Guy Cantin saddles - the saddle saga is finally over!

[Patterdale]

WHY are these saddles not more well known!?

I have finally found the answer for our pony, after so much wasted time and money. And the answer was a £350 jumping saddle pad!

The quality is just amazing, the design is so clever and my little rider was so secure and happy in it. I’m posting this in hopes that it might help someone else - I genuinely can’t believe these aren’t more well known.

Can’t wait to go to sleep tonight not googling saddles ??

 

[flat3]

I'd be interested to hear if there are any small adults using one of these on a pony

 

[alsxx]

Thank you for sharing, these look great! Can I ask if yoi find they help the riders position? We have the shires aviemore pad and I just find it sits the jockey too far back and doesn't support a good position at all. I've just bought yet another tiny saddle that doesn't fit our awkward shaped pony and so still stuck with the pad!

 

[Patterdale]

I'd be interested to hear if there are any small adults using one of these on a pony

I would imagine so, they come in 13.5” - 16.5” so should fit an adult.

 

[Patterdale]

Thank you for sharing, these look great! Can I ask if yoi find they help the riders position? We have the shires aviemore pad and I just find it sits the jockey too far back and doesn't support a good position at all. I've just bought yet another tiny saddle that doesn't fit our awkward shaped pony and so still stuck with the pad!

Yes it’s much better than the Aviemore position wise. I do like the Aviemore for tiny ones but the Guy Cantin is a completely different kettle of fish, it’s got wither clearance and is much more saddle like.
My daughter who has been quite nervous recently after a couple of falls was instantly sitting better and more confident in it. She has come off a normal saddle, but one that really didn’t fit.

 

[maya2008]

Pic please? ? I have been looking at these as need more wither clearance than a Thorn pad gives for a welshie.

 

[Widgeon]

WHY are these saddles not more well known!?

Didn't @sbloom mention these once on a thread about a small pony? I think there was a discussion about different pads and these were recommended as being possibly the best of the bunch. I just toddled off to have a Google of them and was surprised by how relatively inexpensive they are.

 

[foxy1]

Really interesting- thanks for posting, I've never heard of these!
Any other users out there with a review?
Thoughts about the weight of a lightweight adult rider using these?

 

[Rowreach]

What do they look like from underneath?

 

[sbloom]

Didn't @sbloom mention these once on a thread about a small pony? I think there was a discussion about different pads and these were recommended as being possibly the best of the bunch. I just toddled off to have a Google of them and was surprised by how relatively inexpensive they are.

Yes I think it was from a discussion on here, I've not even seen one in the flesh and I'd not recommend them for adults, even lightweight, but for kids where saddle fit is an utter nightmare and people are considering a shetland pad these are so much more, and from what I gather so much better. What they cannot do is truly facilitate the rider, they're still low down around a wide pony so they are not going to get most riders over their feet etc. But where budget doesn't allow for many options, and stability for a little rider is an issue, then yes, definitely worth a look.

I would definitely not recommend the treed saddles from the same maker.

 

[maya2008]

What size did you go for? Other reason I haven’t pressed the button to buy one is being unsure about sizing! Our ponies take a 14” saddle so would in theory go for a 14.5” pad…but pads don’t always quite work like that!

 

[sbloom]

What size did you go for? Other reason I haven’t pressed the button to buy one is being unsure about sizing! Our ponies take a 14” saddle so would in theory go for a 14.5” pad…but pads don’t always quite work like that!

It's probably worth contacting the French office or the retailer for advice, it will be more on rider size.

 

[ycbm]

I thought you were dead against treeless, what made you change your mind?

 

[Patterdale]

I thought you were dead against treeless, what made you change your mind?

It’s a pad rather than treeless, so it’s not ginormous, looks like a saddle, and no faffing with 30 shims each ride(!).

I still don’t like treeless saddles. Just personal choice.

 

[ycbm]

It’s a pad rather than treeless, so it’s not ginormous, looks like a saddle, and no faffing with 30 shims each ride(!).

I still don’t like treeless saddles. Just personal choice.

I don't really understand what it means that it's a pad not a treeless saddle. I've had two treeless saddles in the past, neither needed faffing with shims each ride. They were normal size and looked like a saddle. Both were BD dressage legal.

I'm pretty sure you've bought a treeless saddle there. If you hadn't said in your original post that you would not entertain treeless, somebody might have suggested that one to you before.
.

 

[Patterdale]

What size did you go for? Other reason I haven’t pressed the button to buy one is being unsure about sizing! Our ponies take a 14” saddle so would in theory go for a 14.5” pad…but pads don’t always quite work like that!

14.5 on a section A. I’d say they come up a bit big.

 

[Patterdale]

I don't really understand what it means that it's a pad not a treeless saddle. I've had two treeless saddles in the past, neither needed faffing with shims each ride. They were normal size and looked like a saddle. Both were BD dressage legal.

I'm pretty sure you've bought a treeless saddle there. If you hadn't said in your original post that you would not entertain treeless, somebody might have suggested that one to you before.
.

There’s a difference between a treeless saddle made for any size rider, and a pony pad.

Also, I didn’t even want a pad. But when I found it absolutely impossible with £2500 in my pocket to get a saddle for this pony, needs must!

I actually can’t believe how hard it has been to buy a nice saddle for a pony. Either they don’t get back to you, or the nearest fitter for the brand is 5 hours away, or there are no demos available, etc etc.