Thorowgood T8 Jump - Wow! I'm impressed!

[wyeoakequine]

I finally got a Thorowgood T8 Jump saddle to try and I was impressed from the moment I pulled it out of the box. The workmanship looks awesome and you can barely tell it’s synthetic by looking at it. The leather parts are freakin’ soft as butter… I am actually a tad concerned that the leather seat may have wear issues because it’s so soft.

It also fits my gelding FAR better than anything else I’ve tried. First round of photos here:

[Album] Thorowgood T8 Jump

I really liked riding in it, although a close contact feels sooo strange after so many years riding dressage, AP and western.

Still deciding if this will be “the one” for us. First ride was hard to gauge thanks to uncooperative and distracting weather. The saddle slid back a couple of inches during the ride, but I have a few things I plan to experiment with. Hoping we can sort it out.

It is so exciting to find a saddle that might actually work!

[vxf111]

Yeah, I agree. Really good bang for the buck. If I needed another saddle on a budget, I’d be going right to the T8.

[asterix]

I have a Thorowgood ap for my older horse, who has a sensitive back and no longer needs dedicated dressage and jump saddles. Fits him well (my fitter recommended it), very balanced and easy to ride in, and wears very well with minimal care. Very pleased with it.

[vineyridge]

Who sells them?

[CrowneDragon]

Viney, you can get them through Hastilow. They are good to work with.

I did a saddle trial through them because I love Thorowgood and I wanted another, but couldn’t get one that fit me or my horse.

[sheltona01]

I sell them. I love them and truly think for that price range, they are the best. They are becoming more and more popular and hard to keep in stock. I have a few left and just got noticed from the company that anything that is ordered from here on out is not going to be made until the new year.

[asterix]

Trumbull Mountain also carries them.

[wyeoakequine]

I ordered this one from SmartPak; they carry a few of the Thorowgood saddles. I ordered with the test ride option and waited about a month before it shipped.

[tbchick84]

Where did you get that??? That’s the new model. I ordered one two weeks ago and was told I would not be receiving it for 8 weeks since they are so new and have not been distributed yet.

[tbchick84]

Nevermind, I figured it out. That is actually the older model which did not fit my horse. The never one has the longer R-bar. The one you have is the shorter S-bar. Nothing at all wrong with that as long as it fits your horse. I have the T8 GP version. They really are great saddles.

[wyeoakequine]

tbchick84 - Yes, this is the older one. I am still debating whether I’d rather have the newer version. This one seems to fit my horse well, but the flap is a bit forward for me and I hear the updated version’s flap may be more suitable for my short legs.

However, having finally put a saddle on my horse and had it sit on him well (not to mention enjoying the ride myself), I am a tiny bit irrationally terrified of sending it away, lol. I have heard the fit of the new one should be similar, but…

[tbchick84]

If it works for both of you, keep it. It’s a very nice saddle. I’m jealous you’re riding around in yours while I sit around waiting for mine!

[wildlifer]

Dangit, you evil temptress. I’m lusting after one as my horses are TG-shaped & it would fit much better than our current jump saddle. But said jump saddle is functional & I am broke, so I just dream. Just tell me you actually decided you hate it, so I’ll feel better. ROFL!

[BEARCAT]

“The saddle slid back a couple of inches during the ride, but I have a few things I plan to experiment with. Hoping we can sort it out.”

From your photos it looks to me like it does need to slide back a couple of inches to be in the proper position off the shoulder blades…?

[wyeoakequine]

Haha, wildlifer… I definitely know that feeling!

Bearcat - You may be right. I was aiming to set the points of the saddle about 2 fingers behind the back of his scapula. For sure the flaps are still over his shoulder, but I was under the impression that that’s expected and okay?

Re-looking at the photos I took, I am sure a couple of inches was something of an exaggeration. Now when I look at the post-ride photos, it doesn’t look that bad. But I would definitely say the back of the panels were sitting past his last vertebra where it settled.

Take a look if you’d like… Before ride: https://www.flickr.com/photos/49421553@N02/15501092270/in/photostream/

After ride: https://www.flickr.com/photos/49421553@N02/15687493152/in/photostream/

I might be a bit over-sensitive to the slipping back thing because that was one of my main issues with my old/current saddle and I am just so dang tired of it!

[tbchick84]

Yes, that definitely slid back into the sweet spot. Still looks to be balanced with the deepest part in the middle. Looks like a good fit, but I’m no expert.

[TB_or_not_TB]

The place where it slid back too is much better - that’s where it should be. :yes: Looking at the uneven pressure on the girth from the billets, you might try one of the contour girths to see if it helps the fit.

[vxf111]

Cute screen name TB!

[wyeoakequine]

Hm, thanks for the input tbchick and TB! The weather is supposed to settle down here tomorrow, so we’ll get another ride in and see how it goes. I am going to send some pics off to Hastilow for input, too. I am so appreciative to them; they have been awesomely helpful considering I got this saddle from someone else! Next time I’m in the market, definitely going there first.

[WNT]

Intriguing, I’m thinking about being in the market eventually for a jump saddle and what you said about forward long flaps would make it perfect for me. With my horse’s princess and the pea back, I’ll have to keep it in mind.