New saddle... What to buy?!

[usernamepending]

I currently have a farrington GP/Event saddle it fits fat boy perfectly but I just don't suit it ... Had a professional opinion and experimented with stirrup lengths/knee rolls etc. and it just didn't feel right... So I'm up grading!

Iv taken a liking to the Optimus puissance close contact saddle and Bates Caprilli GP.

So are there any other suggestions of good GP saddles? My saddle fitter hasn't got any suitable at the minute so just shopping around really.

Also Rideaway do part exchange on saddles? Any idea how much mine would be worth if I exchanged it l? Or if any body had done this, do they give you a good deal?

Any advice greatly helpful thank you!

 

[myhorsefred]

I really like Ideal saddles. Lovely leather, really well made and I find them comfy for me and horsey.

 

[Sealine]

I loved my Ideal GP saddle. Unfortunately I had to sell it as it didn't fit my new horse.

My current horse came with a Kieffer GP which I found comfortable and fitted my horse but it was really too small for me and tipped me forwards. I currently have an Albion K2 GP and although it fits my horse OK I'm not a fan and find it uncomfortable.

You will probably be restricted to the makes of saddle that suit your horse. Each manufacturer seems to have a tree shape that fits certain types of horse and not others.

 

[sbloom]

Unless you've had a fitter tell you what might fit, you'll get all sorts of suggestions here which really won't be that useful for you or the horse. Did your fitter not suggest models, could they? Or can you get another fitter out with stock, or someone that can assess your horse and suggest brands and models. GP saddles even within the same brand vary hugely - the one I sell most of isn't too forwards cut and doesn't have big blocks, but fits a certain type of horse. I have another model that is a deeper seat and bigger blocks but fits a different shape. So you can see that rider and horse fit varies enormously.

A local fitter may well take your saddle in part exchange, my company does. You will get slightly more money if you leave it with them on sale or return, nut if you want cash off your purchase you'll get slightly less. Without seeing photos it's impossible to say how much we'd offer, let alone how much someone else would!

If your horse is very wide and flat (and your brand of saddle is often used for that shape) then you may need to go for a more specialist brand that suits cob shapes.