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Honey Monster
Silver Member
 England
318 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2007 : 10:50:15 PM
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I am thinking of getting another saddle, considering the following:
1. Thorowgood - Endurance, T4 or T6 cob GP
2. Wintec - Endurance or VSD
I intend to do mainly hacking and probably some short distance pleasure rides.
I have had a few problems with my present saddle with slipping forward (both the saddle and girth). She has, like a lot of arabs, a forward girth line.
I have a treeless at the moment and I think that it just doesn't suit my mare and the way I ride (this is to do with me being uneven - born with one leg and hip longer so I cannot sit straight) This causes the saddle to feel that it is moving over to one side (although it doesn't actually slip) but I do think that it puts pressure on her back.
I think that a treed saddle would probably give more support and wouldn't move about (due to both (a) me being uneven and (b) slipping forward)
I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has one above mentioned saddles - comments good or bad, or suggestions etc.
Many thanks
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beau
Gold Member
United Kingdom
806 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 08:35:13 AM
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Am no expert on saddles by any means but i had lots of trouble with saddles on my boy, saddles fitters tried so many saddles took forever. His saddle slipped forwards etc, i now have a wintec which i like, it comfy for him and me and i have had no probs. In fact when other people ride my boy they always comment on the saddle.
Jodie |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 10:24:31 AM
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Thanks Jodie
Which version of Wintec do you have. Assume you also had problems with a forward girth line
Paula |
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GHALEEM
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2028 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 5:48:45 PM
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I have a wintec 2000 and although it is super comfy for the rider and also super light i find they just dont make them wide enough for arabs. You can change the gullet to make it wide enough but the panels stay the same and i find them quite small so assume they arent that comfy for the horse. I found that one of my horses it stayed put nicely but on the other who was wider it moved from side to side. Having said that it never moved back or forward.
I also didnt like the position it put me in, the stirrup bars are placed further back to encourage your leg into the right position but i felt unsave and tipped slightly forward. It is a comfy saddle though on the right horse.
Michelle |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 5:54:51 PM
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| I've a Jill Thomas Thorowgood endurance saddle, 18" - FISH - that I am selling - used 3 times - if anyones intersted?! |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 5:56:55 PM
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Thanks Michelle
I think that the Thorowgood might be better as they make different types of saddle - as well as wide to narrow width they also do different wither profile - high for thoroughbred through to a low for cob/arab
leaning towards Thorowgood - unless anyone here knows of a reason why is shouldn't ...............
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 6:02:13 PM
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Judith
Thanks, I followed Thorowgood's guide to measuring - as a rough guide I need a
17 inch
wide (pos extra wide?)
low wither
My little girl is about 14.3 and like most arabs is short backed - not sure about 18 inch, presume that extra inch is for me and my LARGE rear !!??? not sure whether that extra would make any difference to the horse??
Maybe your saddle would be of interest................
Paula
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 6:18:49 PM
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Hi Paula - my saddle has the extra wide seat - for those of us with BIG bums!! That seems to make it more like an extra-wide fit for the horse as the pannels/gullet seem to be far more generous fit tha their standard wide. The pannels are large, flat & will spread the weight over a large area which is GOOD! I shouldn't think 18" will make all that much difference.
I put this saddle (not the horse it was bought for) onto my barely 15hh Arab Jet - hes short backed, bit bum high - saddles normally slip up his neck. This one didn't & on out short ride we went up & down some steep slope here in mid Wales! He moved great under it - didn't hamper his shoulders at all & also it seemed to stay put really well without a hughly over-tight girth. |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 6:31:17 PM
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Hi Judith
Thanks for info.
Sounds interesting
Not sure whether my girly is bum high, but saddles do tend to slip forward - may also be due to girth line being forward - is Jet like that?
Is it low wither? I think from memory on the Thorowgood website that they say it is designed more for arab types so probably is.
Girth - is it standard girth or dressage type girth (not sure if you remember one of my other questions about the expensive elastic Sci Girth - yes I bought it .....)
I haven't had her properly measured and haven't tried any saddles, so was a bit concerned about getting one and just hoping it would be okay - and then ending up with another piece of equipment gathering dust and adding to my overdraft! I only started riding again in July after a 25 year gap - amazed at how much stuff I have already accumulated - and already some of it no good!!
Maybe we can talk?
Paula
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 6:33:07 PM
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Also, not sure whether relevant relating to "type" of arab, but she does appear to have been bred by racing yard so not a showy type - but still very beautiful!!
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jan 2007 : 10:02:54 PM
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Hi Paula, I have the 2000 with the wide gullet and its fine. I position it back sufficiently to clear his shoulder and although its 17 1/2 and looks "quite far back" Freddie doesnt have a problem with it. Being a novice I think perhaps the position of the stirrups are an asset to me rather than a hindrance lol! Seems that although they are all arabs, what suits one doesn't necessarily another. Would be so much easier if they were all the same to fit!
Sandie
Sandie |
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beau
Gold Member
United Kingdom
806 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 12:37:03 PM
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Hi Paula, Beau has a forward girth is also 14.3, i ave the wintec 2000 in a 16.5'' wide fit, used to use a 17'' when saddle fitter (specialises in arabians) came he said was slight too long saddle should be roughly in line with last rib, if that a help..
I ride long (stirrups) anyway as like to be able to wrap my legs round when he does the occasional buck so stirrups are great for me,
p.s when he does buck saddle does not move yay.
Jodie |
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sasha
Gold Member
United Kingdom
518 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 3:20:02 PM
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| I have a thorowgood 17" xx wide cob ( with fish so will go down 1 1/2 sizes. It has the extra girth strap at the back to anchor the saddle. sat on for 10 minutes. For sale if youre interested linda.sum@dsl.pipex.com for more details and pics. |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 3:28:02 PM
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Thanks for replying Sandie and Jodie
useful to know that others who have had problems with forward girth line and slipping forward are not having problems with the Wintec and also the Thorowgood.
Interesting to see that other arabs are going well in the "normal" wintec i.e. the 2000 - I had been a bit worried about GP type saddles and thought that it might be better to try the slightly cut back version, the VSD or the endurance model (which just might be modelled more for an arab?)
As to 16.5, 17 or 18 length, on the Thorowgood website they indicate that it is the rider's leg that is measured - although assume that would still have to consider the size and length of the horse! My measurements showed 17 - although being short it was borderline 16.5 - but then I do have a rather large behind !! So thought that 17 would be best
I will have a look tonight at where her last rib is in relation to her present saddle and do some more measurements.
Many thanks everyone - any more comments / observations / suggestions would still be most welcome
Paula |
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jan 2007 : 11:10:18 PM
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Being honest Paula, I think if I knew then what I know now (hindsight is a wonderful thing.) I would probably have gone for a slightly straighter cut, probably the VSD, that way you will possibly be less likey to run into a shoulder restriction problems. Even better if you get the chance to try a few!
Sandie |
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Danielle
Silver Member
Wales
355 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 6:27:44 PM
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We had all sorts of problems getting saddles for Storm and tried loads of different ones and really expensive ones too.
He is now in a Wintec VSD (CAIR) it's 16 1/2 inches and he has a wide gullet in it and this cheapo saddle is the one that has fitted him the best out of any we have ever tried! His way of going is so different now! It also fits Dominik aswell. |
   
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ACGODFREY
Silver Member
United Kingdom
440 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2007 : 2:39:07 PM
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Hi,
I started out with a wintec 2000 GP but they are fairly forward cut so we went to a dressage which suited my boys big shoulders better. But didn't really like it much and it would slip going up/down hills. Now have Thorowgood Griffin Cob which I rate very highly. HAve two - one 17" W and one 17" XW as my boy fluctuates. Got both off ebay for not much. It is just a case of what suits you and the horse best and sadly trial and error is the only way to figure it out. Can also do a little jumping in the cob saddle which is great. |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 10:29:18 PM
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Just wanted to thank everyone who replied. Helpful to know what others use.
I obviously need to get saddle fitted properly as I do not at the moment know exactly what will fit or suit her. Would have loved to have been able to buy a second hand one from those kindly offered as this would have been cheaper !!
So, have arranged for a fitter to come out next Thursday. Explained all my problems - and he said that Arabs are a problem with fitting (due to short back and also they use their backs more than other horses) - yep I think we knew that
He is coming armed with about 20+ saddles - hopefully one will fit her - oh and then I have to get my backside to fit it
Paula
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 10:54:26 PM
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| Oh Paula, Good luck, let us know how you get on. |
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Honey Monster
Silver Member
England
318 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2007 : 11:28:55 PM
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Sandie
Thanks
Will let you all know how it goes.
However, somehow I just know that the only saddle to fit her and my big behind will just have to be the most expensive!!!
Paula
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arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2007 : 3:01:14 PM
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Always the way Paula, but you never know, if you think the worst, you may be pleasantly surprised!!! - I hope so
Sandie |
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