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Thorowgood T4 endurance (Jill Thomas)

Endurance and Trail Riding
#1

Rather than resurrect an old post, I figured I’d start a new one…

I decided I wanted to try this saddle a few months ago. Thorowgood’s website directs you to Dover as their American distributor, but Dover doesn’t carry the endurance model. They will special order it for you, but you have to pay in full and it’s not returnable if it doesn’t fit. Sigh.

I contacted Thorowgood directly, and they sent me to Hastilow USA (www.hastilowusa.com). Annette at Hastilow ordered one for me, but she said they were just starting production in the UK and it would take 6-8 weeks.

It finally came in, and Annette came out to do a fitting last night. So far it seems like a good fit for both of us – she’s letting me keep it until the snow melts and I can take him out for a longer ride. Although at this point it may take a few weeks for that to happen!

Annette did say that there are very few of these saddles available (new); Thorowgood is making more, but they’re coming over very slowly. She has been getting many inquiries and has a waiting list.

#2

What’s the price range on those in the US?

#3

Is it available in the stupid-wide tree? (sorry, I believe the correct term is “XXW Cob” :lol: )

#4

I have an older model and just love it. Went out on a 51/2 hour trail ride. Up steep hills and down hill, jumped down steep embankments into streams and then back out and cantered across open fields. I was as comfy at the end of the ride as I was when we started out. We rode again the next day for over 3 hours. My mare didn’t show on bit of soreness in her back.

#5

T6s

I’d be interested in the T6 line – or whatever the lightweight synthetic line is. Again, though, with my horse’s conformation, I hate to buy a saddle without a free trial.

The price range is quite reasonable, I think – somewhere around $600 for the T6 line, last time I checked (if I’m remembering correctly).

#6

It has an adjustable gullet, with medium, medium/wide, and wide/extra-wide options. I don’t think it goes to the stupid-wide one, but it doesn’t hurt to ask…

Dover was going to sell it to me for $695, but the Hastilow price is $675.

SharonA, contact Hastilow - if they’re not near you, they may be able to recommend a local dealer who can give you one on trial…

#7

When I contacted Thorowgood a few months ago they sent me to Hastilow too but they also let me know that Trumball Mountain is also now stocking them. Which I checked and they are. They were the only ones I could find to have the T6, or so they said, I have not yet gone there but am soon.

#8

Do you have a picture of it? I’m not seeing it on the link…:confused:

Never mind… Found it. :slight_smile:

#9

[QUOTE=Huntertwo;4679397]
Do you have a picture of it? I’m not seeing it on the link…:confused:

Never mind… Found it. :)[/QUOTE]

Good point - it’s not listed on Hastilow’s website. Here’s the Thorowgood page:

http://www.thorowgood.com/uk/t4/t4_endurance.htm

#10

N-I-C-E :slight_smile: I’m jealous…

I do have the Thorowgood AP and love it! The Equisuede is absolutely wonderful and so secure.

If I didn’t have so many darn saddles, I’d love to get one. Pretty fair price…

But DH would kill me…lol

#11

[QUOTE=pintopiaffe;4673930]
Is it available in the stupid-wide tree? (sorry, I believe the correct term is “XXW Cob” :lol: )[/QUOTE]

Endurance saddle

This one might be worth looking into for you though. :slight_smile:

#12

[QUOTE=kookicat;4682685]
Endurance saddle

This one might be worth looking into for you though. :)[/QUOTE]

Yes, the T4 GP model does come in a cob version, but sadly it doesn’t have all of the extra bells and whistles of the endurance model :frowning:

#13

[QUOTE=BigHorseLittleHorse;4684128]
Yes, the T4 GP model does come in a cob version, but sadly it doesn’t have all of the extra bells and whistles of the endurance model :([/QUOTE]

They do a cob dressage saddle, so here’s hoping that they’ll do a cob endurance saddle in the near future. :slight_smile:

#14

Verry interesting, I’d like to see more of it, the picture with the rider doesn’t show much. Does it have much of a close contact feel? What are the panels made of? What do you think of the gullet space down the spine? It seems built up in front of the thighs??? Is it a bit like the new Wintec contour block dressage saddle? I’ve thought about getting that one for riding my green horses.

Can you compare it to the Wintec endurance? I Have that one and I feel ‘high up’ on the horse though I love the idea of the CAIR panels. I have the very wide flat/round ‘cob’ type too. Is the seat very deep? On young horses, I need all the security I can get!

How about the stirrup bars? Are they deep set? I think I like the adjustable girthing system, I haven’t checked that out before.

Post pics of yours if you can. Would love to see it.

Katie in ky

#15

I’ll take some pics if I have time tomorrow, in between digging out from MORE SNOW.

Mine looks slightly different from the pic on the website - I think they made some design changes recently. The blocks in the front are underneath the flap and movable/interchangeable, just like wintecs. The flap itself is slightly padded in the front.

The seat is very interesting - it has a high cantle, but a shallow curve down to the lowest point. Therefore it doesn’t lock you into a single seat position, rather you can find the spot that suits you best, and move around when your butt gets tired :slight_smile:

Gullet space seems nice - my horse has a prominent wither, and on the medium/wide gullet, he gets nice wither and spine clearance.

The adjustable girthing is really nice, you can get the girth in the exact spot you need. My horse has a big shoulder and long stride, so I like that I can move the girth back to give him more freedom to stride out.

#16

So the deep blocks are gone? I hope you can put up a picture soon. :slight_smile: I was actually considering buying that saddle, one of the reasons was those knee blocks. My horse stumbles a lot (he’s gaited) and I need something to hold me in.

I was also considering the wintec 2000 AP. I sat in one in the store and it felt great, however it doesn’t have the D-rings that the Thorowgood does. I might end up with this http://www.kates.net/433?ParentID=542 synthetic endurance. Too bad, I was really liking the Thorowgood.

Mine looks slightly different from the pic on the website - I think they made some design changes recently. The blocks in the front are underneath the flap and movable/interchangeable, just like wintecs. The flap itself is slightly padded in the front.

The seat is very interesting - it has a high cantle, but a shallow curve down to the lowest point. Therefore it doesn’t lock you into a single seat position, rather you can find the spot that suits you best, and move around when your butt gets tired :slight_smile:

Gullet space seems nice - my horse has a prominent wither, and on the medium/wide gullet, he gets nice wither and spine clearance.

The adjustable girthing is really nice, you can get the girth in the exact spot you need. My horse has a big shoulder and long stride, so I like that I can move the girth back to give him more freedom to stride out.[/QUOTE]

#17

[QUOTE=Malda;4713713]
So the deep blocks are gone? [/QUOTE]

They’re just not built into the top flap anymore. Now the flap is just slightly padded, and you can put interchangeable blocks underneath. Will try again for pics tomorrow…

#18

http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/itemlist.asp?categoryid=3&subcatid=129&hr=Horse&subcatname=Thorowgood+T4+3D&categoryname=Saddles

I have a Thorowgood AP, but it looks so similar to the one in the picture. I’d like to see if there is a big enough difference to justify this to DH…:slight_smile:

Here is the one I currently own:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/thorowgood-t4-standard-all-purpose-saddle/p/X1-15758/cn/1705/

Didn’t even realize I wrote a review on Dover’s site… lol

#19

Thanks for the link. It does look like the deep knee blocks are gone, unfortunately. Oh well, I only have $400. saved up so far, plenty of time to keep looking. I wonder why Wintec took the d-rings off their AP saddles? Older models have them.

[QUOTE=Huntertwo;4716344]
http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/itemlist.asp?categoryid=3&subcatid=129&hr=Horse&subcatname=Thorowgood+T4+3D&categoryname=Saddles

I have a Thorowgood AP, but it looks so similar to the one in the picture. I’d like to see if there is a big enough difference to justify this to DH…:slight_smile:

Here is the one I currently own:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/thorowgood-t4-standard-all-purpose-saddle/p/X1-15758/cn/1705/

Didn’t even realize I wrote a review on Dover’s site… lol[/QUOTE]

#20

Pics, as promised. Sorry for the bad quality, I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to drag the stand outside. Let me know if there’s an angle i didn’t get that you want to see…

http://community.webshots.com/album/576891558JxEqhC

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