That’s great, kkmrad94!
Bumping this up to hear how it’s going for everyone. I’m considering one for my TB. Are they comfortable? We foxhunt so I need something that is comfortable for 4 hours or so in the saddle. I currently ride in a BC Quantum that I love, but it is really too wide for my horse. I can make it work with a thinline correction sheepskin half pad, but my pad is disintegrating after eight years of hard use.
Debbie, they tend to fit TB’s very well. Just know if you have long legs, you might have trouble staying behind the flap. I hunter pace in mine and do find it very comfy, but those BC’s are very nice saddles so you would be going down a step in overall quality.
Based on all the feedback here, and a brief ride in the T8 in October, I recently orderd the newest T8 with the R bar and round cantle. The S bar fit my horse pretty well and I was still trying other saddles when Thorowgood came out with the new/improved jump saddle. I am anxiously awaiting mine. Hope to get it by mid-January!
The way it’s going for me… I decided to return the old-style T8 to try the new-style one before making a decision. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the new one as well… it didn’t sit on my horse as nicely, and the size felt a tad more squished for me (I suspect because the seat is a bit deeper and the flap a bit less forward). I also thought the gullet was noticeably narrower at the middle to back of the saddle and wasn’t giving as much clearance for the width of the spine.
Anyway, in the interim some other stuff has come up which took a bite out of my saddle budget, so I’m hoping I can scrape up more $ before the old-style T8s are completely impossible to find. There is still the unresolved question about feeling a tiny bit laterally unstable in the old T8 on my horse, but I have much doubt I will find anything better in my price range! And other than that, I REALLY liked that saddle.
Debbie - I did find the old T8 to be comfy and feel well-balanced, for the shorter arena rides I did with it. I trail ride a lot, and I do wonder if my butt will be happy after 4 or 5 hours in it. But… I don’t really expect a close contact saddle to be particularly comfy for that kind of riding, so I am kinda resigned to sucking it up until I can afford to add a nice western saddle to my line up.
I’m going to be selling my T8 GP to pay for another saddle that fits my leg better. I must say I am going to have a hard time parting with it. If I can swing it financially, I very well might still hold onto it.
Bumping this up- any updates from those who have the T8? I’m considering it, among other saddles- going to be test riding it soon, but just wanted more feedback from those who have it if they still like it!
I have been riding in mine and I like it. For the price, it is a good value. It took a bit to figure out which gullet I needed, etc. Everyone thinks it is a leather saddle, it is lightweight esp. with my Compositi wide tread stirrups. I am happy with it and would recommend it for those needing a second saddle or working with a limited budget.
