Saddles with moved back stirrup bars

[alfi-social]

Hello, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this?! I'm new to this forum and want to know if the principles Heather applies to the poisition of stirrup bars on her saddles are available on the Wintec or Thorowgood range. I can't justify spending more than £100 on a 2nd hand saddle so it'll have to be synthetic- I don't own the horse I ride and I and my daughter don't have a trailer yet and I'd like to do a course on this and that etc etc and we're on a tight budget!
Some saddles have "extendable "stirrup bars?
I am borrowing a 15.2 Welsh Sec D with a lot of Cleveland Bay in her and just doing hacking- I'd like to use my own saddle as her owner says that hers is not a good fit but does not want to replace it yet. I was thinking of the Wintec adjustable gullets with CAIR with the idea that it might fit another horse later.
BWs alfi

[larri]

Hiya

I have a HM thorowgood GP with the set back bars.

You can still buy them new from Thorowgood at £299 GP/Dressage so should be able to get one SH - try ebay!

And Hi and welcome to NR as well :D

larri

[vickie]

as far as i know tg are not making these saddles anymore, and i have only ever seen one second hand.

if shes anything like my section D then wintecs won't go anywhere near! there are a couple of synthetic saddles around that are specifically designed for cobs. try e-bay you might get lucky and find one, but they tend to go for more than £100 if they are in reasonable condition, and you would run the risk of it not fitting and you would still have to pay a fitter to come out and fit it for you.

the best thing to do would be to ring round some local saddlers and see if they have anything suitable. i only paid £50 for my saddle second hand but it is very tatty looking indeed, and i only bought it because of the peg saddles won't fit my mare. this one fits so despite the fact cosmetically it looks awful i bought it anyway. in the mean time i'm saving up for a made to measure, and then i'll just use my synthetic for riding on the beach so my leather doesn't get wrecked.

[larri]

Hi Vickie

I was in my saddlers on Saturday and according to her they are still available new. As my four year old is filling out I'm looking at getting another so asked specifically about ordering one from TG and it was fine.

I bought mine second hand, but it was absolutely as new, with all the pads, girth etc so paid a lot more than £100.

There are other synthetic saddles available on the web for £100 new, I've just bought a new Rhinegold for my rather ancient 14hh Sec D, but it doesn't have set back bars. It will only be used for happy hacking and a bit of schooling so I didn't want to spend loads of money...poor old boy!

[ros]

PLEASE: remember that the saddle is the only thing between you and your horse, and if it doesn't fit the pair of you are in BIG trouble.

It's usually false economy to buy a cheap saddle. It's also a VERY bad idea to order saddles by mail order.

Saddles MUST fit, and they must also be safe for you and the horse. You might just get a cheap bargain if you're very very lucky, but it's highly unlikely.

[larri]

Ros

I realise that, but in my case spending £500 on a 23 y o who gets ridden for may be an hour a week isn't an option. Some of us do this on a shoestring.

If you measure and take a template - or in my case discuss sizes and makes with a qualified saddle fitter, prior to purchase and then get them out to check and if necessary adjust and flock, there shouldn't be a problem.

Larri

[vickie]

are you sure that the hm synthetics are still available? rideaway told me that they were no longer being made and the only website i could find that had them only had a couple left (not the right sizes typical!) and told me again that they were no longer available :( also they aren't on the tg website either. could you post the details of your saddler on here as i know loads of people are looking for one second hand because they are no longer available new, or at least thats what they've all been told, and i'm sure that they would all jump at the chance to buy one new :D

[ros]

Larri - I take your point, but I still maintain that as soon as you put a saddle on any horse you're responsible for the effects.

[vickie]

wow larri, thanks for the tip about e-bay, i've never looked for saddles on there before, but i've just bought a nearly new HM TG saddle. fingers crossed when saddler comes out it fits! alfi if it does not fit do you want first refusal??

edited to say now definitely for sale as doesn't fit :mad: