Cob Saddles

[CarolineR]

I am in the process of getting a new saddle for my Cob as he has outgrown his existing one now that he is fully grown. I would like to know what saddles people ride their cobs in, he has a huge neck and shoulders and a widish flat back and is 15.1hh. There are so many out there some personal recommendations would be most appreciated.

We are, of course, getting the Saddle Fitter out but I would like to give them some ideas as to which saddles to bring to try etc etc. that will not only suit him but are comfortable to ride in.

[Maria]

Had similar problems getting saddles suitable for my cob mare. Had lots of saddles over the years - and she's even changed shape to such an extent that two Barry Swain saddles could no longer be adjusted to fit.

Bought a Thorowgood Griffin Cob GP saddle in June - reflocked on site for a perfect site. Just had the follow up check and the flocking has been adjusted again. Very pleased with the fit of the saddle and it's good to ride in. One day I'll get her to a consistent size/shape so that I can have a dressage saddle too. The Wintec was the wrong shape for her.

[MelanieD]

I've got a thorowgood cob and it's great. I've got a nightmare horse to fit so got one made to her measurements, saddler came and took a template and 5 weeks later I had a lovely new saddle. It stays in place really well, slipped forwards once when she did a huge handstand but otherwise hasn't budged, which is amazing considering the excess energy and opinions she had last night :rolleyes: :). I've had a wintec wide before as well and it was quite good, it did slip sideways a bit but I was using a polypad and elastic end girth and another saddle which usually behaves was a bit slippy with that combination so might not have been the saddle's fault.

[G.Gracious]

My heavyweight 15.1hh Cob has just turnned 5 and has outgrown her medium-wide saddle, i wasn't sure which saddle to use either but then i tried my friend's Wintec 500 GP on her and when it had the wide fitting inserted it fitted her as if it were custom made!! The extra-wide fits her well too, she has absolutely no withers so finding a saddle was a nightmare. I've now bought a Wintec off eBay and it should be arriving next week some time :)

Are you looking for a synthetic or leather? If you're looking for leather i can ask my friend what she rides her Clydesdale cross in, she's got a gorgeous leather saddle which she uses for showing and it fits her horse perfectly.

[Laura+Phantom]

My pony isn't a cob, but a well built new forest, and he takes an extra wide saddle. I bought a wintec 500 saddle for him with an extra wide gullet and width-wise, it fits him superbly, but be warned, it is quite forward cut, and cobs having big shoulders, it can pinch, as it does on my pony. I'm going to sell it and get a thorowgood maxam cob saddle, as it's much straighter cut.

I also find that all saddles slip round on him, this is dramatically reduced by using an impakt non-slip saddle pad. genius!

[Miriam]

Hi caroline I was just hinkin gabout you the other night. Haven't seen you around for a while or have I just missed your posts?



Rhi is 14.1hh with flat back and no withers. I have to rid her in an extra wide saddle. Have you looked at the saddles made by Wintc and Thorogood for the cobs?

[Yann]

Nice to hear Charlie's doing so nicely:)

I'd avoid the Wintec like the plague. they're cut all wrong for cobs and may well bridge too. Rio has a Saddle Co GP which suits her very nicely, though in hindsight a WH might have been a slightly better choice as she has the massive cob shoulders. The main advantage is that it's infinitely adjustable, I've had mine widened 3 times in 10 months as Rio has built up, something to perhaps bear in mind.

Apart from that the Ideal VSD is a popular choice at our yard and a very nice saddle, or you could consider treeless - the Heather Moffet SBS is pretty conventional looking and to ride in, and you'd never have to worry about saddle fit ever again:)

[JOJOBA]

I had an extra wide dressage saddle cut back from the whithers made for my cob as he has a slightly twisted spine and large shoulders. Having the saddle cut so far back made such a difference as he was finally able to fully extend his shoulder and immediately started working better, plus it was made to take the weight differently with one of the girth straps coming straight down from the knee roll. My saddler was right on this one and the change in my horse is huge.
Plus he looks very smart!
However I know dressage saddles arent for everyone; it's a good job we hardly ever jump.
xxx

[Yann]

Just out of interest who is your saddler?

[HairyCob]

HC is an extremely wide, flat backed cob- none of the synthetics come anywhere near wide enough for him, not even the new cob xxx wide one!

After months of searching I finally found the perfect saddle for him- it's an Ideal Highland & Cob saddle, fits him well, doesn't restrict his shoulder and is comfy for me too. Doesn't slip or move even when mounting from the ground. It was pricey tho- I paid £650 for it, although the price tag said £750!

HC is currently for sale with his saddle, but if he happens to go without it, I will have a 6month old WIDE saddle for sale!;)

[subsectionx]

hi guys... I just bought a welsh cob and looking at the posts here Im hearing myself ask Am I going to need a special saddle for my gelding? he is only 2 and right now is under weight.
he is only about 42.5" tall, lenght of girth is only 51" & lenght of back is 27.5"

he is only wighting about 360lbs right now.. like I said he is under weight and lean... Im working on his weight and muscle tone..
am I going to need a special saddle for him?

[CarolineR]

Many thanks for your responses. Sorry for the delay in replying but I've been away for a few days.

G Gracious - I have no preference for saddle type or colour, I only want one that fits him well and comfortable for us both, if its leather great, if it not well that fine also. Black or brown I dont care really.

Yann - Saddler, Debbie Richardson. Glad to hear Rio is doing so well.

I'll keep you all up to date when the new saddle comes.

[Big Ears]

I have two 15hh wide flat backed cobs, one wider than the other.

None of the synthetics sat on them at all - thorowgood or wintec did not fit, even their cob types - if they sat at the back, they didn't at the front or vice versa.

For wider cobs we found the following were good:-

Ideal wide fit
Albion legend m/w fit

I have a wide fit Cardanel for sale (similar to ideal) which has come off my cob who is now retired - it was used for six weeks so is essentially a £750 saddle brand new!

You will just have to try lots of them to see what does and doesn't do but expect that you will have to pay £250 - £650

[Big H]

I bought my cob a Wintec Wide (which has 3 interchangeable gullets).

Excellent!!!:D

[subsectionx]

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: sorry guys.. cob is a type of saddle not the horse that your fitting to...:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
guess I told you guys that i was new to this...:D
sorry for the post....;)

[vjwuk]

I have a MAXAM extra wide (18.5 I think). I use a humane girth and normal saddle cloth, no slipping as long as the girth is tight, but do wonder if it sits a bit too far forward on the shoulder now. It did not to start with but she is much fitter now.

Can you get synthetics refitted or do saddlers disown them once they have done teh initial fitting etc.

[Lancashire Lass]

Hi... I have a four year old traditional cob and I've found that the saddles that have suited him most are the ideal and the Black Country saddles.

Saying that,...he's pretty much outgrown his brown Ideal saddle now,..it's a wide,...but he's just grown wider!!!

I invested in a Black Country Show/Dressage saddle, which is fairly straight cut, so it doesn't interfere with his shoulder movement and it's more width in it than his ideal.

These two makes of saddle are the ones I personally have found suit the chunky monkeys' the best!;)