Albion Saddles

C

ChocoCornflake

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 February 2008
Messages
95
Visit site
Hi all! Im in the process of buying a new dressage saddle, after my Wow saddle was stolen
mad.gif

I've been riding in a friends albion k2, so am thinking of getting one of those, as I find it really comfy, and the horse has never gone so well!
But...iv read a few comments saying that albions are bad for the horses back? Wondered if anyone could elaborate on why!!?
Also, if anyone has an Albion SLK, how do they differ from the K2 (apart from price of course
tongue.gif
)
 
Kerilli may be able to shed some light on Albions for you!

I tried a K2 before getting my SLK. I found the SLK offered more support than the K2 and also the shape of the gullet suited my horse more than the K2.
However since I tried the K2 I know they have changed!!
 
I think you are a love em or hate em person.
Personally I think they are a very well made saddle and nice to ride in.
My horse has 2, K2 jump and K2 dressage and they have never caused him any problems.
Difference in dressage between K2 and SLK - mainly the deepness of seat and size of blocks and relative positioning of the rider. (and price tag)

I've been competeing Nov/Elem and have found the K2 more than adequate for my needs.
 
My instructer has a Albion ultima platinum and she would never put anything on her horse that wasn't good for it.
I have ridden in it and all I can saw was WOW, my sitting trot was amazing just for once.

I guess like all sadlde's its personal you either like it or not.
 
Had a K2 but sold it as didnt like it but the new ones are nicer i. Also it belonged to old horse who I didnt like much ether so may have had something to do with it!!
blush.gif
tongue.gif
 
Ooo I am very jealous. I have a K2 dressage saddle at the moment which I love and (courtesy of my bonus
grin.gif
) the saddler is coming next week to fit him for a jumping saddle - probably a K2 again I think. So I thought I was being a bit flash but now I have serious Albion saddle envy
smirk.gif
 
I have two SLKs for my girls and absolutely love them... I have tried so many different dressage saddles, and nothing measured up to them for me and my comfort as well as fitting the horse.

I am umming and ahhing about considering a WOW when it comes to getting Troy a saddle in two years time, but it would have to be as comfortable as my albions to drag me away from getting another
smile.gif
 
I have K2 VSD and love it!!! It's a really dark havana and the leather is lovely and my horse has improved sooo much since getting this saddle. Would get another for sure!!!
 
this is all quoted as verbatim as i can recall, from experts i really trust:
first of all, unless a new saddle is totally the wrong width and shape for a horse, the horse will always go better in it, because it feels different and has different pressure areas to whatever the horse was being ridden in before. this effect lasts 5-6 weeks, then the horse will really tell/show you how his new saddle feels.
this of course is disastrous when you only have 20 mins to try a new saddle!
albions are built on trees which aren't the same shape as a horse's back, according to someone very experienced who i really really respect and believe in.
i could go on and on...
a lot of the Pros use a prolite pad (or similar) under their albion... not sure that should be necessary with a really comfy well-fitting saddle.
 
The slk's sound good then!! the thing about the wow (i found) was that although it is kind to the horses back, all mine ever did was slip! had to have the fitter out so, so many times for it! but they're good in the way you can change them to fit as your horse grows (which may be ideal for your youngster!)
Also...i never felt very secure in it, apart from the slipping, mine wasn't deep enough even being the deepest seat they do, and on a frolicing bouncing 17.2, i never really felt very safe!
I found the albion im using atm totally different to the wow, in a good way
smile.gif

Pony likes it too! Right...im off to part with £1000 then...!
 
Try Saddles Direct, they have a number of Albions second hand - she's got a massive selection of other saddles too.
However if its and insurance pay out the SL is nice too.
We have a Sue Carson close contact dressage saddle with FLAIR everywhere - its fully adjustable so if the horse changes shape they just adjust the air.... not cheap (just under £2000) but not much more than an SLK. Plus the second hand market for Albions isn't as good as it used to be as the market is flooded with them - victims of their own success I guess.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top