Help Albion jumping saddles? Kent & Masters?

Jnhuk

Jnhuk

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Looks like I have picked the wrong time of year to go searching for a second hand jumping saddle.

Have borrowed a few friends for a trial and looks like an Albion K2 suits me and my horse. My usual saddle fitter has a wait list for second hand K2s, saddles direct and ebay have nothing at present. However, there a few second hand Albion Kontrols for sale. What are the differences between K2s and Kontrols?

My saddle fitter had suggested a Kent & Masters as similar to Albion as an alternative and can get me a new one for the same budget I had in mind for a second hand K2?

Any help/thoughts/experiences from the ever knowledgeable HHOers?
 
Stick for an Albion. There is a reason why they are so popular and consistently get thumbs up across the board from different saddlers and that is because they are always such well made saddles. The tree is not the same as in the K&M so I would perhaps think of putting up a wanted ad for a K2 if you are really stuck. Remember that if/when you wanted to sell that saddle on you would find it a lot easier as well - the K2 seems to be one of those magical saddles that seems to fit the vast majority of horses.

The Kontrol is a lighter more forward cut saddle. Now the K2 Jump tends to fit so many horses as the actual tree is a lot further back than the saddle cut would suggest. This means that for those of us whose horses have a big front end, Albion is one of the very few that will fit. Ask you saddler how the tree compares but I do like the look of the Kontrol. Friend has one, sadly it is far too narrow to try on my horse.
 
Stick to the Albion. I had an Albion and I LOVED it. Unfortunately I got a new horse that it didn't fit, as he requires a Fairfax (now called Kent and Masters S Series) for his shape. I really don't like my K&M/Fairfax saddle. It's fine and does the job and the horse seems to like it (except for the fact it's so forward cut and he has big shoulders and we can't seem to find a solution) but I really don't get on with it. Also, beaing in mind the K&M/Fairfax does fit my boy and the Albion didn't, I'd suggest they might not fit the same shapes of horse.
 
I have an Albion K2 Jump and dressage and love them! Like the others have said, theres a reason there popular!! Personally I dont like Kent & Masters, but I do get called a saddle snob so not sure if my opinion counts ;)
 
BeckyD said:
Stick to the Albion. I had an Albion and I LOVED it. Unfortunately I got a new horse that it didn't fit, as he requires a Fairfax (now called Kent and Masters S Series) for his shape. I really don't like my K&M/Fairfax saddle. It's fine and does the job and the horse seems to like it (except for the fact it's so forward cut and he has big shoulders and we can't seem to find a solution) but I really don't get on with it. Also, beaing in mind the K&M/Fairfax does fit my boy and the Albion didn't, I'd suggest they might not fit the same shapes of horse.
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Becky thats interesting. Was your Albion a K2? because I originally bought this saddle specifically for a big ISH who was very generous with his shoulders. Ellie Martin recommended it and sourced a new one for me (which is somewhat generous of her as she told me her own bespoke would not fit.. which is what I had originally wanted).
 
I have an Albion K2 to sell, what was the name of your saddle fitter as I've had no luck selling mine! Mind you I have been making very feeble attempts to sell it! Adore the K2 but my horse just prefers lightweight skimpy saddles !
 
seabsicuit2 said:
I have an Albion K2 to sell, what was the name of your saddle fitter as I've had no luck selling mine! Mind you I have been making very feeble attempts to sell it! Adore the K2 but my horse just prefers lightweight skimpy saddles !
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Would you tell me too please. Like Seabiscuit2 I've got one to sell too
 
seabsicuit2 said:
I have an Albion K2 to sell, what was the name of your saddle fitter as I've had no luck selling mine! Mind you I have been making very feeble attempts to sell it! Adore the K2 but my horse just prefers lightweight skimpy saddles !
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Diddleydoo said:
Would you tell me too please. Like Seabiscuit2 I've got one to sell too
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Have pm'd you both details
 
I would too hold out for one - I love mine! Had a Jeffries before and it doesn't compare - some don't get on with the knee rolls but if you've ridden in one you should be okay :)
 
Luci07 said:
Becky thats interesting. Was your Albion a K2? because I originally bought this saddle specifically for a big ISH who was very generous with his shoulders. Ellie Martin recommended it and sourced a new one for me (which is somewhat generous of her as she told me her own bespoke would not fit.. which is what I had originally wanted).
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Hmm that's interesting, yes mine was a K2. We might be back to the drawing board soon and I'm thinking of taking my horse to the saddlers and starting from scratch with jumping saddles again. I'll make sure a K2 is on the list to try as I would dearly love another.
 
i'm another albion k2 lover, got one recently. I've an ISH with massive shoulders and it was one of the only ones that fit. I love the knee rolls and always feel really secure on him even though he has a rocket of a jump. Recently started schooling cross country and really noticed the diffence when jumping down banks etc, just feels way more secure. and comfy
 
BeckyD said:
Hmm that's interesting, yes mine was a K2. We might be back to the drawing board soon and I'm thinking of taking my horse to the saddlers and starting from scratch with jumping saddles again. I'll make sure a K2 is on the list to try as I would dearly love another.
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The only other thing I could think of was .. was the K2 a GP or Jump? Mine was a jump.

Actually I much preferred the bespoke saddles as more comfortable for the rider but the K2 SJ was the best fit for that horse!
 
Luci07 said:
The only other thing I could think of was .. was the K2 a GP or Jump? Mine was a jump.

Actually I much preferred the bespoke saddles as more comfortable for the rider but the K2 SJ was the best fit for that horse!
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Mine was a GP but it was only a medium and was never going to fit Bill (IDx), but I'm sure they'd tried him in a K2 jump as that was what I wanted for him. Not to worry, I'll try one again ;) (and keep fingers and toes crossed). He's a fussy b*gger with saddles. It's like the princess and the pea.

ETS: Sorry OP for going off-topic.
 
I was told that the Collegiate saddles are similar to K2 ( by someone who bought one after a smaller told them this). I'd imagine a new one would cost similar to 2nd hand K2.
 
hi guys sorry to but in on the thread but was wondering if I could have the saddlers details who wants albion jumping saddles? as I have the slightly older version of the K2, the legend 5000 xc/jump saddle that I need to sell due to unexpected loss of the horse and very sizeable vets bill to pay off! I only used it twice since saddler sold me it :( unfortunatly I havent any use for it now as he was our only jumper the rest show!
 
TPO said:
I was told that the Collegiate saddles are similar to K2 ( by someone who bought one after a smaller told them this). I'd imagine a new one would cost similar to 2nd hand K2.
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Presumably this depends a bit on the model, though. The "standard" Collegiate saddle in North America is a very flat, Crosby type cc saddle. I understand they make gp and event saddles (not sure if they are modified cc or gp's - different lines seem to define them differently). I'm a bit surprised they fit like Albions as they come from a totally different "place", design wise, but would certainly be an affordable option.

Otherwise, I can't add as don't really get on with Albions and even less so with K&Ms, unfortunately.
 
I have recently bought a new K2 Jump saddle - love it. Only wish my saddler had some 2nd hand ones at the time! Didn't like the K&M at all.
 
No idea Tarrsteps. Like I said this was from someone who bought a jump collegiate and was told that by the saddler. It may just have been a sales tact on someone who doesn't know any better ;) but in the chance it was true it may have been an affordable option for the OP.
 
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Another who has the K2 jump!! Bought originally for my TBxTrakehner but I have now started using it on my pure ID. He is smaller but has large shoulders and I never thought that it would fit him. It does, which is brilliant because I love it!:D:D
The only thing that my saddle-fitter said was to use the back 2 girth straps so the front didn't press down on his shoulders - but the tree itself is fine :):)
 
And as of Wednesday my K2 SJ no longer fits my horse. At all! I had booked my saddler to check it as it was looking low but it's official. He has changed shape so much that the tree doesn't fit. Luckily my other SJ saddle does now fit. Shows how much a young horse can change shape. 4 months ago my other saddle would even sit straight on him!
 
I would be interested in an albion Jump saddle (to be used for XC) to fit my horse who i use a med/wide Albion Gp on at the moment....feel free to PM me details! :D
 
Hold out for the k2, they really are super saddles. I tried it with at least 3 other popular jump saddles and it was by far superior! We had to have ours made with the flatter panels for my tb.
 
Might also be worth a look at the new Fairfax saddles. I have no idea re fitting but the work they've done is interesting and the quality looks good for the price.

Luci, how old is your young horse now? I've not found it not unusual for young horses to go through multiple saddles between.3 and 6, only to rbs up back in their original one!
 
have you looked on the saddles direct site? - I was looking into selling a saddle through them and I am sure they and some K2's for sale. Not sure if am allowed to post the link but google that and it will come up.

I have just bought a second hand K2 and love it, tried a Kontrol as well but didn't suit me at all- I felt really insecure in it.
 
TarrSteps said:
Might also be worth a look at the new Fairfax saddles. I have no idea re fitting but the work they've done is interesting and the quality looks good for the price.

Luci, how old is your young horse now? I've not found it not unusual for young horses to go through multiple saddles between.3 and 6, only to rbs up back in their original one!
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Haha this is my horse (only later)! He's gone through 4 different width gullets increasing in width, between the ages of 6 and 8, and is now back in the one he started with ;)

On the new Fairfax matter, I was talking to saddler about it last week. Apparently they have the same issues as the K&M i.e. riders feel perched, and they aren't very popular for that reason. To the untrained eye (me) the design looks good and sensible though.
 
Can't comment on the K&M but have the Albion and just love it. I feel so so safe jumping in this and can hack for hours as well as despite being hard they are really comfy. I also have a belgian wb with huge shoulders and extremely high withers so it is always a struggle to find a good fit but the Albion is great
 
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