Pessoa Saddles

madhector

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www.darlingdressage.co.uk
Anyone got one?

What sort of shape horse do they suit best? Something with a wither or something fairly flat backed? Or inbetween?

Thanks
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My brother has a couple, and are really comfortable!!!!!
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Quite expensive though, so I have one very similar and very comfortable as well!
IMHO they suit any shape but, as horses are not all the same and, most important to me is to feel well on it, I would try one on my horse before buying any saddle, no matter how many recomendations I have.
Hope I helped
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i had one,loved it, until i started xc jumping in it, and felt really insecure in it!!!! and promptly chopped it in for an albion jump!!! fitted my wide horse like a glove tho!!!!
 
Bought one 2nd hand for MW little horse with decent withers, as pinktiger said, not the most scure for XC so did the same and went for an Albion Kontrol (also 2nd hand ) - better condition and only paid an extra £50!
 
I don't like them, I think they are the sort of saddle that you have to be the most brilliant rider in the world to ride in as they have no knee blocks etc.
 
Loved one I had on G horse as a 4yr old. Absolutely adored it, but then I hate blocks anyway. Unfortunately didnt really fit G that well
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Suit flatter backed horses, but they are a bit of a difficult shape to be honest. Is the one being sold one of the more modern ones? If so they fit more, but arent as nice saddles. The old ones are beautiful, but a bit limited in what they truly fit.
 
If she is quite round you may find it is ok on her aslong as she has a wither. They suit round horses as are so shallow through the gullet
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Def worth a try!!
 
Have always liked them, nice saddle for shorter people, im only 5ft and i never felt like i was swimming in it.

I used to have an old "original" pessoa and it was lovely. I adored my old pessoa dressage saddle. Flat as a pancake and i loved it, super saddle - bad hannah should have never ever sold it!!

Would personally buy one again if it was the right fit
 
Had a very long chat about these with my saddler. Basically they do not fit many horses and you have to be very careful with them. The new ones have not got a good rep.
 
There are about 3 horses at our yard that all share the same Pessoa! One is a 14.2 chunky (round the belly) pony, one is a 16.3 WB gelding and the other a 16.2 chunkier warmblood mare. Fits them all perfectly and they all use each others saddles (well they were alll fitted the same). The 14.2 had an albion before, but it kept slipping and the pessoa doesn't. She hunts in it all day, events in it etc.

I have ridden in it before, felt fine on horse I was riding in it. It depends if you need a knee roll st stick your knees into if you have a bucker or something
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I like their forward cut design and their close contact ones feel very nice to ride in. Think they fit the horse nicely and allow freedom.

But bitter experience has told me that they become very uncomfortable if you have to do lots of hacking.
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Also, although I felt secure, they seem to send your lower leg back a bit.
 
You think they send it back, Tom? When I have seen poeple riding in them , their legs go rather a lot further forward... I guess it deoends on rider...and their leg length
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Will be quite a squeeze to get me in a 16inch anyway so quite like the fact they dont have huge blocks or anything as would be very restrictive.

Thanks for the hacking tip though, think after riding in some of the saddles at work, the pessoa will seem almost comfortable
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Will be quite a squeeze to get me in a 16inch anyway so quite like the fact they dont have huge blocks or anything as would be very restrictive.

Thanks for the hacking tip though, think after riding in some of the saddles at work, the pessoa will seem almost comfortable
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A squeeze?! What are you on about!
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I have 2 one with suede one leather - i like the suede on best !!

I had one for my 15.1 and the other for a 16.1hh warmblood - both fitted and both horses had a wither x

they are great for short people
 
The newer ones are made in Argentina and some may say the quality is questionable.
I had one for a while and evented up to Novice with no problem quite liked it at the time, but with more knowledge i have now wouldn't rush to get one. Also if it's moulded panels not great for using on horse for long periods IMO and you can't alter the fit to suit.
 
Keep in mind there are two different types of Pessoa. There are the original ones (that are going to be 10 years old and more now) and there are the newer ones from when GFS took over (there is a difference).

The older ones I absolutly adored. I bought one in the last year of their production and two of my horses shared it. I was told at the time to make sure i didnt pass it on as the company had been sold and they would change. Stupidly, I did pass it on with the sale of one horse and ive regretted it ever since.

Certainly for the original ones there was nothing to them. Very flat seat but i swear the comfiest thing ive ever sat on ;p Probably not to be recommended for anything that bounces you are too much.

If Jack had no withers, Id search everywhere for one of the pre-sale saddles. Alas, i know just by looking at him that nothing close contact will ever work
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I have one at the moment, ive had it for 7 years and its still in excellent condition, I have used it on Woody 16.1 m/w warmblood type and on frankie 15.2 medium, frankie has a fair amount of wither, this saddle fits both perfectly, I SJ'ed woody in it up to Foxhunter and I am currently Novice eventing frankie in it.

here is a picture of frankies build as he sounds simular to the horse you are buying it for?

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The newer ones are made in Argentina and some may say the quality is questionable.

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You think so, eh? (that's a rhetorical question, btw, obviously you do
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) Compared to what?
The company that makes them (and Anky and Whitaker saddles, incidentally) has an impeccable reputation. I've never heard anyone complain of questionable quality.
 
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Keep in mind there are two different types of Pessoa. There are the original ones (that are going to be 10 years old and more now) and there are the newer ones from when GFS took over (there is a difference).


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GFS saddles must be made in Argentina too then
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