Little_Miss_1
Well-Known Member
Hey all. Looking at one of these ATM. And than maybe the Jumping saddle... depends on how much I like it and how much the student loan stretches! Any views / reviews / critique very welcome!
Bates saddles - particularly the Isabella Dressage... views anyone?
- Thread starter Little_Miss_1
- Start date
yaddowshad
Well-Known Member
Hi, absolutely FANTASTIC, I used to own the Isabel Werth Dressage and now have the Bates Innova Dressage saddle. The Werth was very comfortable and supportive but I upgraded to the Innova which in my opinion is the best saddle in the world. I know they are extremely expensive but you get what you pay for and you can get them 2nd hand. My horse moves fantastically in it and the gullet change is extremely useful. The Innova gave me my confidence back after a horrendous fall which stopped me riding for 8 months, i now assist dressage judging at advanced levels and i find anyone using the Bates saddles all seem to have a good position in the saddle. I cannot praise them enough but of course everyone has their own opinion and preferences so you should try them and see how you get on before you buy. Good luck
Alibear
Well-Known Member
Bates saddles often come with cair so you need to try one on your horse before you buy it, as some horses love cair and others hate it. They apparently let you know really quickly, I'm very surprised to find my lad loves it.
LMuirEDT
Well-Known Member
I tried one recently and loved it! Saving some pennies now to get one altho I know there is a lot of debate over the Cair system. Does anyone know if the Isabelle comes in flocked?
Farma
Well-Known Member
I have a flocked isabelle dressage saddle and i LOVE it - the best saddle ive ever had but i would stay away from cair.
Little_Miss_1
Well-Known Member
Why would you stay away from Cair? I am looking at them as I like the adjustability of it - I have youngsters and I was thinking that the versatility would be good for them. Why do some horses dislike the cair?
Morrigan_Lady
Well-Known Member
I dont think its a case of the horse not liking cair, more that they just need to get used to it.
When you have the saddle fitted, you generally have it fitted without and saddle pad and the horse can feel the air moving in the saddle, which, to a horse thats not used to it may react.
When I had my Bates fitted to my cold backed, very sensative horse I put him on the lunge first and stood with the saddler watching him do the best rodeo act Ive ever seen! But he soon got used to the feel of it and now I would never put a flocked saddle on him again.
I have Bates saddles with Cair for both mine and we all love them :0)
When you have the saddle fitted, you generally have it fitted without and saddle pad and the horse can feel the air moving in the saddle, which, to a horse thats not used to it may react.
When I had my Bates fitted to my cold backed, very sensative horse I put him on the lunge first and stood with the saddler watching him do the best rodeo act Ive ever seen! But he soon got used to the feel of it and now I would never put a flocked saddle on him again.
I have Bates saddles with Cair for both mine and we all love them :0)
Little_Miss_1
Well-Known Member
Oh, okay - but you think that as long as I do it quietly most horses are okay with cair?
*goes off looking online to spend the student loan...*
*goes off looking online to spend the student loan...*
Morrigan_Lady
Well-Known Member
Every horse is different and every horse may react differently, but if my Archie can adjust I would think anything can!!!
But make you get some one to fit it that is trained in fitting cair saddles, coz they are quite different to a 'normal' saddle.
But make you get some one to fit it that is trained in fitting cair saddles, coz they are quite different to a 'normal' saddle.
Little_Miss_1
Well-Known Member
Okay, thanks very much for the advise!
HollyP
Well-Known Member
I love the isabell unfortunately she just wont fit my horse, and Iv had a brand new saddle sat in my tack room for over a year now, and cant bare to sell her. I really must 
LMuirEDT
Well-Known Member
I have NO hard facts on this but I remember reading something about the CAIR system being designed primarily for TBs so they don't fit so well on chunkier types. Rumour or fact I don't know.
SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
I have the flocked version and I love it - comfortable for both of us 
Sol
Well-Known Member
I currently have 2 bates, Caprilli dressage & caprilli close contact jumping saddle.
The jumping saddle was originally bought for my last horse, fitted like a glove and is very secure & comfortable! Then transferred to Dan, who it fit at first, so I got the dressage saddle too.
I adore the dressage saddle, from a riders point of view it's lovely, deep seat, changeable knee rolls which are brilliant for awkward people like me (I stuck my jumping blocks in instead as thigh rolls as knee rolls get in the way of my knees!) and it LOOKS like a dressage saddle should! sorry, I just can't stand these chunky, bulky dressage saddles, they might do the job but they ARE ugly, I'd much rather have something that does the job and looks good
Leather is lovely etc. So as long as it fits the horse...!
Unfortunately, Dan seems to have changed shape more than the saddles can cope with, so they will most likely be ebayed very soon! And they WILL be missed! (fingers crossed the saddler knows better and says they do fit! 
)
The jumping saddle was originally bought for my last horse, fitted like a glove and is very secure & comfortable! Then transferred to Dan, who it fit at first, so I got the dressage saddle too.
I adore the dressage saddle, from a riders point of view it's lovely, deep seat, changeable knee rolls which are brilliant for awkward people like me (I stuck my jumping blocks in instead as thigh rolls as knee rolls get in the way of my knees!) and it LOOKS like a dressage saddle should! sorry, I just can't stand these chunky, bulky dressage saddles, they might do the job but they ARE ugly, I'd much rather have something that does the job and looks good
Leather is lovely etc. So as long as it fits the horse...!Unfortunately, Dan seems to have changed shape more than the saddles can cope with, so they will most likely be ebayed very soon!
And they WILL be missed! (fingers crossed the saddler knows better and says they do fit! )
SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
Doh! Should have said it was the Isabel that I have 