lindajones
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have a Bates saddle ? How have you found it ? Does it do what it says on the tin ??
I have a bates dressage saddle with interchangeable gullet which is worth it's weight in gold, changed the gullet twice already where otherwise I would have had to buy two saddles, however have heard reports of the interchangeable ones snapping cross country in the jumping saddles but don't know if they were bates so if you are planning on getting a jumping one with a changeable gullet I would look into it, otherwise they are very nice saddles
I know it looks really mean of me to wade in, with everyone loving Bates it seems, but they don't suit every horse, especially wide horses, and I have a major issue with the shape of the headplate:
http://saddlefitter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/changeable-gullets-details.html
What am I best buying bates vsd or all purpose?
Just want a saddle I can use every day for for local showing!
It also means the trees are curvy from front to back hence they really don't suit natives and other flat backed horses.
I'm sorry, I think there are much better options out there for most horses, especially as they're not cheap saddles. I refer you again to:
http://saddlefitter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/changeable-gullets-details.html
The New Wintec Wide (same as the Bates Wide) most definitely does suit flat backed natives and does not have a curvy tree. Mine fits my haflingers brilliantly. I also have a New Wintec for my TB, no pressure points and both saddles are better than leather ones I had previously even though they were professionally fitted.