General Purpose Saddle Advice

[QueenBella]

Looking for advice on GP saddles. Currently have a monoflap jump but would like a GP too for flat work/showing/occasional dressage tests etc. Like the idea of getting an adjustable saddle as a secondary saddle if I bring my broodmare back into work and she went lovely in an Ideal before.

Saddlery near me is having a closing down sale and selling new saddles at great prices. As they are retiring they can't come out to fit so I can get another saddle fitter out but I cant try all the options I like as I'd have to pay for them all which unfortunately I cannot do! All saddles will come with numerous gullets so I can adjust size and get my fitter to adjust as needed.

The 3 I'm interested in are
Ideal T&T GP (this would be my top option)
GFS Transition GP
Bates All Purpose GP
and Bates AP+ All Purpose GP

All advice on these saddles is greatly appreciated. I know its better to try and get fitted but unfortunately this cant happen. Would just like to know reasons to go for or avoid said saddles. I might not even buy one but I'm just curious on peoples opinions of them, thanks!

 

[kerrieberry2]

I have the bates AP for my gelding and most fitters that I've used have said they really don't fit that many horses due to the shape of their tree! that said, I use it with a prolite pad and its worked find on my horse for the last 12 years! but I would say if you do get one, go for a flocked version, if its available, as the cair bust in 2 places after a about 8 years! I'm lucky as my boy is very dramatic when something is wrong, so I noticed very quickly when he started getting upset about having his saddle put on. its now flocked and it makes fitting and adjusting it much easier.

 

[QueenBella]

I have the bates AP for my gelding and most fitters that I've used have said they really don't fit that many horses due to the shape of their tree! that said, I use it with a prolite pad and its worked find on my horse for the last 12 years! but I would say if you do get one, go for a flocked version, if its available, as the cair bust in 2 places after a about 8 years! I'm lucky as my boy is very dramatic when something is wrong, so I noticed very quickly when he started getting upset about having his saddle put on. its now flocked and it makes fitting and adjusting it much easier.

Thanks for that! Her mono is an Arena one so in the same family as bates and she's currently going well in it but I do prefer a flocked saddled. The ideal and GFS are flocked versions so I would be leaning towards them.

 

[kerrieberry2]

Thanks for that! Her mono is an Arena one so in the same family as bates and she's currently going well in it but I do prefer a flocked saddled. The ideal and GFS are flocked versions so I would be leaning towards them.

she might be alright in the Bates then if her current saddle is on the same tree! as a rider, the bates is sooo comfortable! everyone that rides my horse comments on how nice it is, even after all these years!

 

[Identityincrisis]

It totally depends on whether the tree shape fits your horse's shape, it's not just the gullet width. One saddle may have a flat tree, the other may be shaped like a banana

 

[Abacus]

I've ridden in the Ideal T&T on a little mare (not mine) and then on another horse belonging to the same owner - felt lovely on both. I also borrowed it for my youngster as it fitted better than anything I had, again it was very comfortable. I'll be looking to buy one when i bring him back into work (let me know if your saddler has more than one to sell!). Obvs depends on the fit for your horse but it was a lovely saddle. (I have also ridden in the T&T dressage on yet another horse and again it was super comfy). I do rate Ideals for how they seem to fit many horses, and generally I don't love adjustable saddles, but these ones seem very good.