high wither saddle?

[janed]

Hi
Could anyone tell me what type/brand of western saddle would be most suitable for a high-withered horse? I have a 16hh Thoroughbred who is proving to be quite difficult to fit. I know there are other considerations other than wither height butat least it would be a starting point. There seem to be hundreds of saddles out there but few give any info on gullet height.......any help would be heaven sent!!
Also does anyone have experience of the treeless sports saddles?

[Outrider]

I had the same problem with my Appendix. I finally had to have a saddle made from scratch and the saddle maker used a mule tree. Happy Trails!

[Dizzy]

I had a job getting a Western saddle to fit my mare, I made a cardboard template, and took photo's of her - side profile to show her wither profile and I took a photo from above directly behind her (by standing on a wall) I also gave her age, hieght and breed details. I searched for Western suppliers and sent them all her details. I only really found 3, they are Dale Western, The Western Department and Heathlands.

I rang all 3 and had a good chat with them, they were all really helpful - I did stress that I would be having a saddler to fit the saddle and if it didn't fit I would want to return it. They were all very happy with that as long as I didn't mind paying the return postage. The first saddle I tried was a dreadful fit, it put enormous pressure on her directly behind her wither. I didn't need a saddler to tell me so I sent it back - this was from Dale Western, they are lovely people, emailed me to say they were sorry it didn't fit and to say it had arrived back safe and sound.

I then tried the Western Dept, spoke to Janet Weston, she is a mine of information, when I described the problem with the first saddle she said she knew exactly what the problem was, when I spoke to her she hadn't actually seen what I had sent, she found it and said she'd get straight onto it. She rang me back the next morning, and said she thought she had a saddle that looked a good bet. I got it 2 days later, I couldn't try it straight away as Breeze had been freeze branded. But when I did the fit to me felt lovely, it sat in balance, gave good wither clearance, the panels felt evenly distributed and I could run my full hand underneath the front with no pressure points.

My saddler came out and although I didn't say anything confirmed it was a lovely fit. My saddle is a Fabtron, it has a leather seat, ralhide tree and the skirts and stirrup fenders are cordura (synthetic) it weighs about 22lbs.

I was at the Equus show earlier this month and visited the Flair stand, I was asking advise about a TB for a friend who uses an english saddle, but is having a fight to get a saddle to fit, due to high withers and topline muscle wastage, she recommended the Korrecter saddle pad, it has air bags that can be adjusted to pad out/balance a saddle (obviously fitted slightly wider) allowing the horse to develop into the saddle. As we chatted I mentioned I used a Western saddle and she said they have a pad designed for Western saddles.

The Western Department - www.westernsaddlery.co.uk

Dale Western - www.thewesternshop.com/websites/dalewestern/


Korrector - www.korrector.com

Heathlands - www.heathlandswesterncentre.co.uk

Good luck,

Lesley

[janed]

Thankyou so much for your replies...much appreciated. The options here in Ireland are very limited and the whole subject seems like a minefield but I'll hang on in there and hope for a happy outcome!

[Outrider]

I would wager that an Irish saddle maker could get you a mule tree from the us. Would you like for me to look for a source for you? Be glad to. Happy Trails!

[janed]

Thankyou Outrider..that would be marvellous and it's an option I'd certainly persue if it was possible. I'm worn out from taking wither tracings and trying this, that and the other!!
A note to Dizzy: I will follow up the companies you mentioned as I don't want to leave any stone unturned. Thanks again.

[Dizzy]

Give Janet Weston a call, as I said she was a mine of information, she knows all about fitting various shaped horses. She is at the Western Department, they have far more saddles than their internet site implies, mine isn't on it. One thing I will say is, unless you have your own cinch, specify you want one supplied with the saddle. My saddle didn't have one - luckily I had a friend I could call on.

Good luck, I know only too well how frustrating it is, you may find it more difficult with a TB, does he have a good topline? If not the lady at Flair recomended the Korrector pad, you can inflate the pads to balance the saddle and give the horse room to develop.

Hope you find something soon.

Lesley

[Outrider]

I'll talk to my saddle maker about where to get a mule tree and prices and I will let you know as soon as I can. I'll send you a picture of my saddle that is made off of a mule tree by email. Note the tall gullet. Happy Trails!

[lamprellsarah]

the wintec 500 i ahve been told was made in australia and was made fot the australian TB, and i find this fits my high withered TBx horse perfect!!