Help - saddles??

[horsefreak]

Hello!

My new pony Ebony doesn't come with any tack or anything :eek: so I have to buy it all for her. I have already got her a bridle ect, its just the saddle I have to get now - I'm going to get the nearest saddle fitter to come out, but what in your opinion are the best saddles?? She is quite wide, but small (14hh) and is pure dales, so heavily built. I am only going to do hacking and the local show in the summer, so I want something comfortable!!

Any suggestions for saddles would be a great help!!

Ax

[HanGbbn]

How about a Wintec 500? - £225 from Robinsons

The horse i ride at my riding school has one and its quite comfy !!

http://www.robinsons-uk.com/robcl/webstore/product_details.asp?ProductCode=305020140&unit=EACH&go=yes&CalledBy=INFO

How much were you thinking of (price wise) ?

The Thorowgoods are also nice and comfy!
You can get all sorts of different ones - e.g. cob, G.P, High wither etc

So theres bound to be one to suit

The Thorowgood G.P is £244 in Robinsons.

There are loads so go onto the site to have a look,

Go onto http://www.robinsons-uk.com/robcl

then type thorowgood into the search - should bring up the saddles.

Theres always Ebay for cheap saddles - as long as your careful to get one that fits your horse and is in quite good condition - i.e not going to break as soon as you sit on it etc!

www.ebay.co.uk

[Person_and_ted]

Personally i like leather saddles, but if you want a synthetic one then Thorowgood is supposed to be pretty good. i know someone who got a wintec one and said they were dissapointed but i dont se any problem with them. a saddler should find a saddle that will fit for you, it will probally be a second hab=nd leather one.

[G.Gracious]

I need a saddle for Gracie too. I'm taking her to a saddler who lives about 30 minutes away and he says that he could get me a second hand GP leather saddle for £100-£200. Definately contact a saddler in your area, they're extremely helpful and'll find you a good saddle. I'm not too keen on synthetic saddles, i think it's better to pay more for a leather saddle which willlast you for 20+ years than to buy a synthetic one which might last you 2!!

[Wally]

If you can find a Saddle COmpany dealer in your area they are excellent value for money and Dave and his gang really do a good job and they are well designed and FIT, The tree can be altered lots of times to accomodate a "growing" horse. Or narrowed down to go with a fittening horse. But it needs to go back to the factory to do a proper job.

His saddles come with serge panels if you want so are great on a wide, potentially slippery backed horse. The serge is much gripper and softer on a horse's back.

You can look on thier website www.thesaddlecompany.co.uk

[Yann]

I agree completely about the Saddle Company, and being in Devon I think you should be covered for a fitter, it's only up north they're a bit thin on the ground.

With your horse being a native she'll probably be quite wide at the wither, and for some unknown historical reason the vast majority of off the shelf saddles aren't wide enough for such horses even if they call them 'extra wide' or 'cob' saddles.

[HairyCob]

Have to agree with Wally and Yann about The Saddle co. Excellent saddles at reasonable prices that can be adjusted to fit your horse perfectly.

I recently was lucky enough to get my hands on an ex-demo Heather Moffett Working Hunter Easisit which is a Saddle co saddle, and it is wonderful!

If you want an EE saddle, you could do a lot worse than an easisit- if you can find one! There are a few about secondhand, infact, there are a couple on the EE website at the moment. Another great thing about the saddle company is that they will alter a second hand saddle that you have bought elsewhere- as long as it's a Saddle Co saddle they will do it- even if they no longer manufacture that particular saddle.

Give Dave at The Saddle co or Vicki at Better Saddles (Saddle Co fitter/supplier) a ring- they are both supremely helpful and will be able to advise as to local fitters etc!

Good Luck!

[Ginger Thing]

I'm with Wally, Yann and HairyCob on this one - The Saddle Co are great. Myself and OH each have 2 of their saddles, and really recommend them.

Yann - things might be looking up Up North - when Dave came to fit my GP just before Xmas, he brought three saddle-fitting students with him from Yorkshire, who were down here for training.

[Yann]

So I gather, Cathy Holloway mentioned there is someone from Leeds getting trained up, I'm sure they'll be very busy:)

[horsefreak]

Thank you everyone!!

Yes I am looking for a leather saddle, they seem to last a lot longer, so will gave the Saddle Company a go.

Thanks again!!

Ax

[HairyCob]

Good Luck! I very much doubt you will be disapointed with a Saddle Co saddle- In fact I'd be flabberghasted if you were anything less than delighted!

Keep us updated!:D

[rockym]

I have been reading the posts here with interest. There is a saddle manufacturer here in Queensland Aussie, who makes a saddle based on the old military style with hinged panels. and used by endurance riders here here is a link to there site
http://www.coverdalesaddles.com.au/