what saddle and why?

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mrsk29

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What sort of saddles does everyone use for general riding (doing a bit of everything)? i dont just mean gp, jumping etc, also make, material, adjustable (or not).. and what makes them great for you? Looking at getting a new saddle soon and really cant decide..... Thanks;)
 
Hi there my little fat highland has been changing shape so I have had 3 saddles in our 3 years :rolleyes:

First saddle. Thorowgood maxam, without fish. FABULOUS!! Had a nice sticky bum type seat so I didn't fall off with every one of his arrogant bucks! Was fabulous for jumping, LIGHT AND SMALL JUMPS, before I am shot down. Lovely wee starter saddle!

Second saddle: Wintec wide, adjustable- slightly hard inside purely because it is heavily flocked and un used really, comfy saddle (even though it's slightly big for me).
More VSD giving shoulder room for the chunky's ;)

Third saddle: 2 days old :P Brilliant uber comfy, fits us both perfectly!! It's a Cliff Barnsby Working hunter- just amazing ;)

All the best :D
 
I have a Kent Masters GP, because it fits!!!! It has taken me ages to find a saddle that fits my horse and my large bum. Used a windtec for ages because he changes shape in a week!. The Kent Masters, in a fetching light brown, can also be altered and is also comfortable for me!!!!! Had it since just before Christmas......... so far so good!!
 
One that fits my horse really well. I can get off and walk if I find the saddle uncomfy. My horses don't get the choice.

I have, because they fit the horse, and Ideal event, a Manor WH, a Maxam Xtra. They were what was available, what I could afford, the right colour (although that was very secondary) and what fits the horse.

I know plenty of people with a Wintec because they're cheap, lightweight and comfy for the rider. Shame they're not a great fit for the horse, but hey.
 
Reg has a Collegiate jumping saddle. It's very forward cut without massive blocks anywhere so my leggy sister fits it well as does the horse. Lots of saddles have her with her knee over the edge of the rolls, and if they're blocky it makes her insecure. It's leather and very smart looking- wins all round!
 
Love my Kent & Masters GP . . . if I had the money I'd fork out for a made to measure dressage saddle, but as I don't, this works fine for my flat and DD's jumping needs . . . plus it's adjustable which is important for my boy b/c he does change shape over the seasons. It's comfy, fits him and is easy to care for and adjust.

One day I'll have enough money for a made to measure Wow/Albion/Devoucoux, etc.

P
 
Thanks... :-) I currently have a wintec but hate it!! It was all i could afford when i got my horse as i had to start completly from scratch... and it fits him...:o i cant decide weather to go for a leather adjustable saddle or not.. my horse is a tb and doesnt seem to change shape much.. just curious what everyone uses...

I will be getting the saddle fitter.. as i think that is the most important thing..

Thanks all :D
 
I have an Albion K2 and love it to bits! Very, very comfy and I always feel very secure when my horse leaps sideways or manages to actually launch himself over a jump ;) I found it really helped improve my position too.
We only ended up with it because the vanload of "should fit" saddles the saddler had brought round hadn't fitted my awkwardly shaped horse and the saddler said that he might have one at home that would fit - he brought the albion round a few days later and it fits so perfectly it looks made-to-measure! It was second hand but in ridiculously good condition, we got it quite cheaply too because he'd had it for a while and wanted it gone!
 
Just bought a Kent and Masters high withered GP for my TB and it is fab. We got it because it was the only one that fitted, but i am so pleased with it. It is adjustable and it also has moveable blocks so you can fiddle with them to get the best fit for your leg. I remove the rear ones for flat work to give a better feel. The leather is lovely and it looks smart. Even better it was only £640 :) i think they do a non high wither version to.
 
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Ideal VSD in a 16.5 inch seat because my horse is only dinky. :D I've still got the same saddle in a 17.5 inch seat with longer flaps which was the best fit I could find for my last horse. Cracking all round saddles they are. They have lovely thin panels and a much less banana shaped tree than most saddles.
 
I use an Ideal Impala Pro Monoflap jump saddle.

Because it fits me and horse!

Ideally Java needs a straight cut VSD saddle for his shoulders but seeing as I am 5ft 11 with very long legs that was not possible!

So had to get a monoflap to accomodate both of us! I use it for everything and infact i find it better for flatwork than my old gp.
 
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I have Thorowgood T4 saddles, I chose them as my horses are all young so are changing shapeall the time and I can alter them to suit.
I also find them very comfortable, give you good support and the seat is a suede like material so your butt sticks, very useful on 3 year olds :D
 
I have a wintec as my mare is much happier with cair than flocking (even when both are fitted by a saddler), I guess it must feel different and she prefers it as there is a big difference in her way of going. I don't actually find the winter that comfy but a seat saver solves that.
 
My gp is an albion legend, brown leather, and my dressage which I hack in also is a kn black leather. Both bought second hand.
 
A bog basic Maxam because the saddler was able to fit it nicely to my shape changing TB and it was inexpensive inexpensive option as a 'temporary' saddle until he finished shaping up...

No synthetic ones when I was young so this was a bit of a shock but it's comfy because although he needs a dinky 16/16.5", the seat extends slightly so it fits the rider more like a 17"... The lass who rides him out for me today commented that she's a leather saddle fan through and through but finds his really comfortable too...
 
Both of ours have wow saddles and my daughter is saving for one for her baby for when the time comes (a long way off as he is only 9 months old)
 
I have a ReactorPanel dressage saddle and bought it because the concept just made sense to me - spreading weight further, flexible panels, traditional saddle for the rider, and adjustable. It's what led to me becoming a saddle fitter. I now fit RPs but fit many more traditional saddles (Native Pony and Phoenix) than RPs, as the market is bigger. I was such an RP fan I didn't really want to fit regular saddles when I started out, but once I realised how well (slightly differently actually) they fitted and allowed the horses & ponies to move and the riders to be stable, I was a total convert!

I'd say don't get hung up on one type of saddle at all, you really are better off asking for recommendations for a good fitter who covers your area, see what fits your horse, and then find one of those that fits you. If you have an unusual shaped horse, for instance the wide flat natives and cobs that I fit, then you may need a specialist.

And do take note of this, those who are looking at adjustable saddles (bear in mind that many fitters will actually adjust beech laminate trees a few times which is often more than enough):

http://saddlefitter.blogspot.com/2009/11/from-tree-up-sub-topic-adjustable-trees.html#more
 
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Sbloom makes an interesting point re. adjustable saddles and on reading the link I was shocked by what some people think they can be used for! However, I think they definitely have their place. For example, for me it was the only one that fitted my boy off a whole van load of potential saddles and it was fitted by a very reputable saddler. What it will be good for (hopefully) is if his shape changes a little as he builds up more muscle, but it will be the saddler adjusting it rather than me so that he can change the flocking too if needed. I wouldn't have gone for adjustable above all else, but as that was what is fitted I'm pleased that we'll have a bit more flexibility as his shape changes :)
 
I have even heard a so called expert with umpteen years saddle fitting experience comment on a side on picture of a saddle that was cantle low that the gullet needed to be wider to bring it into balance, with no reference to which gullet might actually be the right width fitting - it is too tempting to use that gullet facility to balance a saddle or give a certain amount of clearance when it is not what it is for. Pick the right width gullet that matches the angle of the ribcage, then see if theif the clearance is acceptable and that the rest of the saddle fits and is in balance.

If they fit and you find them comfortable, bonus!
 
Semi flex saddle made by Barrie Swain. Flexes with the horse and has big wide panels which are very comfy for the horse. Lovely wide flat seat that we both love. Best of all it can be altered to the horse as it changes shape - saddle for life. Currently looking for a dressage version too
 
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