Saddle brands.... first ever new saddle and I’m stumped!

Ben2684

Ben2684

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Sorry if this has been done to death... For the first time I am in a position in a few months to be able to purchase my first ever brand new saddle

It’s a bloody minefield! I’m 6ft3 with long legs horse is a big shouldered big moving 17.2/3 or Therabouts ISH and everyone has an opinion on what I should be buying as ‘they love theirs’

Googling is no help as most fitters only stock 2/3 or maybe max 4 brands

So far I have looked at

Wow
Sue Carson
Prestige
Fairfax
Amerigo
Ideal
Albion


I am looking for a jumping saddle that will also be my hacking saddle. Now with my budget I can look at either (max) 4K for new or would consider both jump and dressage within 4.5k (my current dressage is a Thorowgood T8 and fits him well and I have no issues but would love a full leather)

Now can anyone recommend a fitter on the south coast that stocks a wide range of brands that is amazing at their job. (Current fitter is ace but only does Harry Dabbs and Thorowgood/Kent and masters)

Horse is currently in a Jeffries falcon but it is not quite foreword cut enough
 
could you get your saddle fitter to tell you what size he is and what makes he/she thinks would fit him and then look at web sites like saddles direct who let you have a saddle to try, i believe you have to pay for it and then they refund you as long as the saddle is returned in the same condition...that seems an awful lot of money to spend on a jumping saddle even if it is new. perhaps i am living in the past but with that budget i am sure you could find something...
 
Problem is he is odd shaped and what is m/w in one brand is a diffferent size in another

I would like to try them first as also I don’t really know which brands I will like/not like

Ideally I’d not max out my budget though! Haha
 
i know when i was looking for a jumping/gp saddle i tried loads of them before i found the one and i bought new and had it fitted to my horse, my saddle fitter checked it and was happy that it would fit with a little alteration. the shop was happy for me to pay for it and try it on the horse as long as she had a saddle cloth on and if it was no good they would have refunded me... it was a barnsby omega 720 event saddle, the most comfortable saddle i ever owned....my saddler says that wide in barnsby is like mw in albion if that helps...why not have a look at which saddles the tall eventers use, william fox pitt is pretty tall with long legs and mark todd, maybe google them and see if they mention any saddles on their web sites, might help you to get some ideas..
 
I really like the look of the Fairfax but again... mixed reviews on my yard

Where did you get yours from did they have other brands??
 
Peter Horobin Stride Free. Probably no one on your yard will have heard of them so won’t have an opinion!
 
I am very impressed with my Lavinia Mitchell saddle, very comfortable, horse loves it too. They do jump/event models I'm sure. Most LM fitters will advise on size then you can source second hand if finances dictate.
 
Ben2684 said:
I really like the look of the Fairfax but again... mixed reviews on my yard

Where did you get yours from did they have other brands??
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I tried the fair fax,anAlbion, an prestige and the equipe I’m a huge fan of equipe too but I have a young horse and they’re not really adjustable very much . Albion’s are lovely and solid but fairly heavy. I couldn’t personally get on with the prestige but it’s a personal thing - the devaucoux (sp?) was nice too but didn’t fit my horse at all.
 
I agree with Splashgirl - £4k is a massive amount to have as a budget, and to be honest, no saddle is worth that. Even if it had gold fittings and diamond head nails!

Please feel free if you want to PM me. :)
 
I only said 4K as for awhile I have been hankering after a Sue Carson. Now though that it is looking likely I’m getting cold feet and wondering whether it’s a waste of money!
 
Ben2684 said:
I only said 4K as for awhile I have been hankering after a Sue Carson. Now though that it is looking likely I’m getting cold feet and wondering whether it’s a waste of money!
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Please don't think I am knocking your budget - I'm not. :) In fact, you are in a very lucky position as there will be a wider range of options open to you. Just be careful, as some of the 'higher end' saddles are just sheer profit - and the materials and workmanship can sometimes be questionable. I would hate for you to spend a small fortune, only to end up with a problematic saddle. If you are not happy with any aspect of your saddle shopping journey, go with your gut instinct.

Frumpoon - I agree.
 
You really do need to try them, everyone will have different preferences and only by trying will you find what suits you as well as the horse.
The last time I helped someone find a jump saddle, she had long legs and horse had big shoulders, we were lucky to be able to try a couple of second hand ones, a few on the yard and ruled out several that should have suited the rider but made her feel insecure when jumping.
We then got a saddler out with a decent range and tried a few that were not quite right, finally putting on an Amerigo which was obviously right for both horse and rider they tried it over some decent fences gaining confidence as they went on.
In all we must have tried around 10 different makes/ models before getting it right so I think it is so important to try as many as you can especially if you have a decent budget as it can be easy to get carried away by the sales pitch which can be too influential if you are not quite sure what you need.
 
Jealous of your saddle budget!

I love Fairfax saddles, I have a classic jump adjustable (not the split panel one, the original style) and it seems to fit every horse and is so comfy and easy to stay balanced in. I am far from long legged though sadly, so might not be the same for you!

If I had your budget I would try a Bates Advanta, rode in one recently and it was a lovely lovely saddle
 
just looked on william fox pitts website and he uses albionm they are one of his sponsors but i cant see him endorsing them if they didnt suit him and his horses
 
Harry Dabbs is another name been bandied about

My issue is finding a saddler with such a range! Most seem to only have 2 or 3
 
The saddle has to fit the horse and you, so your right you need to try different saddles. The tree shapes vary so much as well.

My friend had one made to measure it has been a terrible experience. It did not fit her horse she had it adjusted and it was clearly too tight. The saddle fitter said it fitted. . Her physio got involved and even showed them it did not fit. It's a total nightmare for her. Her saddle was expensive.

She is now left without a useable saddle going down the claiming money back process.

If you get a fitter out they should know horse anatomy that's what they are paid for.
 
I would recommend Claire Barnett, a Master Saddler, who is from Hampshire but used to come out to Dorset when I lived there. However, she doesnt hold a huge stock but will be able to tell you what suits you and your horse best. I'm always a bit wary of a saddler who may try and sell you something that makes them a lot of profit.
 
When I bought my new saddle earlier this year, I contacted my saddler and told him what my requirements were and he brought a number of saddles out for me to try and ride in. It was very clear which one I was comfortable in. tbh I didn't care what make I had as long as it fit me and the horse. FWIW i don't like Kent and Masters, I think they are a bit hard and the only make of saddle my master saddler won't take in part Ex is a Harry Dabbs, he said the gullets are too narrow but this was a few years ago and my not be the case now. You have very specific requirements a good saddler will know which saddles are a possible fit.
 
Frumpoon said:
Sue carsons are just based on the airbag gimmick, save yourself 2.5k and just get a normal wool flock saddle
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The airbag is not a gimmick, as has been proven in pressure tests. Quite apart from the fact that all my horses have loved it, it's saved me a fortune, and a lot of inconvenience, in saddle adjustments over the many years I've had them.

Sue Carson will flock instead if that's what the customer wants. I know people who have flock in the back and air at the front. I don't rate her saddles for the price but I don't rate any saddle over £1500 except WOWs where I can see why they cost so much.





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Another vote for Stride Free, or if you don't like them then Wow - I think it's easier to get a good fitter for Stride Free though & their service is better.

Both of these saddles have a completely different shape tree to normal saddles, with much shorter points & a wider bearing area further back, that will suit a big shouldered big moving horse far better than conventional ones do. Have a look on the Stride Free website, there may be a video there. Stride Free are wool flocked, not air like Wow, but the air can be a love or hate thing for riders and horses.
 
Regandal said:
I am very impressed with my Lavinia Mitchell saddle, very comfortable, horse loves it too. They do jump/event models I'm sure. Most LM fitters will advise on size then you can source second hand if finances dictate.
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I also love my Lavinia Mitchell saddle I have a dressage saddle for one of my horses, they come up much wider than your average saddle and are really comfortable well worth the money.
 
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