That saddle looks lovely! From what I could see, it does look like a narrower gullet might be in order? Have you put the gullet directly on your horse to see how it fits? I did that yesterday with both the wide and medium/wide to see which looked more appropriate. Let us know how it works out for you!
Arrrggh!! I got my saddle today just as I was leaving for work. I won’t be able to try it out until Sunday. Such torture!!! It’s very nice looking. Looks just like the GP version with more forward flaps. Can’t wait to try it.
How frustrating, tbchick! Looking forward to hearing how it goes… 
That is a good idea! I didn’t think of that. I haven’t gotten a chance to try the other ones on. I have the red and the orange one as well, the white one is in there currently.
We are having a mix of rain and snow so I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to put it to use today. 
But I will try the different gullets on him (without the saddle) and report back.
I posted all the photos I took on this page… https://www.flickr.com/photos/76642018@N08/
I tried the red and the orange gullet on him.
I think the orange one fits the best but I don’t know much about saddle fit! Any advice would be appreciated.
Orange one looks good to me to, but I am notorious for putting the gullet a little too forward. It looks like yours is the required 2 fingers behind the shoulder blade, but I could be wrong.
Well he kept moving so it may be a bit off. I just poked around and found his shoulder and put the gullet behind that. Thanks for the input!
tbchick84 - Let us know how it goes when you use your saddle tomorrow!
[QUOTE=kkmrad94;7848100]
tbchick84 - Let us know how it goes when you use your saddle tomorrow! :)[/QUOTE]
Will do! I can’t wait to try it out.
kkmrad94 - It is a little tough to judge from the photos… both the red and orange seem like possible fits. When you had the orange one on him, did it have wiggle room side to side? If it does, it’s too wide.
I am constantly confused about the correct position of the gullet bar/points of the saddle. I watched the Thorowgood fitting video last night and the presenter says 3 fingers behind the POINT of the scapula… which I’m not sure is the same as 2-3 fingers behind the back of the scapula (that’s what I’ve been doing). It LOOKS like she puts the bar directly behind the scapula…
With my horse, the medium-wide gullet fits about 1.5 fingers back from the back of the scapula, and the wide gullet fits 2-3 fingers back. Thus far, regardless of what I do, the saddle seems to slide back until the points are 2-3 fingers behind the back of the scapula, so I figure I should use the gullet that fits him there. It seems like a fine position, except that it does put the back of the saddle slightly past his last rib.
I hear so many people talking lately about preventing the girth from pulling the saddle forward… my saddles pull my girth out of the girth groove so it can sit where it wants. I don’t know why… maybe the shoulder movement pushing it back?
Soooo, tbchick84… How’s it going???
[QUOTE=wyeoakequine;7850798]
Soooo, tbchick84… How’s it going???[/QUOTE]
Sorry! I know I promised to report back. I rode in the ring yesterday and went on a long hack today. I does feel just like the GP version just with the different flap. The seat a little more shallow so more place to slide your butt back over fences. The balance is great, but I wasn’t expecting any different for this brand. We rode for several hours today, and I pretty much forgot I was riding in a new saddle. It fits my horse like a glove which is no surprise to me and he moves very freely in it.
The only thing I am not sure is if it’s a better fit for me than the GP. The flap is more forward but not longer, so it gives my long legs more room to shorten my stirrups without going over the flap, but it’s still close. I was really hoping to see it give me inches to spare and it doesn’t. I think overall it’s better for jumping than my GP is, so I will most likely sell the GP and keep it. I wish Thorowgood would come out with long/forward flap version. I think that is ultimately what I need. A custom saddle just isn’t in my future, at least not anytime soon. Equine Affair is this week in MA, so I’m going to sit in as many saddles as I can find and get as much input on fit as I can get.
Overall, very nice saddle, but then I wasn’t expecting any different. I already own a T4 GP, T8 dressage and T8 GP, so I’m a tad biased.
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I wasn’t going to post anything asking about your ride but I was definitely wondering as well! I haven’t gotten a chance to ride in mine yet since the weather has been nothing short of terrible when I have the free time. I’m glad you like the brand overall, I have staring at one for quite some time now! If you don’t mind me asking, how tall are you?
I have the compact GP and I am 5’10. I won’t be doing any jumping (not intentionally) so there are no worries there. Just looking to trail ride and take some equitation lessons at the end of November! I have a lesson this Saturday on a lesson horse and plan on bringing my saddle just in case!
kkmrad94, I’m just shy of 5’7". My legs are long both from hip to knee and knee to foot, so that’s made finding an off the shelf saddle a real hoot. The Thorowgoods will keep you in there, but you might just be over the flap a bit.
Glad to hear it fits your horse well, tbchick84! At this point, I think I am going to send the one I have back so I can try the new one and compare… I am just procrastinating at this point because I’m seriously bummed about the wait.
[QUOTE=wyeoakequine;7852585]
Glad to hear it fits your horse well, tbchick84! At this point, I think I am going to send the one I have back so I can try the new one and compare… I am just procrastinating at this point because I’m seriously bummed about the wait.[/QUOTE]
I think you will like the fit of the long bar better. I know Hastilow is expecting to have more in about 2 weeks. It’s too bad you are so far from me. I’m still not sure I am keeping mine. As much as I like it, I’m not sure it’s the right fit for my leg. I have to get some pics and ask some experts before I make the decision to keep it or send it back.
It is too bad they don’t make a long/forward flap… I was surprised how close the fit of the flap was for my short leg! Good luck sorting your options out… I know I cannot WAIT for this whole saddle shopping endeavor to be resolved, lol!
It would be way more convenient if we were neighbors or something, haha!
I have to return mine. It just isn’t right for my leg. Sent you a PM.
I finally got to take a ride in mine yesterday and it was great! I have the GP and we did flat work (it was my first time riding since this summer). It fit the horse I was on, and it put my legs in a good position! My instructor also took a lap around in the saddle and he liked it as well! I don’t have any good photos that show me in the saddle or I would share. If I get some I will post though!
Good luck in your search tbchick!
