Albion SLK or Ideal Jessica??

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ace87

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Hi all,

Am selling my lovely Albion Style dressage saddle as my pony has changed shape and it now now longer fits him and have had my local saddler out with alternatives.. the two which fit him best were an Albion SLK and an Ideal Jessica.. now both are nice saddles - in appearance the Ideal is immaculate and the SLK needs some love (not really been very well looked after so needs a damn good clean no scrapes etc but quite faded!) but the price reflects this..

I found the SLK lovely to ride in, nice position in the seat, knee rolls were excellent and my lower leg felt incredibly stable. Going sitting was very comfortable and I didn't find my leg slipping forward at all. Canter transitions were clearer as my leg aids were more precise due to better positioning.

Then I tried the Jessica.. Seat felt a little different, saddle felt almost as if it was moving me side to side but the seat was much comfier and i felt my position was even more improved than when riding in the SLK. However the knee rolls were not great, I actually prefered the knees on my current Albion. I found the short flap length made my lower leg feel somewhat unstable and slide forward though again leg aids were improved and lateral work was considerably more easy to achieve than it had been for a while.


Now basically I like both saddles - Ideally i'd like the seat of the Ideal with the knees/panels/flaps of the SLK. (stoopid saddler wont do this for me lol!) But I do have to choose one in the next week!!
I do have to think about price as my chap is only in very very light work until the end of the monthand kindly presented me with many vets bills just before Christmas!! Little sod! The SLK is priced at £495 and the Ideal at £799 (though is an unbranded one).... They both fit him equally well, I wouldn't go to another saddler to look for other saddles as she is an incredibly good friend of mine and an incredibly good saddler so I have those two to choose from!

Do i go for what has a comfy seat (important for broken back!) or excellent leg positioning (important for hypermobility in my legs) or pretty versus needs some elbow grease before I compete in it lol!

Thanks for any advice over this rambling junk haha!
 
Value for money, the SLK, a new Jessica is only another £100 max so it seems quite expensive for 2nd hand. Although I appreciate what you are saying about the saddler being a friend etc it is very expensive for a 2nd hand Jessica for example saddles direct have a number for around the £550 range. Other than that, go for which ever saddle and horse feel happier with but don't be afraid of one that looks a bit scruffy, I have had some amazing saddles over the years cheap as they were uncared for and they have scrubbed up to look like a saddle I have paid well over twice the price for.
 
Thanks Jane_lou!

I know what you mean about price of the Ideal - it's essentially new - looks like it's never had a girth done up.. but my friend works for a Tack Shop and it's her boss who dictates price she said she could do it for £100 off that but I'm still a little wary of spending all that money when it's not actually got the ideal pin button on it! I know Ideal make for a lot of other companies but hey!

The Albion is scrappy looking - faded but no rips, scratches etc just more brown than black but as you say I'm quite convinced I could get it back to competition condition with some elbowgrease and a lot of care. It's a lot newer than my current Albion but mine is immaculate so hoping to actually get some money back for it as a P/X. She's said she can let me have it for £395 which is pretty awesome! It's being reflocked at the moment as the flocking is somewhat pancakey! :)
 
I think I would buy the Albion if I where you it is good value and with some TLC will come up beauifully with any luck . I have a lot of Jessicas on my yard as they are a good value saddle but I know exactly what you describe about the knee rolls but they are quite nice if you hack out in them as you can pull the stirrups up a few holes and get away with it .
 
I know what you mean Goldenstar! I could have easily hacked out in it! But I have a stubben jumping saddle and a wintec GP so plenty of hacking options (oh and I never finish work before 7pm so what is hacking?! LOL!)
 
I've just ordered a new Ideal Suzannah which is apparantly very similar to the SLK. I had it made to measure and brand new for £830!! There is a new online shop with a sale offer on ( the horseboutique ltd). I ordered it before Xmas and thought it was too good to be true but contacted ideal to make sure it was all cosure and it is...saddle has been made off the template my saddler posted to them and in post. Yay!! I rode in my trainer's jessica and suzannah and found the suzannah much comfier
 
I was just about to suggest the Ideal Suzannah and Roella, I loved my Roella, I'm selling mine as I no longer have the horse that fits it, but I wouldn't hesitate to get another - by far the best dressage saddle that I've tried (for me anyway!)
 
I too was going to suggest the Ideal Suzzanah. I have both the Jessica and Suzzanah (on different horses), find them both very comfy saddles but there's much more knee roll on the Suz. and seat is alot deeper. Bought my Suz. new when they first came out, up until a few weeks ago when pony off games it had been used 5 days a week for schooling/hacking etc, still looks like new. If you are umming and ahhing between the two I would consider looking/riding in the Suzzanah. Really rate all Ideal saddles.
I appreciate what you are saying re your friend but Jessicas are quite common second hand (picked mine up off ebay for £250 and it's in good condition, been BD'ing in it!) could you possibly get the same size in a cheaper second hand version but still have your friend to check/fit it so she would get paid for fitting?
 
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