albion dressage saddle or Bates innova dressage saddle

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does anyone have either of these and does anyone have a preference. I have been offered a bates Innova i think with flocking, however it is a not near my horse (300 miles away.) Obv it is changable as she matures -5 yr old wbxtb 17hand. and it is the sort of saddle i want deep seat with big knee rolls, however i obv have not ridden in it. I did sit on an albion at burghley which was really nice and had interchangable gullets. not sure which one it was.
 
I've got Albion k2 dressage, and I love it, this is my 3rd (bought the first one when he was 6, which was a MW, and he gradually got wider and wider, so he's now in an XXW)
 
Think Albion and Bates have totally different tree shapes so depends what fits your horses back shape best. I have the k2 dressage on a wide cob who has a wither and I love it, very comfortable and good position. Don't know which Albion has adjustable gullet though?
 
Albions tend to suit flatter backs than bates so might be worth looking in to the tree shape as well as the adjustable gullet. I have an albion lux on mine and find it very comfy, it has small knee rolls and a deep seat but have never ridden in an innova so cant compare.
 
I bought an innova for my tb gelding its a lovely saddle holds the rider in a very good position and fits him really well I liked it so much I bought a second one for my warmblood
 
I bought a new dressage saddle last year. When the saddler came he brought 6 different saddles for me to try, one of them was the Bates Innova and another the Albion Platinum Royale. After trying all 6 my favourite one was the Albion Royale and I bought it, it is so comfortable and fits my horse really well. I wasn't to keen on the Bates, felt as if I was perched on the saddle. Everyone is different though, if I was you I would get the saddler out and try a few.
 
I agree with getting a saddler out. Where are you? I've recently had a master saddler out with 6 different saddles to try on my horse. During the 4 hours she was with me I tried all 6, liked the third best & tried it again & bought it. You really do need to try them on the horse & ride in them before you buy.
 
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