WOW saddles?

[doctordarling]

They are reasonably popular here in Australia. I’m in SA and at the property where I board my horse the manager is a WoW rep. Not surprisingly most of the 7 other boarders (we call them agisters and boarding 'agistment) have them. Not just because Sue is an excellent saddle fitter good rep, but its a good product. I got one four years ago for my shark withered wb/tb cross PSG schoolmaster. We were in a Pessoa Euro (PDS now). I have the Competitor +extra deep seat and super straight flaps. I noticed the shoulder freedom straight away, like some other posters. If I need a ‘puff’ of air in any of the chambers (usually the back two) Sue is on hand to do a fitting and adjust it. Better to have these slightly ‘baggier’ than fully pumped up as they spread to carry the weight over a wider surface.

My coach has ridden in it and she said it was ‘nicer than she thought it would be’. But best comment of all was at a clinic where the clinician, from another state, who had been my horse’s previous trainer for years, said without knowing the brand ‘oh at last he’s in a saddle that fits him’.

I’ve had the head plate widened twice as my gelding’s shoulders and topline have built up doing more collected work. That would be two new saddles if I wasn’t using this system. The twist is startlingly narrow. Feels like sitting on a padded fence post but that lets your leg hang straight.

ATM I want my knee rolls moved forward more at that’s easy to do as well. Love mine - and when your riding a 21 year old at Fourth level and training PSG - you do anything to keep them going!. dd

[Dressage59]

@lzaleski

I’m a Wow evangelist.

I discovered the Wow last year when I was looking for a saddle to fit my broad withered, short-backed, downhill PRE and was searching for dressage saddles with point billets and shoulder relief panels. I stumbled upon some information about the various Wow girthing options and did a little more research. I was originally turned off by what I found…air flocking, modular bolt together parts, laterally flexible trees…it was all a bit too weird and that made me nervous.

But low and behold, I found myself returning to the Wow website over and over again…reading it cover to cover. From a conceptual and technological standpoint, I couldn’t deny that the whole system was genius. I finally found a used one to trial through Pelham Saddlery and that was it. I didn’t even realize the back and hip pain I had been tolerating before. And the unique tabbed panel design, air flocking, and flexible tree allowed for a much larger weight bearing surface for my horse…a horse whose saddle placement area is about the size of a pop tart.

I now own two and a half Wows…yes, with a modular Wow you can own half a saddle. My friend pretty much pees herself every time I get out the bike pump to make an adjustment to the Flair. But that’s what I love about this system; the adjustability is limitless. No other saddle has an interchangeable gullet/headplate system with different SHAPES as well as sizes. That feature alone makes a huge difference. My horse is six now but if he drastically changes at eight-ten…I can completely swap the panels for not nearly the cost of a whole new saddle.

The only drawback is that there are little to no reps here in the states like they have in the UK. Your local saddle fitter is more likely to roll her eyes than embrace something this non-traditional. If you call or email Wow, they will help you find the right solutions for your horse. It’s also pretty easy to find different parts second-hand on eBay UK.

[edit]

My pony has a 15.5" back and I’m 17 to 17.5, so it’s hard to fit a saddle for us. She also takes a medium wide. Is your horse anything like this?
Thanks!

[leheath]

@Dressage59 I believe one of the advantages of the WOW saddles is that the panels can be shorter (a size smaller) than the seat to help accommodate a short backed horse and a rider that needs a larger seat.

[Eva_G]

I have been riding in WOW saddles for year now. I have become a retailer. I am still learning how to fit the saddles properly, and it is impossible to have the exact right panel for every horse in my demo kit, but I am overwhelmed with the benefits of having a saddle that fits my leg. I have long ridden in a saddle with a flap that is too short for my leg. If you want to order a WOW competitor with extra long or extra short leg flaps the price is the same. If you find a great deal on Ebay, you can add flaps that fit you for a reasonable price. I am so sorry I wasted years and years without the advantage of having 3 inches of flap under my calf, I am also in love with the padded flap. My leg is stable. When I ride in other brands, I can’t ride. My leg flops all over the place. It has taken many months, but now that I am use to the twist on the WOW, I love it, I can never go back. When the saddle are fitted correctly, horses love them immediately, but I believe they take some getting use to for the rider. Another frustrating point is that the advantage of the Flair panels and laterally flexible front is felt in the walk, canter, and sitting trot. In a saddle demo, many people trot around in posting trot, and make the decision that they do not like it. They do not notice the lovely walk, and they never try sitting trot or canter. I am trying to sell these saddle, but I will admit that the posting trot never feels as “crisp” as it does with a solid tree and wool panels. I would prefer to ride rising trot is something else, but the last time I tried to canter in another brand, I screamed. I literally screamed. If you took my WOW away I would quit riding. I am not lying.

[Goforward]

I like the idea of the saddles but unfortunately, the WOW saddles I’ve had dealings with did not fit the horses they were on. Supposedly, each of the saddles had been custom fitted. Each saddle was way too long for the back it was strapped to.Two of the tree I saw were too big for the rider as well. I realize these are not the faults of the saddle, but of the saddle fitter. All three riders struggled with position issues that could have been much improved with a properly fitted saddle.
A saddle is only as good as the person who fits it to the horse and rider. Perhaps WOW should be more picky with their reps.

[Crash_Helmet]

I wonder if some of the posters on this thread would come back and report on their WOW saddle experience a year later—leheath, KrazyTBMare?

[leheath]

@Crash Helmet So it hasn’t been quite a year yet, but I can report back! I love my WOW jump saddle and so does my horse. The balance is right for me making it so much easier for me to not jump ahead or get left behind (a problem in all other saddles I’ve tried) and it fits my horse well. I kinda wish I had gone with the Flair instead of wool flocking once I found out you can actually adjust the Flair yourself with the right info and a kit. I may end up switching when I have a bit more money available! I really love the different girth billet configuration options because it has helped keep the saddle back and secure on my pear shaped, short & flat backed, horse.

I like my jumping WOW saddle so much, I have just bought a dressage version. Because I could look at my jumping saddle and determine the components, I managed to buy a nearly new one from UK Ebay for way less than I could get a new one here in the US (even with postage and import fees!). I only had to change one component (needed smaller panels - that is a great thing about these saddles, I can have 17" panels for my super short backed horse on a 18" seat for my super long thigh) and I will be able to re-sell the panels I don’t need on Ebay. I bought Flair this time and adjusted it myself with the kit. I will get the fit checked my the fitter who comes to my area 2x/year, but that is nearly 2 months away so glad I can do for myself for now.

I am pretty sure I just bought the Flair kit and a H Girth from Eva G and she has been super helpful! The H-Girth is keeping the saddle back where it belongs. Between the girth, my improved position from the WOW saddle and it’s further back stirrup bar, and the Flair panels, the shoulder freedom and forwardness my horse is suddenly showing is fabulous!

@Eva G
My only issue is my own comfort. My jumping saddle is great (different leg angle due to shorter stirrups and I event so not doing any real “sitting” in it), but I need a super wide twist for sitting and so am struggling with the dressage saddle. The shape is great for allowing my leg to drape beautifully and easily, but I have very flat upper thighs so it is causing some significant crotch pain. I am still fiddling with different configurations to try to improve this. Eva G - you mentioned it took time to get used to the WOW twist - how did it feel at the beginning and how did it improve?

[Fancy_That]

They have little pads you can insert, for those who have thin thighs and need a wider twist. I love the narrow twist but I have roll poly thighs

[leheath]

@Fancy That

They have little pads you can insert, for those who have thin thighs and need a wider twist. I love the narrow twist but I have roll poly thighs

Yes, I have those inserts and they help some, but not as much as I would like. However, it appears Eva G was correct that one can “get used” to it to at least some extent. Had a fitter out who adjusted the dressage saddle a bit (I was a bit too conservative with air in the front panels) and it has seemed more comfortable since then…or maybe I’ve just put on some weight (which always goes on my thighs) so a narrow twist is more comfortable!??

[3rottenponies]

I own two. I love what they have done for the two primary horses that wear them, and occasionally I will get a horse in that one of the saddles will work for as is…I can’t think of a single horse I have that I have tried them on that has objected to them. I LOVE how the horses go in the flair panels. SO soft and such a smooth ride.

[Velvet]

@Fancy That

They have little pads you can insert, for those who have thin thighs and need a wider twist. I love the narrow twist but I have roll poly thighs

Thighs generally do not influence choice of twist . That is more about your pelvic width .

[leheath]

@Velvet

Thighs generally do not influence choice of twist . That is more about your pelvic width .

That is not my experience nor is it consistent with what I have read or discussed with saddle fitters. The reason men often prefer wide twists and women typically prefer narrow twists is not just related to pelvic differences (although that affects other areas of saddle fit and comfort for the rider). Men typically have flatter inner thighs than women and that affects how the leg drapes and how the twist feels in the crotch area. When you have flat inner thighs, a narrow twist will feel like you are sitting on a sideways 2x4. A wider pelvis (common in women) can accentuate this uncomfortable feeling. If you have more rounded inner thighs, a wide twist will make you feel like you are doing the splits. If you put a small, folder towel under your upper thigh, you can feel the difference.

[Velvet]

@leheath

That is not my experience nor is it consistent with what I have read or discussed with saddle fitters. The reason men often prefer wide twists and women typically prefer narrow twists is not just related to pelvic differences (although that affects other areas of saddle fit and comfort for the rider). Men typically have flatter inner thighs than women and that affects how the leg drapes and how the twist feels in the crotch area. When you have flat inner thighs, a narrow twist will feel like you are sitting on a sideways 2x4. A wider pelvis (common in women) can accentuate this uncomfortable feeling. If you have more rounded inner thighs, a wide twist will make you feel like you are doing the splits. If you put a small, folder towel under your upper thigh, you can feel the difference.

Well, they’re wrong. Saddles were originally designed for men and all had a narrow twist .You couldn’t find a wide one until the 90s. Albion is the one that started going into wide twists and wide seats to take a chunk of the women’s market in saddles. Because there were a lot of frustrated women with wider pelvises AND rounder thighs .

I’m not sure who you’re talking to . Mine is a generalization because, of course, people like what they like, but the pelvic width has always been a better predictor of what someone will like .

If I put a towel under my upper thigh is feel like my hips were coming out of their sockets . Trust me, I know . I have a lot of students who adore a wide twist and they hurt to ride in for very long . My skinny legs with a flat inner thigh don’t care. Give me one with a wide twist and a flat, wide seat and I’m in agony .

[KrazyTBMare]

While I personally STILL cannot ride bc of my back injury, my trainer and friends have ridden in my saddle and they and most importantly, Rex, love it. My trainer, who rode in several in Europe and did not care for them as it sounded like the air panels were likely over inflated based on her description of how the saddles felt, actually really enjoys riding in my saddle now. As we know, a great saddle can feel like crap if fitted incorrectly. What is great though is that my Princess and the Pea gelding, who has most def changed shape with his work load vastly changing and him looking 2 months past due, the saddle still fits him perfectly and he doesn’t have any qualms at all. Hopefully I can get my surgery or something for my back and I can get my rear in my own saddle soon.

[KyrieNZ]

@Dutchmare433

My saddle fitter has WOW saddles, says that they’re good for the horse, but that almost all the riders she’s put in them hate them … She thinks they’re great for horses who need remedial saddle fit–back issues that leave a ton of atrophy on one side, a horse who lost all top line coming back into work.

Your saddle fitter doesn’t fully understand the concept of WOW saddles. Yes, they are great for those that need to build more muscle as they’re so adjustable, but that isn’t their sole purpose.

They’re not for everyone - heck, it would be boring if we all liked the same thing - but they are a well thought out and designed saddle. They’re not a magical cure for saddle fitting.

I find those that don’t like riding in them usually have too much air in them.

[Myout]

I just tried a WOW recently, David Gilpin here on west coast has them, and my horse didn’t like it and I was very surprised. It had flair panels which added bounce that I didn’t like personally but I was prepared to buy anyway if my horse loved it. He made it clear he preferred his Dresch (bought used and not fitted or built custom for him).

[3rottenponies]

@Myout

I just tried a WOW recently, David Gilpin here on west coast has them, and my horse didn’t like it and I was very surprised. It had flair panels which added bounce that I didn’t like personally but I was prepared to buy anyway if my horse loved it. He made it clear he preferred his Dresch (bought used and not fitted or built custom for him).

If you try them again, WOW is now making a hybrid panel that might be worth trying.

[Moon_River]

“Bounce” sounds like the panels are over inflated

[Zingaro]

A lot of positive experiences, mine wasn’t.

Albeit limited experience of one student. The WOW did not fit horse. The student was a WOW rep and convert, so it was a tricky topic. The student would forever be adjusting it but it just didn’t fit. It ended with horse behaving dangerously one day resulting in significant rider injuries. Who knows, maybe more to it than just saddle pain but imo definitely a factor.

Of course that is not evidence that the saddles themselves are bad (though as a rider I found it very difficult to feel the back and felt like I was sitting above rather than “in” the horse), but I tend to agree with poster who said reps should be chosen more carefully. This particular person was out there fitting saddles but probably did not have the knowledge and experience to do so (imo).