Does anyone here ride in one of the high wither models? I currently have a Thorowgood T6 dressage standard model that I use on training horses and babies. I really like the saddle but I find that it sits high in front and low behind on pretty much every horse I put it on, even with the correct gullet plate installed (wide gullet is currently in there). Most of the horses I am using it on are fairly uphill built warmbloods. I thought of making the gullet wider in order to have it sit lower in front, but then I think the saddle may sit dangerously close to the withers. I really wish the saddle had a deeper rear gusset as I have to shim up the back of the saddle on every horse I put in on. From pictures I see online, it looks like maybe the high wither model has a deeper gusset behind. Would a high wither model fit my horses better?
How long have you had the saddle? If this is happening on pretty much all the horses you use it on then it sounds to me like two things may be causing your problem.
- the flocking has settled and compressed and needs to be adjusted or replaced.
- you are placing the saddle too far forward.
I suspect it is actually a combination of the two. I find that about 85% of the riders I deal with place their saddles too far forward, even professionals. It becomes habit and they don’t even realize they are doing it. Try placing the saddle a little further back…sometimes even as little as a half inch can make a difference in the balance of a saddle. For most horses, if you place the saddle forward and then slide it back, it will stop and level out when it settles in the “sweet spot”, which is usually where the panels settle into the dip below and behind the shoulder.
I don’t think the high wither model will solve your problem. That tree is designed to fit horses with very high, prominent, shark fin type withers and doesn’t fit those with the normal or flatter, broader type withers and back at all. In fact, I don’t remember ever having fitted a warmblood with the high wither model…a couple of TBs and a Saddlebred, but never a warmblood. I’m sure there probably are some out there, but I’ve yet to come across one the high wither model fit.
It really sounds like your saddle needs to be reflocked. Don’t be alarmed. This is just the nature of a wool flocked saddle, especially one that is used frequently. Have a saddle fitter look at your saddle. Chances are they’ll tell you the flocking needs to be replaced.
Good luck!
I wonder if they are a bit like this anyway?
I have a high wither model Kent and Masters and I have to shim the back because I feel like I’m being tilted backwards. Even then it still feels like I’m fighting that feeling.
However, my horse does have a very big wither and is wither high at the moment.
[QUOTE=mtngirl;8601242]
How long have you had the saddle? If this is happening on pretty much all the horses you use it on then it sounds to me like two things may be causing your problem.
- the flocking has settled and compressed and needs to be adjusted or replaced.
- you are placing the saddle too far forward.
I suspect it is actually a combination of the two. I find that about 85% of the riders I deal with place their saddles too far forward, even professionals. It becomes habit and they don’t even realize they are doing it. Try placing the saddle a little further back…sometimes even as little as a half inch can make a difference in the balance of a saddle. For most horses, if you place the saddle forward and then slide it back, it will stop and level out when it settles in the “sweet spot”, which is usually where the panels settle into the dip below and behind the shoulder.
I don’t think the high wither model will solve your problem. That tree is designed to fit horses with very high, prominent, shark fin type withers and doesn’t fit those with the normal or flatter, broader type withers and back at all. In fact, I don’t remember ever having fitted a warmblood with the high wither model…a couple of TBs and a Saddlebred, but never a warmblood. I’m sure there probably are some out there, but I’ve yet to come across one the high wither model fit.
It really sounds like your saddle needs to be reflocked. Don’t be alarmed. This is just the nature of a wool flocked saddle, especially one that is used frequently. Have a saddle fitter look at your saddle. Chances are they’ll tell you the flocking needs to be replaced.
Good luck![/QUOTE]
Thanks for your input. The saddle is brand new and has been used less than a dozen times so I doubt that the flocking has compressed much. I will try placing the saddle a bit farther back. That may help.
There are many horses that need a deeper rear gusset, especially if they are uphill. The rear gussets do vary from the different models but you can also shim the pad in the rear if necessary, as you mentioned. I have found that those saddles appear to be very pommel high until mounted and originally made the mistake of changing the gullet plate before mounting and then having it sit right down. Keep in mind that the full front gussets do add some lift.
I just sold my T8 high wither dressage saddle. The Thorowgood saddles sit very high up when they are new and need time for the flocking to settle a bit. My high wither model looked very perched on my horse when it was brand new and I didn’t even get to see it fully “sit down” as it wasn’t the best fit for him and I sold it.
How much wither clearance does the standard model give you on the horses you ride?
