Saddle company or arena

[Perfectpony07]

Hi guys,
Help me out really torn on which second hand saddle to get for my youngster, narrowed down to these two (to be adjusted by a saddle fitter) but she’s advised I need a 16.5 inch saddle. Obviously don’t want to spend loads as she’s likely to change shape again.
I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on either of these saddles quality and which you’d recommend?
Thanks

 

[HopOnTrot]

Have a look at saddle bank, loads of 16.5 inch saddles on there.

Saddle Company are marmite saddles IMO although I’ve never had one and I’ve never heard of arena.

 

[poiuytrewq]

We had a Saddle Company and it was truly awful. I hated the damn thing!
Arena I’m not familiar with.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m a (surprised my self at this) fan of a decent synthetic, if it fits well obviously to tide me over as temporary measures.
Some are actually ok!
I have a Fairfax GP and a Thorowgood GP compact and in all honestly whist obviously the Fairfax is nicer there’s not a massive difference in feel to ride.

 

[Red-1]

I would not fix to a brand. I'd get an idea of type from a saddler and go the good second hand route, with their advice. If you use an agent, they will send three at a time to try, and your saddler can advise if you think they fit well enough to pay for the visit.

As to your question, I have not heard of "Arena" and the only Saddle Company saddle I have seen was fitted by that company to a client's horse. It was awful. Awful fit and awful feel. The horse agreed (that was the reason I'd been called to help, and my advice was that the horse was not 'naughty' but was expressing an opinion as to an awfully fitted saddle).

Disclaimer, before I am slated - of course the saddle *could* have been fitted beautifully three weeks before I saw it. Who can tell? LOL. Suffice to say, it went a stack better in a saddle I had taken with me in case theirs was the issue.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I had a SC saddle made for a Clydesdale mare and later altered to fit my IDx. I and both horses liked the saddle. Never heard of Arena saddles.

 

[maya2008]

We had the half and half SC one - nice padded seat, comfy to ride in. With SC in my experience it is all about the fitter - so many absolutely awful ones out there. My ponies all loved the saddle (and it went through three of them). I would have another if I had a fitter in this area I could trust.

 

[KatieDM]

I think Arena is under the Wintec and Bates umbrella. Could possibly be the US or AUS market? EDIT: Had a look and they are under the ‘HART’ technology umbrella…

Anyway, I was initially set against a Wintec, but the new ones are actually really nice. Fully adjustable, comfy seat and they feel sturdy. It’s the one that fitted my rising 5 lad and myself best. It’s the All Purpose 500, I bought it new from the saddler/fitter, with the aim to buy a ‘proper’ leather saddle when he’s matured some more. Probably in a couple years. And because I bought it new and will look after it, I should be able to sell it on.

 

[webble]

I think Arena is under the Wintec and Bates umbrella. Could possibly be the US or AUS market? EDIT: Had a look and they are under the ‘HART’ technology umbrella…

Anyway, I was initially set against a Wintec, but the new ones are actually really nice. Fully adjustable, comfy seat and they feel sturdy. It’s the one that fitted my rising 5 lad and myself best. It’s the All Purpose 500, I bought it new from the saddler/fitter, with the aim to buy a ‘proper’ leather saddle when he’s matured some more. Probably in a couple years. And because I bought it new and will look after it, I should be able to sell it on.

Yup its the inbetween midel, not completely synthetic but not premium expensive leather either and mid way price wise

Agree re the new wintecs, I recently sold the wintec pro endurance but had it for a year and loved it

 

[Kirstd33]

I had a saddle company saddle on coblet, as did a few other liveries on the yard. Plus points; lightweight (mine was synthetic) working hunter cut which suited coblet, easy to clean and could be adjusted which suited coblet and the other liveries as nothing in regular work and seemed to need adjusting at least 3 times/year by thankfully a competent fitter in the area. Downsides; not the best quality and not actually the comfiest for me as it seemed to throw my lower leg back, tipping me forward?

The TB I ride now has an older GP Arena saddle which fits him beautifully and is actually extremely comfy to ride in and very versatile, i can ride 2-3 hr hacks in it, canter, gallop and also pop some logs whilst out and about.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Arena is bates and is adjustable so you will get a decent saddle but id be wanting it to fit more than anything

 

[KatieDM]

Yup its the inbetween midel, not completely synthetic but not premium expensive leather either and mid way price wise

Agree re the new wintecs, I recently sold the wintec pro endurance but had it for a year and loved it

I think they really serve a purpose / provide a good stop gap. (Providing they fit your horse well and correctly!)

 

[sbloom]

Arena is the direct competitor in terms of price and, broadly, quality, to Kent and Masters. If you're looking second hand, and of course it will depend on the exact model, then I'd get the one you can find first. I'm not the biggest fan of either (I'm very biased in my saddle fitting!) but I probably would err very slightly on the side of Arena, equally they may not be easily available second hand, so it might be down to what you can find.

I'd want to know which the fitter had brand training in too, if possible. Any saddle is best fitted by someone who's actually had training directly from the brand, and keeps it up to date. I suspect the Bates training is more thorough than Saddle Company.

 

[Jambarissa]

I've had a fair few saddle company saddles through the year, they're great for horses who change shape because they can be adjusted far more than other saddles. You can also have them adjusted to fit a completely different horse.

I've never had an issue but as above it probably depends on your fitter. Such to be fair is true of every saddle.

 

[eahotson]

I have an arena bought new and fitted by saddler.Horse and I like it.

 

[BSL2]

Daughter has Arena on her wide, hard to fit sec d. Not the most expensive or best quality leather, but it fits both beautifully and that is for us, what's important.

 

[SO1]

I have saddle company. Homey had one for 15 years. It didn't fit Bert as he needed a shorter one so one made for him a pony saddle with adult flaps with buffalo leather and point straps.

It depends on the fitter my fitter had to take an extended period of time off work and tried someone else which did not work out well. Almost at the point of considering different v expensive saddle options when my fitter returned to work. She adjusted it and suggested a shim. She fits with shims as well as adjusting and that did the trick. Bert changes shape very frequently as he is still growing and his weight fluctuates. She says a lot of horses like people are asymmetrical and a shim can help improve the fit. Bert doesn't need a shim anymore at his latest fitting. I have different numnahs some with sheepskins on which can also alter the fit.

I think with a lot of saddles it depends on getting the right fitter. With a youngster you may be needing adjustments every 8 weeks or so.

I would not buy a saddle company saddle unless you have a fitter locally because to adjust them well you need a machine. It is not like taking a gullet out and replacing it with another size.

 

[FlyingSkye]

I have the saddle company cc jumps for all of mine and absolutely adore them and so do my horses however have the privilege of having a genuinely fantastic fitter on site - in 10 years I have never known a horse become cold backed/sore/saddle shy in one she has fitted. Like most companies you will get the good and bad ones but would highly recommend their newer models if you have a really well recommended fitter in your area. I personally love the close contact tree they do and get on with the event tree however am not a fan of the gp tree, though I hate riding in any kind of gp saddle so not sure how much that affects it! The pros are that they are very lightweight, affordable and the serge panel is much softer on their backs and make adjusting the flocking so much easier. Of course they are also very adjustable! Cons would be the leather on the half synthetic models isn’t great and you need to make sure they are flocked properly!