Impala or grandee?

[Abacus]

Based on another thread, a number of people here like Impalas and maybe Grandees as well. I bought a saddle second hand (18 months ago) from a local saddler who said she thought it was an Impala but it isn’t marked and she wasn’t certain. I plan to sell it having changed horse. Looking at it, and images online, I can’t be sure of the difference before I advertise it. Are there any features that would help me to be sure? Thank you!

 

[sbloom]

The flaps and tree are different, otherwise contact Ideal themselves, almost all saddles they make have the potential to be ordered on different trees so it's best to be sure.

 

[Baywonder]

Well, first of all, you could always post a pic of the saddle on here as I am sure a lot of members will have, or owned either of these saddles.

Failing that, contact Ideal directly and ask them if they can help.

My DH makes a particular saddle that frequently gets mixed up with another. Whilst at first glance they look very similar, there are a number of differences that sets them apart.

I'm sure Ideal will help if you give them a call - it's always best to get info straight from the horse's mouth as they say! ?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m pretty sure I’d know if you have a side photo

Edited to say I won’t know the tree etc if it is different but if it’s an impala or grandee.

 

[Abacus]

Thanks sbloom and bay wonder. I’ll try to post pics below here but will also contact ideal to see if they can help. The only features I can find in images online are that the grandee seems to have rear D rings and the stitching on the cantle of the impala is different (has a raised seam as seen from the back) - these sound superficial but may be indicative! Based on these it looks more like an Impala…

Struggling to upload photos as too large - I’ll try again shortly after a school run.

 

[sbloom]

I've just searched on Duck Duck Go and the flaps do look very different, the Grandee only has a knee pad, block underneath, pad not moulded, the Impala has a moulded knee pad over the block and a calf block, and may have stitching on the flap.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ideal+impala+saddle&t=vivaldi&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ideal+grandee+saddle&t=vivaldi&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

 

[Abacus]

@sbloom thank you!

Photos below. Sorry I didn't take one under the flap but it does have moveable knee and calf blocks on what looks like a wool panel. It doesn't have the flap stitching of some Ipalas but is a double flap saddle.

 

[sbloom]

Off the top of my head I'd say Impala tree/seat and Grandee flap, this is the issue with so many bench made saddles, hence it's best to contact the factory with the ID number.