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zooscat
Gold Member
 United Kingdom
882 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Mar 2010 : 10:05:22 PM
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I had the chance to try Ry in one of these today, as a lady on my yard was having her dressage horse fitted with one; The fitter kindly constructed a demo one for Ry and me. It felt really strange to start with, but I felt safer the longer I rode in it. Ry, on the other hand, went so beautifully from the off - much more relaxed, "through" - no spooking, rushing, propping or otherwise avoiding. His current saddle is an Ideal Jessica, which was made to measure especially for him and me and is checked at least every six months. Vet was out to check Ry on Mon and said "fabulous condition - etc etc" so no obvious reason, other than the WOW saddle,for great improvement in way of going. Very tempted to get one - £1700!!! Anyone tried them/owned them?
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Qui Gon Jinn
Platinum Member
Scotland
1627 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2010 : 10:23:55 PM
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I've got one and love mine. I've got a VSD deep seated model with 2" longer flaps as I feel that the standard flaps just don't look long enough against the horses sides! Sadly though mine causes heat bumps on Kalidah's back, so I have had to go back to using my Arabian Saddle Company saddle on her, but the WOW is problem free on Merlyn.
I feel so much more secure in the WOW and I can keep my dressage position better in it. They are a lot of money and I guess it depends upon your discipline too. Showing judges hate them (as I discovered last year!) and they seem not to be favourites with either the Endurance riders or Eventers either, probably for much the same reasons as I found with Kalidah - prolonged use causing heat lumps!
You will find lots of these saddles on ebay for sale and most go for around the £750 - £800 mark. |
The Soul would have no Rainbow....If the Eyes had shed no Tears. |
Edited by - Qui Gon Jinn on 05 Mar 2010 10:25:05 PM |
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LIV
Gold Member
England
705 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2010 : 09:08:45 AM
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We have three so think you can guess we like them! |
     
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alethea
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1526 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2010 : 10:20:52 AM
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I am looking to buy a wow saddle at the moment so any feedback on them very much appreciated
Alethea
Aristotle Arabians |
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Linette
Bronze Member
Scotland
103 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2010 : 12:04:37 PM
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I have tried a couple of wows. People and horses either love them or hate them. Personally I didn't like them, I found that they rolled on the horses back and I didn't feel secure and I also found the seat uncomfortable. I have heard it said many times that the fitter is vital as many, even though trained, still cause problems with the horses back.
I have never come across any endurance person using them (although I am sure there must be some out there). I did have flair fitted to some normal saddles and liked it as it was very adjustable so you can have the riding on air bit without the cost of a wow.
I suggest you do a google search as you will come across a lot of posts on other horsey forums of people with very strong view on the wow.
I would also suggest getting a least a weeks trial and def.try to get second hand as they will be half the price.
Good luck. |
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RiffRaff
Silver Member
271 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2010 : 8:14:04 PM
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When i went to buy my warmblood he had a wow saddle however the owner wanted extra for it so i decided not to buy it as had a saddle that would fit him already. The only problem i had was it took him a while to switch back to a flock saddle as he had got so used to the 'air'. So if you get one then decide later to switch back just be aware. They do look very good and i like the fact that you can change the flaps to have a dressage/jumping/gp cut all saddles in one no switching!
Good Luck  |
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Professional Lurker
Bronze Member
229 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2010 : 12:37:14 PM
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Have two Wow saddles and love them, horse goes very well in them and no problems with either.
If you know what fit you need, panels, seat, size, so on, you could pick one up on e bay for a reasonable saving and then, with the money you saved, you can pay your local fitter to fit it to you and your horse which could be around about the hundred pound mark.
Good Luck.
PL. |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2010 : 9:12:33 PM
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I have a WOW VSD saddle and LOVE it!
I have shown in it and the judges were fine and even commented on how comfortable it was as well ( including at the nationals  )
The only thing I would say is be careful HOW much air is put in, some fitters seem to infalte the airbags far to much and this is what results in the rolling action, Find a good fitter and youll never go back to flocked again !
susie
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www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
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zooscat
Gold Member
United Kingdom
882 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2010 : 9:26:52 PM
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| Thanks very much for the feed back; i shall research more on other forums (fora?) and let you know! i must say, I was really tempted - Ry went so much better, immediately - and so did my friend's horse - who is a dressage horse, mainly; he's an Irish draught, 17.2hh and quite long. He finds it hard to hold everything together sometimes; he is out at Advanced (affiliated)level and getting mid/high-sixtys, which I think is really good, given the very grand warmbloods he is usually up against! My friend rode round in tears,because she felt he was going so very much better, and was feeling much more free and unconstricted. Both of us are currently using "good" saddles, regularly checked by SMS saddlers, and fitted carefully for each of us and our horses. So - the info search is on! |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 2:39:37 PM
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| I used to exercise a Warmblood last year that had one I loved it, really comfortable and gives you a nice leg position, as he was 17.2 with a huge stride I thought I will never sit to his trot but found it quite easy and I am sure it was the saddle that helped. |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2010 : 3:16:34 PM
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I've never ridden in one (but was thinking about trying one on Pasha after trying literally every saddle on the market) and to be honest was put off after what I read on various horsey forums, so wouldn't necessarily look on the internet to be honest - some horror stories!
At the end of the day, saddles are soo personal! If you tried it and loved it, then I say go for it and post pictures to make us all jealous
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zooscat
Gold Member
United Kingdom
882 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2010 : 12:23:14 AM
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Couldn't resist - ordered it So did my friend!! It's coming this Thursday (18/3) and of course, Mr Horse (aka Ryazan) had a jolly kick-about and hoon round the field with his little mate, the naughty sec D, and came in hopping lame on The Bad Leg That was last night; seems fine this morning, going to rest him i.e. no work, just lots of turn out (and a meaningful word with the Welshie - I'm sure he started it )and see how he is later in the week. Sooo exciting - esp the thought of bread n marge for me for the rest of the year! Still- you do get stirrup leathers and a cover "free" with the £1700 saddle! Will keep you posted.(Read up on all the forums on Internet abt these saddles - general impression is fab - or not fab cos problem with fitter.) Our fitter is 2nd in command of the WOW company, and they are only up the road - well abt 20miles - so -fingers crossed - should be OK. |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 11:09:41 AM
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Are they OK to start a horse in? My stallion is a very big boy, 5 this year and I want to get him under saddle if possible. He is 15 2"+ and is a big horse; short coupled but with a big barrel and well sprung ribs. I already have an Ideal saddle with flair that I was thinking of getting fitted to him but reading this I am tempted with a Wow. What size is he likely to need? Any help appreciated.
Thanks
Barbara |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 5:50:27 PM
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They're perfect for backing in as they can be altered in so many ways as the horse grows/muscles up etc. This is the main reason I bought one in the first place.
You'd prob need a 17" but get a WOW fitter to give you a demo and try a few to see what seat/panels eyc you prefer as there are so many options its virtually impossible not to get what you want
susi |
www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 10:16:06 PM
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Would a 17" equate to a normal 17"? I usually ride in a 16 and 1/2" but want one that a man can use as I have a friend who is a super rider who would do some work with him.
Thanks
Barbara |
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Margaret
Silver Member
Scotland
372 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2010 : 12:39:15 PM
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Can't help with the sizer issue - you'd probably need to check with your saddle fitter.
Just wanted to say another happy Wow user here; it's not just the flair I like (used to have flair with my old Ideal Jessica) but also the floating points over the shoulders. I had to have a saddle made for Ammi because of his difficult back, and thought if I was spending all that money I might as well have the Wow as something else.
Showing judges don't like it - one judge got off and said 'Get rid of that saddle!' but I don't do a huge amount of showing, and the main thing is that it suits me and my horse. You can also change the headplate yourself if your horse changes shape; it seems terrifying the first time but is actually quite easy, and if you keep an eye on your horse's condition it means you can save the cost of the saddler coming out every time! |
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Raz
New Member
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 05 Apr 2010 : 3:52:13 PM
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i have one, had it for over 6 years now & its great, you can change the head plate as often as needed and alter the air pretty easy i got shown by a wow fitter how to use the pump to alter it if needed as my boy changes shape so much depending on his work load
i have the older style which i think is slightly neater looking than the new ones, i have the standard fixed block dressage flaps & also the fixed jumping flaps, i would love to get hold of the giant dressage flaps though
the fit of your saddle is very very important, get a good wow fitter to get it right, the first fitter (& the one i got my saddle from) couldnt get my one to sit 100% but i managed to find someone that spent about 1.5 hrs fiddling with it and got it spot on, the difference was amazing
as for show judges, most female judges dont mind it, & a few have said that its very comfy and really liked it, BUT, male judges seem to hate it, i have been told that i should burn it, chuck it out & one even said that had i had a better saddle i would have been moved up the line 3 or 4 places but the way i look at it is my horse likes it & goes well in it & i like it so since i ride in it most days & judges only ever sit in it for a few mins then i am going to stick with it |
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munchie
Silver Member
284 Posts |
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2010 : 6:20:34 PM
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Just confirmed my order for my Wow for Eba, very excited. It was so customisable. So we have 16" panels to suit her back and a 17" seat to suit my bottom! Better get a move on and get riding her.
V excited.
B |
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munchie
Silver Member
284 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2010 : 6:40:18 PM
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Well we spent 2 and a half hours this afternoon having a wow fitted.
Chose the VSD with moveable blocks which looked and felt lovely. It really improved my position, in her current saddle I find it really hard to sit up straight but no such problems with the Wow after a quick tweak, my leg position was greatly improved too and I could ride in a much longer stirrup length. Started in a curved tree then switched to the flat tree and she was much more settled in the flat. Tried the shallow seat on the curved tree which was lovely then tried the deep seat with the flat tree, will be going with the deep seat, was super comfy!
After the first half hour my seat was sorted and we moved onto fitting it to her.
The main problem we've had with her saddle is it going off to the right all the time. To counteract this we put her in the 'H' girth which brought an improvement, used the 'point strap' option which helped a bit more, tweaked and tweaked the air repeatedly and still it's going a bit sideways!
So the fitter has taken lots of templates of her back and plenty of pics, he's off to the HQ in canterbury start of next week so is using her as a 'discussion point' and bringing back some additional girthing straps whose name escapes me so we can attach the girth to the very back point thus reducing the movement in the saddle further. We are 80% there in the fitting, really hoping the final 20% can be solved from his trip down south cos the saddle itself was lovely to ride on! Really liked the stirrup leathers too, never thought losing the buckle under the leg and having a narrower 'waist' to the seat would be so comfy and 'secure feeling'!
Really loved the saddle and now hoping they can come up with a solution to the moving sideways thing, I felt so much more confident in her way of going and my own riding even with the slight movement still evident. I want one!! 
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Edited by - munchie on 12 Jun 2010 7:51:30 PM |
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guisburnfeefee
Bronze Member
167 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2010 : 1:13:02 PM
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| a friend of mine had one - horse didn't like the feel of it went nuts and she broke her ankle falling off. He was difficult to tack up and get on until she changed saddles - all fine now. Depends on the horse - I suppose. I love the look of them and had my old dressage saddle converted with Flair till someone on the yard became jealous and punctured it but that's another story. If the horse is happy with the saddle the go for it! |
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WOW saddles
