Kent and Masters Saddles

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vixann

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Hi does anybody have any experience with these?
I need a new saddle as my youngster has developed into a wide and all my saddles are medium. I have seen a few K+M saddles advertised and they do look nice but I have noticed that a lot seem to be a only a few month old - seems a bit strange that so many people are selling nearly new saddles?
 
Hubby has had his for about a year now and its still looks new (black S series GP). I personally don't like it as the twist seems wide, but he says its v comfy.

I wonder do people buy them online thinking they will fit any horse, and then find out that they don't always.

Ours was fitted by a saddler, and due to mares extremely high withers, and falling away behind, the K&M was only one that fitted her due to deep gusset.

Fiona
 
The horse I was part loaning had a Kent & Masters and it was a really comfy saddle. He had high withers and again the saddle was fitted by a saddler.
 
I had a kent and masters, they are very comfy armchair type saddles. I upgraded to a black country which is just as comfy but not quiet armchair which i prefer. Both fitted my ISH well. I prefer 'sportier' saddles to arm chair saddles to be honest.
 
I've had a K&M GP for over three years. Originally bought for a young mare who went from medium to medium wide. However, started to restrict her shoulder so now it's on my other mare, who has gone from a medium wide to wide. I find it comfortable to ride in and overall, I think it's OK for what it is. Not the best quality - but then they are not top dollar to buy in the first place.

A useful, workmanlike saddle in my opinion but it really depends whether or not it fits your horse and you!
 
I have the K&M pony club saddle, have owned it for 3 years now and it still looks in good condition. I had it professionally fitted to a horse who was proving v difficult to fit because she is what the saddler described as pear shaped. It has a wide gusset which is apparently suited to her shape of horse. I usually go for Ideal saddles if I can because I find them comfortable but I have to say I haven't noticed much difference with the K&M and I ride quite long distances in it.
 
I have had a K&M S series dressage for 6 years - very happy with it, comfy and has worn well. It was the best fitting saddle for my horse when I was looking and he changed shape alot and I was able to get the saddle adjusted with him.
Be aware the S series saddles have better leather and are not that much more expensive, so I would recommend that's what you go for.
Unfortunately I had to retire that horse and bought a new horse and the K&M is just wrong for him and will never fit him. It's 17.5", can't remember if it has a wide or medium wide plate in at the moment. PM me if you are interested - but we are rather a long way apart and I think you will find something much nearer to home that you can try.
 
I had a K&M S series dressage too. Lovely leather, though did mark easily, keep it in the cover at all times! Fitted the horse (TB) really well, but was a 17" and I really ideally needed a 17.5" which I found out after riding in it for a few weeks and getting back pain from the seat being too small thus it tipping me forward. I tried a second hand ideal in the same fitting and I ( and the horse) found the K&M more comfortable at fitting. Horse was much more free through the shoulder and obviously more comfortable even though both saddles "fit".
 
They’re great saddles. I’ve got two GPs, one 8 years old and one two years old. Both as good as new. The second one has been used for two very different horses, fitted by a saddler. They’re very comfy and I love the movable knee blocks, a very secure position for xc if required. Everyone who sits on them comments on their comfort. I bought them both from new and think they’re incredible value compared to any other saddle.
 
They're relatively cheap to buy and hold their value well, so I suspect if people find it doesn't fit they're as well off putting it on the market - you don't lose much on them and can easily buy another if you find you need it again.

Very different from a non adjustable leather saddle with a much smaller market - you're likely to lose lots on it if you sell a newish one, and are better hanging on to it if you think you might need it again!
 
Had one for a tb - narrow fit, it was fab and fitted very well, comfortable too. Have one for WBx and don’t really like it, struggled to get the fit right, rocks from side to side - reflocked but same problem reoccurs after a few weeks. Both bought new.
Both fitted by saddle fitter - same person. Not sure I’d get another. They are relatively cheap in the grand scheme of saddles - bought most recent for young horse changing shape, although horse currently off games!
 
I have K&M saddles, GPD and GPH, for my two horses. Both very comfy saddles. Both originally fitted with wide bars, now one is fitted with a medium-wide bar. Both are 4 years old. The dye has faded on front edges of flaps and top, and I removed all the velcro-knee blocks and behind-knee blocks as I caught them one by one and ripped the foam but otherwise they look as good as new.

They're also lightweight (compared to my old Equexstra saddle).

Both my saddles were fitted by a master saddler (Di/Mark at Woodcraft near Wisbech) and both are checked each year by the same.
 
We've had 2, one we sold with the pony and the other we're about to sell : 3 or 4 different saddlers have checked it in the past year and it fits fine, but for some reason the horse doesn't like this particular saddle (is fine with others) just doesn't go as well in it we discovered, on trying other saddles.
Nicely made and comfortable saddles.
 
I had one. Comfy for me and horse. He was in the last stages of growing at the time, so being able to widen the plate was useful.
They hold their value really well and I lost hardly anything on reselling it after 18 months, where it still looked good as new.
They are not the best out there, but they are decent quality and very good value IMO - and easy to buy and sell through fleabay and the like.
 
My horse went from MW to XW and the K&M was the only saddle that fitted him comfortably. I don't really like it though and if there had been an alternative I wouldn't have bought it. My other pony came with a Rich & Son saddle and it is so much nicer.
 
I have the s series HW dressage and the s series jump and love them both, fit well lots to adjust on them and comfy and secure to ride in, bought both mine 2ndhand
 
I have a K&M compact dressage saddle and really love it. Had a saddle company before that but it sat too low on my horse's withers. I find the K&M puts you in a much nicer position than the SC as well but that could be partly because it fits better too! I also have a jump saddle which works well for my long thighs on a pony.
 
Thanks everybody.
I have seen a few on preloved but nobody close enough to try and the local saddlers who have some, have them out on trial! I need one ASAP but now thinking it may not fit great. My saddler advised me about the Lavinia Mitchell saddles but I am not taken by them to look at.
 
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