Synthetic (esp Heathers) vs leather saddles

[Sonia]

Hi all
I can't believe that things have happened so quickly and I just had to share it with someone before I burst!! I've just about bought my 1st horse!! - I just have to get him vetted (which is arranged for Friday) and then he's mine. Anyway I wanted opinions on the pro's/con's of synthetic saddles and leather saddles eps the Albion leather saddles.

Also, has anyone bought one of Heathers saddles and what do you think ?(Heather, this may be a strange question but what do you think of Thorowgood's synthetic version of your saddle ?)

Many thanks
Sonia

[Wally]

As a saddler, trained to make the best quality leather saddles.(not far from where Thorowgood are based) I used to say that synthetic saddles were terrible, made of inferior materials and not good value for money. That was 15-20 years ago. Sadly I have to say that the Torowgood Griffin range are good value for money.
I have two of their saddles, and it pains me to say I'm impressed. They wear well, they are well designed, and well made. If you are strapped for cash and can't afford new leather, then a new Thorowgood as opposed to secondhand leather is a good option.

[Allie]

I am about to buy yet another saddle (I aleady have four and only two horses!). I am most likely going to get one of the Wintec synthetic ones with the adjustable gulelt system. My main reason for buying the synthetic ones is the adjustable gullet, as I have hard to fit horses, but I consider the synthetic part to be a plus. My friend has a couple of synthetic western saddles, and they are so nice! They are really lightweight, and to clean them all you have to do is wipe with a wet rag or hose them off. The fact that synthetic is cheaper is just an added bonus. Synthetic materials have advanced do much today that they look almost the same as leather, and they wear really well.

Allie

[Wally]

Adjustable gullets are not, I feel, all that successful.
If you go into any saddler's work room and look at the panel patterns, you will find that the pattern for wide fit differs immensly to the pattern for narrow fit.
A wide fit tree will not fit a panel made for a narrow fit tree.
I used to work with an adjustable tree system, they were never that good.
Things may well have changed a great deal since then, but I'm yet to be convinced.

[hlstarmie]

I have been told that synthetic saddles fit the horse better is that true?
Also I have never bought a new saddle but had a second hand one altered to fit my pony, so my question is when buying a new saddled you have to also get it altered to fit the horse is that correct?

[Wally]

Not neccessarily,
A saddler will usually bring out a selection of different saddles for you to try.
Some designs may never fit a certain horse due to its shape, to try and make a saddle fit, in this case, would be unwise. Out of all the ones you try you may find one that you like and almost fits correctly, in which case a small amount of alteration can be done, but not all that much.If you do go for the alteration option it should be checked after a couple of weeks to see that all is well. I personally would go for a design of saddle that is suitable for the discipline that you intend do most, fits the horse without alteration and fits you too. Some horses can be devils to fit.

Some synthetic saddles fit some horses better, some leather saddles fit some horses better than synthetic. Every horse is different so they way a saddle fits is too. Never a hard and fast rule where horses are involved.