Best saddle for native with no withers..

[8-legged-pony]

It's now looking increasingly likely that Jake is going to stay and be an RDA horse. I have a feeling we're going to have great difficulty finding a saddle for him though. He's a typical round (too round at the moment) native pony, almost certainly welsh D, with practically no withers and an incredibly wide "stallion (cut late)" chest. He is currently being ridden in a Thorowgood pony maxam saddle which seemed to fit him, but we've noticed that in trot it rises up and down at the back slightly which he's not happy with, so for the time being we've padded it out with a poly pad and he's only having gentle work done with him. It also rolls slightly as he's so podgy which isn't great for the RDA riders who have trouble with their balance.

Here's a few photos of him to get an idea of his shape:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/JuniperZ/JakeShow12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/JuniperZ/JakeKaren2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/JuniperZ/Picture045.jpg

Are there any particular makes of saddle that are particularly good with this shape of pony? Bearing in mind it'd have to be synthetic or second hand as being a charity we don't have a huge budget for a saddle.

[MelanieD]

Thorowgood T4 cob is a much better shape for cobs than the old maxam and griffin saddles. Wintec Wide is also pretty nice. Native pony saddle company and saddle exchange saddles are very nice but don't come up second hand at a good price very often. There are some nice treeless saddles that are good for that shape but not sure they'd be suitable for RDA.

What size does he need? I've got a XW 17.5" thorowgood T4 cob to sell if that's any good, lovely saddle but me and my coblet really need a 17" or 16.5" seat.

[joey_olop]

My native is really wide(she is currently an XXXW gullet size!!)

The only saddle I have managed to fit her in is a Thorowgood Griffin-lovely saddle & fits her perfectly. The wintec was no good for her as it didnt sit on her back properly-Im currently having trouble with my wintec for my other boy so wouldnt recommend them for an extra wide horse.

Good luck :)

[8-legged-pony]

Thorowgood T4 cob is a much better shape for cobs than the old maxam and griffin saddles. Wintec Wide is also pretty nice. Native pony saddle company and saddle exchange saddles are very nice but don't come up second hand at a good price very often. There are some nice treeless saddles that are good for that shape but not sure they'd be suitable for RDA.

What size does he need? I've got a XW 17.5" thorowgood T4 cob to sell if that's any good, lovely saddle but me and my coblet really need a 17" or 16.5" seat.

Hmm, not sure about treeless would have to discuss it with other instructors. I know we can use bareback pads for children for example with cerebral palsy who find them a lot easier to sit in than a conventional saddle, so maybe treeless could be used. My worry would be though about pressure points etc. as he'd be having lots of different unbalanced riders on him.

As to what size - he's got quite a short back and will mainly carry children so I think the 17.5" will be too big, he's currently in a tiny possibly only 15" saddle which very few of us can squeeze our bottoms in, but I don't think we'd want anything bigger than 16.5" to be honest.

Sounds like Thorowgood's going to be the best bet then, the T4 cob sounds good - I like the description on the website "or large native breeds e.g. Highland, Dales or roly-poly type" that's Jake! Hopefully we can get a hold of a few to try on him then look at second hand ones to save a bit of cash (or just get fundraising!)

Thanks for the help :D

[JULIA G]

Melanie D

I know of someone who might be interested in your XW Thorowgood Cob T4 but will have questions like: Is it black or brown ? Does it come with FISH or is it one of the ultra new ones with gullet changes too? Re size/width wise, do you (or anyone) know how would it compare with a 17.5" Wintec 2000 GP currently set at XW with a white gullet in it ? How old is it? Do you have any photos and how much would you want for it ? Soz about so many questions ! I should see her at the yard in the next day or two

[eventerbabe]

I have a thorowgood cob saddle. they come up very wide. I think they've stopped making them because of the T4's but they are still for sale second hand :)

[ShariN]

I just have to say...he is beautiful.

Would also recommend a Thorowgood T4.
I bought the German Endurance model...and sooner or later it will arrive.

Wintec saddle, in any model...doesn't come wide enough for my super wide grey Ice mare.

[Dinsarsio]

thorowgood cob saddle is good for a cob with no withers.I do like your cob what breeding is he?

[8-legged-pony]

thorowgood cob saddle is good for a cob with no withers.I do like your cob what breeding is he?

Alas he came from a dealers (the dodgy dartford one) with no passport or papers. We think that he once may have been shown in m&m classes at county level as a stallion as he's a rather dashing chap, but then had an injury to the stifle/patella area (he has a sticky-out patella which looks funny when he moves but seems to not affect him at all - vet said nothing to worry about) so was gelded and ended up at the dealers with no papers or anything. He definately looks like he was gelded late if you look at how broad he is and cresty. We took him to a local show about 2 weeks after he was bought and he came first, even with the sticky-out patella! Just wish he still had papers, although if he did he'd be being sold for lots of money, rather than staying with us to do RDA so maybe it's just as well he hasn't!!

[Daffy Dilly]

I have a Native Pony Saddle Company saddle to fit;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/DSCF0897.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/DSCF0895.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/DSCF0893.jpg

And it's absolutely bang on. I have seen a few on ebay.

[Vicki&Milo]

Sorry, have only just seen this, but I have a whitherless, balloons-at-sight-of-grass, native and he has many different saddles......and cruppers, treed and treeless and the only thing that has really fitted well is his saddle company saddle. I was lucky I got it [practically new] off email for a fraction of the price, but because they can be altered so easily it fits like a gloe and ebcause of the synthetic tree and base they are light, which will be good if he is having unbalanced riders on, or being used for long periods.

[Pink's lady]

Have a look on ebay for second hand saddle company saddles - that would be your best bet, and if for some reason he has to go, it could be adjusted for another horse.

If that saddles a 15" there is no way he'd get away with anything longer than a 17". I would try a 17 as the panels are much bigger but you might have to settle for a 16.5.

A thorowgood might fit. Why not get a saddler to fit the right size then buy it off ebay. A wintec wide probabably won't fit - once you get them his width the tree starts to curve.

[lachlanandmarcu]

Thorowgood cob does good for my table top Haflinger girl, and at £219 brand new its def a good option to try!