Azor
New User
Looking to buy a decent Dressage saddle at a low price. For small young adult/pony. Would prefer advice from saddle fitters. Mostly interested in the Show My Prancer Deep Seat Dressage.
Ruby Roo dressage saddle?
- Thread starter Azor
- Start date
Azor
New User
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Never heard of them. Probably because its an American site, and the Horse and Hound forum is primarily UK
They look rather naff, and the names make me feel a bit sick. The website is pretty cringey too.
If I'm spending £££ on a saddle, I want technical details, not glittery crap
Nice try at stealth marketing though
They look rather naff, and the names make me feel a bit sick. The website is pretty cringey too.
If I'm spending £££ on a saddle, I want technical details, not glittery crap
Nice try at stealth marketing though
Azor
New User
What do you recommend as a decent low budget pony dressage saddle? Also, what are your specific issues with the Ruby Roo saddle? IE. tree quality, flocking, leather quality...
Auslander
Well-Known Member
I'm going to ignore the first part of your question - it's pretty obvious that you are advertising your own saddles.
It's impossible to comment on the specifics - there's not enough information about them on the website, which seems to be marketing the saddles to the children who will be sitting in them, not the parents who will be paying for them.
It's impossible to comment on the specifics - there's not enough information about them on the website, which seems to be marketing the saddles to the children who will be sitting in them, not the parents who will be paying for them.
Dexter
Well-Known Member
Bates do a pony one as do Collegiate which are both useful starter saddles. The RR saddle comes in one width fitting so thats an immediate hard no from me.
Azor
New User
Thank You for explaining your reasoning,
I will look into a Collegiate, Bates aren't my favorite.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Work with a good fitter, your pony needs a saddle that fits it, and after that one that fits the rider too. You have no idea if a random brand might fit. I know there is a dearth over there, I can highly recommend Kitt Hazelton of Panther Run Saddlery who will work remotely, and has a fantastic blog that is well worth reading, saddlefitter.blogspot. I am not a fan of the adjustable headplate saddles.
As the saddle in the link comes in 16.5 and 17, not smaller seat sizes, it's just another saddle. A small adult may even need a 16", in the US you tend to fit everyone with larger seat sizes than we do here.
There is no reason to go for a tween saddle if that's the seat size you need, there will be something suitable from general dressage saddles. If you have a wider flatter backed pony there are even UK companies that specialise in such shapes and are accustomed to doing remote fittings internationally.
I am a saddle fitter.
As the saddle in the link comes in 16.5 and 17, not smaller seat sizes, it's just another saddle. A small adult may even need a 16", in the US you tend to fit everyone with larger seat sizes than we do here.
There is no reason to go for a tween saddle if that's the seat size you need, there will be something suitable from general dressage saddles. If you have a wider flatter backed pony there are even UK companies that specialise in such shapes and are accustomed to doing remote fittings internationally.
I am a saddle fitter.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
At this price, with wrapped leather (a more time consuming, though not more skilled, process than regular single thickness flaps), it's possibly not the best made, though a long way from the cheap Indian tat I would always recommend against. A well respected brand, bought used, would be much better than a cheaper new saddle.
RubyRooUS21
New User
Hi guys, thought I would jump in and respond to all the negative comments about my company, Ruby Roo, here in the US. I have been in the custom saddle business with a British Master Saddler for over 16 years and am a Saddle Fitter myself.
Not only do I own Borné Saddlery, I own Ruby Roo saddles as well. As far as quality and fit, perhaps you need to jump on my Instagram or Facebook pages and see all the positive comments. it might make you a believer.
Not only do I own Borné Saddlery, I own Ruby Roo saddles as well. As far as quality and fit, perhaps you need to jump on my Instagram or Facebook pages and see all the positive comments. it might make you a believer.
RubyRooUS21
New User
It’s a shame people like to diss on companies and products they know nothing about.
Dexter
Well-Known Member
Why would I? I looked at your website, and that told me all I needed to know.
M bush
New User
Hi Azor
We have one of the Ruby Roo jump saddles for our daughter.
You really won’t be disappointed.
The saddle is a beautiful, quality leather and comes with a full range of 5 adjustable gullet bars. So someone has commented above they come in 1 width, this isn’t true.
My daughter is 5 and we have got the 14.5” seat which is perfect for her diddy bottom. We let her choose her own back panel but some of them also come with changeable cantle panels. Ruby Roo is also part of the fantastic Borne saddlery! Have a look at their website. Our saddle reached us here in the uk 2 days after ordering! I’m sure that’s quicker than most uk companies!
good luck with your search
We have one of the Ruby Roo jump saddles for our daughter.
You really won’t be disappointed.
The saddle is a beautiful, quality leather and comes with a full range of 5 adjustable gullet bars. So someone has commented above they come in 1 width, this isn’t true.
My daughter is 5 and we have got the 14.5” seat which is perfect for her diddy bottom. We let her choose her own back panel but some of them also come with changeable cantle panels. Ruby Roo is also part of the fantastic Borne saddlery! Have a look at their website. Our saddle reached us here in the uk 2 days after ordering! I’m sure that’s quicker than most uk companies!
good luck with your search
Pandpadventures
New User
Hi! My son has a Ruby Roo saddle, he has an all purpose but he does only use it for flatwork as loves the deep seat (he has an jump saddle with a more open seat for jumping) and we absolutely love it. We also have a few ideal saddles and find that the quality of the Ruby Roo is absolutely no different I’ve literally nothing bad to say about the saddle. It’s also flocked and the gullets adjustable so a saddle fitter can help you get exactly the correct fit for pony/horse. It’s a little sad that someone on here feels is okay to call someone’s products tacky, maybe think about #bekind in the future! The Ruby Roo range is aimed at children hence the name and the bold colourful designs, and I can say my six year old son absolutely LOVES all of this too!
Casey76
Well-Known Member
And hey... look at all of the brand new accounts popping up to big up the saddle. ????
RubyRooUS21
New User
Countering all your negativity. Why not? It’s still a free world
RubyRooUS21
New User
RubyRooUS21
New User
I’m sure
Jones Family
New User
Hi there, before you decide against a Ruby Roo saddle, you might want to hear from someone who actually owns one and uses it daily.
Firstly, the website is designed to make saddle choosing fun for children. The idea being to create a space where they can build the saddle they would love - it is not aimed at adults, though if you want an adult saddle by the same company, look at borne saddlery - their saddles are made in Scotland, not India as someone suggested. In the UK, we don’t market to children and saddlery and tack purchases are very low key. But you know what? It’s a great idea and for the first time my daughter was interested in our saddle purchase and engaged in the learning process - who cares if it’s the unicorn that catches her attention?!
Now, taking away the glitter and sparkle - let me tell you about the actual saddle. It’s fabulous. It is formed correctly for a child’s hip position, seat and leg length, whilst ensuring a really good fit for the pony. My daughter is a young para equestrian and we have a 12.2hh Welsh section b. I have nothing negative to report whatsoever. The leather is beautiful and is wearing well. My daughter rides daily. She hacks, schools and competes in her Ruby Roo and we have had many an admiring comment out at shows as it really is beautifully made.
As a young riders dressage saddle, I could not have asked for more. It arrived within 5 days of ordering, was supplied with a full set of gullet bars which are straightforward to change and the saddle is serving us very well. My daughter has a beautiful secure seat and lower leg and asks to ride in the Ruby Roo over her Kent and Masters GP every day. The brand is new to the UK but new does not mean bad, or poorly made. It just means new!
I hope that helps you. We found Karen at Ruby Roo incredibly helpful and supportive - drop her an email ?
Attachments
RubyRooUS21
New User
It’s time to hear from people who know what they are talking about.
RubyRooUS21
New User
If you would like more happy customers, I’m glad to provide them. We have saddles in many different countries.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Read again.
Karen you know me, this is a good, balanced forum, and you have every right to come here and defend your product, and knowing you, I'm sure it's a good product. My advice was to get a fitter, your saddle may fit, it may not, I can't comment on that, but will always recommend one that does fit over a given brand for a random horse. Your pricing is keen and if the saddle fits horse and rider then great.
This group IS very sensitive to new members piling on (especially asking about a US product when this is a UK board), making new accounts, to come on with a "cause". They reacted to a new poster asking about a brand no-one had heard of, and assumed THEY were advertising, though I did not feel the same, then you have all these other new accounts....we're a cynical bunch in the UK! There may also be an issue with your username as advertising is not allowed and the admins are quick to administer their forms of justice.
Dexter
Well-Known Member
It might be a free world but advertising isnt free on HHO and they take a dim view of fake recommendations.
Pandpadventures
New User
I made an account as I was made aware of the negative comments and wanted to correct them... if you search our name on Instagram you’ll see we are very real
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Assume that's a dig at me. If you read my second post, I said I couldn't comment on the quality, as I had never seen one in the flesh.
You had an opportunity to gracefully introduce yourself, talk a bit about your saddles, and address any negativity politely. It's a shame that you came on here snapping away like an angry turtle - that's more likely to irritate people and put them off ever buying from you, however great your product is.
I've worked in marketing for many years, and I strongly dissuade my clients from posting on forums as a knee jerk reaction - it rarely ends well for them
9tails
Well-Known Member
I would lay good money on all those new accounts having the same IP address.
Ruby Roo, I'm fairly certain that your saddles aren't going to be a big seller in the UK market because we do things a lot differently. All of your saddles have the exact same width, I'm on a yard of over 50 horses and none of those would be comfortable in an off-the-peg saddle that has no adjustment. We're also far more reserved than across the pond, so wouldn't rush to buy a Show My Prancer saddle as the name would put us off immediately.
Ruby Roo, I'm fairly certain that your saddles aren't going to be a big seller in the UK market because we do things a lot differently. All of your saddles have the exact same width, I'm on a yard of over 50 horses and none of those would be comfortable in an off-the-peg saddle that has no adjustment. We're also far more reserved than across the pond, so wouldn't rush to buy a Show My Prancer saddle as the name would put us off immediately.
M bush
New User
Hi,
No not the same Ip. Just a genuine new member. That wanted to list a lot of positives about our Ruby roo saddle. They come with adjustable gullets, which suits our pony who’s weight fluctuates.
We are here in the UK.
No not the same Ip. Just a genuine new member. That wanted to list a lot of positives about our Ruby roo saddle. They come with adjustable gullets, which suits our pony who’s weight fluctuates.
We are here in the UK.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
LOL
Nasicus
Well-Known Member
*popcorn at the ready*
onemoretime
Well-Known Member
I think I will stick with my Andrea Hicks spring tree, natural lambs wool flocking, beautifully soft leather and a perfect fit from one of AH qualified fitters. Also very reasonably priced. I like to see the goods before I part with my money.