Jeffries Perflexion Saddle dilemma

sidesaddlegirl

sidesaddlegirl

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www.sidesaddlegirl.co.uk
Tried a Jeffries Perflexion saddle today on my mare who is notoriously hard to fit and it actually fit her without moving forward causing her to buck like saddles usually do and she seemed to go well in it. Working in an outline on a light contact, stretching down during the warm up, wither clearance (which is a problem for us), spine clearance, no bridging or rocking and the saddle is a good price for a new saddle. Perfect???

The catch.

The seat is too flippin' short for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a 17 1/2" which is normally my size but I guess these run smallish so I would need the 18". I only have about 1" between my butt and the cantle and can feel the ridge of the cantle edge behind me.

I can ride in it ok but the short seat is distracting me and is making my legs do funny things which they don't normally do :P

Do I suffer with the short seat as my horse likes the saddle or pass and wait for another one to pop up on ebay as I know the tree width in the saddle she needs? This is the first saddle that has actually fit her properly without risers or causing her annoyance (other than the Albion SLK dressage saddle which I cannot afford!).
The Perflexions aren't made any more and apparently, limited numbers were made so may be a long wait and my TB is 17 in January :-S

I've had saddlers come out and it's a bit of a running joke with the tack shops round me as well with my YO and saddler with the sheer bulk of saddles I've tried without success. I'm so annoyed with my long legs and fat arse..grrrr...
 
Hmm not an easy one. Had a look on eBay at completed listings and it only came up with two and neither were 18 inch, so could be a very long wait.

Maybe buy it but look for the 18 inch, if it drives you mad it's not much use :(

Maybe one of the saddles on here could suggest something that has a similar tree etc :confused:

Or maybe you could get Jeffries to custom make one.
 
I had one and loved it - I stupidly sold it on with the horse and have regretted it ever since.

They are hard to get hold of but tbh if you didn't feel happy in it I would be looking again - after all the saddle needs to fit you both.
 
I've searched too and it seems the 2nd hand ones are either 17" or 17 1/2". Maybe Jeffries never made an 18" since they were limited.

Can't afford to go the custom route as I don't ride "normal" enough to justify a high price tag but at the same time, when I do ride astride, I don't want to be distracted by feeling my bum over the cantle. My budget for a saddle is £400 and under- this one was going to be at the top end of my budget so can't go custom.

I hate being tall, if I was shorter, I'd have so much more choice!
 
Would the 18" still fit your mare ok? I just say that because I've tried a few this year on my difficult to fit mare and the shorter ones seem to sit better, but are too short for me. But if I go up even half an inch it really affects how it sits on her... Grr!
 
An 18" would be fine as I've ridden her in 18 1/2" saddles (far too big for me but did not come past her last rib). I even looked at Sandon Saddlery the other week and no used Perflexions. Am going to another used tack shop on Thursday so fingers crossed there will be an 18" one there but I'm not holding my breath.
 
H there are you still searching for an 18" Jeffries perflexion? I have one I'm about to advertise if interested? Its 18 med fit with flair so is supremely comfortable. Its in excellent condition with the usual marks due to use. Colour is a very unusual Burgundy/brown and it looks superb. Can send pics no problem.
 
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