Saddles - more....

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icestationzebra

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Ok - what are your favourite saddle brands and why? I know it is a very personal subject and we all have our preferences but I try and quiz everyone I come into contact with about their opinions (saddlers, vets, back people, trainers) and the difference in opinion is amazing!
 
well personally i like my wow
unfortunatly i live in an area with cr*p saddle fitters with no selection of saddles and no idea what they are talking about-so as well as being good for the horse IMO they are hell of a lot easier! And i have a fantastic fitter
 
I have a saddle company event saddle for jumping - it has serge panels- have found them fantastic for all my horses. Owen has had made to measure for him every saddle make under the sun,(sue carson, devoucoux, prestige, amerigo, albion,pessoa, black country) and he goes best in his cheapo saddle company saddle which is only £550 new and made to measure.

I have a WOW for dressage-Owen's flatwork has been super in this,he is much better on the flat in his WOW but I tried jumping him in the wow and he is better in the saddle company saddle for jumping! but better in the Wow for the flatwork!
 
This and the earlier posts are really interesting. I am looking at replacing W's saddle next year and reading everyone's posts it is making me realise how completely clueless I am!
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I am very interested in The Saddle Companies Event saddles, particularly as they are made to measure and at that price very affordable.

Thank you!
 
I have Saddle Co GP's for both of mine, but as we are hoping to progress to eventing one day I have just ordered a Saddle Co event - and I am saving for a dressage now too...

I cant afford a WOW or anything made to measure and having had so many problems with traditional saddles on my gelding (exracer) the Saddle Co ones have been a godsend, both horses go fantstically in them, they are adjustable so I'm not faced with buying another when they get broader and I find them incredibly secure and comfortable..

Even bigger bonus is the price, just over £500 brand new and my event was off ebay but brand new and is costing £375... and due to the adjustability of the saddle I know I can get one from Ebay and that it will fit when adjusted...

Wouldnt have anything else even if I could afford it!
 
I was pondering this too, I'm thinking of getting a new saddle and because of Flash's ever changing shape and wanting to do showing, dressage and jumping a WOW and changing flaps seemed the most sensible, but I want what is going to be best for him, and for the price of a WOW and all the bits I could probably get the saddle co dressage and jumping saddle!
 
Another vote for Saddle company saddles.

Bought the GP version for my new TB and it fits like a dream (recommended by Scarlett and I've seen her horses go in them).

My friend also pimped my saddle round her livery yard as there are a couple of really difficult to fit horses there (TB & WB types) and it fitted them really well too without any riding in or adjustments (just bog standard med just now)

Currently on the hunt for a 17/17.5" brown WH version for the arab I love them so much.
 
I'm loving Ideal saddles, possibly helped by the fact that they're now my fitters speciality. But the come in a wide range of tree designs so you get one to really fit your horse.
Have gone from a big IDxTB and yes has to change saddle but both ideal and both lovley fit and great for the rider to.
 
I have to agree with Kerilli....Barry Swaine saddles are the best!!! I have a dresage (bought off e-bay!) saddle which Barry put a new tree in for me, was still a bargain even after that! And I have a jump saddle from them as well, they made it to suit my long legs, looks a bit odd but fits me and the horse superbly. Both have serge panels, I take them up to Walsall to be flocked and they can also alter the tree width if need be.
They are making a new saddle at the mo with flexi points on the tree, apparently when you ride in it you won't want anything else, I think Kate Carter and Matt Frost have them to endorse?
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What are the Barry Swain saddles like to ride in? Am intrigued. Have serge panels on my saddle company saddle and the horses definately like them.
 
He does two tree types, the 'hermes' tree which is quite narrow and 'neat' and also a 'wide' seat tree which is very comfortable for the horse. I've got 2 wide seat trees which felt odd when I first rode in them as they do feel quite wide (obv!!) but once used to them they are v comfortable. They can also come in half panel (owen panel) or full panel. My dressage is a half panel and my horse moves a lot more freely in it, jump is full.
Not sure if that answers you question or not!!??
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hehe- Owen panel !! Thats my boy! They named it after him I guess as he is the fussiest horse about saddles in the universe!
Thanks for that- really interesting!
 
The old boy has a Barry Swain dressage and the young man has a Saddle Co GP.

As soon as the youngster stops expanding Im very keen on looking into either another bespoke Barry or possibly the new Semi Flex.
 
Sneedy, the Semi-Flex is on the same trees etc as our older-fashioned ones, i don't think they'll feel much different tbh, they don't look different. they don't seem to have any spares at the mo, otherwise i'd nick one to try! it's basically our ones, but with cut-off points replaced with plastic extenders, so it flexes more as the horse gains/loses muscle/fat. the trees are still fully adjustable etc.
Christmas Derby - they're good to ride in, you can get different sized blocks for front and back of flap, velcro'd on. of the 5 pics in my siggy, all but the middle one are Barrie saddles. i particularly love the wide seated dressage one with suede seat (the Madonna saddle), if you can get one of those second hand, they're fantastic saddles. all the trees are fully adjustable, but most sellers don't seem to realise this!
for jumping, they don't give you as much help as some of the top saddles, but i've come to terms with it and worked on improving my balance etc instead! Barrie much prefers the owen panels as far as the horse's shoulder freedom is concerned, but the full panel gives you more support in front of the knee, esp. for jumping, and you can bully him into making them full panel!
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I didn't realise the semi-flex was the same!! Was there last week and was admiring them but that prob because they looked lovely and new!!! My old trainer is a bit dubious about the semi-flex (she used to fit saddles for Barry in Northants), she doesn't like the idea of movement up and down and thinks it may not be very stable??
I'm really happy with mine and was so excited when I got my e-bay bargin!!!
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Barry Swaines for me too. I have 3 horses each with two Barry Swaines, all half panel serge lined. If it was a case of having a smaller budget I would have the Saddle Company ones. All my horses love them, I have NEVER in 15 years of having these saddles had a saddle related problem with my horses. Not many makes you can say that about
 
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