Saddles- Bates and kent and masters...

SpottyTB

SpottyTB

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Has anyone got or had any exspirience with a bates saddle?

Or a Kent and masters?

Trying both next thursday on my 5 year old TBXKnabstrupper .. she seems to be getting broader, but i dont think there is much growing/widening left to do!

Both saddles are Jumping saddles or gpjump (i think thats what the saddler said!) :D
 
I have a K & M and really like it, havnt needed to get it adjusted yet thou. Its the jump rather than gp and i havnt had any probs with it even when just doing flat work, nice and comfy as well.
Never tried a Bates so dont know how it would compare im afraid.
 
ah at last, someone who has a K+M, none of my horsey friends have one and most hadnt even heard of the make!

Thanks, really looking forward to trying them on her :)
 
I got a K&M last year as felt my saddle (that my horse had worn for years) maybe was a bit knackered and causing issues. Also meant could get a new saddle and not have to pay an extortionate amount. Felt this would be easier than trying to fit him with a 2nd hand saddle as he's not the easiest to fit saddles to.

I am fairly pleased with it - I have a wide for him as has suffered some wastage i think from how his other saddle was fitting so i have a pad to fill the front and, with any luck he will fill out a bit. I went for the GP and was a bit concerned that I may not be able to jump in it. In reality though my horse is 20 this year so i am not going to be increasing my jumping levels on him. I have jumped in it though and it seems fine.

My friend got a new horse last summer and the saddler fitter had her try the Bates and the K&M and she chose the Bates. I think mainly jut cos she felt the Bates was a softer leather. Looking at the Bates though i don't think it has enough pad under the seat which i think my horse needed as his previous saddle was dipping downwards on his back.

God, sorry for the long reply! Oh, and I find the K&M nice and comfy, oddly i can do sitting trot on my horse now - have never found it comfy before in my old saddle. Can't believe what difference a new saddle has made. I also opted for the square cantel as I prefer them!
 
Neither heard of them either until i got the saddler out, i wanted another Ideal but she came out with a K & M for me to try as well. As it was adjustable it was the better option while he was growing and it was leather which was a big plus, didnt really want a synthetic,
Good luck when you try it :)
 
Gem's really difficult too! I read somewhere on most horses you should be able to rest your hand over the spine and it should cup and not lie flat, but on gem my hand lies pretty flat! she is not over weight nor is she wormy, she is just relatively flat backed which of course makes saddles hard to fit. Plus she is 15.2hh but is the length of a 13.2hh pony! The biggest saddle i can have on her is a 17" and even thats a squeeze, be it that i am 5'10ft and very leggy any smaller and i'd be in trouble!

Dont want a synthetic either, feel that leather looks a bit smarter, generally dont have anything against synthetics, just a bit leather proud!

so annoyed i have to wait another week to ride though :( its such beautiful weather as well!!! Poor gem had all her jabs today and was micro chipped, so maybe the rest will do her good!
 
Well, the K&M may suit her then as you can get the wide/xtra wide. Mind you my 14.2hh flat-withered pony has an Ideal saddle (had it years), that is quite nice and wide and I've never had any problems with it at all. Although it is a bit hard on the backside these days! lol
 
I have recently bought a bates capprilli GP saddle and I love it. I find it has a really deep seat and fits my horse lovely. I have also rode in a Kent and Masters before and that was also very nice.
They both have a changeable gullet which is ideal for horses who change shape. Or young horses.
 
Ah the K+M sounds ideal, i suppose i will just have to wait and see which one i prefer as a rider and which one gem prefers (she's very good at telling me if she's not happy).

Again, its difficult, she's got quite a sharkfin whither but flat back (strange horse :p ;) )

Oo excited now :)
 
I have a bates caprilli jump saddle and a fairfax dressage saddle (which is made by kent & masters) and both are great and fit my horse really well. I also love riding in them.
 
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