A GP saddle with wide twist?

[PREconvert]

Hi all. I mostly ride dressage but it turns out my horse likes a little cross country, hunter pacing, and fox hunting. I’ve been doing it in my Albion Original Comfort dressage saddle because I feel more secure with what I’m familiar with, and it’s the most comfortable
thing for me to sit on for 2 hours but it makes getting off his back for popping logs Much harder.
I’m not at all ready to ride in a close contact saddle or have short stirrups, so I’m thinking a GP saddle would let me compromise. BUT I need a wide twist. Think of a 2x4 and sitting on the wide part. An English made saddle, a few years out of vogue would be great. I don’t want to spend 4 figures for something that will get scratched up in the brush during the hunt.

Any suggestions for brands or styles? Horse takes a M-MW and so far except for western saddles, his short-ish Andalusian back hasn’t been a problem. He has decent withers, neither mutton nor shark. He goes fine in my daughter’s Albion Legend M tree, but I need a bigger saddle and also that wide twist.

I want to carry my weight on my butt bones and thighs, NOT anything “tender.” I am not looking for an intimate relationship with my saddle, if you know what I mean.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

I tried an older County Eventer saddle once, and it felt exactly like riding on a 2x4! It is a GP model and is usually less expensive than County close contact models.

[sheltona01]

If you like the Albion, just get their Gp. I am sure you can find them used in the uk.

[PREconvert]

@sheltona01

If you like the Albion, just get their Gp. I am sure you can find them used in the uk.

Thank you for the suggestion but their GP’s don’t have that wide twist. It was just the Original and Modified comfort line that they did in dressage only. I can’t sit in my daughter’s Legend GP without a special seat saver and I wouldn’t trust a seat saver not shifting or snagging during the hunt. Otherwise I would love to - they wear like iron.

[PREconvert]

@Groom&Taxi

I tried an older County Eventer saddle once, and it felt exactly like riding on a 2x4! It is a GP model and is usually less expensive than County close contact models.

Thank you! I’ll start looking at them.

[Fruehling]

I have the same issue where I need a wide twist. I have a Ryder Virage and it fits like a glove and feels incredibly secure. It’s my only saddle so I do everything in it: jumping, trail riding, cross country, second level dressage. I have always felt well balanced, like there is a very solid seat under me, and (knock on wood) in two years I have not fallen out of it. Other Ryders I test rode seem to have a wide twist too, I tried the Zara and it was a little too all purpose-y for me, so that might work great for you!

[Posting_Trot]

I had a County Eventer, and I don’t think the twist was particularly wide. It also kind of put me in a “back-seat” position, although that may have been a function of how it fit my horse.

I’d look at a Frank Baines saddle or at a Balance saddle, esp. if you’re in the UK.

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

Depending on your horse, look into a Duett. Hoop trees always come with a wide twist and Duetts are super affordable.

[TBFAN]

There’s an older GP Albion saddle for cheap in the NTEA eventing marketplace Facebook page. Says MW

[PREconvert]

I found an Ideal GP of some sort (there’s no labeling on the flap) but it has nice reassuring Buffalo seat and knee rolls for a little grip, deep enough for me to sit out loony moments but has enough knee flap that we should be able to tackle those logs with me still in the tack. The twist is wider than a Frank Baines Eclipse we found in Medium for my daughter, so this may be the widest twist around. It’s not as comfy as my Albion OC of course, but close.

So now I’m trying to sell an oops purchase of a Frank Baines in 5W, then I am buying the ideal. If anyone wants a Frank Baines Balance GP 17.5 5W, let me know. I need it gone. I live on Long Island where French CC saddles rule the land. And Americans in general just don’t seem to appreciate a GP.

Also so learn from my fail (as the kiddos say) - never hit the buy button on eBay without your glasses. I thought the listing for the Frank Baines said MW, it was 5W. Big difference!

[FatDinah]

@PREconvert

I found an Ideal GP of some sort (there’s no labeling on the flap) but it has nice reassuring Buffalo seat and knee rolls for a little grip, deep enough for me to sit out loony moments but has enough knee flap that we should be able to tackle those logs with me still in the tack. The twist is wider than a Frank Baines Eclipse we found in Medium for my daughter, so this may be the widest twist around. It’s not as comfy as my Albion OC of course, but close.

So now I’m trying to sell an oops purchase of a Frank Baines in 5W, then I am buying the ideal. If anyone wants a Frank Baines Balance GP 17.5 5W, let me know. I need it gone. I live on Long Island where French CC saddles rule the land. And Americans in general just don’t seem to appreciate a GP.

Also so learn from my fail (as the kiddos say) - never hit the buy button on eBay without your glasses. I thought the listing for the Frank Baines said MW, it was 5W. Big difference!

I’m out of the country but when I get back I will measure my Wintec saddle and see if it’s close to a 5W. I might be interested.

[Posting_Trot]

@PREconvert

I found an Ideal GP of some sort (there’s no labeling on the flap) but it has nice reassuring Buffalo seat and knee rolls for a little grip, deep enough for me to sit out loony moments but has enough knee flap that we should be able to tackle those logs with me still in the tack. The twist is wider than a Frank Baines Eclipse we found in Medium for my daughter, so this may be the widest twist around. It’s not as comfy as my Albion OC of course, but close.

So now I’m trying to sell an oops purchase of a Frank Baines in 5W, then I am buying the ideal. If anyone wants a Frank Baines Balance GP 17.5 5W, let me know. I need it gone. I live on Long Island where French CC saddles rule the land. And Americans in general just don’t seem to appreciate a GP.

Also so learn from my fail (as the kiddos say) - never hit the buy button on eBay without your glasses. I thought the listing for the Frank Baines said MW, it was 5W. Big difference!

You might try listing the saddle on the Balance International website. They have a “used saddles” page on which owners can list their Balance saddles for sale. You’ll have to provide the serial # of the saddle as well. Years ago I had a Balance GP saddle that I sold through the site (after I’d bought a Balance dressage saddle).

The advantage is that you’ll reach people who already know what a Balance saddle is and want to buy one.

http://www.balanceinternational.com/Used-BALANCE-Saddles_B32424N.aspx

[PREconvert]

@Posting Trot

You might try listing the saddle on the Balance International website. They have a “used saddles” page on which owners can list their Balance saddles for sale. You’ll have to provide the serial # of the saddle as well. Years ago I had a Balance GP saddle that I sold through the site (after I’d bought a Balance dressage saddle).

The advantage is that you’ll reach people who already know what a Balance saddle is and want to buy one.

http://www.balanceinternational.com/Used-BALANCE-Saddles_B32424N.aspx

thank you! If I can’t get it sold on FB or EBay this week, I will try them. They want 50 pounds or $62 upfront whether or not it sells, so I will give it one more week. But then, if it gets this thing out of my dining room and puts an Ideal in its place…