| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| heathermcbreen |
Posted - 19 Feb 2013 : 09:43:41 AM
I have a Part bred pally filly nearly 3, and nearly 15HH. Sire 63% Arab (Sameon Amber Eclipse) Dam 16HH Irish/Connemara cross. I have sat on her a few times and been leading her out in-hand from my ridden mare. I am only 8.5 stone and 5ft so not too heavy and vet said she is fine for little "sit ons" I wondered about a Bates adjustable gullet system saddle for her as obviously she will change shape quite a bit over the next couple of years. Does anyone else use one. This filly is already quite wide but I cant use my ridden mares Ideal MTM on her as it does not fit at all. Besides at some point I will need to use both at the same time.
Thanks Heather. |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Callisto |
Posted - 26 Feb 2013 : 7:36:17 PM
I think you'll be safe with Ellie, am planning to get her out myself when I have saved up  I bought an ideal working hunter on her recommendation after the Endurance workshop at Rosemary's last year, but I need her to check the fit, and it's not terribly comfortable as far as I am concerned, so probably looking at her making me a saddle, but I have been waiting on Arachnid's verdict on her saddle made by Ellie. |
| arabiangem |
Posted - 26 Feb 2013 : 7:33:20 PM
Hi Linda - Yes he's checked every 4 months with back person, and saddler every 4 months (both are due next week!). Going by your checks yes that's what I look for and the back and saddler and all is fine no probs so that's good! Saddler stil insists that no synthetic tree type saddle with the pony pannels he has on this saddle will be suitable for the distances/time I spend and plan to spend in the saddle. She says it is only a GP General Purpose like shoes and need wider pannels and wooden tree for what I want to do. She is coming to measure him up for a made to measure saddle in a month! Its Ellie who our Endurance coach Rosemary recommends to be the best there is in saddlers and all her horses have one made by her! Sally - the pony Kent and masters GP is lovely and comfy for me especially as I tried loads of saddles and this was the only one which didn't give me pain in the sensitive parts!! I am very petite width wise and at 5'4 height is ok for my legs, but I do ride fairly longish. I measured the saddle flaps compared to the Adult version and are exactly the same! That is on a 16.5 inch I have and has same flaps as a 17" Adult GP Thorowgood or kent and masters. I ride up to 2.5 hours in mine and its is very comfy...in fact the best I've had. This is why I'm not overly keen on changing!??? |
| sab2 |
Posted - 24 Feb 2013 : 7:09:41 PM
arabiangem do you find the kent and masters comfortable to ride in, i am using the bates show pony saddle on my little stallion who is 12.2hh and have been looking at the kent and masters for my other ponies who i need to back, i am about 5,4 and my bates is a pony 16in , i do find my knees are sticking over the edge a bit. mind you it is so comfy but wondered about getting a kent and masters for the others. I have a wintec 16in but its far too big for any of them whereas the bates pony 16in is great. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 24 Feb 2013 : 6:32:42 PM
Does he move freely in it? If you run your fingers along his back (not too firmly) after you have ridden does he react? Are the sweat marks on his back even? The way I knew my saddle no longer fitted my Anglo was that he lost his long forward going stride at trot. Four saddlers told me it fitted, it was only when white marks appeared where the stirrup bars were on the saddle that it proved I was right that it was pinching him. I rested him, changed saddles and thankfully the white marks disappeared. A good back person would be able to check his back and tell you if the saddle is causing problems. |
| arabiangem |
Posted - 24 Feb 2013 : 4:21:52 PM
How do i know if its comfterble for my horse? Saddlers check fit and say its fine but they dont check if im riding for 3 hours...i wonder this all the time..! If its a young broken a year ago arab that shows no obvious signs like bucking rearing napping etc how do i tell?? |
| Callisto |
Posted - 23 Feb 2013 : 8:09:01 PM
Any saddle that is comfortable for both you and your horse is suitable for endurance - the further you go the more the saddle is exposed as to whether it is suitable for both of you. You also have to bear in mind that as your horse becomes fitter he will change shape. |
| arabiangem |
Posted - 23 Feb 2013 : 8:01:24 PM
I currently have a kent and masters pony GP (leather version of the thorowgood synthetic) and like the saddle very much as it fits both myself and my young Arab. My saddler however says that even though it fits fine (she's adjusted the gullet a few times and re flocked it) that it won't be suitable for endurance (or long distance hacking over 3 hours in saddle) as the tree is synthetic and the pannels although fairly wide should be more weight bearing. She wants to make a saddle for him in two months time as if/when he changes shape she only charges £300 for a complete new tree (keeping rest of saddle). She said that is the best way to ever have a saddle that is custom fit for both horse and rider for endurance. Sounds perfect, but then other people say any GP that fits horse and rider is fine for endurance. Trouble is "endurance" can be anything from PR's at 8kph to Race rides of around 15 kph to "all day" rides. I'm really confused! |
| Vik1 |
Posted - 23 Feb 2013 : 10:17:38 AM
I was told Bates and Wintec were virtually the same too, just one is leather. I find Bates saddles very heavy too. Cant comment on what they are like to ride in. Was speaking to a saddler about my boy who Im restarting (pba) and hes thinking down the line of Ideal working hunter but obv thats still to be confirmed. No set decisions made til he sees him ridden in a couple of weeks time.
Id be really happy with an Ideal...super comfy and fab saddles imo. Id also pick an Ideal over a Fylde any day. I just feel the panels on fylde's are too flat. I got shot down in flames when I said that to one of my showing enthusiasts friends, lol. Not that Im caring. My horse will be ridden in what is best for him, not what is fashionable in the showing world. |
| Paresh |
Posted - 23 Feb 2013 : 09:51:12 AM
Originally posted by arabiangem
I thought that the only difference between Wintec saddle and Bates saddles were the materials they are made from.....Wintec synthetic and Bates leather. Everything else inc the adjustable gullets are the same (except price!!) Is this correct?
please can you tell my Sec C that as he doesnt agree, the wintec on board and he tried to deck us, put the bates caprilli on and he went "oh look at me with my flicky toes"
I love the VSD and thats the next one on my to buy list as is suitable for both showing and jumping to the leval we do it at, have seen one at the local saddlery and fell in love with it, my daughter was very against the VSD and wanted an other fylde untill I took her to look at it and now is happy to have one.
Good luck hope you can get it to fit. |
| Arabianknights |
Posted - 22 Feb 2013 : 6:34:31 PM
The Bates didn't fit my boy but to be honest he's very hard to fit (big shoulder, barrel belly, dipped, short back) so it's no reflection on the Bates! |
| arabiangem |
Posted - 21 Feb 2013 : 8:21:29 PM
I thought that the only difference between Wintec saddle and Bates saddles were the materials they are made from.....Wintec synthetic and Bates leather. Everything else inc the adjustable gullets are the same (except price!!) Is this correct? |
| heathermcbreen |
Posted - 20 Feb 2013 : 7:46:38 PM
Thanks everyone... i think i will go down the Caprilli VSD route and see if the saddler can fit one ok
Glad no one said.. "yes I have one and its horrid"
Thanks Heather. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 19 Feb 2013 : 12:38:10 PM
I have the Bates Caprilli VSD on my very compact broad welsh x tb, it was the only saddle we could find to fit when he was a 5 year old, he is now rising 10 and we have put the wider gullets in as he grew. We have jumped, hacked and enduranced in it, it is very comfortable for the rider and he goes very well in it. Prefer the straighter cut, but plenty of knee roll. Would agree you need the fit checked by a saddler as they don't suit every horse, but as a saddle I would definitely recommend it. |
| Paresh |
Posted - 19 Feb 2013 : 12:25:33 PM
we have one on our welsh C, its the dressage one and he loves it. |
| Pasha |
Posted - 19 Feb 2013 : 11:11:54 AM
I have the Bates AP Saddle (GP) and both Shesky and I love it... it is my hacking, endurance, jumping and at the moment, dressage saddle, as we are between saddles whilst waiting for the WOW fitter to come out. |
| sab2 |
Posted - 19 Feb 2013 : 10:10:32 AM
We use them, i love them , we have done endurance on them, also use the wintec as well, i did buy the Bates Isabelle Werth but hated that as i don,t like too deeper seat. Make sure you get a saddler to fit it first as they are not designed for every horse, i am sure you would anyway  |
