What's your favourite saddle, and why?

[a kind of magic]

Hi,

I have just been given the opportunity to work with a saddler to design my own 'range' of saddles. I mostly ride western now although I keep my old faithful thorowgood griffin in case I have a change of heart! I have ridden in some beautiful saddle that I would like to expand and impove on but what is your favourite saddle, and why?

Pics would be a bonus!

 

[miss_bird]

My fav saddle is my lovett and ricketts, must be about 20yrs old now, but it is like sitting in an armchair most comfortable secure sddle i have ever ridden in, also everyone that has ever ridden in it has commented on how secure you feel as you sit deep into the saddle.
I have ridden in many saddles as i have a large range of saddles in sizes and widths, and most were brought new for lots of money but the L&R is still my favorite and love it when i have a horse in that it fits

 

[echodomino]

My GP saddle by Exselle but I don't know what "model" it is lol. It's very very comfy to ride in over any distance and has a nice deep seat so I feel safe in it.

I've only got pics with me using it though, none of the saddle alone

ETA googled them, it's similar to this one

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I never wanted a jumping saddle as I mainly hack however... this fitted my mare perfectly and finding a saddle for her had been a nightmare (low withers, wide flat back, forwards girth groove and can be nappy, so the saddle really does need to fit and stay put!). I now miss this saddle when I ride other horses (and it really is the saddle that I miss because I have ridden a warmblood that also has an Elite so different horse, same saddle) and that includes treed, treeless, dressage, synthetic, leather, GP and jumping saddles.

I find it comfortable (I have alot of back pain so this is important to me), secure and yet not 'restrictive' and I think that it is an attractive saddle. The main thing that I love about it is that my mare moves freely in it. Her old Kieffer saddle was a very good fit but it obviously wasn't good enough because I could feel a difference once the Elite was put on her.

Jeffries Elite Semi close contact saddle.

The semi close-contact Elite Jumping saddle is designed to allow the rider to be as effective as possible. Constructed on a tree developed and manufactured by Jeffries, the Elite Jumping saddle has a low profile seat to allow the rider flexibility and comfort.

The close-contact panels are flocked with pure new wool rather than using pre-formed foam to allow a perfect fit. The saddle is forward cut for all levels of jumping and to help riders maintain a good leg position.



A flat seat gives the necessary freedom for both showjumping and cross-country, and is covered in top quality hide, which has been treated to be water-resistant. The girth straps are made from leather, which is sandwiched together with nylon for added strength and security.



Jeffries launched the saddle after months of development and testing by leading show jumping and event riders.

On the flipside... my two worst saddles to ride in were a wintec 250 (that made the inside of my legs sore if I rode in it for more than an hour) and a no-name treeless that gave no sideways security at all (no good when you're riding around the Welsh hills).

 

[fizzer]

Pathfinder saddle made by Keith Bryan. Its so comfy.

 

[fallenangel123]

Wintec stock saddle, totally impossible to fall out of on my spazzy mare. It's also lovely and comfortable, we can hack for hours without my butt going numb!

 

[blood_magik]

ive had one by andrew gould, a close contact john whitaker jumping saddle and a holistic saddle by APG

the Andrew Gould one was my favourite (until my horse rolled in it and snapped the tree).
Quite like my APG because its hollistic and made to fit my horse.

 

[[59668]]

aussie stock saddle. Mine is made by horselines in aus.

 

[ElliePinza]

My Amerigo Close contact dressage

It's a very straight cut saddle but I am a very small rider so it means the knee Blocks actually support me correctly. I also like the fact that the saddle flaps are not restrictive and I can "feel" the horse between my legs

Good luck!

 

[charlimouse]

For Jumping the Antares monoflap jump

http://www.antares-sellier.com/component/option,com_selle/Itemid,29/id_article,59/

And dressage the Devoucoux Makila

http://www.devoucoux.com/devoucoux_fr/contenu/uk/boutique_uk/fiche_prod.php?fam=selle&prod=MAK

Both have been made to measure to accomodate my really short legs!!! I find all off the rail saddles too long in the saddle flap!

 

[a kind of magic]

Thanks for all the replies so far! It's really interesting to hear what people look for in a saddle. My models will also have the option of made-to-measure so shorter saddle flaps etc shouldn't be a problem.

My problem was always the opposite, they were too short! Now riding with the fenders I don't have any problems.

 

[flyingfeet]

My current favourite is my Bates Swinging fender stock saddle

Its made in vietnam, so softer leather and more comfy than the Oz made Bates

Love it as prevents me from hitting the deck and fab for polocrosse

 

[thumpbug]

Albion k2-nearly impossible to come out off!

 

[faerie666]

My Gibson Newmarket Half Tree Race Exercise Saddle
I've had it for about 12 years now, it's comfortable, I feel secure in it, and I've even gone hunting in it.

 

[Hen]

My favourite is the only saddle I own now, my Tom Winter reining saddle, it's beautifully built with lots of attention to detail, great seat, very comfortable and with its square skirts, tooling and conchos conservative glamour
But my favourite English saddle was a Black Country GPD saddle in havana brown, beautifully soft leather, fitted me very well in the seat and flaps as I am rather tall, and gave me great feel of my horse.

 

[patchandloopy]

My 7yrs old Ideal Jessica DR saddle

 

[Cuppatea]

jeffries fly over saddle. got 3 of them and they're perfect for all sorts of riding - jumping hacking hunting, even race exercise!
http://www.rideaway.co.uk/JEFFRIES-FLYOVER-SADDLE/default.aspx there is next to nothing beween your leg and the horse so is seriously close contact. Very lightweight too so great for long/endurance work.

 

[Luci07]

My favourites would the devercoux, but unfortunately, whenever I have had the money, they have never fitted my horse. The best compromise was a made to measure Quatro jumping saddle - so fitted my horse perfectly (obviously) but I got to choose the length of my saddle flaps, placement and length of my knee rolls, choice of leather and I also had a padded seat. albion K2 jumping saddle has been a god send and seems to fit most horses but still prefer my quatro - unfortunately (again!) my next horse did not!

 

[amandaco2]

prestige
very comfy, not too big looking on the horses, excellent for my short coupled mare

 

[Wolfie]

I like the Prestige Arezzo, sadly can't afford one! I like massive knee blocks for jumping, not bothered about thigh blocks.

 

[tallyho!]

My Lavinia Mitchell dressage saddle. I've tried so many and this I can't let go of... not sure if it's on her website but is on some of her fitters websites.

 

[Banner Year]

Fylde hayden for showing

Stubben for general purpose

Pessoa fo jumping

 

[sybil]

Oh I totally love Albion- had a GP for about 6 years and it looked like new (even with my somewhat lax attitude to tack cleaning..) I now have a jumping one (still lax with the tack cleaning...). Albion fit so nicely and are so soft and comfy (for horse and rider).

Jump: http://www.albionsaddlemakers.co.uk/saddles/jumping-range/k2-jump-1.html
GP: http://www.albionsaddlemakers.co.uk/saddles/gp-vsd-range/k2-gp-1.html

 

[lassiesuca]

The Fhoenix and Vogue Saddles- by Enlightened Equitation ( Heather Moffett).

I've never ridden in something so wonderul! Either that or traditional Portuguese and Spanish Doma Vaquera saddles.

http://www.fhoenix-saddles.com/images/fhoenix_standard_400x400.jpg

http://www.fhoenix-saddles.com/standard.php

 

[marmalade76]

My fave saddle is my YO's old Pennwood jumping saddle. She bought it new in the early 70's for £52 and she lets me borrow it but won't sell it even though she hasn't ridden for years It's in surprisingly good nick despite it's age. It's close contact but has a good knee roll that is a perfect shape for my short legs. The seat is a bit firm but that's OK 'cos I have plenty of padding And it's made from proper saddle leather, not that shiney stuff that should be used to make shoes and hadbags like most saddles are made of these days

I hunted in it on Saturday and jumped a few fences for the first time in ages but felt so secure in this saddle. I'm now trying to find something on the market to match it.

 

[mongy46]

How do you put pictures on here please?

 

[Spotsrock]

Albion selecta.

All 3 of my girls have big slab shoulders and I jump. Can't have a 'proper' jumping saddle on the girls as too forward cut for their comfort but really want one. Because the selecta has a basic underside and you attach the knee roll flaps as you want them I can put this saddle on the girls without hurting their shoulders but still have the knee rolls I want for jumping.

Believe they don't make these anymore so if you did something similar you'd be filling a gap. These have gone up in price to buy 2nd hand since they stopped making them. I'd buy new ones for my girls if they were made to fit (and I could afford it!!)

I guess any kind of jumping saddle with a forward cut outer flap but a more 'dressage' cut under flap would be great for horses like this, wouldn't need to have removeable knee rolls. My saddler says lots of jumpers could perform better if they had less forward cut saddles but the riders wouldn't perform so well!

 

[Ashgrove]

My GP Total Saddle Solution, the leather isn't the best quality and neither is the finish. But my horse prefers it to any treed or treeless saddle I've tried with her. And for that reson alone it is my favourite saddle.

NB, I do find it comfortable too

 

[Quadro]

http://www.idealsaddle.com/catalogue/saddle/38
That!!
The ideal patriot, i showjump in them and they are just goregous to ride in and so comfy
Q