The challenge of fitting a wide cob
Wide cobs, Irish cobs, gypsy cobs and many native types share a conformation that standard off-the-peg saddles are rarely designed for. They tend to be broad through the barrel, flat or rounded across the back, well sprung in the ribs and often comparatively short in the saddle-bearing area. Many also carry a generous covering through the shoulder and wither.
The result is that an ordinary medium or medium-wide tree can perch high at the front, pinch behind the shoulder, or slide from side to side because there is little wither to hold it in place. Riders often describe the saddle as sitting “on top of” the horse rather than settling into a balanced position.
What to look for
A saddle for a wide cob usually needs to consider:
- A genuinely wide tree, not simply a wider gullet plate on a narrow frame.
- Panels shaped to spread weight across a broad, flat back without bridging.
- Balance that keeps the rider central rather than tipped onto the cantle.
- Enough clearance and freedom around a often-meaty shoulder.
- Stability, because a flat-backed horse gives the saddle little to anchor against.
These features tend to work together. Getting the width right but the panel shape wrong can still leave a horse uncomfortable, which is why the whole picture matters.
How IDEAL saddles and Designed to Order can help
IDEAL produce British-made saddles in a wide range of fittings, including genuinely wide trees suited to broad natives. For horses that fall outside standard templates, IDEAL’s Designed to Order service allows the tree width, panel depth, flap and balance to be specified around your individual horse rather than the average.
Because our prices include both the saddle and the fitting, you are paying for considered advice as well as the saddle itself. You can explore the wide-fitting range and general-purpose saddles, both of which are popular choices for cobs and natives.
Why remote fitting works well for wide cobs
Many cob and native owners live where no local fitter stocks British-made wide-fitting saddles. Remote saddle fitting is well suited to these horses because their broad, comparatively stable shape is straightforward to capture with a back template, clear photographs and short videos. Our how it works page explains each stage, and our guides cover taking a template and taking photos.
A note on welfare
Width and shape can change as a cob gains or loses condition, so fit may need reviewing over time. Persistent soreness, behavioural changes or pressure marks require assessment and are not a substitute for veterinary or qualified physiotherapy advice. We will always be honest if we feel a horse needs hands-on local support.
Related reading: native ponies, short-backed horses and saddle slipping sideways.
If you have a wide cob or native that has been difficult to fit, we would be glad to help. Start your saddle enquiry and we will guide you through the next steps.