Silhouette-Albion Dressage saddles, experiences?

[HollandHorse]

Hi,

I'm from The Netherlands. And I'm looking for a new dressage saddle for my horse. A friend of me, told me that the Englisch Silhouette saddles are of good quality and are very comfortable. She can order the saddle at Wallsall.
But in The Netherlands the brand "silhouette", nobody has heard of it. So I can not find any experiences (except those of my friends) with this saddle. Is it of good quality, and is it really so comfortabel for the rider?

I do know the brand Albion. Can you compare the qualite of Silhouette and Albion? Or is Albion of better quality? Wich one would you reccoment?

Kind regards,
HollandHorse

 

[hackedoff]

i have a sillohoutte saddle. I believe that the maker was part of the partnership that owns KES saddles which are a well established brand. Mine is a nicely made saddle and I lived in walsall for 14 years so am quite up on saddle quality, but it has proven harder to sell than if it was an established brand like Albion.

 

[HollandHorse]

Albion is sold in The Netherlands. I believe that even a wellknown Dutch Dressage rider (wellknown in Holland...), uses an Albion saddles. And when somebody like that rider uses a brand, the brand will be sold more easily.
But Silhouette, nobody has heard of it here. Could'nt find much of the brand on the www.
But the quality is good? Average good, or a bit better? In Holland they are not cheep, so I really want to know that I buy something of good quality.
I haven't tried one yet. But i'm planning to do so....

 

[Jane_Lou]

I had a silhouette working Hunter saddle that I bought 2nd had a few years ago. It is not a comfortable saddle at all but was only used in the ring so not a major issue. A friend had one made to measure for her daughters pony and it was never a great fit. Baileys has an Albion Kontrol jumping saddle and an Albion SL short flap dressage saddle both of which are wonderful, comfortable saddles, providing a very secure seat. Quality wise, there is no real comparisson but then price wise Albions new, off the peg, are at least twice the price of a made to measure Silhouette. I would recommend an Albion over Silhouette any day.