saddle suggestion for high-withered TB? [Archive]

texang73

Jan. 9, 2009, 02:33 PM

Hi all,
I have a Courbette Aristokrat dressage saddle that I really like, that fits my horse, has a comfy seat, but puts me in completely the wrong position (shoves my lower leg forward, even when I lift the saddle from the back abit)... So I am now on the search for a new dressage saddle... *sigh* :rolleyes:

I will be test-riding saddles, but have no idea where to start since there are so many saddles out there! :eek:

So, help me break it down... Any good saddles that will fit a fairly high withered TB with a medium tree (his current saddle is a 31 cm)? I prefer black and under $1000, new or used. 'Course I have to get the other one sold first... ;)
Thanks!!

Bayou Roux

Jan. 9, 2009, 03:27 PM

Passier GT is a nice fit for high withers. May give you some of the same position issues unless you use a riser pad, though.

Mary in Area 1

Jan. 9, 2009, 10:28 PM

Look for a Neidersuss Symphonie "N" tree. Great saddles, last forever. The N tree is perfect for TB's.

dwblover

Jan. 9, 2009, 11:49 PM

Definitely look at the Passiers. Wonderful saddles IMO and great for high withers.

tikidoc

Jan. 10, 2009, 06:35 AM

Bumping. Have a rescue TB that I will start back under saddle this spring, has shark fin withers...

Saracatherine

Jan. 10, 2009, 12:06 PM

I have a very high withered TB, also. I have an Albion Med. tree that I thought fit him perfectly, except for it did push my legs forward and put me totally out of balance. I bought a thinline halfpad with shims and used 3 to lift the back of the saddle, which put me in the right place. It worked fine, but I thought, maybe if I have the saddle fitter put some extra padding in the back, I wouldn't have to use the shims. Well, we decided the saddle needed to be widened a little and that has helped alot. Turns out the saddle really was too narrow for him. So, you might try a MW or even a W saddle and see what happens. My saddle fitter said, it is okay, if you can get 1 or 2 finger width between the pommel and the withers. That is w/out a saddle pad and girthed up. Just my experience!! Good Luck!! :)

BasqueMom

Jan. 10, 2009, 12:24 PM

My County Despire fits both the shark fins well. Not under a $1,000 though. Had no luck
with Collegiate saddles. One has a Gold Metal from Libertyville Saddle that did well until
he bulked up, then he went into the guy's saddle. Think new, they are around $1000--
it's Libertyville's house brand, made in England. Also had one for my old guy that was
a close contact and a very nice saddle. They have one in that line that is designed for
high-withered thoroughbreds.

Beasmom

Jan. 10, 2009, 01:20 PM

Whatever saddle you consider, look for a cutback pommel. Allows room for those shark fins. Passier, Neidersuss, Wintec/Bates (slight cutback, I think), Keiffer. What's medium in one saddle may be wide in another. You just can't tell till you try it on the horse.

anchorsaway

Jan. 10, 2009, 05:15 PM

My TB is fairly high withered and I've got him in a Collegiate, and is fit him better than the MW TB Albion I had, which also put me in the WRONG position. I absolutely hated it, probably will never go back to an Albion. I'm selling mine, and it's on trial. If it doesn't sell, and you'd like to try it, feel free to pm me!

texang73

Jan. 10, 2009, 07:59 PM

Thanks all, some very good suggestions. It is just so fristrating that the saddle fits HIM, but NOT me!:mad:

Anchor, if it doesn't sell, PM me!

Trakehner

Jan. 11, 2009, 12:00 AM

Passier.

johnnysauntie

Jan. 11, 2009, 10:12 AM

My fitter recommended the Kieffer Rusty for my guy, and the Kieffer TB looks good too:

http://www.calevo.com/cgi-bin/calevo/process/locale/en_US/page/1010312.html

McVillesMom

Jan. 11, 2009, 10:59 AM

MY Wintec Isabell fits well on my sharkfin TB. I have a hard time finding a jumping saddle that fits him well due to his withers, but never any problems with the Isabell. I'd try one to make sure it works for *you* before you decide, though.

Aristeia

Jan. 11, 2009, 03:10 PM

I have a Kieffer Wein DL Pro for my narrow and high withered horse. It's the only saddle I could find that fit him without spending a tonne of money. You can usually find them used for under 1k.

texang73

Jan. 11, 2009, 04:45 PM

McMom, oh yeah, I'll be test-riding, I assure you! I am already trying everyones saddles at the barn to see what fits him and riding in it if it does... All very good suggestions, and it helps narrow down my search abit. Thanks all!

joiedevie99

Jan. 11, 2009, 04:55 PM

Otto Schumacher Profi- and a used one should be in your price range.

anchorsaway

Jan. 11, 2009, 09:20 PM

texang73-
will do :)

camohn

Jan. 11, 2009, 09:35 PM

Passier GT is a nice fit for high withers. May give you some of the same position issues unless you use a riser pad, though.

Have this one (I bought used on Ebay for 700.)and it works great on TBs!

ThoroughbredFancy

Jan. 11, 2009, 09:47 PM

Albion, Kieffer and Passier are the brands I would go with.

Out of those three I prefer Kieffer.

CapitolDesign

Jan. 12, 2009, 10:21 AM

Passier.

Passier GG - fits my HIGH withered Trak and am sure it would fit any horse I put it on.

Lieslot

Jan. 14, 2009, 03:00 PM

Passier GG - fits my HIGH withered Trak and am sure it would fit any horse I put it on.
I so wished that was the case. I tried it on my very high withered WB and it was a no-no. Eventhough it fitted nicely in front it sat so low in the back, it was impossible for me to balance in it and the saddle was pressuring at the back. I needed to put 2 shims in the back to level it out, so that was a complete no-no.

Actually when fitting a Hi-Wi horse, I find it very difficult to get the saddle level, seems like when you get the front fitted, you often end up with the cantle too low.
Admittedly my boy is built uphill/giraffe like.

Trevelyan96

Jan. 14, 2009, 03:11 PM

I have a Collegiate Jessica on Trav, and it fits him very well.

rugbygirl

Jan. 14, 2009, 03:25 PM

Stubben Scandica has lots of room for withers, but I've only used the Wide tree model.

horsepix76

Jan. 15, 2009, 08:35 AM

I ride my VERY high withered TB in a Courbette Marschall dressage saddle. In fact, I am currently working with 4 OTTBs and my saddle fits all of them quite nicely.

Unfortunately, Courbette doesn't make the Marschall anymore, but the comparable saddle (built on the exact same tree) would be the Courbette Bernina. It is also built in Switzerland on the Lemetex tree. The German Lemetex tree is a different shape and doesn't fit my horses.

Best of luck to you!

SisterToSoreFoot

Jan. 15, 2009, 10:20 AM

A Keiffer Wein DL that is on the narrow side is a good option and not too pricey (600-800). It's a very classic model without a lot of bells and whistles in terms of blocks and padding, but it is a great, balanced saddle. Plus these saddles age great--they are tough, so a used one will look better than a lot of saddles of the same vintage. I got one on Ebay for 650 last year...under a 1,000 would be easy because its an older model.

Want to aim higher? I bought a narrower Passier Optimum for my aged, high withered TB. No saddle fit him better. I lost the horse but am keeping that lovely saddle like Cindarella's shoe--the next horse I buy will have to fit it!

Edited to add: I see Aristeia already made the recommendation about the Keiffer Wein DL. I second it!

Snoball 1

Jan. 16, 2009, 08:19 PM

Black Country- Eden
This saddle is made for a high withered TB type in mind. The shape of their tree actually follows the "dip" from the wither to spine ( banana shaped) .
See www.trumbullmountain.com their website has tons of info for difficult to fit horses.

bhebert19

Jan. 16, 2009, 08:23 PM

I suggest County... Might be hard to find under 1000, but worth looking into... they are amazing saddles and wool flocked is the way to go! Good luck!! :)

in_the_zone

Jan. 22, 2009, 08:06 PM

InsideLeg2OutsideRein

Jan. 23, 2009, 04:55 PM

I have a Lemke that does the exact same thing, fits the horse (high withered TB) but not me. So depending on your conformation, a Lemke might work for you?

Lgd1

Jan. 30, 2009, 02:48 PM

If you can get your hands on one - Barnsby Raven or Barnsby Luxus are both good for TBs, particularly if they have a wither and are then quite big in the barrel

mhhealey

Feb. 2, 2009, 01:51 PM

I've got a Campbell dressage (don't know model) that fit both my razor-backed boys. It wasn't an expensive saddle new, but I haven't seen any others in years.

I've also got a nice Verhan that was fitted to my old TB. I haven't used it much on the new boy, but he seems comfortable enough in it.

NCSaddleFitter

Feb. 3, 2009, 08:48 AM

If you can find a Grand Gilbert with a dropped panel, that might be a good option. I also like the Albion SLK High Profile, but make sure you try it out as the pommel can be an issue for some riders. The Frank Baines Omni in the higher pommel is also an option, as well as a Black Country with a wither gusset.

If you want to go with an inexpensive saddle, the Thorowgoods make a high wither model that is actually quite nice. They also make them in a leather version called the Fairfax.

Carnelian

Feb. 3, 2009, 09:49 AM

Passier GG - fits my HIGH withered Trak and am sure it would fit any horse I put it on.

Ditto on the Passier Grand Gilbert, plus the tree is adjustable. Just had mine narrowed a bit for my new horse.

texang73

Feb. 3, 2009, 11:22 AM

$30 CURE

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-19456&ids=1007895798&bhcd2=1232672576

I use this on top of a fleece half pad and it works great! The lift pad will also lift the front of your saddle to balance the seat thus allowing you to bring you legs back underneath you.

Done that, it doesn't work. It fits me that badly.

However, I have found a saddle that does work well for both of us, though way out of my price range *figures* :no: But I am working on a payment plan, so the saddle will be mine! :D

So, the Aristokrat is now officially for sale. :)

scubed

Feb. 3, 2009, 02:06 PM

Kieffer saddles, especially the Orphee TB, but several of them work well due to the cutback. I rode my very high withered guy in a Lech Pro

kraslad

Feb. 4, 2009, 12:17 PM

Just wanted to echo the others, I also have a high withered TB and when we were competing more actively, I rode him both in a Passier (which was truly lovely) and the saddle I still use - a Kiefer Wien, which has a cutback and is very comfortable. Good luck - when I purchased both of these saddles (yikes, 10 and 14 years ago) they were over $1000 even then, and they were both used.

I am sure you can find a saddle you (and he) like and one that is in your budget - there are so many more resources to find them than when I was shopping back then. With the internet and the way the local stores are often networked, you'll get there!

The Good HorsePerson

Feb. 5, 2009, 12:17 PM

texang73

Feb. 5, 2009, 03:02 PM

You might try contacting Cyndy McCully... she does well fitting high withered horses and their people, and I believe she takes saddles on consignment, so you might be able to sell your current saddle through her as well.

301-471-4325

http://www.painthorsesaddlery.com/index.html

Good Luck!

Thanks, but as I posted earlier, I have FOUND a new saddle (semi-custom, for those interested... figures, though, since my wallet can't really take the hit! :no:) and the other one is for sale! Thanks for all the suggestions!!