British Saddle brands

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Lyssatra

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A yard friend is looking for a new saddle for her OTTB, her saddler works with a lot of British brands and while I recognise the names I am not familiar enough with the brands to be of much use to my friend advice-wise as I have no experience with these brands myself.

What can you tell me about the following brands:

Kent & Masters,
KH (Kay Hastilow),
Fairfax,
Black Country

Have you ever ridden in a saddle by these brands?
What were the pros/cons of them?
Any of you use them on an OTTB requiring a narrow tree?

Thanks in advance - I think her preference is for a dressage saddle. She is currently borrowing her trainers Albion and loves it - so if any of the above brands do something similar all info appreciated! :D
 
I used a Kent and Masters on my ex racer. It was in theory a nice saddle and fitted the horse perfectly. He changed from narrow/medium to wide so it was very lucky I had bought an adjustable saddle!
Personally I disliked it to ride in though, I felt tilted forward and this is quite insecure when you have a fresh tb pratting round! A different saddler told me he advises buying a half seat size bigger to prevent this feeling.
Have you seen GFS xch TB saddles? They have an adjustable gullet also and look better quality. I have an old GFS and love it.
 
Be wary of cheaper saddles from British brands, increasingly they are being made in South America and the far east to keep costs down. In my opinion it's worth paying a bit more for a proper Walsall made English saddle.
 
I have a black country saddle and i find it was the only one which suited my high withered horse and i felt comfortable in as i have long legs. Money well spent imo.
 
Black Country IMO are the best out of that list. However I do like straight cut dressage / show saddles and I think that is what they are best at.
 
I have my second Black Country on order as I type, hopefully getting it next week .... I already have their Eloquence dressage which is a lovely saddle, beautifully made, can't fault it. The new one is a GP to match. Would recommend to anyone.
 
I have had 2 Ideal International Event saddles and loved them. My last Ideal was a 'Deal' (cheaper) which I also loved but my girl lost weight and muscled up a bit and I now have a Black Country GP and am finding it difficult to ride in - it may be wider in the twist. I'm 5'3" with short legs!
 
I have black Country wexford, I love everything about it! My horse isn't tb tho so cant comment on that aspect. My old girl was ex racer and I used an ideal Jessica on her for dressage, was a great saddle!
 
I can highly rate the Saddle Company, they are all made just down the road from me in Walsall. I love my new gp saddle from them, and the saddler only charges me £30 to come out and make any adjustments there and then :)
 
I had a black country event for my tb, it was a medium with wither inserts. Looks like it might be inherited by my new tb, just waiting for a saddler to check the fit but it looks best of everything we've tried so far.

The same horse also fitted a Kieffer Kiel dressage saddle, their standard fit with no adjustment so that could be another option.

I do like Ideals and I have an Ideal International Event for my warmblood but the tree just didn't suit either of my tbs.
 
Has your friend thought of an equxtra, advertised on ebay but hand made in Walsall, very nice man to deal with a I'm pleased with both of mine.
 
GFS? I had a GFS on my TB and know of another couple that do, there is also Barnsby. Currently riding TB in an Albion GP :) Had has also had a lovatt and Rickets DR saddle that was a beautiful fit and saddle (sold as wasn't using it)
 
Thanks for all the advice guys, I have forwarded the info to my friend who is looking for the saddle.
The brands mentioned in my first post are those the saddler mentioned as brands she works with, I am not sure if she works with the other brands mentioned in posts on this thread - but thanks to all who gave me info on those mentioned. All info is helpful - saddle fitting & brands is such a minefield. It is always invaluable to hear opinions of people who have used products before. :)
 
poiuytrewq said:
I believe Fairfax are the same saddle as kent and masters just made to a higher standard so would maybe feel the same to ride in?
Click to expand...

Fairfax & Kent and masters & thorowgood are all the same brand.
The quality & finish improves as you move up through the ranges, but they all share the same tree style, shape & gullet adjustability.
 
My sisters horse had a Black Country, but that's talking a good 10 years ago or so now, so can't remember much about it. Very comfy though. Was for an Anglo-Arab. I've had a Lovett and ricketts, most comfortable saddle I have EVER sat in! Soooo comfy!! Also love GFS saddles, mine was very nice, smart looking and didn't wear quickly. Also found it comfy to ride in, and I have a majorly boney bum so that's important to me! But out if that list, I would say Black Country, but only because I haven't experienced any of the others

Bexcy-bee x
 
Albeit this is a very old thread (and the science and knowledge of equine physiology and behaviour is very different now to when I first learned to ride), I can only say it's such a tragedy to me that so many UK mastercraftsmen saddlers now no longer exist.

Everyone will have their own preferences (there is as much physical variation in equestrians as there is in equines!) and finding a saddle which fits the horse correctly, is comfortable for the rider and aids in establishing and maintaining the correct position is a challenge to say the least.

I learned to ride a VERY long time ago in the UK under the traditional BHS system and at that time, 'synthetic' tack of any description was (I think rightly) frowned upon. All the saddles I ever rode in (starting at the age of two) were made to last quality English ones.

Nothing was 'made in China', India, Argentina or anywhere else (with the possible exception of Germany).

I still have my Geo Parker and Sons Count Toptani Mark II jumping saddle which is light as a feather, still good as new, very comfortable and has fitted all my TBs well.

I very recently was incredibly fortunate to find a brand new condition Lucinda Green Luhmuhlen Dressage saddle (Thoroughbred Saddlery Walsall - sadly, like Geo Parker and Sons no longer in business).

After years ago trying out a Kieffer Grand Prix dressage saddle (very broad and uncomfortable, despite my determination to like it as a piece of German craftsmanship!) it doesn't compare to my Lucinda Green saddle.

I frequently read reviews these days which have common complaints:
1) The leather used might be 'butter soft' but disintegrates rapidly and is not made to last (despite costing a fortune).
2) Synthetic and foreign made saddles are poorly made and as above, are neither durable (nor as a result, safe).

I hope your friend found a suitable saddle which will serve them as well as mine have done (and more than 40 years on), are continuing to do!!

We moved to NZ 54 years ago and have the same problems sourcing good quality saddles and tack.

If money was no object and I needed a new saddle, I'd always look to the UK to source one - ideally as others have said, from a reputable and experienced saddler in Walsall (arguably the capital of outstanding craftsmanship when it comes to tack).
 
Pegasus 2024 said:
Albeit this is a very old thread (and the science and knowledge of equine physiology and behaviour is very different now to when I first learned to ride), I can only say it's such a tragedy to me that so many UK mastercraftsmen saddlers now no longer exist.

Everyone will have their own preferences (there is as much physical variation in equestrians as there is in equines!) and finding a saddle which fits the horse correctly, is comfortable for the rider and aids in establishing and maintaining the correct position is a challenge to say the least.

I learned to ride a VERY long time ago in the UK under the traditional BHS system and at that time, 'synthetic' tack of any description was (I think rightly) frowned upon. All the saddles I ever rode in (starting at the age of two) were made to last quality English ones.

Nothing was 'made in China', India, Argentina or anywhere else (with the possible exception of Germany).

I still have my Geo Parker and Sons Count Toptani Mark II jumping saddle which is light as a feather, still good as new, very comfortable and has fitted all my TBs well.

I very recently was incredibly fortunate to find a brand new condition Lucinda Green Luhmuhlen Dressage saddle (Thoroughbred Saddlery Walsall - sadly, like Geo Parker and Sons no longer in business).

After years ago trying out a Kieffer Grand Prix dressage saddle (very broad and uncomfortable, despite my determination to like it as a piece of German craftsmanship!) it doesn't compare to my Lucinda Green saddle.

I frequently read reviews these days which have common complaints:
1) The leather used might be 'butter soft' but disintegrates rapidly and is not made to last (despite costing a fortune).
2) Synthetic and foreign made saddles are poorly made and as above, are neither durable (nor as a result, safe).

I hope your friend found a suitable saddle which will serve them as well as mine have done (and more than 40 years on), are continuing to do!!

We moved to NZ 54 years ago and have the same problems sourcing good quality saddles and tack.

If money was no object and I needed a new saddle, I'd always look to the UK to source one - ideally as others have said, from a reputable and experienced saddler in Walsall (arguably the capital of outstanding craftsmanship when it comes to tack).
Click to expand...
It may be an old thread, but it is still very relevant today!

My DH is one of the old school, traditional Walsall saddlers, and this has been his job for his entire life. When my DH worked for Blue Ribbon Saddle Co. back in the 1970's, he made the Toptani jump saddle. In fact, he still has the patterns and lightweight jumping trees they were originally made on. He has since made a few over the years for various people.

The saddle industry has changed a lot. Unfortunately, the market has been flooded with too many cheaply (and badly) made saddles - both foreign and English. The quality of some is truly shocking, and should not be put anywhere near a horse - and as my DH says "I couldn't make a saddle that bad if I tried!" 😂

Prices are shockingly eye watering too. Big brands commanding £4k - £5k + for a saddle is utterly ridiculous, and is nothing short of daylight robbery. There are fantastic profit margins to be made with that price tag though! 🤔

My DH makes his saddles to last - they pop up for sale that are 30+ years old and are still in fantastic condition. Although some of the big brands are no longer trading, my DH's brand is still going strong after almost 40 years).

My DH has been in the saddlery trade for 55 years next year, and what he has seen and heard over that time would honestly make for some interesting reading.....🤐
 
I saw a donkeys-years old fully synthetic Kent & Masters this week in Scotland, looked like a very old Wintec, had no idea they made such a thing! I do have photos somewhere...
 
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