Saddle thoughts - before I spend lots of money!

[abbijay]

What sort of budget would be reasonable to put aside for a dressage saddle?
I have a big birthday coming up in spring and the baby clydesdale should be finished changing shape when we come out of winter (he's 8 this year) so i thought it would be a good time to treat both of us to a dressage saddle.
I have always bought second hand for the previous dressage boys but thought, seeing as this one is only young and hopefully be with me for a very long time I could splurge (by my standards) and get us a brand new one. I definitely can't justify the price of some of the high end brands but would £2k get me a good range of leather dressage saddles to choose from? Or at that budget would I be better off hunting for a really nice second hand and getting something well within budget? But finding a great selection of second hand saddles that I can try is always a nightmare! I won't buy something without being able to ride in the same model so I can ensure it rides well for me as well as fits the boy.
Horse is currently in a 17" Wide Harry Dabbs Future Jump on IB tree.
He is very short backed with massive shoulders, I am slim to medium build but have a very long thigh bone for being 5'6". I'm not fussed on appearance of a saddle - in fact plainer is more my thing than a blingy, over-stitched statement piece.
I'd love to go down something like the Wow route or Sue Carson but they are going to bust my budget.

 

[ihatework]

Honestly I’d always be reluctant to buy new now. It seems like such a waste of money when you can buy top end brands second hand, these have seen the initial depreciation and then seem to hold their price.

2k new will buy you a nice new saddle and an exceptionally nice secondhand.

My only caveat being you say Clydesdale, it may be that product range is more limited which may push you to new rather than secondhand by means of availability

 

[Abacus]

Agree with ihatework - I would never buy a new saddle unless there wasn’t a second hand alternative. I prefer them anyway. You should get something lovely for that budget - or have enough left for nice stirrups and girth.

 

[Annagain]

I would always prefer to buy a well looked after, quality second hand saddle than a new one. You avoid the depreciation and the wearing in issues (although if it's flocked to suit you might get some settling issues) and there are some lovely used saddles out there. Your only issue might be finding a suitable one given that he's a Clydesdale.

I'd find a really reputable saddle fitter who either has a good range or is willing to advise you on what to buy and then come to fit it to your boy once you've found it.

Wows are very adjustable so you will probably get a second hand one that can be adjusted to fit your boy more easily than other brands.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I bought brand new for Arabi about 12 years ago as I had to go down the remedial fit and I knew at the time the Lavinia Mitchell saddle would work, I've still got it and it was the best thing I ever did and he changed shape for the better so much so it totally worked for us I did try and find a second hand one but I got impatient so ended up ordering a new one.

I loved the saddle so much I ended buying a second hand dressage one for Louis as I knew what size he needed and knew it would fit so no more slipping abd I still love it.

So maybe find what will fit then try and source a second hand one.

 

[sbloom]

Absolutely a classic "piece of string" question, but to answer the basic question, a new leather dressage saddle for £2k would be rare. There are some for sure - K&M and maybe the odd Ideal for example - but most bench made brands will start around that for dressage and go up, a fair way. It would bring a fair selection of used saddles including some really good brands, but even used saddles will and up higher than that too. £2k should, for most people, bring plenty of options, but it depends.

The factors are - how quickly do you need a saddle? How difficult are both of you to fit? (the third is budget but we have that)...the "worse" the answers the more the budget may be an issue. If, for instance, you have very narrow hips, the horse is very wide, and you want to sit correctly over your feet, then options decrease. Bear in mind that a long thigh is seldom a problem if the hip allows the knee to drop properly, often the challenge on wider horses where the knee can run forwards. If he's very tricky to fit, then again, it can make things trickier. Then there's fitters - is there one, or more, who can help you within that budget, that you trust? All things that may have a bearing on how far that budget can stretch.

 

[nikkimariet]

£2k is a great budget for a decent but second hand saddle. Honestly people are desperate to get rid of them as the market is so stagnant.

Prestige, Equipe, CWD second hand will all come up around that price bracket.

I got a jump Erreplus for that budget (no need for me to buy one new for what I do in it!) so they are out there!

As an aside you couldn’t pay me to ride in WOW or SC.

 

[onemoretime]

What sort of budget would be reasonable to put aside for a dressage saddle?
I have a big birthday coming up in spring and the baby clydesdale should be finished changing shape when we come out of winter (he's 8 this year) so i thought it would be a good time to treat both of us to a dressage saddle.
I have always bought second hand for the previous dressage boys but thought, seeing as this one is only young and hopefully be with me for a very long time I could splurge (by my standards) and get us a brand new one. I definitely can't justify the price of some of the high end brands but would £2k get me a good range of leather dressage saddles to choose from? Or at that budget would I be better off hunting for a really nice second hand and getting something well within budget? But finding a great selection of second hand saddles that I can try is always a nightmare! I won't buy something without being able to ride in the same model so I can ensure it rides well for me as well as fits the boy.
Horse is currently in a 17" Wide Harry Dabbs Future Jump on IB tree.
He is very short backed with massive shoulders, I am slim to medium build but have a very long thigh bone for being 5'6". I'm not fussed on appearance of a saddle - in fact plainer is more my thing than a blingy, over-stitched statement piece.
I'd love to go down something like the Wow route or Sue Carson but they are going to bust my budget.

Have a look at the Andrea Hicks dressage saddles. They are made for the wider horse. They have 8 different width fittings. I have one for my mare who is WB x ISH and I am very very happy with it. I also bought her a GP or VSD as they are sometimes called. I ride her in this as I cant get my leg over the cantle of the dressage saddle due to my stiff old hips not any fault of the saddle. My pro rider rides her in the dressage saddle. Very good quality and reasonably priced. I bought both new but you can get 2nd hand sometimes. Have a look at their website.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I’m never going to put anything other than a Smart saddle on my horses ever again. It’s treeless but as a rider you wouldn’t know it because it‘s so stable and comfortable. Mine is trail hunting in his. It allows all horses of all ages to develop healthy backs. it allows the scapula full natural rotation without the saddle blocking the movement. One saddle for all your ridden horses for life. Genius.

 

[Lamehorses]

I've got a stride free saddle on an xw horse. Regularly come up 2nd hand around the £2k.
You do need a stride free fitter with their special jig though, the tree is totally adjustable, not just a changeable headplate like so many adjustable saddles.
My horses chiro won't use anything else

 

[sbloom]

Have a look at the Andrea Hicks dressage saddles. They are made for the wider horse. They have 8 different width fittings. I have one for my mare who is WB x ISH and I am very very happy with it. I also bought her a GP or VSD as they are sometimes called. I ride her in this as I cant get my leg over the cantle of the dressage saddle due to my stiff old hips not any fault of the saddle. My pro rider rides her in the dressage saddle. Very good quality and reasonably priced. I bought both new but you can get 2nd hand sometimes. Have a look at their website.

Thanks for the recommendation , new they're around £2500 but would easily come under budget used, we run this group on FB where most private sales happen https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641386762817197

 

[TheMule]

I've just bought a dressage saddle from Andrea Hicks for my awkward little warmblood (who is masquerading as a cob). I am really pleased with the fitting service and the saddle itself, she had one 2nd hand in stock that was suitable and significantly under your budget despite being in nearly new condition.
I vlogged my fitting here, if you're interested. He's obviously a very different type to yours, but she specializes in providing saddles for these kinds of horses.

 

[sbloom]

I've just bought a dressage saddle from Andrea Hicks for my awkward little warmblood (who is masquerading as a cob). I am really pleased with the fitting service and the saddle itself, she had one 2nd hand in stock that was suitable and significantly under your budget despite being in nearly new condition.
I vlogged my fitting here, if you're interested. He's obviously a very different type to yours, but she specializes in providing saddles for these kinds of horses.

That's the Classic dressage, the deepest seat that AH make, there are more forward cut versions of the jump saddle on that tree, and on others (just for information for others ).

 

[TheMule]

That's the Classic dressage, the deepest seat that AH make, there are more forward cut versions of the jump saddle on that tree, and on others (just for information for others ).

Nothing forward enough for me unfortunately, we did discuss having one custom made but I have managed to find a nice little saddle that I'm happy with, after a bit of searching!

 

[sbloom]

Nothing forward enough for me unfortunately, we did discuss having one custom made but I have managed to find a nice little saddle that I'm happy with, after a bit of searching!

It's also partly about the fit for the pelvis and hips, often where the challenge comes from on wider horses, where we need to avoid a narrow twist for the benefit of the horse but need to sit narrow to allow the leg to drape, the Classic does that for you. It also offers a bit more pommel height, in the Harrier I think it is you're gravitating forwards to get support from the pommel, another reason you end up coming off the front of the saddle, you need more support to a higher shaped pubic arch.

 

[abbijay]

Thanks all, I think I have to be realistic that I won't be getting a new saddle for the budget I feel I can commit but equally I don't feel I can justify spending £2k on a second hand saddle. I'm in no rush so will start looking about in the spring to find a stockist of secondhand saddles to bring them to me to try. I think that's my biggest issue; finding someone I can actually try and buy second hand saddles off. There is one local dealer but my past experiences have not been great (including the time I said "he doesn't suit K&M trees and my 17.5" is too long" - all she brought was K&M saddles - mostly in 17.5"!). I have a brilliant fitter but she doesn't carry stock. I really want to ride in something before I buy anything, just in case but obviously that's not an option with private sales.

Don't really understand why him being a clydesdale will make a huge difference to my choice of saddles; they are usually one of the few bits of kit I can get from standard ranges. He's not hugely wide, the previous Shire was and this one is narrow by comparison but not as lean as my old boy who was in a MW!

 

[Zoeypxo]

I have an albion ultima platinum on my big shouldered wide warmblood absolutely love it picked it up for £800 second hand in very good condition.

 

[blitznbobs]

With a big horse you
Might fin something like an older slk would work. They see heavy compared to modern saddles but often fit well, are cheap and if they suit you extremely comfortable

 

[abbijay]

With a big horse you
Might fin something like an older slk would work. They see heavy compared to modern saddles but often fit well, are cheap and if they suit you extremely comfortable

That's exactly what my first dressage saddle was! Suited me down to the ground.

 

[Lois Lame]

I wouldn't buy new either. So many saddles out there, second-hand. Be absolutely sure you love what you are going to buy, before you buy it. I think this is part of the reason why there are so many saddles out there on the market.

And I'll be hit over the head for saying it, but I don't believe a lot of the stuff that is said about saddles and their new, beaut way of being made with their hindquarters sticking out the back to 'spread the load'. It's so hard to fit them to the horse these days.

 

[SEL]

If you're interested in WOW then a fitter could tell you what parts to look out for 2nd hand. They are good for challenging shaped horses (or wide as she is tall ponies)

 

[asmp]

If you're interested in WOW then a fitter could tell you what parts to look out for 2nd hand. They are good for challenging shaped horses (or wide as she is tall ponies)

Our fitter told us what second hand parts of a Wow saddle to buy - but gosh there are a lot of variations and specific pieces are hard to find.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I believe both the wow and Sue Carson saddles are air filled panels not flock, some horses don't get on with that type of saddle neither do some people.

 

[sbloom]

And I'll be hit over the head for saying it, but I don't believe a lot of the stuff that is said about saddles and their new, beaut way of being made with their hindquarters sticking out the back to 'spread the load'. It's so hard to fit them to the horse these days.

There are many ways of fitting saddles and many designs that need to be fitted differently, to me tall or long gussets at the back may be a sign that the tree shape is a compromise for the horse, but a horse with a high wither, fitted traditionally, will need a deep rear gusset which will also usually be longer, otherwise the shape may be "off". Traditional fitting is about spreading pressure/weight as far as possible, hence panels end up long and wide, but it is tricky with short backs and can often end up with the weight being too far back on the horse, in terms of optimal biomechanics. There are other ways of fitting eg centre pressure (so not relying on front and rear gussets, often a "rounder" upswept panel, and usually a more forward balance saddle) which can really help with short backs and getting the rider forwards over the horse's centre of gravity.