Saddles… adjustable or non adjustable

[Darcey22]

Hey there
I wonder if you can help me.
In January I am going to be looking for a dressage saddle for my mare.
Her current saddle is a bates gp saddle and my current saddle fitter only stocks new saddles and only adjustable.
She thinks I need a Fairfax with external knee block, but I really like the look of a Black Country saddles but understand they are not adjustable and wondered what your thoughts are on adjustable verses non adjustable saddles? And Fairfax verses Black Country?

 

[Fieldlife]

I am not a fan of anything with a gullet in as I think they are not the ideal shape for back, and cause muscle limitations.

Most treed saddles can be made wider or narrower by a saddler. I have had adjustments made in both directions.

On the other hand if you are already using a gulleted saddle in the bates, I dont support it makes any difference for dressage saddle.

I would say whether either make of dressage saddle suits your horse, you like it to ride in, your horse likes it to be ridden in, more important than trying to decide wihtout trying them.

 

[Darcey22]

I am not a fan of anything with a gullet in as I think they are not the ideal shape for back, and cause muscle limitations.

Most treed saddles can be made wider or narrower by a saddler. I have had adjustments made in both directions.

On the other hand if you are already using a gulleted saddle in the bates, I dont support it makes any difference for dressage saddle.

I would say whether either make of dressage saddle suits your horse, you like it to ride in, your horse likes it to be ridden in, more important than trying to decide wihtout trying them.

Yes I suppose I need to go with a saddler that has more range of choice than just adjustable don’t I? X

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have had lots of experience with both and am happy to go with whatever fits the horse. Ive just had a mid range expensive saddle fitted for Orbi, its a k2 adjusta gp albion and of course it needed adjusted . But my ideal fits him too and it is adjustable by a saddle fitter and has been adjusted for BB.
I also have a wintec and a thorowgood in storage.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hey there
I wonder if you can help me.
In January I am going to be looking for a dressage saddle for my mare.
Her current saddle is a bates gp saddle and my current saddle fitter only stocks new saddles and only adjustable.
She thinks I need a Fairfax with external knee block, but I really like the look of a Black Country saddles but understand they are not adjustable and wondered what your thoughts are on adjustable verses non adjustable saddles? And Fairfax verses Black Country?

I had a Black country and hated it, was glad to get rid of it.

way to high in front.

I like K&M as you can change the gullet like bates as the horse changes shape. I wasted to much much on non gullet change ones

 

[sbloom]

I would find the money to try something with a wooden tree, and compare. I'm with @Fieldlife and am not a fan of adjustables, generally. Most are very narrow in the head (ie the pommel is like an upside down C) and the rest of the tree shape, construction, panels etc aren't the way I like to fit. This https://stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk/blog-and-resources/why-cant-saddle-fitters-agree may give you some context/food for thought. And bear in mind saddles need to fit you, not just the horse, and the gold standard of that is a supported, neutral pelvis at rest, correctly draped leg, with no discomfort (very rare!). @ILuvCowparsely's comment shows that no matter how well the saddle might fit the horse it must be right for you, and not just the basic geometry etc.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I'm not keen on adjustable either they don't work for wider horses generally which is what I have.

I loved the 2 Black country saddles I had never ridden in a fairfax so can't comment on that.

You really need to try them and see what suits you really.