I have my first Bob coming and I know they can be tricky, I have a saddle right pad. What else do I need to know? Special cinch?

That's my favorite saddle. When I ordered mine, I didn't know that I could get sleeves with Velcro. The sleeves are the things that go over the stirrup straps and keep them together. Without the Velcro, it's very hard to adjust your stirrups because you have to push the tight sleeve up and out of the way. I got so frustrated, I cut mine off. But now I discovered they make them with Velcro. I just ordered myself a set. I also cut off the little nylon loop that holds the two stirrup straps together. That was also too tight making it very difficult to go up and down with your stirrups. I can't say yet if that was a good idea or bad idea. 

I've used every different kind of pad with them and don't notice any pluses or minues. I usually use a Professional Choice fleece cinch because I like how I can take the fleece off and wash it in the machine. But I don't think the type of cinch you use matters either. 

Enjoy your new saddle!

Congrats on your new saddle!

Been riding Bob's for years. I use a Saddleright pad with it and a Back on Track liner. I have tried a CSI pad but that is too thick so the saddle started to roll.

Also, you will probably need to get a shorter cinch. I use a 26" cinch on both mine.

I love my Bob Marshalls, these are really cool saddles. On all my Bob Marshalls I have had I always have the Allison Ray rigging done on them, I ride with my feet a bit forward so this rigging works/helps. 

Like Cranky said you need to go with a shorter cinch then what you use on a treed saddle, all my cinches have always been a 26" also, my saddle pad I always use a 3/4 inch 5 Star with a Back on Track liner. 

You dont want to thick of a pad. 

LOVE my bob Marshall. I use a 28in Pro Choice fleece girth. CSI pad or Impact Gel for my gelding. The 5stars I sold because he developed bumps along his spine/back from the 5stars. 

I decided to try a CSI a few years back to see what the hyped was all about on them. Did'nt work for my gelding.

The CSI I tryed for a while made my saddle roll and it rubbed the hair off my horses back and made him sore, the 5 Stars conformed to my geldings back to where my saddle sits right and I can feel him , with the CSI I felt perched. I think the CSI work better with a heavier saddle. My Bob Marshall felt so weird with the CSI pad I could not feel my horse under me at all.