)
 
i think its best to try a variety of saddles really as some horses go really well in some saddles, that other neds hate.... same with riders
eg my 7 yr old has a very short back and wiggled alot in the lumbar region as she was not strong enough over her back to push the hind legs under rather than sideways.... she was very very sore behind the saddle area due to having the wow on- lovely and osft elsewhere but very very tight in one area both sides- thus she didnt step under more and the wiggle got worse!
the saddle just bounced on her despite being refitted 4 times and various girths etc....
defo look at the saddle- is the panel smooth and lump free- no sharp bits...
has the physio actually checked the back for sore areas?maybe get a thermo scan see if any hot spots can be seen?
 
Love my Wow and if they suit you and your horse is happy with it then would very much recommend - I'd definitely try one as a starting point. HOWEVER, I wasn't totally happy with the mechanics of the airbags and their potential to create sore points so opted for memory foam. Horse is v. v. happy with it but you do have to except that you are slightly more limited with respect to minor fitting tweaks. Sister has Flair in hers though and has had no problems and her pony loves it too so Flair's not something to rule out, just something to consider.

As for the reaction. I used to ride a pony who'd been previously broken in a saddle with a broken tree - the slightest pinch/movement from his (well fitting) and he'd have you on the floor anticipating the pain so yes, I think a horse can reactly badly to a poorly fitting saddle if it becomes associated with discomfort. For a different example my horse will literally throw both herself and rider on the floor over a fly/hand/buckle or reins resting on her in the wrong place so don't underestimate just how sensitive they are!
 
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