ecrozier
Well-Known Member
Friend is considering buying one for her horse, just wondered if anyone had any experiences, good or bad? Do they suit all horses or some better than others?
Wow saddles?
- Thread starter ecrozier
- Start date
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
marmite.
ive one, my mare goes well in it.
they do feel different to other saddles though, sometimes its the rider that doesnt like it!
also get a good fitter- some by all accounts are terrible....
ive one, my mare goes well in it.
they do feel different to other saddles though, sometimes its the rider that doesnt like it!
also get a good fitter- some by all accounts are terrible....
16hands
New User
unfortunately I own one. I like the idea of them, but they are very heavy and you feel very high up on the horse.
I may sell it, however it is the only saddle I have been able to stay on my bucking bronco horse!
I may sell it, however it is the only saddle I have been able to stay on my bucking bronco horse!
Tempi
Well-Known Member
16hands - im surprised you say they are heavy as technically they are full of air! Mine is so light compared to any other saddle ive ever had!!
I love my Wow, i have a dressage one - its fantastic, you can really feel the horse moving underneath you properly and it allows them the freedom to move over thier backs aswell and dosent ristrict where other saddles might. Also you obviously never get the problem of reflocking and you can have it adjust to fit any size horse you want. Mine was on my 18hh KWPN but its now on my 16'1 cob x tb!
You do need to get a good fitter though as if they are fitted incorrectly they can cause massive problems (like most saddles really). They only suit some horses/people - they definately arent everyones cup of tea.
I love my Wow, i have a dressage one - its fantastic, you can really feel the horse moving underneath you properly and it allows them the freedom to move over thier backs aswell and dosent ristrict where other saddles might. Also you obviously never get the problem of reflocking and you can have it adjust to fit any size horse you want. Mine was on my 18hh KWPN but its now on my 16'1 cob x tb!
You do need to get a good fitter though as if they are fitted incorrectly they can cause massive problems (like most saddles really). They only suit some horses/people - they definately arent everyones cup of tea.
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
must say i think mine is really heavy too but i have the older headplates......
the new magnesium ones are much better- maybe thats the difference?
i also love the way they can be changed drastically. horse seems alot freer in the shoulder too compared to normal saddles.........
the new magnesium ones are much better- maybe thats the difference?
i also love the way they can be changed drastically. horse seems alot freer in the shoulder too compared to normal saddles.........
dressagecrazy
Well-Known Member
Would like to say ive had a great experience with WOW saddles but i havent ive found it extremely costly & upsetting. I currently have a WOW dressage saddle for sale.
If you would like more info PM me.
If you would like more info PM me.
catembi
Well-Known Member
I love mine! I have dr flaps & sj flaps. I recently had it adjusted from Adrian (chunky ISH) to Trevor (typical TB) & with any other saddle I'd have had to get a new one.
It's also fab for my wrecked sacro iliac joint as it takes the jarring out of riding. It's like having a new spine! I wrecked my back getting rolled on at age 13 & it's been a lot of trouble over the years. Now at the grand old age of nearly 40, it's the best it's ever been.
It's also fab for my wrecked sacro iliac joint as it takes the jarring out of riding. It's like having a new spine! I wrecked my back getting rolled on at age 13 & it's been a lot of trouble over the years. Now at the grand old age of nearly 40, it's the best it's ever been.
badattitude
Well-Known Member
I have one with two different flaps. I took a while to get used to it but now i love it. it is very good for my horse who was prone to sore backs before. I saw a British eventer riding in one at Pau and asked him (I am not the big eventing person so am not sure of his name, maybe Francis?) but he said I must get a saddler approved by the company to fit it. I had to take the horse quite a far distance for this but i think it has been worth it.
Tiffany
Well-Known Member
I had one, always felt like I was perched on top of it rather than sat into it. Found it expensive because it needed adjusting so often and finding a good WOW fitter where I was at the time was impossible. Sold it on ebay and bought an Albion 
The concept of WOW is good and they may have improved from the original version although you buy from a WOW fitter rather than manufacturer so, if saddle isn't right First Thought (mfr) will not accept responsibility.
The concept of WOW is good and they may have improved from the original version although you buy from a WOW fitter rather than manufacturer so, if saddle isn't right First Thought (mfr) will not accept responsibility.
Kallibear
Well-Known Member
They're only a good as the fitter.
They are also tricky to buy second hand if you don't know a lot about they - they have various different seat, tree and panel options so it's vital you get the right combination - one size most definintly does NOT fit all!
Kalli has one and loves it.
They are also tricky to buy second hand if you don't know a lot about they - they have various different seat, tree and panel options so it's vital you get the right combination - one size most definintly does NOT fit all!
Kalli has one and loves it.
stilltrying
Well-Known Member
I have one and love it! I have big moving horse with huge shoulders and my old conventional saddle was restricting his movement. After I got the WOW he muscled up really well and we are now on our 3rd headplate! I have the flat seat jumping saddle and love jumping in it - had to get used to my lower leg being free to move around, but I lnow ove the freedom of movement it gives you.
I have heard some reports about some fitters being better than others, but I went to their HQ and spent over 4 hours having a fitting. They fit the saddle to you as well as the horse, very thorough. Big thumbs up from me.
I have heard some reports about some fitters being better than others, but I went to their HQ and spent over 4 hours having a fitting. They fit the saddle to you as well as the horse, very thorough. Big thumbs up from me.
kerilli
Well-Known Member
as above, Marmite. depends hugely on the fitter too, more so than with many other saddle types imho.
i loved mine, my mare HATED it (only time she has ever bucked, this is a mare you could put your granny on for a hack up the road), luckily i got a refund as had only had it a week or two...
someone was going xc at Blenheim a few years ago in one and their tree (headplate?) broke so they had to retire. I have never heard of this happening with any other type of saddle.
a Master saddler, a really good one imho, told me that Wow have got their Dr saddles v v good but that their jump saddles still leave quite a lot to be desired...
i loved mine, my mare HATED it (only time she has ever bucked, this is a mare you could put your granny on for a hack up the road), luckily i got a refund as had only had it a week or two...
someone was going xc at Blenheim a few years ago in one and their tree (headplate?) broke so they had to retire. I have never heard of this happening with any other type of saddle.
a Master saddler, a really good one imho, told me that Wow have got their Dr saddles v v good but that their jump saddles still leave quite a lot to be desired...
mrussell
Well-Known Member
Weve got 2 and totally swear by them. The one with the deeper seat is much heavier than the flat XC seat which is odd as apart from the seat, everything else is the same.
My horse is croup high and I had dreadful trouble getting saddles to fit but with the WOW I could have a shorter panel than the seat so getting the perfect balance. He went from slug to stag almost overnight !
My horse is croup high and I had dreadful trouble getting saddles to fit but with the WOW I could have a shorter panel than the seat so getting the perfect balance. He went from slug to stag almost overnight !
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
Wows are like marmite, and you and the horse have to like them
I've never felt perched, and I think if you do then your fitter is rubbish! Granted I do feel a bit higher in my extra deep seat, but closer to the horse in flat seat than an Amerigo
My grey horse loves his and refuses to go into anything else, so I don't get a choice! I now have 4, but thinking of cutting down as found they are not so good for polocrosse when leaning out!!
Anyway weight - the older ones have a resin tree which is heavier than the newer leather seat (came in c2007). Also the deeper seats are heavier anyway as there is more on them
Magnesium headplates - no longer sold as they had problems with the aforementioned snapping. Wow couldn't find a logical reason for it, so are now working on carbon fibre headplates. Magnesium headplate owners should be aware that they 'could' snap at any point. Hence I tend to use my for dressage rather than jumping.
I've found with a standard steel headplate, and lightweight polymer stirrups, my flat seat saddle isn't that much heavier than one with steel irons.
I've never felt perched, and I think if you do then your fitter is rubbish! Granted I do feel a bit higher in my extra deep seat, but closer to the horse in flat seat than an Amerigo
My grey horse loves his and refuses to go into anything else, so I don't get a choice! I now have 4, but thinking of cutting down as found they are not so good for polocrosse when leaning out!!
Anyway weight - the older ones have a resin tree which is heavier than the newer leather seat (came in c2007). Also the deeper seats are heavier anyway as there is more on them
Magnesium headplates - no longer sold as they had problems with the aforementioned snapping. Wow couldn't find a logical reason for it, so are now working on carbon fibre headplates. Magnesium headplate owners should be aware that they 'could' snap at any point. Hence I tend to use my for dressage rather than jumping.
I've found with a standard steel headplate, and lightweight polymer stirrups, my flat seat saddle isn't that much heavier than one with steel irons.
16hands
New User
what prices are second hand saddles selling for, and where is the easiest place to sell them
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
I've been borrowing a WOW for the past few weeks and all seems well. I like it, as does horse. I only really went for one because horse needs a 16" panel but I need a 17" (he's very short coupled). Im borrowing until I can find all the parts 2nd hand as brand new they are way too expensive (even 2nd hand is bad!). Have flaps so far... am still searching for 16" panels and a flat seat if anyone knows of anybody...