saddles - which to stay away from???

[aregona]

Well here we go again, my dreaded subject of saddles!!!! One day i think i may invent a miracle saddle which solves all our saddles mis-fit problems!!!!! (here's for hoping )

Right, firstly a little update. Saddler has been out and confirmed Pilgrims 2 saddles are not fitting, and what is also good is he has said he cannot fit Pilgrim with a saddle until he has built up a bit. He has suggested a Thorowgood high wither until the spring and then we look to see if his back is strong enough. Bad news is Pilgrim is still lame

Saddler also said Riley's jump saddle is great and Udo's Dr saddle is great. Which leaves me with one missing a jump saddle and one missing a SJ!!!!!
Unfortuantly though saddler does not have a jump saddle to fit Udo, 17.2hh WB and he said he needed a wide seat area on his saddle???? I dont think he was refering to my fat arse, i think it is his broad bck .
He did bring out a jaguar DR for Riley, but i had a little look underneath at the panels when he wasnt looking and they were really wonky!!!!! So i refused to have that saddle on my horse and saddler left with a flee in his ear

So im saddle shopping. Have found some nice jaguars on ebay. I like a jump saddle with nice big knee rolls, currently using the albion Kontrol.

Anyone had experience with the new Tekna saddles???? I like the look of both of their DR and jump saddles. Also wondered about the Kent and Master's????

Im open to any suggestions, i have a Albion Kontrol (i think, the one WFP uses anyway) and a Ideal Roella, and im hoping to get 2 new saddles for the price i seel these 2 for, (maybe )
So basically, im sorry for yet another saddle post

Last problem, there are no saddle fitter in my area, is it possible i can fit them myself (used to work for a saddle fitter) but im worried incase i mess it up anyone any other suggestions as to how i can do this????

Help much appreciated, and cheese cake for anyone who hasn't yet got bored reading my posts of desperation !!!!!!!

 

[FigJam]

I have a Kent & Master jump saddle, it comes very highly rated by my very picky saddler! Part of the Thorowgood "family" so if the Thorowgood suits his shape then you could be onto a winner there. More info on it here

It's not the most padded seat so not massively comfy for long periods of time for the rider, but I feel very secure in it and reckon it's really helped my lower leg position when jumping. Nice flat seat too. Blocks are velcro, so you can adjust them to suit. I've swapped mine so the smaller/rounder block is at the front as a knee roll and longer/flatter block behind the thigh.

I have the Thorogood T4 dressage saddle as I couldn't afford the K&M/Fairfax version, much as I'd have preferred the leather version!

I would always get a saddler out to check fit/adjust as I'm not sure enough of my own fitting ability.

Good luck, it's a pain trying to find "the one" (or two...! )!

 

[kerilli]

you need wide panels (wide bearing surface to spread the pressure) rather than a wide seat, I think.
Jaguar... umm, I wouldn't, Master Saddler told me that the flock in the panels is in sort-of sausage shaped pockets which are a nightmare to work on, and concentrate the pressure.
that was the dr saddle, no idea about their jump saddles though...
really difficult to know what to suggest, you need a fitter you can really trust, who can watch you ride in the saddles and see how they move etc. there are a few makes i trust but there are lots that i wouldn't...
I agree, we need a miracle saddle. I'm in nearly the same boat needing a jump/xc saddle for 1 of my mares. Do I get a saddle I know is good for her back but not as helpful to me as I'd like, or a renowned secure saddle for me that might not do her back much good?
And WHY can't I have both in 1 saddle?!?!?!?!

 

[Alibear]

tricky as there's also the fact that what is a nightmare saddle for may horses may be the perfect saddle for others.

 

[maddyb]

tricky as there's also the fact that what is a nightmare saddle for may horses may be the perfect saddle for others.

i have a Farringtons gp and i have to say it is amazinggg, has really good knee roles and is sooooooooo comfy i always get comments on it, i dont know about their other saddles but i would deffinatly recommend them XD if whisper gets a new saddle in a few weeks time as i cannot get mine to fit i will be REALLY annoyed if they dont have a farringtons to fit him hopefully i will just be able to swap connors for one as its in perfect condition and is only a year old :S

 

[aregona]

ah, ok, the jaguar is one to stay away from then i didnt like the back of it if im honest but the saddler said it would fit my horse, but would he of still said that if he didnt have one to sell????.

In the kent and masters, can you get you leg position quite short without your knee going over the knee rolls???

also has anyone any experience of the pessoa changable gullet, very nice to ride in but not sure how they fit.

 

[maddyb]

ah, ok, the jaguar is one to stay away from then i didnt like the back of it if im honest but the saddler said it would fit my horse, but would he of still said that if he didnt have one to sell????.

In the kent and masters, can you get you leg position quite short without your knee going over the knee rolls???

also has anyone any experience of the pessoa changable gullet, very nice to ride in but not sure how they fit.

my cousin has a pessoa a jumping one for her eventer and a few others for her youngster and her pony i have to say the jumping one on the evnter wonderfull fit but has to be the worst saddle to ride in ever, i found it nice for the first 10 minutes of each ride but after that it was one of the most uncomforatle things ever and my knees kept sliping over the knee roles which was very odd and nearly unseated me a few times lucky the horse was a st when this happened and came to a halt and let me sort myself out

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

does your saddler not fit saddles?

 

[Tharg]

What do folks think of the barnsby saddles? (dr and gp)

Thanks.

 

[aregona]

The saddler i used was ok until he wanted me to ride in a very wonky DR saddle. As said in previous posts i live in south wales and cannot find a good saddler to save my life!!!
I feel a trip over the magic bridge is in store for me and me donkey's

The kent and masters is seeming like my best bet at the minute though.

 

[millitiger]

I'm not sure you can chose saddles to stay away from based on a forum... lots of people hate Jaguars based on rumour yet Pilfer (who previously had lots of trouble with a bad back) went amazingly in his and it was the only one to fit him properly.

If the one you saw was wonky then obviously it was right not to try it but i wouldn't discount the whole range based on one saddle as i'm pretty sure they don't come out of the factory wonky

People on here also seem to hate Devecoux saddles yet lots of professionals are very successful with them and I have lots of friends whose horses go very well in them without them being crippled.

I love Pessoas and would have every horse in one if I could- they have nice flat panels, are very minimal in terms of padding and blocking and perfect for my long thighs.
However, my mare couldn't cope with my being that close to her back so she now has an Ideal which is much more bulky and built up and she loves it (I am still trying to get to grips with it though!).

I think you need to go to a big, reputable saddler who holds lots and lots of different makes and models of saddles and try a whole load- is Solihull too far for you?
they have a good fitter, hundreds of saddles and a nice indoor with jumps where you can try them all out.

 

[ihatework]

My short and unhelpful answer is to stay away from saddles that really do not fit your horse or your horse doesn't go well in. It does not matter what brand they are!

I agree with millitiger completely, ignore idle gossip on a forum about what is good/bad. It is a very narrow sample of society that posts on here!

From your description the saddles that spring to mind that you might like to try would be Albion K2 jump, Ideal Impala, Blackcountry (forget the name, it's a newer releaed one that is a combination of the Wexford and the Quantum). Farrington also do a big block jump saddle. Perhaps even take a look at some of the Stubbens. (PS - I do like the look of the Jaguar jump saddles too)

You asked about the Pessoa. I have the XP3 Legacy. It's a beautiful saddle and I'm very happy with it. I use it on one of my horses who I struggled for ages to get a suitable saddle and finally am happy with this Pessoa. Things I would say are - the gullets seem to fit narrow (so I have a MW in a M horse and a W in a MW horse), the lower layer of the panel is foam which is quite springy, so I have had to change girthing to stabilise the saddle. He has had about 5 different people on board, all of whom have commented how nice the saddle is.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

OP- whilst i'm not a mega jaguar fan as i always find they are flocked, like kerilli says, in a rather daft/not soft way... don't dismiss a whole make of saddle because of one wonky one...

remember, all the decent saddles are finished by hand. the majority have symmetrical trees in them, but the padding, sewing, leatherwork tends to be done by hand. yes, i agree you shouldn't accept anything other than a completely straight saddle.... but when things are made by hand, there can be a wonkiness.

i was fitting a brand new barnsby only a few days ago and as i lifted it up to check it for straightness... i could see it was at least half an inch 'out' along the seat/cantle. in that case, the manufacturers aretold, saddle is sent back and they take whatever action they need to.

what i'm trying to say in a waffly way is that sometimes mistakes happen (most people presume the tree is twisted but in reality, with a new decent saddle, that's unlikely). it's when a company regularly sends out wonky saddles that there's a problem. it's your saddle fitter's responsibility to make sure the saddle they fit is straight.

good luck on your saddle search...

 

[KatB]

Tharg- Barnsby saddles are beautifully made and designed very much to be nice for the horse (nice wide gullet, good panels). If you go to them direct, they are incredibly helpful and will make pretty much what you want. I've had dressage and jump saddles off them, and wouldn't hesitate to get another from them. If madam is ever lucky enough to get her own dressage saddle, she will probably have a barnsby

 

[mitchellk]

- I second the Farringtons, in fact I have a 17.5 med brown dressage that I dont know what to do with............

Echo what others have said, I would make sure that you get proper reputable and professional help with getting this saddle issue sorted. Re Passoas I find them very uncomfortable to ride in but loved my Jag jumping saddle. I used to use a guy called Tom when I had my yard I think he used to work for Frogpool Manor before it changed hands, you will have to excuse me as I had rather allot of champers mixed with sloe gin last night and feeling a bit fuzzy today! - he was an independent saddler so wouldn't push a particular brand and the emphasis was on the horse not the commision he was paid. Anyway he was excellent and I am sure others on here may know who I am barking on about lol! Will see if I can remember his last name and dig out his number......

Good luck

 

[Sol]

I've just bought a Farrington dressage saddle Haven't ridden in it properly yet (get it on friday!) but it was certainly comfortable and Dante went noticeably better in it - even better than in the saddle fitters 'top of the range' Prestige D1 which Dan wasn't keen on
I personally don't get why people love Kent & Masters now, having tried one - felt like I had 2-3 polypads under the saddle and I didn't even have any numnah, I felt that far away from the horse :/ But plenty of people clearly love them! I think it really does depend on the horse and the rider.

 

[floradora09]

I've got a Kent and Masters jump saddle for my narrow TB, my saddler really rates them, especially as they don't break the bank! They're like a leather version of thorowgood. For someone who didn't have a huge saddle budget, I think they're great! I can have mine xc length and not go over knee roll (although I don't have very long legs anyway!). Good luck, but I think Kent and Masters are defo worth a look at! xxxxx

 

[rising_promise]

Have you ever thought about a treeless saddle?

I know some people don't like them and you might think I'm a bit of a tree hugger (yes, my horse is also having all her shoes off today!) but I really rate them for any horse with back issues.

I have a Solution Saddle, the jumper and I find it fantastic. My mare has never been happier, best thing I've ever bought. All the horses I've had it on (and there have been many) have gone very well in it with not a bit of resistance.

I event in it and find it incredibly secure (dressage in a wide Wintec dresage saddle with planty of padding underneath). Cannot sing it's praises highly enough.

Worth a look at their website if you've not seen them before, even if it's just to explain the treeless concept www.solutionsaddles.com

I've also had a Heather Moffett treeless saddle too and also found this lovely to ride in but not as secure to jump in, hence swapping to the Solution.

 

[kerilli]

As said in previous posts i live in south wales and cannot find a good saddler to save my life!!!
I feel a trip over the magic bridge is in store for me and me donkey's

there's a saddlery over that way that uses the Pliance pressure testing system, i think it's the only one in the country other than the one owned by the Society of Master Saddlers (could be totally wrong though), so why not try there? I know pressure doesn't tell us everything (as my very wise trainer said, "Pressure is not the problem, PAIN is the problem" (we can cope with pressure in certain areas but not others, for example) but it's a good start.
just managed to find it, it stressed my google-fu a bit:

http://www.llwynonsaddlery.co.uk/index.php/equestrian-services/saddle-pressure-testing.html

i'd love to take my mares for this! got to be worth a try, how far is this from you?

 

[sassybebe]

I've got a farrington xc saddle as my horse needed wide panels and this one fitted (it doesn't anymore it would seem), it's quite comfortable but it's not really forward cut enough for my liking and i find it hard to go with my horse enough as he's a big jumper when he decides to bother and it feels too wide for me.

I have a tekna jump saddle on my 4 year old and i really like it, there's not much to hold you on in the way of knee rolls but it suits me and my horse as he is now.

I also have a bates close contact on my other horse and i really love it but last time i had a saddle fitter here he said he's found very few people get on with those saddles.

Basically i think the only thing you can do is go somewhere and try lots of different saddles, it'll be worth it when you find the right one

 

[Tharg]

Tharg- Barnsby saddles are beautifully made and designed very much to be nice for the horse (nice wide gullet, good panels). If you go to them direct, they are incredibly helpful and will make pretty much what you want. I've had dressage and jump saddles off them, and wouldn't hesitate to get another from them. If madam is ever lucky enough to get her own dressage saddle, she will probably have a barnsby

Thank you KatB, good to hear.

Sneaky question to everyone here, has anyone ever bought a saddle at a time where they had no horse? (assuming you check it for obvious things and saddle at a very good price)

 

[MegaBeast]

No advice re saddles except to say that I too am in S. Wales and I use Maurice Emtage from Colne Saddlery (Gloucs). He comes to me and normally charges a £50 call out but if you buy a saddle then he waives the call out. fwiw he really dislikes Jaguar saddles. Also, he's an albion specialist so might be just what you're looking for.

ETA Lllwynon saddlery is in Brecon. A friend of mine goes there and really rates him. Some people find him difficult to deal with but he's got all the modern technology with the thermal imaging. He also has an outdoor school on site so you can ride in the saddle too.

Once my mare is back in work will probably take her to him as have a Bates momentum which I want checked out (screw head has sheered off the gullet plate). I use Maurice for my Albion dressage saddle.

 

[aregona]

Can i lead you guys away to my old thread please i posted about a year ago. When you have read my old thread you will realise why i am so concerned as to saddle fitter that i trust.
The following thread is about a master saddler i really rated for 4 years and a few of you on hear are suggesting this person. Please read. The presure equipment was never offered or used on my mare please read

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=307055

 

[MegaBeast]

Have just read through the old thread - interesting... I've heard conflicting views on the person in question... So far as the imaging software goes I gather from the website that it's only used under specific circumstances.

Did you ever get an answer from Bates re the air bags?

Would definitely suggest looking into getting someone from out of the area to you... Maurice is excellent inspite of his dislike of Jaguar saddles!

 

[aregona]

All i got from Bates was that they felt the CC was not the best type saddle for my mare. They said a saddle with bigger panels would of been bigger for my mare however went on to say that the person who fitted it did alot of work for Bates and therefore he would know the best saddle for her and that i should go back to him for new saddle.

I spoke to him, he wanted to charge me to correct the saddle, offered me £450 for it (bought brand new from him) and went on to suggest other saddles to suit my mare better. Not exceptable in my book considering i should of had the right saddle in the first place!!!!!

As i am very happy riding in my albions i think i will give your guy a call and see what he can do. I have a med and a Med/w albion which the last saddle said neither was ok but wouldnt tell me why, im thinking your saddler may be able to haveanother look for me, may save m a fortune

 

[kerilli]

Ah, i didn't realise that was him, v sorry. I was only recommending based on the pliance being there - fat lot of good if it isn't offered when you're obviously having major problems.
btw, my 'idle gossip' about makes comes direct from saddlers i really respect, it's not some idle uninformed prejudice!

 

[aregona]

Hi K, nope everyones input is very much appreciated but i still cringe whenever i hear his name.

sadie has since gone into retirement due to an early onset of arthritis in her front legs caused by her 'up and down' action as apposed to moving freely forwards. I would put money on it that her saddle problems had a huge influence on the problem as her shoulders had no movement to move due to the tightness of the saddle

One day im gonna get there and find someone i really trust

I have someone coming out with the jeffries JMX for me to try this week, looks like a very nice saddle so fingers crossed. Udo is entered for arena eventing a week tomorrow and im still saddleless
haha - you've got to keep smiling

 

[spacefaer]

Saddle fit and preferences is a huge minefield!!

My OH is a former saddler and is a huge fan of Stubbens (not necessarily high on my comfort front) for the quality of the manufacture and the consistency of the fit.

I love the feel of the Bates - he hates the concept of airbags

I hate Albions as I completely lose my lower leg security with any Albion saddle I've ever sat on

Love Devoucoux - but they are generally built to fit French TB shapes, so I can see why people have difficulty with them

My mother's dressage horse has narrow withers but a wide rib cage (so needs a broad panel across the rider's seat) - after trying lots of different shapes and styles of saddles, he's just chosen a Passier for himself, despite having several different saddles on which "apparently" fitted him.

Friends have had dealings with both saddle fitters mentioned - nothing but praise for the guy in Brecon, not a lot good to say about the other (except he will try and sell you a new Albion regardless IME)

Saddle fit and style is an incredibly personal thing for both you and your horse - I know lots of people love Albions, for example! You need to get someone with lots of saddles and try all of them! Only then will you know what does/not fit, suit etc. I used to go to Gary at Horsesense as he had a huge stock to play with.

 

[BronsonNutter]

I had 'issues' with my new-style Thorowgood (the same shape/style as the Kent & Masters) - constantly felt like I was having to brace against it, the seat was too deep, and knee rolls that it came with were banana shaped That and it kept slipping forwards on my horse - but I suspect that may have been more to do with his back shape... However, my old school TG was lovely and I still have it despite Bronts no longer being about - sadly they don't make that kind any more

Keep trying - Wilby's new saddle is of a make that is practically unheard of (I'd never heard of them anyway) and must be ten years old or more, but is just right for us both when used with a prolite riser. I bought it off a lady at the yard, got very lucky there

 

[aregona]

BN - im glad have got your ideal saddle funnily enough, a livery bought a new TG this year and had the same, it just didnt seem to fit. she now has the jeffries Hawk high wither and it is great, but not forward enough for me