What saddle do you have and why?

Archiesmummy

Archiesmummy

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Hi there,

I am in the throes of getting the saddle fitter out (on Friday) for checks and am unsure whether to change saddles altogether or make do. I say make do but my saddle was brand new only two years ago but I get a distinct feeling it is not the best of those I might be able to afford listening to a few people.

I currently have a Thorowgood T6 and overall have been very pleased with it. It looks like leather, is easy to maintain and is very comfortable for both Archie and I.

However, I had a Wintec before and loved it. Saddle fitter came out and said it did not fit his shape, hence her selling me a Thorowgood.

I am in the bracket of Wintecs and Thorowgood. Why? Purely my budget and the fact they have interchangeable gullets. Price wise I could afford around £350 to £400.00. Now, I would need to chop in my Thorowgood and buy a second hand saddle, but which? Or should I keep to Thorowgood?

I would love a leather saddle, soft and supple but fear they are out of my price bracket.

What would you recommend and why. Which saddle do you have and why?
 
I have a T6 cob for my mare and I love it. It's really comfy and although its kind of large (18" seat because 17.5 was too small) and I get lost in it a bit because I'm like a twig, it is a lovely saddle. We had a wintec before and it was horrible, it was uncomfy and made her back sore (was fitted by a qualified fitter but he said it was fine when even my totally novice mum could see it didn't fit!) so I'd never have a wintec again, especially not on a cob like Bella. I'd say stick with the T6 unless you need to change, I love mine :)
 
I have a kieffer garmisch for jumping/hacking and a kieffer zugspitze dressage. Got them both for around £300 each like new. Heat adjustable trees too!
 
I have a GFS Genesis adjustable gullet synthetic GP saddle.
Why? - Is was cost effective for a growing/changing shape youngster, confortable and easy to care for. It was also a good fit obviously!
Cost me £250 brand new and fitted by a GFS fitter.

Also
Tekna GP synthetic
Why? - was on special offer so bought it to try and it fit brilliantly and I LOVE it, really nice to ride in and looks lovely too, everyone thinks it is leather until i tell them it's not!
Cost me £179 from online store
 
I have Balance saddles. They are designed to be very comfortable for the horse - the system means that you always deliberately have a deformable layer of padding between the horse and the saddle, so you don't get muscle atrophy which is very common with traditionally fitted saddles. They're not cheap new, but you can find good second hand ones that would be within your budget. Have a look at their website.
Heather Moffett has brought out a budget saddle recently, and although I wouldn't like to use a treeless saddle all the time, it might be a reasonable option compared to what else you would be able to get for the money.
 
I currently have a Thorowgood saddle, however I really dislike it but the only reason why I have it is because it is easily adjustable for my youngster, I plan on getting him a leather saddle when he is 7/8 and has pretty much finished filling out.
Before that I've always had leather saddles, Albions to be more precise and they are gorgeous. I had the SLK Ultima dressage saddle and it was fantastic, I plan on getting another for my next saddle once Sandy is old enough!
 
I had loads of trouble getting a saddle for my chestnut. Two saddlers seemed intent on fitting her in a medium width, when she was clearly wider. Third saddler liked a second hand Jeffries Elite jumping saddle for her, even though I had wanted a GP, I bought it because it fitted her beautifully, which was a novelty. ;)

I would say, get the one that fits the horse (and is in budget).
 
I've got a Thorowgood T6 high-wither which I bought new. My veteran TB has withers like the Alps and it is an excellent fit, plus it suited my pocket at the time.
Have been very happy with it and like the fact that I don't have to worry about it getting wet.
However I do find it a bit too forward cut (for me) - we only hack and I have long legs, ride quite long and think it will suit me better as well as being just as comfortable for horsey.
Am now saving up to replace it with the T8 GPD (less forward cut, and wasn't available when I bought the T6). Saw the Kent & Masters high-wither GPD at BETA and was very impressed but more money than the Thorowgood so not sure I can justify it! Unfortunately both saddles are quite new to the market so not many available second hand.
 
currently have a bates caprilli for beau until he finishes growing. no point getting him a lovely saddle if he's going to change shape for the next few years.
I'd like an Albion kontrol deep when the time comes to change.

oldie has an apg jumping and an apg dressage saddle - both m2m.
used to have a whittaker jump saddle but it wasn't fitted properly as much as I loved it.
the apg is so comfy :)

timbi has an apg jumping saddle (m2m) and a second-hand Albion dressage saddle (can't remember which model it is).

my favourite saddle was my m2m Andrew Gould that my first horse had. seriously comfortable. shame he decided to roll in it and wreck the tree :o
 
I have an ideal VSD because its the best thing I've come up with in a 16.5 inch wide second hand. It needs a riser pad and doesn't want to stay in the middle but having discovered horse won't tolerate anything any longer in the panels its all he's getting for now.
 
I have a Charles Mountfort GP saddle...it was fitted to my previous horse and I have kept it because it will fit my new boy when he has filled out a bit, currently using it with a front riser which isn't ideal but hopefully not for much longer! I'm not fussy about saddles, as long as it's comfy and fits the horse.
 
I bought an Albion SLK dressage saddle about 4 years ago & it's been my best saddle purchase by far. A bit more than I wanted to pay after my previous saddle disaster but well with it
 
I have a Jeremy rudge fusion because it fits my xxxxw boy perfectly and allows me to have the dressage saddle I have always dreamed of owning :), it was pbrand new and pricey but both I and my boy love it, makes you feel like you are moulded into him.

If you can find a second hand one they are beautiful.

ETA - I sold both my previous leather saddles for less than your budget.
 
I have equxtra viper which is hand made for £600. They advertise on eBay and you can also call them. A friend also has one and both are nice saddles for a good price. You can often pick them up at a good price second hand on eBay.
 
I use a Reactor Panel saddle. The panels flex with the horse and distribute the riders weight. I have always left dents in traitional saddles and feel the reactor panel saddle eliminates pressure points and flexes with and encourages rounding of the horse's back. They are highly adjustable,so can be changed to suit the developing horse,or changed to suit another horse.
The downsides are price,lack of close contact feel and weight.
For me the benefits outweigh the downsides......and I did pick one up on ebay for a song.
 
Ideal suzannah dressage saddle shuck I adore and fits mine very well. Bates caprilli for jumping. I've heard good things about the tekna saddles which would be in your budget.
 
I have a leather Collegiate GP which is adjustable - cost me £250 second hand

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I have a Thorowgood T4 GP and a Thorowgood T4 Dressage saddle.

Have had a few saddles and these fit him best with his huge shoulders and they are both very comfy to ride in
 
Sameru said:
I have a kieffer garmisch for jumping/hacking and a kieffer zugspitze dressage. Got them both for around £300 each like new. Heat adjustable trees too!
Click to expand...

Another Keiffer Garmisch owner here - husband also has one which he's had for years.

I always found my husband's saddle comfortable so when I bought a new horse I tried one on him and loved it. I was waiting for the saddler to come out to fit one to my horse when i just happened to go to another saddler who sells loads of secondhand saddles and saw the exact saddle I wanted in the secondhand section. I thought it'd been put there by accident as it looked new but it was used. I got it for a fraction of the new price... I couldn't believe my luck, it was even the right colour. :D

As Sameru says, they have heat adjustable trees, so even if you don't find the exact right width for your horse it's worth asking if it can be adjusted.

I particularly like the knee blocks they hold my legs in the correct position
 
I have:

County Competitior Dressage
Why? Because it was sold to me for £230 (bearing in mind that we are in Africa, saddles are far more expensive here than in the UK/Europe), and it was the only dressage saddle I could find that fitted him. Was also in a 17.5 so the right size for me.

Tekna A4 (?) Jump Saddle
Why? Again, because it was cheap. I got it brand new, with a bartl sheepskin included for about £300. Plus the gullet can be changed, but no need as it fit my TB who is a it tricky (high withers and typical bony back but big shoulders).

I never have much money to spend on saddles, so have to buy ones that are super cheap. I was just lucky that these fitted. Before that I had an Inca GP, which was comfy and fitted well, and used wintec gullets. Also had a PFIFF dressage saddle, but he grew and neither of them fit him afterwards, so sold on and bought these two.
 
I have a Total Contat saddle ( http://www.totalcontact.eu/en/saddle.php ). Reason why is because i feel more secure and just better when riding bareback and horse works absolutely lovely bareback, but bareback is not competition or xc legal so i had to think of something and this is what i found, as close to bareback and compettion legal as i could find :) now both me and horse are happy, and i have the security of stirrups there if i need them and i can compete in it :) everyone is happy :)
 
I too have a GFS genesis (£150 from ebay) and I much prefer it to wintec and thorowgood - I use this for schooling and jumping.

For hacking and long rides I have a Barefoot Cheyenne Drytex - fantastic comfort !
 
If I were you I'd try lots out. And maybe several fitters too.

I had a thorowgood for years because the fitter gave me the impression it was all that would fit my horse in that price range. Now I realise it was all SHE had for that would fit my horse in my price range!! If I had known I would have waited for a suitable second hand one as that saddle was never comfortable for me as the seat was an inch too small!!
 
PingPongPony said:
I have a Total Contat saddle ( http://www.totalcontact.eu/en/saddle.php ). Reason why is because i feel more secure and just better when riding bareback and horse works absolutely lovely bareback, but bareback is not competition or xc legal so i had to think of something and this is what i found, as close to bareback and compettion legal as i could find :) now both me and horse are happy, and i have the security of stirrups there if i need them and i can compete in it :) everyone is happy :)
Click to expand...

I cannot see how this is competition legal... when say in dressage you are required to have an english style saddle?
 
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