Tilly needs a new saddle...

[olivia]

...before her currant one kills Mair

Hacking out in a dressage saddle over the hills near Mair was a hard task, but now it's started to slip forward it's becoming a real hazard.

So I need to sort out a new saddle for HRH and I think I've got two options. If I can get a reasonable priced one I can keep the SBS as she does go nicely in that on the flat, but if I have to resort to stupidly expensive one then I'd have to sell my SBS

So I really need ideas - as you know Tilly is one WIDE girl, and she's only really been happy in treeless. However I now weigh too much to really ride her in a treeless, and obviously I don't ride her that often, but it would be nice to ride with a clear conscience..

Mair has tried Molly's Torsion on Tilly and that is a bit tight and Tilly doesn't seem to like it.

I quite like the balance saddle without points www.balanceinternational.com/saddles_saddles.html#matrix as that obviously has the advantages of a tree without the width problem that points can cause.

I've also always liked the concept of the WOW saddles, but am worried they wouldn't go wide enough

Does anyone have any ideas of other saddles I could start researching?

We're going to wait for Tilly get summer fit when she really muscles up before actually buying anything, but I think it's worth researching from now.

Cheers

Olivia

[taffydales]

I had a real problem Olivia getting a saddle for Perrywinkle and after Huw trying a no of different saddles on her all with a stability issue we opted for a Wintec saddle and I,m thrilled with it, and I have to say I have never been a great fan of synthetic saddles but this one is great.
www.wintec.net.au/products/allPurpose/allPurposeWide.html

[nars]

Olivia,

the WoW saddle comes ina huge range of widths. Speak to a qualified fitter for advice.

What about Strada sadles? I don't know much about them, but they sound intersting and may suit you.

[dollylanedales]

Jo M's Dancer is a big lad, as is Alison's Merlin. What saddles do they have?

Among all the ones for Molly, we tried a Wintec. I personally liked it, but it just didn't fit Mollys shape at all. Do they do a really wide one .......

I think if I was just riding in a menage, the SBS would be fine. To be honest, its not really the sort of saddle for riding up and down hills.

We did discuss a western saddle, didn't we Olivia. Alisondaily's OH has one for his Dales x Penny - she is a big girl, but not as big as Tilly.

[jec248]

I have 3 saddles for Magic, and like them all.

I have a brown Native Pony saddle from the Native Pony Saddle Co., a Wintec 2000 with the changeable gullet and cair, and a Heather Moffett treeless saddle.

You should have no problem getting a WOW saddle wide enough.

[Debbie]

Western saddles also come in draft sizes to accomodate an even wider back and ribcage.

What about Clair Dales? Didn't she create a saddle for the native ponies? I bet that would fit Tilly beautifully.

[harleydales]

I have a Wintec Wide which is specifically designed for wide short ponies with big shoulders. It has a changable gullet and lovely wide panels.

Harley and I have done many, many miles in it with no problems to me or him

[zeldalithgow]

I think Alison's Merlin has a Wow saddle

[echolady]

not sure where you are but this guy was recommended to me, he brings a wintec up ( any model) he fits it then he balences it. and in a few weeks time he follows up with his appointments and comes to re balence the saddle once it has settled!

Tony uttley
31, station road
hadfield
glossop
derbyshire
sk13 1db

07889617621

[e-mail]

[dollylanedales]

Just a few miles up the road from us - he is very helpful, we got Mollys first saddle from him.

[khristyne]

Dorothy is a VERY big girl! She has a very wide spinal canal and needs a very wide gullet underneath as well as across her shoulder/wither.

My saddler recommends the new thorowgood t4 cob saddle as you can adjust the gullett as well as the width. I ride her in an albion dressage saddle in xx wide. (19IN seat) I like you are on the look out for a gp for hacking.

Unfortuneately the thorogood is too small for me seat wise, but he also recommended the jeffries haflinger saddle. I havent as yet tracked down a piccie!!

I am sure WOW could be made wide enough. cliff barnes make a native type tree as well.

[dollylanedales]

Dorothy looks very similar to Tilly in size ....I have seen one of the Haflinger saddles on a big cob, come to think of it. I am surprised more of the saddle people have not realised that there are some big built ponies and horses out there.

We are wanting another saddle for Oliver, and that is proving difficult because of his width, and also his two bellies .....

[nars]

The native saddle company go up to 8 times XW. I know because I had to have one made at that width to fit a Fjord. Wintec will not be wide enough for Tilly. It just won't give her the gullet space as she is very much like the Fjord mare I once had.

The Haflinger saddle goes up to XXW (it may be 4 x extra wide).

Farrington may be able to make you one to fit as they are very helpful with one off orders.

We don't have the same range of western saddles over here that the US has, unfortunately, but I belive that there is a western saddle with an ultra wide tree for Haflinger types and Continental do make some wide trees. Most off the peg western saddles in the UK won't be a great fit on Tilly.

Albion K2s are a lovely saddle for native types if you can get the width.

[dollylanedales]

I saw one of the Dales geldings on Saturday in a Wintec wide - he was wide, but nowhere near as big as Tilly. I was looking at Daily who belongs to Alisondaily, on Sunday. He is 17.3hh and enormous. He has an Irish Draught saddle. Tilly is small in comparison to him.

I know Tilly is a big girl and difficult to get tack for, but I love her to bits, and would not have her any other size LOL!!

[merlinalison]

Merlin has a wow saddle which he goes beautifully in. He isn't actually particularly wide (despite what he looks like LOL) but they do go very very very wide indeed (Its one of the things I like about them that and the endless adjustability (if thats a word...) of them) It isn't a cheap option though