Experiences with WOW saddles?

[MR1]

Anyone have experience with WOW saddles, in their jumping styles?

I got to try them recently, but the rep didn’t have the jumping flaps, so I was in a more dressage-type. The saddles are amazing & my horse clearly liked them - much more than any other saddle I’ve tried on him. I was very comfortable as well.

Looking for anyone who has ridden in / own / seen WOWs with a jumping flat - ideally something I could ride in at a hunter/eq show, so personally I’m not looking for a monoflap (but happy to hear of experiences with them!).

My gelding is only 5, so I’m really interested in the ability to easily change the fit over time (for him & me). Just hoping someone can vouch for the jumping flaps!

Here’s a link:
http://www.wowsaddles.com/jumping-flaps.html

[Sempiternal]

Fancy That over on the HGS forum (believe she posts on here too) ordered a Wow dressage saddle.

[Hilary]

Two friends of mine have the dressage saddle and both people and horses love it, but they don’t jump so can’t comment on that. The horses are both large WBs with big shoulders and the saddle accommodates that better than any other saddle they tried.

[MR1]

Thanks for the replies. I’ve been able to find tons of positive feedback for their dressage saddles.

Bumping in hopes of catching the eye of anyone who has experience with WOW saddles for jumping…

[nextyear]

[QUOTE=MR;8053710]
Thanks for the replies. I’ve been able to find tons of positive feedback for their dressage saddles.

Bumping in hopes of catching the eye of anyone who has experience with WOW saddles for jumping…[/QUOTE]
I have a WOW jump saddle with the forward flaps (I event) there are so many possible seat and flap choices that I’m sure you can find something you like riding in that is suitable for the Hunter ring. I have had mine for about a year and have it set up for the higher withered TB’s that I ride, it does not fit the wider TBs and warmbloods so I use a different jump saddle on them but it is because I have it set for the others and can always change out the tree if I wanted it to use on the wider horses, that is what made it attractive plus I like the design in the shoulder area does not hit the bigger shoulder horses. It took changing the seat and flaps about 5 times before I found the combo I loved so you need a couple hours and a rep that has the time to keep changing (and a horse that is willing to keep getting saddled and unsaddled).You also need to get it stuffed/unstuffed on a constant basis for the first month or so as I found the pommel drops a lot while breaking in. I ride several times a day in it about 6 days a week and after 3 months finally did not need it looked at every week.

[MR1]

Just following-up with my own review of WOW saddles - so future searches can learn from my (successful!) experience.

After months of comparing options, scheduling trials of many different brands, and finally taking the plunge…I now own a WOW saddle. I’ve been riding in it 3-4 days a week for 2 months - and love it!

As a hunter/equitation rider (although I “dabble” in other disciplines), it was very important to me that I got something that “looks” right for hunters, along with being supportive and fitting my horse - as I didn’t want it to be noticeably different when I go to h/j shows. Thankfully, my saddle fitter is wonderful and worked really hard to have the right combination built. It’s perfect!

I ended up with the “Jumping Fixed Block” flap (has calf and thigh blocks built-in), “Continental” seat with channel, and the whole seat/flap are is in nubuck leather (so grippy!). The bonus? - I can do BOTH a traditional (long) girth AND a monoflap (dressage) girth. This last part was a result of some “experimenting” by my saddle fitter - and works great! Ultimately, I have both types of billets, and it’s just a < 5 min swap to remove the dressage billets when I want my traditional girth (for my hunter shows). The rest of the time, I get the benefits of a monoflap! Also, my WOW is wool-flocked (not the air system). This was important to me, and my saddle fitter / WOW rep also preferred wool-flocked, so that was an easy decision.

So, summary of my favorite parts:
(1) the perfect fit for my horse & the ability to easily (& inexpensively!) change it as he grows - he’s only 6 & is a warmblood, so knowing I can easily swap out the headplate and/or panels as he changes shape is huge! I ride in just a thin square pad and there are absolutely no pressure points, sweat marks are totally even, etc - better fit than any other custom brands I tried.
(2) the support it gives me on the flat and O/F (my poor ammy body can’t do it alone!) having been able to customize exactly which blocks and seat I wanted - even better support than any of the other saddle brands I tried, including top-of-the-line custom brands.
(3) that I can switch from a traditional Hunter (long) girth to a monoflap/dressage girth in < 5min all by myself!

In just our short summer together, this saddle has proven itself in the hunter/eq show ring, going cross-country, riding on the beach, and as we work on building Ari’s frame. Worth every moment of research and every dollar I spent. THANK YOU, David Gilpin & WOW!

[BWP]

More ow than wow for me! Had one for LoanCob and it fitted him but I found it horrifically uncomfortable - I’ve never had any issues with any other saddles.

[KyrieNZ]

I have a WOW saddle. I used it originally on my Andalusian / TB mare. I had it set up as a dressage saddle when showing her, and a jumping saddle when hunting. I had the GP flaps originally, but didn’t like those. Much prefer the specialist jumping flaps.

That mare has been retired so the saddle has now been tweaked to fit my young one - again, the saddle is used as a dressage saddle and a jumping saddle.

LOVE my WOW