Harry Dabbs Future saddles - reviews, opinions.

Wagtail

Wagtail

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Has anyone had experience of these saddles, and specifically the jump saddle? I am considering this saddle for my youngster who doesn't appear to like forward cut saddles, but I need one in order to jump her. I have my saddler booked and she's going to try a few saddles on her as well as the Fairfax, but I also read the Harry Dabbs future saddles have a similar system for freeing up the shoulder. My girl has a very extravagant shoulder/front leg action and I think this is why she objects so strongly to forward cut saddles. Thanks.
 
I had a HD half panel GP saddle with future panel MTM. It was the only design I could find that did not dig into her shoulders. She would not stride out in a French panel saddle. Beware though because the GP is rather straight cut, more VSD than GP. Ask your saddler about the new HD design which leaves the shoulders free but is a jump saddle. I think the panels are reinforced in some way and 'float' above the shoulder.
 
I had the future panel on the avante jump, was ideal as was on a short back TB I needed a 17inch saddle and they sweep up at the back so fit shorter horses but give bigger seat for rider. Also as she has massive TB shoulders it freed them up. Lovely saddle and she also now has the dressage.
It's not a massively forward cut jump saddle!

The good thing with the Harry Dabs is you can have the future panels put on any of there saddles for about £250 so you have a massive choice of cuts of saddle but then still allow for shoulder.
 
Thank you. I have managed to find a used one on a flatter tree, so going to give it a try. Hopefully it will arrive in time for my appointment with the saddler. I like the fact that the flaps are a little longer too. I am 5 foot 9 1/2 and my mare is only 15 hands so it's been a difficult time finding a saddle for her. Thankfully I have found a dressage saddle she goes really well in, but obviously, that's no good for jumping.
 
Thanks Wagtail.
Looking for a jumping saddle soon and like the idea of them. My boy also has a huge shoulder and big movement through it so interesting to see that design.

Let us know how your saddle quest goes please :)
 
The Harry Dabbs was one that we tried on mine as well. He was better in it than some others but he still preferred the Fairfax by miles, similar in design but he told us what he felt :)
 
HappyDayz said:
The Harry Dabbs was one that we tried on mine as well. He was better in it than some others but he still preferred the Fairfax by miles, similar in design but he told us what he felt :)
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That's interesting. Thank you. I guess they all have their favourites. I hope my saddler has a Fairfax in stock that would suit so I can try. She already has her measurements and template.
 
My new saddle has finally arrived and I LOVE it. However, I have to wait until next week for the saddler so won't ride in it until then. It appears to fit her very well but as it's not a design I'm familiar with, I will leave it to the saddler to advise. Keeping everything crossed she says it fits!
 
Meredith said:
My future GP was fab too. So comfortable for both of us.
Hope it is a good fit.
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That's good to hear. When I first tried it on I thought it didn't fit, but I think that was because I wasn't used to the 'floating' knee rolls and the cut back panels. When I actually did all the usual saddle fit checks it seemed perfect, but I want the saddler to check it before I ride in it, particularly regarding the pad I use. I like the merino pads but think it may need a thin one as it seems to fit without.
 
:( It doesn't fit. It tips back on her even though the tree width is not too narrow, and it slips forward in canter. However, having said that, my mare is an oddball and she liked it! The saddler says she is one of those rare horses that likes saddles you don't think fit and hates those that appear to fit her perfectly. Thankfully the saddler is happy with my dressage saddle with prolite girth, point strap and Y girthing arrangement. She said it's not perfect, but the fact that my girl works really freely in it, whilst quickly rejecting other saddles, means that she is happy for me to use it in the short term. Regarding the HD future saddle, I'm going to hang on to that for a few months, because again, my saddler said my girl is happy in it, but I'm not going to use it until we reassess in 4 - 5 months. Saddler feels the mare will change shape and that it is therefore not a definite no to the HD saddle. Looks like no jumping for a while then :(
 
Thanks, I was wondering about shimming but unfortunately didn't think about it until after the saddler had left. May be worth a go. It's such a lovely saddle.
 
It needs doing with great care, and I only really like the Mattes shims, everything else is such a blunt instrument, cut and trimmed into wedges. You can really experiment, one shim makes up for the thickness of the sheepskin at the front, so is neutral compared to a thin numnah in terms of front to back balance, but you can build up to 3 or 4 and see what balances it best. I start with medium length, then add long, and then short, with longest nearest the horse. If any of that makes sense!
 
sbloom said:
It needs doing with great care, and I only really like the Mattes shims, everything else is such a blunt instrument, cut and trimmed into wedges. You can really experiment, one shim makes up for the thickness of the sheepskin at the front, so is neutral compared to a thin numnah in terms of front to back balance, but you can build up to 3 or 4 and see what balances it best. I start with medium length, then add long, and then short, with longest nearest the horse. If any of that makes sense!
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Thanks. Yes, I think I know what you mean. I'll have a look at the mattes. I didn't like the lemieux prosorb lambskin pad, it was too stiff and rigid.
 
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