saddles for high withered big shouldered horses
- Thread starter Fizz
- Start date
My TB who would fit that description has a Black Country.
However i had it fitted professionally and my saddle fitter has him in a medium tree with inserts.
She said a narrower tree while it would appear to fit higher up would restrict his shoulders.
There was also an albion and a stubben which we tried at the fitting which looked a good fit but he moved better in the black country.
However i had it fitted professionally and my saddle fitter has him in a medium tree with inserts.
She said a narrower tree while it would appear to fit higher up would restrict his shoulders.
There was also an albion and a stubben which we tried at the fitting which looked a good fit but he moved better in the black country.
Been there, done it, got the T-shirt as Peri is built like this.
Stubben - I was OK with these to a point but they didn't go wide enough for her and the shape of the tree is not ideal for broader horses. I had two Romanus saddles, one was custom made and only lasted her 9 months before she got too wide for it and it didn't suit her shape.
Barnsby saddles with the cut back heads and the half-point system work well for this type of conformation. I had a Raven and then a Luxus, both really nice saddles. Barnsby will also custom make at no extra cost. Alas, she got too wide for even the Luxus :sob:
She now has a WOW which solved the problems and she goes well in it. Downside is that you need a fitter who really knows what they are doing and is familiar with all the panel options and what suits the conformation. You also need to understand that they need fairly frequent adjustment at first and they don't suit all horses (or riders). I was pretty sceptical at first when I tried one for my other mare but she went well in it immediately so when I ran into problems with Peri it seemed logical to try her in it.
Another option is treeless but my experience with big wither/wide horse was that Peri hated it and so did my hips.
Stubben - I was OK with these to a point but they didn't go wide enough for her and the shape of the tree is not ideal for broader horses. I had two Romanus saddles, one was custom made and only lasted her 9 months before she got too wide for it and it didn't suit her shape.
Barnsby saddles with the cut back heads and the half-point system work well for this type of conformation. I had a Raven and then a Luxus, both really nice saddles. Barnsby will also custom make at no extra cost. Alas, she got too wide for even the Luxus :sob:
She now has a WOW which solved the problems and she goes well in it. Downside is that you need a fitter who really knows what they are doing and is familiar with all the panel options and what suits the conformation. You also need to understand that they need fairly frequent adjustment at first and they don't suit all horses (or riders). I was pretty sceptical at first when I tried one for my other mare but she went well in it immediately so when I ran into problems with Peri it seemed logical to try her in it.
Another option is treeless but my experience with big wither/wide horse was that Peri hated it and so did my hips.
This is J's wither/shoulder conformation
He has a Saddle company saddle - not sure if you're one of the people who has has a bad experience with them though
He has a Saddle company saddle - not sure if you're one of the people who has has a bad experience with them though
Another vote for Barnsby.
Wow saddle started off well for a couple of my friends, but they were having to have them adjusted all the time, then being convinced to buy H girths at great expense because they moved. Eventually they gave up & cut their losses & bought a jaguar - haven't looked back since.
Wow saddle started off well for a couple of my friends, but they were having to have them adjusted all the time, then being convinced to buy H girths at great expense because they moved. Eventually they gave up & cut their losses & bought a jaguar - haven't looked back since.
WOW saddle! I have a high withered/enormous shouldered horse and the WOW is fantastic. He has come on leaps and bounds and this is by far the best money I have ever spent on horsey kit. Oh and I dont mind paying to have my saddle adjusted when my horse changes shape! 
They are expensive but there are second hand ones floating around.
They are expensive but there are second hand ones floating around.
HM Fheonix with prolite pads. Fits my TBX, sloppy belly, a treat.
Also fits him beautifully when he's got a good topline too!
Also fits him beautifully when he's got a good topline too!
interesting thread, my horse has the biggest withers and sway back in the world matched with huge shoulder. i am currently riding him in a kieffer saddle but he has become to wide and cant be bother to send down south to be adjusted so i am looking for a new saddle. bates fit him quite nice but he does need a pad under it but i think he will always need a pad under his saddle.
You could also try a balance saddle with their padding system, not a first choice for my particular horse but they do have very wide saddles and the extra padding specially designed for the sway back type.
Balance - good for the front bit for your type of horse but beware - according to several saddlemakers/fitters I've spoken to Balance haven't put too much thought into the other end i.e. back part of saddle and the saddles can cause quite a few problems apparently.
I found on my big ID x my Ideal Jessica was the best fit on him and also on Billy who is also a big shouldered high withered boy!
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