Best saddles for a cob

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After my little ahem incident last night I was informed that Bryony's saddle didn't fit her, I know that so I had the guy in the tack shop on site check it out on Monday and he said she's obviously lost a bit of condition so it doesn't fit now but once she's built up it will probably be ok and advised a riser pad. So thats what I've done.
I'm getting so much conflicting advice on what to do saddle wise, she's very short backed so she can't have anything bigger than a 17" but I need a wide seat as I really need a 18". The saddle she has is an extra wide but really sits on her back.
I don't know what to do, is there any companies who specialise in saddles for the more voluptious pony that I can maybe try. I had someone suggest a native pony guy but then someone else said that the type of paneled saddle (whatever that is) wouldn't do me any good as I need quite a nice knee roll as I only have little legs.
I haven't got a clue what to do and it really isn't helping that people say this saddle fitter at the tack shop isn't any good.
Other problem is I can't afford anything to flash untill I sell Grady's array of saddles as OH will get very mad:mad: as I bought a nice throwgood girth on Monday then got informed that elasticated girths are not a good idea for fat ponies, so he wasn't amused - that and I spent £550 on Gradys saddle then decided to sell him a week later:eek: and the new owner didn't want the saddle.
 
have you thought about treeless?
i have a small pony and bigger riders ride her (size 10 and size 14), we use a treeless as it doesnt matter if its slightly long on her.
we had a trekker talent (endurance type) on her and it was a little big, but now i have a trekker dressage and its a lot neater on her, and the seat is a 17 1/2 seat, the actual saddle its self is more like 17 inch, maybe a bit smaller.
 
Misty (Section D) was a driving horse when I got her and had HUGE shoulders. I got a fitter out and he suggested a working hunter type saddle so it wouldn't interfere with her shoulder action. I got a lovely Fieldhouse Pro VSD 17" wide which was perfect for her. That was three years ago, and I've just had the fitter out again last Saturday and he said it needs to be re-flocked as she's changed shape completely.
 
Jeffries are usually a good fit, my wide cob has a Hawk event XW and its a great fit, mind you it is expensive at over £900 but worth every penny.

Ideal saddles have always been mooted as being good for cobs. they don't fit either of my cobs but thats because the tree shape isn't suitable for my 2. The Ideal H&C is a great saddle, nice and straight cut and comes in wider fittings.

See if your saddler will take Gradys saddle as a trade, or even sell it on your behalf. saddles often sell quicker that way. took me months to sell my 2 saddles, i was lucky i found a lady who happened to want the make of saddles i had in those particular fittings.
 
I can heartily reccomend a Saddle Company Cob saddle- just got one for Dolly and it's lovely- she has very narrow withers but a very wide back and it fits her perfectly.

Saddle company saddles are 'templated' to fit the horse exactly, so you wouldn't have any problem getting it to fit- and they can be adjusted and adjusted over and over again (by a saddle co fitter, on site) so when Bryony changes shape, you won't need a pad or new saddle, just a visit from the fitter.

As to the short back on her and the need for a wide seat on you- I have the same issue- Dolly is very short backed, and I am quite long in the leg and big in the bum:eek: - the cob saddle I got is a 17", which actually doesn't come any further back than the GP in a 16.5" did, and has a nice wide seat to both accomodate my backside and 'spread the load' as it were!

So... you're probably thinking, yeah, right, but at what cost- brand new saddle, essentially made to measure, £590 including fitting. :D

Whereabouts in are you? There will no doubt be a fitter nearby:D Here's a link to their site if you're interested-http://www.thesaddlecompany.co.uk/

The saddler I used also does 3 months interest free credit- which is always a bonus:D Edited to add- I see you are in Somerset- as is the saddler I used;)
 
Second the Saddle Company Saddle, for cobs, I've got one. Had it nearly 12 months and it sooo comfortable.

I like it as they are made/templated to fit your horse, not just buying an ex-wide and then fitted to the horse. As your horse changes shape they come out and alter the saddle or you can take a new template and send it back to the factory for altering as well.

I've also got a Stubben Tervia string girth as well, which is really nice and holds the saddle there. It is soft on the horses as well, doesn't bunch under the elbows and allows the girth to breath, so not nasty as sweaty!

http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh202357/shophome.php

I've got a 17 1/2 inch saddle, but it looks no bigger than a 17" Wintec GP that I had before, the saddle flaps are cut straighter more like a VSD or working hunter giving more room for the shoulders to move.

You can also really 'feel' the horse underneath you as well. For my money 10/10 for the Saddle Co, can't you tell!!:D
 
Thanks HC, this is doing my head in, saddles have caused me nothing but grief. Are these cob saddles still cut like a GP as I find it very difficult to ride in a straighter cut saddle as I feel my knees are collapsing - does that make sense?
 
Here's the link for the actual cob saddle,

http://www.thesaddlecompany.co.uk/special_saddle_1.html

It's not so straight that it is like a dressage saddle, at the end of the day it's a GP, and you can do jumping in it, hacking, dressage etc. It comes with knee blocks which you can remove it necessary or keep them on to make the knee role deeper and give you somethin there if you know what I mean, I like to have the blocks in security maybe?. It also has a nice deep seat, which can help.

Just a suggestion, but find out who HC's saddler was they may have Saddle Co demos that you could try as well as other makes, It really is trial and error, but the more you can try out off a good saddler the better. The one thing with the saddle Co, is my horse likes it as well, had tried a few other makes before, but he just didn't seem to like them.
 
I've sent them an e-mail enquiry so hopefully I'll hear something soon. HC how long did it take to get a fitter out?

Oooooh the rep for somerset happened to be in the office when I e-mailed so she replied and I just phoned her, she has a spot open for Monday at 3pm.
Hopefully this will sort it out.
 
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That's great news! Good luck for Monday:D

What's the name of the rep you have coming out? If it's Sarah Emery then its the same one as did mine, she's lovely, but boy can she talk;)


Keep us updated- here's hoping for another perfectly fitting saddle on NR:D

ETA- to be honest, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the cob saddle and the GP unless they were side by side- the cob is slightly straighter cut to accomodate the 'upright' shoulders you normally see on cobs, but to me it looks (and feels!) just like riding in a GP. As NicolaJ said, they do come with detachable Knee blocks too- Mine came straight off as I thought they were a bit TOO big, but if you like something 'in front' of your knee, you might like them
 
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Going off on a tangent slightly, have just phoned my saddle fitter to see if its ready after being re-flocked (they took it on Saturday and said it would be three days), and they haven't 'had time to look at it yet'. I'm seething as I need it for Saturday. I just wish these people would be honest and say 'its going to be a week or two'. Whinge over!!
 
OH will get very mad as I bought a nice throwgood girth on Monday then got informed that elasticated girths are not a good idea for fat ponies
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Oh dear. Ive been using one on each of my fatties. Bertha is very very fat and wide, Paddys just fat. :p Had one on both. I dont like the non elastic girths. Wintecs are meant to be good girths, and my college uses thorowgood girths on all their cobs! Just bought a load more!
Paddy has just had a Kieffer saddle and Bertha a stubben. Bertha has had a saddle specially made for a 16.3hh suffolk punch.
Both are lovely saddles, but i have a kieffer bum ;) i prefer kieffers as theyre comfier than stubbens. Saying that, i do ride in it a fair amount. Paddys old saddle was very comfy too. He had a barnsby. Doesnt fit him in respects that the tree is too curvy for his straighter back but apart from that its a really good saddle. Not for sale though, as i do like it. My mum keeps trying to get me to sell it. Its the comfiest saddle that fits both horses (Padz with a riser pad at the back)!
Ideal saddles are horrible and have given me numerous of rubs down my legs which were quite sore. I now refuse to ride said horses in the saddles because of it!
Sabre saddles are lovely.
T&C Robinson saddles are lovely too. Rode in one today, cant fault them at all.
 
Oh Ann, what a pain! Is there anywhere else you could take it- if there is I'd vote with my feet;) Have you told them you need it for Saturday? I do hope they get it done.

Sorry to go on, but 'tiz another bonus of Saddle co saddles, that when the fitter comes out to check it, if it needs re-flocking or adjusting in any way, they can do it there and then- no taking it in and waiting for it:)
 
I think it's just a matter of finding a nice saddle that I feel comfy with, my main issue is that I can get one altered as she alters without having adjustable gullets.
No the rep coming out is called Jackie, she sounds very nice.
With regards to the girth I thought seeing as she's a bit girthy a bit of elastic might ease her hatred for them but apparently it just eased the saddle right off her back and onto the belly. Might get a string one, someone else suggested one of those to me.
 
I was re-attaching my stirrups last night (some nice person found them and left them outside my stable) and I noticed that my saddle is infact an ideal saddle so I might just be able to get it re-stuffed. Bargain, could save me a coupel of quid although the saddle is a bit battered after our little incident.
 
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