The adjustable saddles created by Fairfax, K&M and Thorowgood use an adjustable gullet plate system. The gullet bar plates that set the width of these saddles come in two sizes which are model dependent and are known as either the 'R' or 'S' bar. These strong colour coded bars are held in place with threaded alan key screws.
In this article we will very briefly explore why you really should be considering using an adjustable saddle and we will clearly show which of the gullet bars are used in each of the saddles and the colour coding that applies to the various widths available. www.saddlesireland.ie have been selling the Fairfax, K&M and Thorowgood range of saddles for many many years. These saddles have proven themselves to be very reliable and instrumental in the shift towards riders taking control of their own saddle fitting requirements.
Why You Should Be Considering Using Adjustable Saddles!
The fact is - Horses change shape! Not just through their lives, but on a near daily basis, certainly weekly and monthly these changes can be clearly identified! The changes are linked to work loads, diet, rest, rehabilitation, the competition season, exercising and more.
By utilising an adjustable gullet saddle you can alter the width quickly and conveniently.
As a generalisation the front to back profile of your horse does not change radically, it's the side to side profile that sees the greatest profile changes. This side to side profile is the width aspect of your saddle, the part that fits over the withers and shoulders.
After fitting and supplying thousands of saddles it is beyond obvious to us that in virtually all saddle fitting situations an adjustable width saddle is the best option, there are exceptions, but generally speaking we will always stand by this statement. For anybody considering taking control of their own saddle fitting, an adjustable saddle is absolutely 100% advised.
For free impartial advice on everything saddle related contact us at either Saddles Ireland or Saddles Europe and our chief advisor and the True Master Saddle Fitter Lauren Coxhead will advise you, always with yours and your horses best interests at heart.
There are Two Types of Gullet Plate Bars for the Fairfax, K&M and Thorowgood saddles!
There are two types of gullet bars available for the aforementioned range of saddles, which bar you require will depend on which saddle you have, we will explore which saddles take which bars in a comprehensive chart during the following sections. However, you can identify which bar you have by simply measuring as follows - The Small 'S' Bar measures 17cm from the apex of the gullet to the point. The Larger 'R' Bar measures 23cm from the apex of the gullet to the point. It must be noted that the 'R' and the 'S' gullet plate bars are not interchangeable, so it's important to identify which of the types are required for your specific saddle.
How are the Fairfax, Kent and Masters & Thorowgood Gullets Held in Place?
The gullet bar plates are held in place by screws that require a Alan key to turn them. The screws are very strong and the thread is locked with a thread lock compound, in the past the screws were locked with a split washer. The gullet bar plates also fit into a recess, this recess may not be immediately clear, but it does exist and is well defined once you know it's there. The recess will show the orientation of the point of the gullet bar plate and it will centre the gullet bar for ease of fitting.
Please note in the image below, that there is an orientation for the gullet bar plate and that the bar itself is held in place by 4 specific screws. Replacement screws and Alan keys are available from www.saddlesireland.ie here https://www.saddlesireland.com/product-page/fairfax-gullet-and-panel-screws
And available in Europe from www.saddleseurope.eu here https://www.saddleseurope.eu/product-page/fairfax-gullet-and-panel-screws
How are the Fairfax, Kent and Masters & Thorowgood Gullets Coded for Width Identification?
Each gullet plate is colour coded to help easily identify which width it is.
Note* The Silver - Extra Extra Wide bar is 'NOT' available in the 'R' bar.
Gullet Colour | Gullet Width | 'S' Bar | 'R' Bar |
Green | Narrow Medium - NM | Yes | Yes |
Black | Medium - M | Yes | Yes |
Blue | Medium Wide - MW | Yes | Yes |
Red | Wide - W | Yes | Yes |
Orange | Wide Extra Wide - WXW | Yes | Yes |
White | Extra Wide - XW | Yes | Yes |
Yellow | Extra Wide to Extra Extra Wide - XWXXW | Yes | Yes |
Silver | Extra Extra Wide - XXW | Yes | No |
Which Gullet Bar Types do the Fairfax, Kent and Masters and Thorowgood Saddles Take?
This is a good question as these saddles employ two types of gullet plate bars, the short 'S' bar or the longer 'R' bar.
The following tables will outline exactly which saddles employ which gullet bar type - And remember the two gullet bar types are not interchangeable.
Thorowgood T4 & T8 Saddles
THOROWGOOD T4 SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Compact GP Standard Wither | MGC | R |
Compact GP High Wither | HGC | R |
Original GP Standard Wither | MGP | R |
Original GP High Wither | HGP | R |
Cob GP | MGX | S |
Pony | MPO | S |
Pony Long Leg | MLL | S |
THOROWGOOD T8 SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Compact GP Standard Wither | MGC | R |
Compact GP High Wither | HGC | R |
Low Wither GP | LWG | S |
Dressage Moveable Block Low Profile | LDM | R |
Dressage Moveable Block Standard Wither | MDM | R |
Dressage Moveable Block High Wither | HDM | R |
Endurance | JT | R |
Jump | MJJ | R |
Pony Jump | MPJ | S |
To trial and test Thorowgood T4 and T8 Saddles click here.
To browse the full Thorowgood range of Saddles click here.
Kent & Masters Original & S-Series Saddles
K&M ORIGINAL SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Flat Back GP | MGU | S |
Cob GP | MGX | S |
Dressage Moveable Block Standard Wither | MDM | R |
Dressage Moveable Block High Wither | HDM | R |
Pony Club | MPO | S |
Pony Club Long Leg | MLL | S |
K&M S-SERIES SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Low Wither GP | LWG | S |
Universal GP Standard Wither | UGP | R |
Universal GP High Wither | UGH | R |
Universal GPD | UGD | R |
Compact GP Low Profile | LGC | R |
Compact GP Standard Wither | MGC | R |
Compact GP High Wither | HGC | R |
Dressage Surface Block Low Profile | LDS | R |
Dressage Surface Block Standard Wither | MDS | R |
Dressage Surface Block High Wither | HDS | R |
Dressage Moveable Block Low Profile | LDM | R |
Dressage Moveable Block Standard Wither | MDM | R |
Dressage Moveable Block High Wither | HDM | R |
Jump | MJJ | R |
Pony Jump | MPJ | S |
To trial and test Kent and Masters Original and S-Series Saddles click here.
To browse the full Kent & Masters range of Saddles click here.
Fairfax Classic, Performance and World Class Saddles
FAIRFAX CLASSIC SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Petite Dressage Standard Panel | SDM | R |
Petite Dressage Drop Panel | MDM | R |
Open Seat Dressage Standard Panel | SDO | R |
Open Seat Dressage Drop Panel | MDO | R |
Cupped Flap Dressage Standard Panel | SDC | R |
Cupped Flap Dressage Drop Panel | MDC | R |
Low Wither GP | LWG | S |
GP | MGP | R |
GPD | MGD | R |
Plain Flap Jump | MJP | R |
Cupped Flap Jump | MJC | R |
Monoflap XC Small Block | MXC | R |
Monoflap XC Big Block | MXB | R |
FAIRFAX PERFORMANCE SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Gareth | DG | R |
Rebecca | DR | R |
Elias | FC | R |
Andrew Hoy XC | FAH | R |
Spirit Jump | MJS | R |
FAIRFAX WORLD CLASS SADDLES | ​ | ​ |
Saddle Type | Saddle Code | Bar Type |
Dressage Plain Trim | DP | R |
Dressage Croc Trim | DC | R |
Dressage Elias Panel Plain | EP | R |
Dressage Elias Panel Croc | EC | R |
Monoflap Jump | SXP | R |
Dual Flap Jump | SJP | R |
To trial and test Fairfax Classic, Performance and World Class Saddles click here.
To browse the full Fairfax range of Saddles click here.
Note* If you do not see your saddle listed above it is because it is a discontinued model or we have failed to update this post, please contact us for advice on which gullet bar type you will require.
Fairfax, Kent & Masters and Thorowgood Gullet Bar Plate Prices and availability.
Saddles Ireland and Saddles Europe is the largest most experienced outfitters of Fairfax, Kent & Masters and Thorowgood saddles in Ireland and potentially the N. Hemisphere.
As such, we permanently carry a broad range of the Fairfax, Kent and Masters and Thorowgood saddles for trial, fitting and direct sale, also permanently in stock is the full range of matching accessories including the 'S' and 'R' gullet bar plates. Saddles Ireland and Saddles Europe offer the lowest prices on all of our saddles new and used and also the very best prices on our saddle accessories. The lowest in Europe in fact. Fairfax, Kent and Masters and Thorwgood Gullet Bar Plates are available online with a RRP of €32.00 Our Price is just €27.50 inc VAT. (At the time of writing) To buy in Ireland click here https://www.saddlesireland.com/saddle-gullets To buy in the rest of Europe, Spain, France, Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Holland, Germany, Malta, Poland, The Netherlands and the rest of the EU click here https://www.saddleseurope.eu/saddle-gullets To Purchase spare and replacement Fairfax, Kent and Masters and Thorowgood Gullet and saddle screws in Ireland click HERE and for the rest of Europe click HERE. Please remember our advice is free and impartial, simply visit www.saddlesireland.ie for Ireland or www.saddleseurope.eu for the rest of the E.U. nations, contact us and we will always work in your best interests and to the highest standards.