Saddles.....

fionahogg · #1 5th Nov 2001, 08:01 PM

Hi Heather, long time no 'speak'!

OK, I've definately decided to get a HM Thorowgood saddle, but I don't know which model to go for. The dressage one would be fine, if I could afford to get another saddle that I could use for jumping. What I'm wondering about is, if I got the GP version, would the set-back stirrup bar position make my lower leg position less secure?

Does anyone have the GP version and if so how do they find it affects their jump position, if at all?

Also does the GP come in a 'deluxe' version with an in-built seat saver?

Thanks,

Fiona

Wally · #2 6th Nov 2001, 07:01 PM

I don't have the GP (I'm still waiting for my dressage version which they PROMISED would be here by the end of Oct......end of Nov. now) A friend does though, she's really pleased with it. It makes her whole position better, so she says.

Jumping position is not affected as you still need the ear, hip heel line in jumping too, it's a really good compromise according to my friend.

Sharon H · #3 7th Nov 2001, 08:26 AM

If you're talking about the synthetic version, it has too sets of pads, one for dressage and one for jumping or gp, best of both worlds! I've got one and I love it.

Sarah · #4 7th Nov 2001, 04:32 PM

I've got the GP and it is absolutely fine for jumping. I actually feel more secure with my heel further back.

I think you are doing a higher level of jumping than me though, I have only done littlish things with my new saddle so far.

bye!

Maria · #5 8th Nov 2001, 07:30 AM

I've yet to jump in my new leather GP - just waiting for Barry's mob to sort out the knee rolls for me. Well that's my excuse anyway.

I'm really encouraged to hear that none of you are having problems. I was a bit concerned that with my long legs, and shorter stirrups, that my lower leg would come too far back.

Maria

Penelope · #6 11th Nov 2001, 06:18 PM

My friend has just bought a HM Thorowgood GP and is really pleased with it, she bought it under my advice and now I am insanely jealous of her! I have an OK saddle which is fine when coupled with a seatbone saver but it doesn't rival her GP.

Noblesteed · #7 12th Nov 2001, 03:23 PM

Hi everyone, reading your posts with interest as I'm really unhappy with the expensive saddle I inherited when I bought my horse 7 weeks ago. I'm very interested in Heather's ideas and would love to try one of her saddles out. My saddle tips me forward with legs also too far forward. I had a saddler out to check out the saddle, he says it fits the horse fine and that he's not a fan of Thorowgood saddles and definately not of Heather's design. However, I really need a saddle that helps me (first-time horse owner) as well as fits Ben. What do you guys think..... Regards Cathy.

Wally · #8 12th Nov 2001, 05:22 PM

I'm a saddler and a rider too, there are not many saddlers out there who ride, so make sure yours does before you listen 100% to him/her about design.
Some of the havn't a clue on design and riding!

I used not to be a fan of Thorowgood saddles. I was all for leather saddles, and I have to say the original Thorowgood saddles were dreadful, I'm taking 18+ years ago. Materials and design have come on a bundle and having sat in Heather's Dressage Thorowgood saddle I have to say I'm impressed.

I aslo have some of their other designs which we use on our school and trekking horses. They are very hard wearing and after the horses spending a long time under saddle I have never had a horse with a sore back who wears a T'good. I am now, sadly converted, they are not bad value for money, well designed in the most part but they don't do wide enough fits, this is something they need a ticking off about.

Heather's design is good, and if mine EVER turns up I'll let you know how it feels on my little horse!

For anyone Still waiting for theirs, Thorowgood PROMISE they are getting on top of back orders, I've now been given a date of 23rd Nov. at the latest...honest....cross their hearts!

Mossy · #9 12th Nov 2001, 06:36 PM

Wally
Re wide T'goods, have you tried the Teqnic range? The wide fit is enormous. It fits a Highland with ease. They are cheap and cheerful but great for all weather riding, no problem for all day wear and Connie is happy in her medium fit and if she is happy in a saddle it Must be comfy. [a welsh cob in a medium fit saddle!] I am using mine without the knee rolls in. The Griffin medium goes nowhere near her.

Noblesteed · #10 13th Nov 2001, 08:10 AM

Hello again...
Wally, thanks for your comments re Thorowgood saddles, gives me a bit more faith in the saddle but a little less in your average saddlemaker! I think I will get one from Robinson's and then get a saddle fitter to come and check it for me. No saddlers in my area stock them andwould expect me to buy before I try, which could turn out to be an expensive mistake ifit doesn't fit.

Also not sure about sizing. It's to fit my 15.1 cob type. He's not that wide but does have a flatish back with reasonably prominent withers. My instinct is to go for a 17.5" wide. What horses and saddles do other HM saddle owners have, for comparison?

Best regards Cathy.

Wally · #11 13th Nov 2001, 10:55 AM

They don't come up that wide, I'd go for a wide fit, we have M on Magnús, hes a fat Icelandic, not a narrow type.

Trudy van Rijn · #12 13th Nov 2001, 07:52 PM

I have just bought a HM saddle in wide. My horse is a Merens, a bit like a Fell. He also has a flat back.
The saddler tried to sell me a Thorowgood Cob saddle and told me it was a HM one.

unicorndanca · #13 3rd Dec 2001, 11:29 AM

I have very interested in getting one of heather's saddles. Can you buy them in Australia and if not where can I order one and how much are they???? I like the sound of the synthetic GP.

Heather · #14 11th Dec 2001, 07:23 PM

HI everyone,

Out of interest, Cathy, can you tell me why your saddler didn't like, my design? Tell her/him that the Metropolitan Mounted Police are ordering them as they have found their recruits sit and ride so much bettter in them. I have a student here from Saudi Arabia at the moment, who is a riding teacher and the school bought six of my TG GP's on Susannah's advice having ridden on my saddles last time she was here. She can't believe how much easier it is to teach her own students using these saddles.

Heather

Noblesteed · #15 12th Dec 2001, 10:20 AM

Hello everyone,

In reply to Heather, the Master Saddler I discussed your saddle with implied that it was a con and your design was just an excuse for Thorowgood to charge more for it. I think he was having problems with Thorowgood and was just not keen to sell their saddles at all. However I also feel a bit conned by his advice...and I won't be dealing with him again. I would prefer someone more open-minded and able to understand what I'm trying to achieve with a better designed saddle. I'm still aiming to get a Thorowgood GP in your design, but will need someone else to check the fit.

Regards Cathy

Sarah · #16 12th Dec 2001, 12:08 PM

Cathy,

I think if you look on the Thorowgood website they have a saddle fitting guide that you can print out and use (with a flexicurve or bit of wire) to work out the right size (and type) of saddle for your horse. You could maybe use that as a first attempt, then try to find a saddle to check the fit when you have your saddle.

If you can't find the thing I am on about on the website, then call TG up and get them to post you one.

bye!

Sarah Rees · #17 12th Dec 2001, 01:20 PM

Sorry but I have to disagree with all the posts advocting the use of the Thorogood saddles.

This is not because of Heather's design but rather the nature of synthetic saddles. As sythetics mould to a horse's shape much more than a leather saddle, if the horse is crooked the saddle will end up so too. As most if not all horses (and riders) are crooked, it follows that the saddle will become so. It took just two months of use before my HM GP saddle became so crooked that I cannot ride in it. I have had two saddlers down to look at it and neither can correct it. I contacted Thorogood but they have not come back to me.

This is not just a go at Thorogood as I have found this with both Wintec and Thorogood saddles and as such I would not have another synethic saddle even if you gave it to me for free!

schimmer · #18 13th Dec 2001, 02:56 PM

At my barn we have mostly synthetics - we have to use them here in the tropics. Leather is dangerous because it rots through so quickly and breaks easily.

We have a number of synthetics, both Wintec and Thorowgood, and many people ride on them. Never have we had a problem with uneveness, even with the oldest saddles.

Sarah, I hope Thorowgood gets back to you! Good luck.

ros · #19 13th Dec 2001, 07:34 PM

Sarah (Rees):

Did your saddle become crooked because your horse is crooked? If so, then if your horse and saddle are so crooked that you can't use your saddle any more, with all due respect should you be putting a saddle on him/her at all?

Heather · #20 15th Dec 2001, 06:13 PM

HI Sarah,

It is very unlikely that the TG Sima tree will have warped- they are so strong that you can run a lorry over them without damage. On the other hand, saddle fitter and Author of the book Saddle Fitting, Kay Humphries, was asked by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers to take a seminar at Saddlers Hall a few months ago, on the subject of asymmetric trees, of which an awful lot of normal beechwood trees are just that. They are made by hand and human eye, always open to errors, and if you saw the number of twisted trees that Kay comes across in a week's saddle fitting, you would be horrified. Each beechwood tree that we use in the Barry Swain saddles is thoroughly examined and any problems sorted before it is used to make a saddle.

Ros will testify to this as she gave me her previous saddle, a well known make, to ensure that it never ended up on the back of another horse, and that I could use it to demonstrate how to recognise a crooked tree. It is almost unbelieveably crooked and Ros bought the saddle new.

If the horses is asymmetric, or the rider, this will also cause the saddle to twist. Unfortunately, there are a lot of saddlers out there who couldn't recognise a squint tree if you hit them with one.

It is not just the trees. I went out with Kay for a day saddle fitting in Cornwall earlier this year. I was aghast at what we found. In the eight saddles examined, we found two with twisted trees, one with the panel not in straight, one with a stirrup bar 3/4" further forward on one side than the other, another with the bar over half and inch lower on one side than the other, and a brand new saddle fitted just a couple of weeks before by a Master saddler, that was way too narrow for the horse, and had the girth straps on the left hand side against the point pocket, and the other side,one and a half inches, yes one and a half inches further back- no wonder the poor rider said she couldn't sit straight!! This was so bad that Kay borrowed it to take up to Saddlers Hall for the seminar.

So, don't think that synthetic trees are bad- they are far more likely to be symetrical than a traditional one, and now the new Tree Tec tree that ex chief designer at TG has developed, entirely computer calibrated so no margins for error, is absolutely brilliant.

If the horse is asymmetric, then it goes without saying that until this is remedied, it is not going to help either saddle or rider!

Heather