Advice on dressage saddles needed please!

C

cpendle

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 May 2007
Messages
353
Visit site
I've come to the conclusion that my extremely expensive, nearly new, Albion SL dressage saddle just doesn't suit my horse.
frown.gif


I've had the saddler out numerous times and we've tried everything - but it still moves around a lot on his back and slips forwards. I've tried different girths, various pads and it's been reflocked 3 times - but no joy!

So I think rather than risking a bad back and long-term damage I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get something else.

My horse is 16hh German Warmblood, short backed, without prominent withers, but with a big movement. Can anyone recommend a saddle that might suit his conformation?

Thanks in advance.
 
after my very good saddle fitting experience the other day, and trying lots of makes, i would say Ideal every time. my Master Saddler said they will (unlike most other makers, was the implication!) do exactly as he requires, first time, perfectly. the Susannah is a lovely lovely saddle to ride in... it made me feel like a much much better rider, felt as if it had been made exactly for me, and the mare was very happy in it. put it on your "try out" list if nothing else!
not at all surprised about your Albion, fwiw.
frown.gif
frown.gif

if your saddler is the one who sold you the Albion, surely you have some kind of comeback for the fact that it obviously doesn't fit the horse?!
 
I had a wow fitted as my warmblood is wide and as no withers so saddles used to slide. I picked wow as they can completely re build the saddle for your horse and change the air etc to fit to your horse's shape..I also contacted one of the fitters and said I had brought a saddle off ebay second hand and I did not want to spend a forture on the saddle ..the fitter was brill and did the changes he needed to do and did not try to sell me further things to add to his profit...good luck
 
For my very free moving arab, extra-wide and not much of a wither, short backed and croup high (
tongue.gif
), I have gone for a Strada Vienna dressage saddle and it is amazing! The only problem is finding a numnah which will stick to the saddle. The saddle doesn't move, sits behind the shoulders and boy does he shifts! This is after his reactor panel gave him lower back pain (the panels were too long for him).
 
I can vouch for the ideal Suzannah too. I had an Albion legend, lovely saddle to ride in but it kept slipping up my horses neck and was driving me nuts. Got the ideal fitted abotu a month ago and it doesn't move an inch, very comfy and much less than a new albion!
 
The ideal elizabeth is nice on smaller horses to. They have so many different tree's avliable you can usually get one to suit your horse.

I morn not having my suzannah any more as it was gorgeous and oh so comfotable. Saddly the tree just doesn't suit the new boy.
 
Hi, everyone thanks for all your advice.

Kerilli, sadly I bought the saddle - then moved about 150 miles away - so currently saddler didn't actually sell me the Albion and old saddler is just too far away to care!?
 
I really do not like Albions but in any case they were designed for horses with withers. I hate seeing them on flat backed cobs!

I would go for a Barnsby or Ideal and steer clear of Albions and Stubbens. If you want an adjustable saddle, I would suggest Saddle Company or Kieffer. I fit Saddle Company saddles and I have the dressage for both of my horses and I love it. One of mine is an Anglo who has high TB withers and short flat arab back. The other is a stocky Cleveland Bay who has some wither but is mainly a cobby type back. I have adjusted these countless times because the Anglo came to me with severe muscle wastage and the Cleveland Bay refuses to stop growing! My instructor thinks my SC dressage rides like her Kieffer (but cheaper!) and I can adjust my saddles on site rather than having to send them back to the factory.
 
Ideal! I have just bought one and adore it already. I tried the Jesscia amd Suzannah but felt most comfortable in the Roella - so we had it. It is a narrow twist and the knee/thigh blocks are over interfering I found.

My mare is a 15.2 ISH and has a low wither and quite roundish, we had the 17.5 inch seat for me and a MW fitting for her. Saddler is back out to reflock in 3 months time - as due to a slipping saddle issue she has slightly more muscle on the left handside than her right.

I ummed and ahhed for ages as to whether I should change my old saddle, but knew in my heart it wasnt right - wish I had listed to my heart sooner.

Hb
 
Wow saddle - wouldnt be without mine. You can change them as your horse changes shape, and never need to buy a new saddle again!!

I had an Ideal Suzannah and didnt get on with it at all, had loads of problems with the flocking and i eventually sold it on ebay.

Ive also got an Albion SLK Ultima Narrow fr my other horse, but shes not in work atm as is having a foal. Once shes back in work il be selling the Albion and getting her a Wow aswell.
 
The German Warmblood horses are built very differently to the typical English TB or half TB horse. You should try German brands like Stubben and Keiffer, they have been making saddles for warmbloods for years and years.
 
another votw for Ideal, this time the 1650.....well balanced, does not interfere and just puts you where you need to be.

The next horse WILL be bought to fit this saddle
 
Personally i wouldn't get a kieffer, i've got one and its horrible to ride in! Prestige saddles are lovely, we have them at work and they go on everything, don't move and are lovely to ride in. Or ideal jessicas are nice as well, though i've only ever ridden them on tbs so dont know how they'd fit on something without much of a wither! x
 
I would have to vote with WOW as well. Very adjustable and comfortable for both horse and rider. You can fit it exactly to your horses current shape and adjust it as your horse changes. Riderwise you can build a saddle that suits you - for example deep or extra deep seat, traditional flaps or giant block flaps etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top