saddles bates vs henri de rivel

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ajones

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hi
can anyone who have got the close contact bates saddle or henri de rivel Pigmalion / compertition saddle let me know what you think of them trying to find a new saddle for a wide fitting irish draft. my last saddle was an exselle evo cross country and just couldn't get comfy riding in it .
open to any saddle make
just need a jumping saddle 18in but must have thigh blocks !! any suggestions
 
I have a bates momentum and I LOVE it.

Buuut... My mare is a WB, relatively lightweight (not as light as TB but not chunky) and she has the wide fitting gullet so you may struggle to get it to fit?
 
hi, ohh i love the saddle you have i've tried a gullet guage on him and he's come up wide/extra wide and thats while he's not in work. thats why a thought a bates would be good because i can change the gullet as he changes shape. i've spent a small fortune on saddles for him already
 
That's the reason I bought one! Plus I have a young horse.

The saddle is lovely - so comfortable and secure - well worth the money.
grin.gif
 
Hiya i am new to the forum so hello! I have a bates caprilli which is a close contact jump saddle and I LOVE IT! My mare is a lightweight (narrow on the gullet system) TB X WB and impossible to fit jump saddles to, i have tried SO many...

I love the saddle however the knee blocks it comes with are quite small so if you like lots to hold your knees in you would prob have to look into getting some different blocks (they have velcro so you can add some and move them about.) Beau is a completely different shape to your man it sounds so see if you can try one first. My YO has the same saddle and chucks it on all her show jumpers. She swears by them, and id have to agree! I did try hers for about 3 weeks before getting myself one though!

Another lush one is the farringtons, this isnt close contact but its the one we tryed first ( it didnt work for her but i loved it... its SO comfy and has MASSIVE knee blocks so you are nice and secure) its got a lovely pannel and works really well on horses (that arnt freaks like mine).

anyhoo, hope that helps, feel free to ask more questions (im a bit proud and loving of my saddle!) hehehe

Bx
 
p.s whats henri de rivel Pigmalion ? i havnt heard of it... also just read your post (i seemed to spend too long replying 1st time!);

The gullet system shouldnt make a difference most saddlers can alter the fit (width) of most saddles quite easily!

Bx
 
ooh its pretty- i like the bates caprilli more though (although im a bit biased!)

the caprilli isnt single flapped- and doesnt feel overly close contact ( i tried another single flapped event saddle (willliam Fox pitt is currently using one (sorry cant remember name) and it def felt more close contact, too close for me...!)

is it close contact you want? is it the bates caprilli you are looking at?
 
the henri de rivel one i like isn't a single flapped one.
yes its the bates caprilli close contact i like and the equestrian clearance warehouse has it at £764.99 and you get the gullet kit free does this sound like a good price?
 
Yes they retail at £889.99 (i work for a saddler so got it with my discount- phew!)

just make sure before you ride in it, leave it on for about half an hour as this gives it a chance to mould to the horse a bit and warm up th gel pads!
 
easyer said than done i'm pregnant at the moment ( only 6 weeks left thank god )so trying it is a bit hard i tried the exselle saddle i had and lied it but didn't jump in it so when i got mine and jumped in it i wasn't keen also no one near me has a bates. also someone told me that the cair system makes it hard on the horses back you mentioned gell pads so is the cair system air or gel?
 
Ahh im not sure... but when it warms up it def softens...

Bates have imporved the system, i had heard this too that 'they were designed for the australian climate' but as i say they have improved it (the innova dressage saddle has a foam layer also- this isnt in the caprilli as the pannel would be too thick which is a shame as this works really well...) anyway my instructor has also said that she hasnt had a problem with all the cair system ones shes had.

maybe not the most forgivving to begin with but they warm up quickly! My mare is SUPER sensitive and she goes beautifully in it- and doesnt react!
 
i think i've made my mind up bates it is now to let husband know that i've choosen the saddle i like well after all he did say why not a stubben (he doesn't know anything about horses and has picked up the name ) thanks for all your help XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
hehe fab choice... i have it in the brown, and my YO has it in tan and its worn really well however not sure id like it so light to begin with! the brown is lovely though its a really reddy brown... but black is black!
anyway, enjoy!
Bx
 
thanks i'll be getting a brown one like you. glad i asked for help all my local saddlery shops sell different makes to you never get the same answer from them on which saddle is a better idea. happy christmas xxxx
 
hehe theyre lovely! happy christmas to you too (is it an xmas present!?!)! youll have to tell me how you get on with it! id def try and leave it on for a bit befor you 1st ride in it (only 1st time tho so as to help 'break it it' so to speak!)

Bx
 
yes its my christmas present. my horse is going away for some schooling and bring back into work before baby is born so i wont have the pleasure of the first ride on it. but at the end of the day as my husband says happy horse = happy wife , i'm glad he's a quick learner hehe. i'll let you know how i get on with it. XXXX
 
wow you must be so excited to be getting back into riding again. My YO is 6 wks due but shes ridden all througout - a bit mad, hopefully shell slow down at least a week befor its born! apparently its normal size etc tho! shes just lucky its sitting in a funny place so she hardly looks that pregnant! anyway, best of wishes.
 
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