Saddle problem..... Possibly buying Albion VSD....

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Chumsmum

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Going through a bit of a saddle crisis at the moment lol.

My Jeffries WH doesn't fit even though fitter said it did despite pony and instructor telling me otherwise - I'll leave that rant for another day
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Also, flatwork instructor said I could do with more support (crap rider lol) than WH currently gives me.

Got another saddler fitter out (I have friends who trust her judgement 100%, wish I had tried her first, she spent hour and half just explaining problems with my saddle) who told me not to ride in it and amazed I hadn't been bucked off.. However she only really deals in new Albion and Ideal.

She has recommended the Albion VSD as she says the thick gusset will help where muscle wastage is. She thinks it will still be okay even when muscle has built up again and should last him his lifetime (he is 16yo). She is looking at other (cheaper) alternatives and is going to call me with details.

So, if it feels okay to ride in, would you get for a brand new saddle or (as my instructor mentioned) go try and find another saddle fitter who may have something second hand / adjustable until pony has built up muscle again?

Has anyone got/had an Albion VSD? How did you get on with it? Was it okay for hacking and the odd bit of tiny jumping? What shape is your horse - my pony is short backed and highish wither more due to muscle wastage.

Does anyone know anything about Albion's thick gusset?

Just very wary of buying another brand new saddle in less than 7 months. I *think* I trust this fitter but then I trusted the last one so what do I know
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Hope this all makes sense - think I'm driving myself mad trying to make a decision
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I don't know anything about Abion saddles but know exactly what you are going through with saddle fitters as I have experienced the same.

I have a saddle company saddle and in your situation one of them would be ideal. They are serge underneath and fully adjustable - often recommended by vets for remedial cases. Brand new they are around £475 - £525 , the cost is low as they are synthetic underneath and leather on top..very good quality and made in Walsall. Can often pick them up on ebay too.

Are Albions very expensive?? I couldn't justify spending a massive amount on a saddle when I could get a v good one that fits really well (and can be adjusted) at a good price. There is a limit as to what you can do with flocking.
 
I have a lovely Albion VSD, it's Havana, 17", the model is Style Ultra. It has a good knee block and thigh block and fits a horse with a fair amound of shoulder.

It has a point strap and a balance strap plus 2 normal girth straps so it can fit many shapes.

It is an extra wide.

Unfortunately it no longer fits Comet and it needs a new home.
 
Pity it isn't a medium! The rest is perfect
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Does it have a really thick gusset - I'm not sure if they all come like that or if fitter meant that she would have it made like that??
 
I've got a problem with SC - PM me if interested lol.

How much extra for a WOW?

There doesn't seem to be many Albion VSD knocking about second hand. Also not sure if this 'thick gusset' thingy is standard
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Any Albion saddle fitters out there?
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A Solution treeless saddle could be the answer - they can be fiited to any back shape, so you don't have to change saddles when you change your horse or nyour horse changes shape.
Very cost effective as the rider only needs one saddle and they do ex demo models too.
 
I have an Albion K2 GP, I have posted about this before, but it's a lovely comfortable saddle and it fits my cob (with withers) very well. He is currently on week 7 of 8 weeks box rest so after next week I will get saddler out to check it's fit but I have been very happy with it, it's extremely comfortable and my saddler has said that Albion trees can be adjusted in or out one size so maybe you could contact Albion next week and query that?

My horse also has fairly big shoulders but this saddle fits fine. I have ridden in a couple of Saddle Co saddles and hated both! Very uncomfortable and both squeeked!! I couldn't wait to get back to my Albion! I got it on Ebay by the way as my saddler had been looking for 6 months for one in Havanna and couldn't get the model I wanted! It does have a fairly wide gusset, see if you can go to a saddler and look at some and sit on them see if you like them or not, obviously it has to fit the horse but it's also personal prefrerence as a lot of people rave about Saddle Co saddles!
 
YO has just brought same saddle as you and it is lovely - it's her first Albion so she can't give me true opinion yet but so far so good.

I sat in a SC saddle and wasn't really impressed but as a novice rider I'm finding it hard to know what I really like if that makes sense
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My pony is a cob type with withers - sounds similar to yours and I *think* she said the K2 GP was the same tree/seat as the VSD.

I will ask about gusset and adjustments when I speak to fitter again - it was a lot to take in when she came, all I could think about was my poor pony
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I don't work for Solution Saddles, but did get a discount on mine!!
They do lots of discount models as well as an excellent payment plan.
 
If you trust this fitter, and she only deals in Albions and Ideals, I would get an Ideal. Albions do no favours for your horse, and if it already has muscle atrophy it will just get worse.

Where you have a remedial fit, you need an adjustable saddle. I would recommend a kieffer or Saddle Company. PM with your problem with SC saddles - I am always curious to know everyone's opinions as I only ever meet people who love them!
 
Thanks for replies
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Fitter is also looking at what Ideal can do for me - I really like their saddles and would prefer one because of their great reputation but not sure if they do this extra gusset thingy??

Will PM re SC
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I have an Albion K2 VSD I love it!!! So comfortable and horse very happy in it. I do everything in it and jumped upto around 4' in it comfortably. Where my boy has lost some weight my saddle is with Albion at the moment having the tree adjusted. Can comment more when it is back but I do love it!!
 
Had Albion K2 made for horse with I think extra gusset that you're talking about and it was fab. Had had 2 saddles fitted by master saddler that didn't fit him at all as no adjustment had been made to the fact the whatever saddle you put on with the way he was built you needed to lift the back more than any off the peg saddle would sit. Different saddler took one look at him and went no prob just need to order x from albion when we order it. Exactly the same saddle as the off the peg one and same tree and it fitted perfectly from the off.

In my experience go with the saddler you trust - went to one that I didn't to get different brand of saddle but in the long run it was bad plan, so if you trust this saddler go with one of her saddles.
 
Thanks for replies!!

Spoke to saddler today. She had spoken to Jeffries who couldn't really come up with a solution to current saddle so that left the Ideal or Albion. She still thinks the thick gusset (it's standard rather than a special) of the Albion would be better than the Ideal - there is just £50 difference in price. Only problem is that the Albion is made to order to his template and so would have to wait 6/8 weeks to even try it (no obligation if not happy) but would rather try and have a ride in one so I'm not messing her about.

I had a quick look on the 'net and there are not many used ones about and these were about £700 so not a massive saving IMO.

Sooo, it looks like I'm heading towards the Albion as long as I can find one to have a quick try on.

Thanks for all replies. I know some people are not keen on Albion and this is in the back of my mind but as I said before, lots of experienced friends really do trust this saddler.

Thanks for listening folks
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I've got a bonus coming up soon so I could either spend the money on new things for the house/paying off credit card or I could buy a new saddle?? Guess which one I will choose
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i'd go for Ideal over Albion every time. Albions really do not do horses backs (and shoulders esp) a lot of good imho... and i had about 5 at one time.
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Ideals can be made exactly to specification, wide gusset, whatever your horse needs. my saddle fitter (who does the British event team horses fwiw) told me that of all the brands (and he deals in about 8), he can trust Ideal to do exactly what he asks for, first time, perfectly, unlike all the others...
that's why i ordered 2 new Ideals for my very sensitive and difficult to fit mare, about a month ago. only a few more days to wait now.
i wouldn't even entertain the idea of an Albion, tbh.
 
Thanks for reply.

I've seen before that you and some others don't like Albion and would say that this is the thing that is holding me back.

Is it the tree or the way they are made that you don't like? I've mentioned to saddler that I prefer Ideal as a brand to Albion but she still thinks Albion way to go - do they pay better commission or something
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If she had said go with the Ideal I would have it on order by now and I've virtually said this..
 
I raised this same point with my saddler, as I know some people are really not keen on Albions. But my saddler said it's entirely dependent on the horse. A lot of horses do not suit Albions, but people like them so they plonk them on anyway. On the right horse, an Albion apparently is a beautiful fit. I do trust her opinion, she spent ages explaining and showing it all to me.

I have a K2 GP that I've had a couple of weeks, and it's a beautiful comfortable saddle.
 
Thanks for reply
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That's what I've heard too - they either really fit your horse or they don't. And I know from experience that there are not many saddles that fit Chum.

What sort of shape/type is your horse? I would describe mine as a native type with withers.

Really struggling to decide what to do next - this is driving me bonkers lol
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That's a hard one! if anyone is being paid commission I think it's hard to get an unbiased opinion what ever the product is!

Suppose you just hope that you are paying a saddler for their experience and knowledge and the fact that they should be doing the right thing for you and your horse. Personal recommendation goes a long way too! At least if you get a good quality brand Albion/Ideal or what ever, it should hold it's price well if you ever have to change it in the future!
 
Thanks for replies everyone, you have all been a great help
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Probably will be buying Albion, will have another word with my instructor and ask her opinion and take it from there.

I've got to make a decision soon as using a borrowed saddle ATM - plus if I mention saddle one more time in this house I think I will be shot
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Mine is a very flat-sided TB, with moderate withers (for a TB!). I think it's the broad-backed WB types that they don't fit. The points in the saddle are really long, so anything with a round back might be impeded by them, was the impression I got. Ronnie's walk has got even bigger since the new saddle, his enormous shoulder was pushing his old saddle back and probably a bit umcomfy.

The thing is, I think we have to trust our saddlers as although yes, they are sales people, they are also suitably qualified and experienced and should know what they're talking about.
 
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