Saddles...which do you love?

I love my Hawk Event; so comfy and the horses it's been used on all seemed to like it too. Sadly, no chance of it fitting Rowan unless he loses 200 Kg and stretches his back a bit; he's going to be hard to fit.
 
I love my Jeffries pony saddle for the pony. It may be very straight cut - nearly dressage or showing, but I've done a meter in it so it can't be that bad. It's nice and comfy, but I'm having to come to terms with the fact that is only a 16" and I need 17" .. Not replacing it still, I only hack now with him as he's too small for me too and the sister will be riding him when she's a bit older.

I'm currently saddle hunting for my TB. I bought a Wintec and I've just sold it because it didn't fit - a good thing honestly. I hated it. I can't believe people actually liked them. I'm currently looking at Stubbens/ Lemetex, Teknas and I've spotted a nice Walsall dressage saddle... Fingers crossed... I'm open to be honest. If it fits my horse nicely, is flocked and isn't more than 17.5" then that's all good. And if it doesn't go over my budget obviously.
 
Haz:) said:
I've spotted a nice Walsall dressage saddle... Fingers crossed... I'm open to be honest. If it fits my horse nicely, is flocked and isn't more than 17.5" then that's all good. And if it doesn't go over my budget obviously.
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Forgot I've got a Walsall Sandringham dressage saddle sitting in the tack room. It was my TB x mare's saddle and was so comfortable and I always felt very secure in it out hacking. Sadly doesn't fit any of my warmbloods - sigh
 
Another vote for Ideal saddles. I've got one that I'll always keep as it's moulded to my bottom and seem to fit most horses. It originally belonged to my arab mare, who had it from new; it then didn't conventionally fit her, but was perfect on my section d, so he had it. I then went through a Harry Dabbs, 2 Black Country saddles and a Native Pony Saddle with my arab but came to the conclusion that even though the Ideal didn't actually fit her properly, it was the saddle she was most comfortable in, so we stuck with that.
 
Hate WOWs - I rode in a client's and it was dreadful - I felt so perched.
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This may depend on how old it is, or what panels she had on it.

Around 2007 WOWs were being made with the seats filled too high, and they were very uncomfortable. I had one reprofiled but they charge much more to do that now and it's cheaper to buy a second hand seat.

Panel thickness also affects how far you are from the horse, but the commonest culprit is over filling of the air bags.
 
I love my Solution Saddles Smart saddle. Fully flexible, so a saddle for life. Great for sensitive horses and so comfy for horse and rider. May well fit in with your ethos/horse care approach (based on some of your threads that I've followed).
 
TYSSANDI said:
Got rid of the Kieffer - as it hurts ones privates as it's cut back on the pommel and so damn hard
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Isn't it funny how we're all so different? My old horse's Kieffer dressage saddle is the most comfortable saddle I have ever sat in. Doesn't really fit my new boy, but I can't bring myself to sell it in case he magically changes shape one day!

This horse has an Albion, which is sort of okay but I wouldn't rave about it. Horse likes it, which is the main thing I guess.
 
Balance International - their saddles are a bit different to most and designed for maximal horse comfort. They are based down your way so easy to get someone out to you.
 
ycbm said:
This may depend on how old it is, or what panels she had on it.

Around 2007 WOWs were being made with the seats filled too high, and they were very uncomfortable. I had one reprofiled but they charge much more to do that now and it's cheaper to buy a second hand seat.

Panel thickness also affects how far you are from the horse, but the commonest culprit is over filling of the air bags.
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It also depends on your body size versus your clients. The saddles are adjusted for the rider too - they are not good saddles if being used by different riders
 
eggs said:
Forgot I've got a Walsall Sandringham dressage saddle sitting in the tack room. It was my TB x mare's saddle and was so comfortable and I always felt very secure in it out hacking. Sadly doesn't fit any of my warmbloods - sigh
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Sorry to hijack a bit, but do you like it? :-p I've only really had experience with Jeffries & Wintec... Love Jeffries saddles but I have to be open!
 
Currently have two Black Country saddles, one dressage and the other close contact jump. Both seem to do the job very well.
Given a choice though (not my horse) I would have WoW every time.
 
Daisy's solution saddle has revolutionised her life. And their excellent trial facilities have revolutionised mine. You can have a fitting for £50 and walk away knowing what you need to buy second hand, and you can also rent their saddle in exactly what you need for £50 a week. Great way to find out if it's going to revolutionise your life too. As you like riding bareback you will be used to the freedom the solution will give him. Daisy feels the same bare back as she does in her saddle now. Which was not the case when she was wearing a made to measure (yet badly fitted) saddle from a well known specialist cob and native saddle provider.
 
I wouldn't mind trying a new solution tbh. The last one I rode in was a good 10 years ago and I really hated it-as did the pony I was riding but they look better.

My WOW is an old one, it does weigh a ton-never seemed to bother my old horse though tbh but this is the main reason I've not used it on my youngster.
 
I love treefree saddles to hack in, all our ponies now have one. We have heather moffats for schooling and smallesst pony is about to get a Thorn saddle pad.
 
Love my Ideal Patriot for jumping.

Have a real soft spot for Albions.

Coveting a Sue Carson dressage but can't justify the price at the moment.
 
My new horse came with a Selleria Equipe but it is no where near as comfy as my Albion. Horse changed shape and so had to get a different saddle, sadly he doesn't suit an Albion, so he is now in a Fairfax. My TB is still in his Albion, Yeh!
 
Another vote for Balance saddles here. I bought one for my boy and they are so comfortable. He loves the saddle as well and moves excellently in it. What I really love about their saddles is that they are designed for the moving horse. A lot of saddles are fitted to a stationary horse but when horse moves its back lifts, the shoulders move back and forth and their shape totally changes. Balance saddles are designed to accommodate this.

They have a really informative video series on youtube about saddle design and fit. Well worth a watch. :)
 
Adore my Equipe Olympia, comfiest saddle I've ever ridden in!

Also like the ideal saddles though I've only ever sat in them at saddle fittings as never had one of my own. Best advice is to get a fitter out who has loads of different types as generally it will be your's and the horses shape which dictates how comfy a saddle is.
 
Haz:) said:
Sorry to hijack a bit, but do you like it? :-p I've only really had experience with Jeffries & Wintec... Love Jeffries saddles but I have to be open!
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I really liked it and so did my ultra fussy mare. Unfortunately it is too narrow for my current wide backed horses. She had a Jeffries Hawk Event for jumping and I tried her in an Ideal (which I really liked) but she made her displeasure quite clear.
 
Black Beastie said:
I can't see past TG saddles :) they seem to have a style to fit any horse I've had and also they don't hurt my knackered back.

Would spend the money on a K&M if I had it but I've had my horses T6 now since they first came out with the changeable gullet and it's been a great saddle :)
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That's why I love K&m. Easily adjustable and looks great for shows. Got an even better one recently that is a gpd so it's deeper seat helps me ride the horse better. It's smaller now as well so i don't move as much in the saddle.
 
Love my Albion for jumping in but would say they come up quite big lengthwise - mine's stamped 17.5 but is much bigger than my brother's Devoucoux which is supposedly the same size! I'd also say that if your ride longer than the K2's aren't great - I ride really short and it suits that but try and lengthen my stirrups for flat work and it's really uncomfortable.
 
I too love the Ideals. Both my boys have them so I've only really ridden in an Ideal for the last 11 years! They both have the Ideal Event, M with the normal seat and A with the wide seat - just what the saddler had in 2nd hand at the time. I notice very little difference in them. Maybe it's a case of what you're used to but when I've ridden friends' horses I've noticed their saddles are nowhere near as comfy.

M also had a Jessica for a few months. I bought it as a bargain from a friend and although it was great on him, the 17" seat was a little small for me. An extra 1/2 an inch would have been perfect. To get my knee in the right place, I had to ride about 3 holes longer than was comfortable for me (my legs are weird, short calves but long from knee to hip). I was gutted as it was a beautiful saddle and very comfy apart from this issue but I managed to sell it without making a loss as there are plenty of people out there who know and trust Ideals so are looking for them 2nd hand. Resale is always worth bearing in mind with a saddle in case horse changes shape and you have to sell on.
 
ihatework said:
It also depends on your body size versus your clients. The saddles are adjusted for the rider too - they are not good saddles if being used by different riders
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I don't find WOW any different for comfort for different riders than any other saddle. Don't we all buy the saddle that fits us best which also fits the horse? So other people may not find it as comfy as we do.

Personally I loathe Stubben and Jaguar/Harry Dabbs. One doesn't suit an unpadded bum and the other doesn't suit a narrow pelvis. But I have friends who find them great, just as I have friends who wouldn't choose to ride in my WOWs.

What I would do, though, is ride in anything, no matter how uncomfortable I felt, before I would ever put a horse in a saddle with a fixed front arch again.
 
Oh gosh, so many options my mind is boggling! I had a look at the solutions as so many people have said they have transformed their horses, which is what the pony and I need (his canter is awful and whilst he does have some SI issues the physio and vet feel his current saddle is not only putting me in a bad position but is also jamming into his shoulder, he can fake pretty movement in the walk and trot but canter finds him out, I was shocked how tight it was at the front when she showed me as I was sure i'd checked it plenty of times and it had seemed fine, hang my head in shame) But then I saw the Solution price tag and felt a little queasy! I really want the best for him and it's hard to then put a price cap on what he deserves. It's so hard to commit to something as expensive as a saddle without really knowing if it works for him so i'd love to be able to trial them, but I know that's a big financial risk for the saddler. I could try hiring one for a month and if he is completely transformed i would know I had to find the money to buy one.
 
Willow1306 said:
I love my Solution Saddles Smart saddle. Fully flexible, so a saddle for life. Great for sensitive horses and so comfy for horse and rider. May well fit in with your ethos/horse care approach (based on some of your threads that I've followed).
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Are you calling me a hippie?! :) I may have to remortgage my house to buy one!
 
ycbm said:
I don't find WOW any different for comfort for different riders than any other saddle. Don't we all buy the saddle that fits us best which also fits the horse? So other people may not find it as comfy as we do.

Personally I loathe Stubben and Jaguar/Harry Dabbs. One doesn't suit an unpadded bum and the other doesn't suit a narrow pelvis. But I have friends who find them great, just as I have friends who wouldn't choose to ride in my WOWs.

What I would do, though, is ride in anything, no matter how uncomfortable I felt, before I would ever put a horse in a saddle with a fixed front arch again.
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Not necessarily 'comfort' but the feeling of being perched is definitely how the air is set up based on the rider its tuned up for.
 
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