What saddles do you all use and do you all love or hate them?!

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Stenners

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I've had my boy 2 years and he was very lean and un muscled when I got him and over time he's filled out and muscled up where he should but I'm on my 3rd saddle in 2 years. I got fitted with a K&M Flat Back GP last April and I've just had it altered for the 5th time! I am at my wits end! I don't love it - it's not my forever saddle by any means and even my saddler is at her wits end why it doesn't fit for long as he doesn't change shape massively in between either. He was a totally different shape to be fair when it was fitted - he's done a lot of schooling now na dhas muscles in the right places. It was between the K&M and an Albion GP and I just wish I had held out but I didn't want to wait 8 weeks for a saddle or pay the massive extra price difference! I use a prolite underneath and always juggling shims around to see what works! He's a cob x and currently an XW. What saddles do you all use and love and equally what would you avoid/never have again and why.
 
I used a Thorowgood T4 Pony Club Long Leg saddle for Baggs when he was in work. He is a 14.1 sports type pony (New Forest x Appaloosa), with the typical short back so that naturally made saddle fitting a nightmare. I am 5'1, carry my weight mainly in my boobs and tummy, with short stumpy legs, so saddle fitting for me can also be difficult.

After a lot of trial and error I settled on the Thorowgood and didn't look back at all. It's synthetic so might not be up your street, but it's so comfy to ride in and having the synthetic parts is always handy as an extra form of grip if your horse is a bit fresh and throwing some shapes 😅 They're discontinued now as Thorowgood have recently brought out their T9 range, but you can get these easily enough secondhand for a decent price. They're adjustable and can be shimmed to fit the horse etc x The only downside is that if they get wet, I've found they take a while to dry off x

I'm currently holding on to it and praying it fits Rabbit my youngster - if not I shall be absolutely gutted!

On the other hand, I'm not a massive fan of Albion saddles - I find them too hard for my bottom and I seem to always get put into a chair seat - no idea why, but when I asked my instructor, she said not all saddles are suitable for all riders x
 
I have an ancient GFS Fieldhouse saddle that was bought 2nd hand at least 15 years ago. It's been used on at least 6 ponies, it fits almost everything except extra wide and even on those where it clearly isn't great, doesn't seem to do anything to cause discomfort so will do until they can have something better. I hate it, it's faded black, very hard seat and heavy but who am I to say, I'm not the one wearing it :rolleyes:.
 
I have a Harry Dabbs Avant M2M which is lovely but hasn't actually been the most robust and I have a saddle company M2M which is not as nice as the Harry Dabbs but basically does the job...it doesn't put me in the same, optimum position as the HD and that is frustrating but it is a bit more robust and, to a degree, adjustable. I've also trialled a Total Contact Saddle with correct padding. I loved it but the horse testing it absolutely didn't appreciate it! I have a talented and very particular saddle fitter who I am very grateful to!
 
I feel for you, I went through similar. To begin with there was a difference between what fitted and what he found acceptable, and he was pretty clear about acceptable. Then when we found what was acceptable he promptly filled oiut and changed shape so it no longer worked. He's now in - and I pray to God stays in - an Erreplus GTD with the shoulder relief system which is an awfully fancy saddle for what is basically a hacking cob, but it copes with his massive shoulders and movement, is comfortable for me and from the one time he had a melt down in it I know it's also very secure for both of us. If he changes so much that this doesn't fit I'm threatening to break him to harness and he can be the driver he was bred to be - surely you can't outgrow harness in the same way? Unfortunately I never actually would because I don't drive and it would be like learning in a Ferrari!

The saddle I had just before this one was an Albion K2 Cob Connemara saddle which was great until he muscled up even more in the shoulder and started throwing it everywhere, at which point keeping it still was crippling me and impossible if he got wound up. If you aren't factoring in an slightly insane action and a front that could be used as a battering ram it's a nice saddle though. Mine is a cob - out of a Welsh D by a Hackney x cob - built like a tank but very showy in his movement and high in his carriage.
 
My sister loves her Devoucoux jump saddle. She is thinking about trying a stubben jump saddle in the future though. We also have an older pessoa that seems 'to fit everything' and you can ride in it all day and be comfy.
 
Nari said:
I feel for you, I went through similar. To begin with there was a difference between what fitted and what he found acceptable, and he was pretty clear about acceptable. Then when we found what was acceptable he promptly filled oiut and changed shape so it no longer worked. He's now in - and I pray to God stays in - an Erreplus GTD with the shoulder relief system which is an awfully fancy saddle for what is basically a hacking cob, but it copes with his massive shoulders and movement, is comfortable for me and from the one time he had a melt down in it I know it's also very secure for both of us. If he changes so much that this doesn't fit I'm threatening to break him to harness and he can be the driver he was bred to be - surely you can't outgrow harness in the same way? Unfortunately I never actually would because I don't drive and it would be like learning in a Ferrari!

The saddle I had just before this one was an Albion K2 Cob Connemara saddle which was great until he muscled up even more in the shoulder and started throwing it everywhere, at which point keeping it still was crippling me and impossible if he got wound up. If you aren't factoring in an slightly insane action and a front that could be used as a battering ram it's a nice saddle though. Mine is a cob - out of a Welsh D by a Hackney x cob - built like a tank but very showy in his movement and high in his carriage.
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An Albion K2 CC is what i wish I had gone for although at the time it was the GP but leaning more towards the jump now. It does worry me that the Albions aren't as adjustable though! A lot of people get on very well with K&M but I do always feel like I'm sat on him not in him and not always that secure and when I first started using it it gave me back ache as was like sitting on cardboard and slippery compared to my previous saddles! I had the same issue with him - it's what fitted and he found acceptable as he's very sensitive!
 
Stenners said:
An Albion K2 CC is what i wish I had gone for although at the time it was the GP but leaning more towards the jump now. It does worry me that the Albions aren't as adjustable though! A lot of people get on very well with K&M but I do always feel like I'm sat on him not in him and not always that secure and when I first started using it it gave me back ache as was like sitting on cardboard and slippery compared to my previous saddles! I had the same issue with him - it's what fitted and he found acceptable as he's very sensitive!
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It's a nice saddle, and since they've now replaced the K2 with the Kontinuum range you may get a good deal on one. A saddler can adjust them a bit so don't let that put you off.
 
I have 2 Albions as the tree shape suits my horse. He's in the K3 Jump and K2 dressage. I like them both, they have the adjusatree so you do have the flexibility to adjust though have to send them off to Albion to do so.
 
Nari said:
It's a nice saddle, and since they've now replaced the K2 with the Kontinuum range you may get a good deal on one. A saddler can adjust them a bit so don't let that put you off.
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The Kontinuum loooks sooooo nice! It's like a thing of beauty!!! I find it so hard to find the Albions anywhere second hand in XW though! They seem to be MW everywhere you look!
 
I've got both cobs in WOW

The short backed, croup high, no withers, forward girth groove pony loves hers and so do I - she's 14 now and once we got it right for her it gets a quick check by the saddler and rarely needs adjusting

My younger cob outgrew his AH saddle (well - his shoulders did!) so he got fitted with the odds and sods from the various WOW bits I hadn't sold over the years then as his shape kept changing he got new bits. My problem with him is still those shoulders. He has a massive trot (think cob in harness racing) and it pushes the saddle back. Fixing the girth position to keep it in place gives him a sore back so we've found a wider headplate helps - except that isn't great for me. So even with a modular set up it takes a lot of effort with tricky shapes.
 
Love my Albion dressage slk. Absolutely hate my Albion Kontact lite monoflap (think designed by William FP) as my crutch bone is squashed up against the pommel. I’m always lifting myself up and back. It’s incredibly uncomfortable. Love my Derby House hunter saddle, which fits all. Hate my Kent & Masters (which was the only one to fit my wide Welsh/TB as I’m tipped forward. Love my old Morris & Nolan.
 
I love my Thorowgood adjustable synthetic. It's comfy and great for the Connie who goes on and off diets (just like his owner) depending on the time of year 😂 so needs something slightly wider for those ahem, plumper months in the spring!
 
I have two Ideal T&T's - one dressage, one jump. They fit beautifully and are super comfortable, Dex made it very clear he liked them much more than any other saddle I have tried
 
Jeffries Hawk Event on my tank of a Welsh D, I find it very comfortable and secure, used to hunt in it but he is more or less retired now. An old Ideal on my 13.1 Welsh b cross it fits him and although looks very flat it’s comfortable. Just had a new Black Country GPX for my new Welsh D, it’s comfortable and fits us both and was reasonably priced, I did try a GFS GP but found it felt quite rigid.
 
exracehorse said:
Love my Albion dressage slk. Absolutely hate my Albion Kontact lite monoflap (think designed by William FP) as my crutch bone is squashed up against the pommel. I’m always lifting myself up and back. It’s incredibly uncomfortable. Love my Derby House hunter saddle, which fits all. Hate my Kent & Masters (which was the only one to fit my wide Welsh/TB as I’m tipped forward. Love my old Morris & Nolan.
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My K&M is tipping me forwards!
 
I have a chunky monkey for my semi retired boy, but it doesn't have enough of a knee support for my long legs. I had a pessoa and an equipe which I adored but sadly I have two very wide horses and cant get one to fit! I now have an adam ellis mono event/jump which is really nice and gives me plenty of support.
 
Stenners said:
The Kontinuum loooks sooooo nice! It's like a thing of beauty!!! I find it so hard to find the Albions anywhere second hand in XW though! They seem to be MW everywhere you look!
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You might have better luck if you're looking for the CC model since they're designed with wider types in mind, or failing that grit your teeth, buy new and tell him if he grows out of that he's going and the saddle is staying!
 
I've been using flexible panel saddles for about 25 years now, from back when i used to ride a lot of miles. I started with a Trapezius one and now have a Reactorpanel and a Free n Easy which have fit several horses. I'm using the Free n Easy at the moment and I doubt I'll go back to normal style saddles.
 
I got an Arena monoflap saddle last year. I really like it and a few others have rode in it and like it too, I feel really secure in it and my horse goes lovely. I like how its adjustable it loads of different ways. I probably would prefer a flocked saddle but so far I cant fault the Arena one. Ideal are another lovely saddle, regret selling my grandee years ago
 
After lots of trial and error I got a Fairfax low wither GP for my overheight Connemara with big shoulders but fairly narrow back & ribcage. With various others I tried him in I just found they were too tight over his shoulders but too wide at the back and would end up slipping backwards. I also have a long leg especially from hip to knee and the Fairfax is the only saddle I tried that let my leg sit naturally in a stable position and not end up scrunched up and tipped forwards!
 
I had a Humphries and Swain jump saddle on my late horse for the last 13yrs of his ridden life, and as it did not fit current horse he had an Albion K2 GP, which I then replaced with the K2 jump 3.5yrs ago. I did have a K2 jump on the old boy before the H&S, I find them super comfy!
 
I have a Fairfax dressage saddle that's been with the saddle bank for 18 months and still not sold so tempted to get that back and try it on him - it's not selling so if it fits at least I could use that for flat work! I'm not sure if it will though.
 
AandK said:
I had a Humphries and Swain jump saddle on my late horse for the last 13yrs of his ridden life, and as it did not fit current horse he had an Albion K2 GP, which I then replaced with the K2 jump 3.5yrs ago. I did have a K2 jump on the old boy before the H&S, I find them super comfy!
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Did you use the jump for riding in every day?
 
Stenners said:
I have a Fairfax dressage saddle that's been with the saddle bank for 18 months and still not sold so tempted to get that back and try it on him - it's not selling so if it fits at least I could use that for flat work! I'm not sure if it will though.
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Oh no, that doesn’t make me feel particularly hopeful about the resale potential of mine 😂
I suppose it depends on where/why it might not fit him - if it’s the sort of thing that could change/work with a different gullet bar or reflocking then I’d say go for it but obvs even with adjustable saddles there’s only so much you can do. You might have better luck getting it back from the saddle bank & trying to sell privately?
 
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