Prestige GP?

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baeloclaudia

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My 'Princess and the Pea' mare says her 2nd Farrington saddle is not comfy anymore. :0(

Now I have 2 of them to sell....both very nice on my bottom but not her back.

Anyway, Saddler been out this morning with a Prestige GP, which I must admit looked beautiful - even though I normally prefer more of a VSD cut. I didn't ride in it as he has taken it away to 'remould' it to suit her best first.

He is bringing it back Friday when I need to decide between that and a new Farrington. Obviously they are very different (One being half the price of the other) but I can find very few reviews of the Prestige GP saddles (Most comments are for dressage and jumping saddles).

Are they worth the extra money?

Saddler says I can at least get it adjusted when 5 yr old Princess changes shape again....
 
I used to have a prestige saddle and LOVED it!! I do however have a farringtons at the moment and also adore that. I have to say i would always have one or the other going forwards. I tried so many saddles and has been a long journey to get to where we are now.
I asked my saddler about the prestige over the farringtons and he said prestige are very good if they fit. Apparently the farringtons are easier to adjust to different horse shapes.
Prestige have higher second hand value from what i can gather but if it is about you and your horse hopefully you won't need to change it again (or soon anyway!).
Try them both and see what you think. I do like the prestige though and if i found one to fit my mare i would have gone for that i think... saying that the price tag is dearer so i might have been put off! It all depends on what you can afford and what fits you and your horse
 
I bought my Prestige GP last year and absolutely love it. I have to say at first I was drawn to the colour I have the light brown tobacco, but when I went to look for a new GP I asked the saddler to bring anything with a really good knee roll as my boy gets a bit excited out hacking and I need something to brace my knees against!! I tried 3, an Ideal, a Bates and this one and this one won me over hands down. Puts me in a lovely safe position, has worn well and is comfortable and looks gawgusss!! It was the most expensive of the three and I did have to wait a while to get it as I needed a size up from the one I tried but it was well worth the wait. I get lots of compliments about it from those on the yard. One really great thing from the horses point of view is that it has a lovely wide gullet and sits well clear or the horses spine.
 
Thanks both of you. The Prestige certainly is a handsome saddle - and a gorgeous colour.
Of course, if I go for that one I'll be needing a new bridle too.....

The Farrington - can't fault it really either.

Will see what they're like on Fri when I ride in them. The best one for Princess Pea will have to be the one.

All credit to my hugely helpful Saddler who is bending over backwards to help me as I have a clinic booked and paid for for this weekend - and currently no saddle...
 
Well she voted with her feet - literally!

She stepped out well in the Prestige, trotting and cantering with a good length of stride and no tantrums.

The Farrington - which looked great on her - she simply refused to move in! Head up, ears back, shuffly stride when asked and then stopped again. Very unhappy.

Put the Prestige back on and we were away.

Saddler said he would never have believed that she could object to a saddle so much, which appeared to fit. Something about the tree/bars obviously just didn't suit her at all!

So I am now very, very poor (Or will be when my CC bill comes in) but do have a nice comfy saddle.
Only problems being I have no GP cut numnahs and my bridle is now the wrong colour!
 
Oh brilliant - she certainly made her feelings known!!

I have a Barnsby bridle that I use with the Prestige which is a very good match - they also do a matching breastplate which is of course essential!! Did you blow the whole budget and getting matching stirrup leathers as well??
 
Luckily I have some nice Ebay FSS stirrup leathers which look fine - didn't want to part with them as they're not very old.

Did buy a curvy leather girth though which suits her forwards girth groove better, and hence helps the saddle fit.

Thanks for the tip re. Barnsby bridles - will have a look. I looked at the Prestige ones, but don't want a flash or grakle so that limited it somewhat. The only one I could see with a cavesson noseband was a beautiful double for mega-bucks!

At least Barnsby is made over here so not paying for exepnsive Euro conversions.
 
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