Opinion: How curvy is the Ideal Suzannah?

[FjordGirl]

I’m wondering how curved the tree is in Ideal Suzannah… I watched a review video that described it as flat through the panels, for those of you with a Suzannah, would you say that’s fairly accurate?

The only fitter in my rural area only sells Schleese, and I’m not a huge fan of Schleese, so it’s up to me to find a different brand saddle with the right tree shape for my mare and then convince the fitter to do any necessary flocking adjustments. Ideals are rare in my area so I would need to order one to try it.

My mare currently goes well in the new K&M Low Wither GP, which has a flatter tree and shallower rear gusset than typical K&M, but is not as flat as their cob versions. She is generally XW in brands with generous widths, big shoulders and very slight curve up toward lumbar area. She is not a tabletop cob but is broad through the back/ribs.

I’m hoping to find a dressage saddle with deeper seat, such as the Suzannah, and I know I can order it made with low head and shallow rear gusset, but I’m still concerned that such a deep seated saddle tree may have too much curve for her.

Any opinions on how curvy the Suzannah actually is?

 

[TheHairyOne]

I have a rather flat and short backed wb/id with a big shoulder and this saddle fits him very well - i cant use the overly curved trees on him either. I also find it super comfy to ride in.

Mine is a wide that I had stetched by another cm for the perfect fit other than when he is at his slimmest feb time when I just add shims.


I obviously cant find a single pic of him actually standing correctly!

 

[FjordGirl]

I have a rather flat and short backed wb/id with a big shoulder and this saddle fits him very well - i cant use the overly curved trees on him either. I also find it super comfy to ride in.

Mine is a wide that I had stetched by another cm for the perfect fit other than when he is at his slimmest feb time when I just add shims.


I obviously cant find a single pic of him actually standing correctly!

Thank you, it sounds promising. Did you have to order shorter panels or does yours fit him fine with standard length panels?

 

[sbloom]

The panels are not the tree, flat panels can be added to almost any saddle, flat side to side is one aspect, the other is designing the rear gussets to make the panel flat all the way through too.

The Suzannah is an average kind of tree, for reasonably wide backs with some wither height.

 

[humblepie]

I have one for my 16.2 ex racehorse which fits him really nicely. He has a good shoulder and it also gives the right wither height for him. He is a riding horse type build (rather than hunter). I like it as a saddle and find it very comfortable for me as well.