About to try the Stubben Portos Elite Saddle

[Xctrygirl]

Anyone have one or can offer any feedback?

It’s a newer (than say a Siegfried) model with 'half panels"

Link: http://stubbennorthamerica.com/product/s-portos-elite/

My horse has a really unusual back with a decided need for a narrow tree and so the saddle hunt has been prolonged and depressing. We’re trying Stubbens and County’s now.

These brands are already out for a combination of reasons:

Toulouse
CWD
Devocoux
Prestige
Amerigo
Voltaire
Butet
Thornhill
Pessoa
Antares

And we’re trying to avoid full custom as I have been through the process before and didn’t love it.

Any and all advice is welcome. I am working with a skilled saddle fitter. He’s been working well with my Stackhouse off the rack Xc/foxhunting saddle but in the 20 years I have owned it, now it’s rubbing me raw. Bummer.

Emily

[yellowbritches]

I like the Portos. I think it is one I tried when I tried Stubbens, and it was one of the models I really liked (The other was the Zaria).

I find that Countys are often best for truly narrow horses. He may surprise you and be better off in a Stubben, but it seems like most of the slab sided, truly narrow TBs I have met have been happiest in a County.

[LadyB]

Out of all the Stubbens, that actually looks nice! I usually hate the look of Stubbens, always hard looking and weird. That one I like.

Stubbens are a banana tree, I hear you Can do custom with Stubbens without breaking the bank!

There is KenTaur, which is more in the UK, but a nice looking brand.

[SweetMutt]

I have a Portos (non-elite) and I tried both the S and the Elite. Long story on how I ended up with mine but the Elite really impressed me. The only thing I could pick to complain about is that the leather isn’t that nice, sticky, butter-soft leather you get on the French saddles. But honestly, that’s just if I’m being picky. I think they’re a great buy.

[Linny]

A friend has a Portos for her wide Connemara X and she LOVES it. I never sat in one on a horse but did sit in the entire line at the store when a rep brought the whole array for us to try. A co-worker who has a Devoucoux was very impressed. I also liked the Zaria, which I am told is often a good fit for the more TB types.

[Xctrygirl]

And we’re sunk again.

Portos Elite has arrived with my fitter and she is very dismayed to see that it has foam and felt panels. On a normal horse this may be something we could consider, but not with Gin. He’s already needed 3 adjustments to his current saddle as his muscling changed.

Back to the drawing board.

Em

[yellowbritches]

County. I bet you’ll end up with a County.

[SweetMutt]

I’m pretty sure you can get a new Stubben with wool panels. They have a surprising selection of custom options.

[beowulf]

You can get Stubben with wool panels - it may just be that the particular one was manufactured with foam.

Have you tried the Passier Klimke?

[Tony]

I recently purchased a Stubben S Get Connected for my TB, it is a 30 tree, previous to this he went in a MN County Stabilizer. We have an excellent saddle fitter and the County fit him perfect, but he hated jumping with the County on. The S Get Connected he loves . A 29 would have fit him as well. The S Get Connected in wool flocked.

[Dewey]

Agree that you can order the Portos with wool.

[Xctrygirl]

My rep checked. Can’t get THIS model with wool. Can get regular Portos.

That saddle doesn’t appeal to me.

Em

[Saskatoonian]

Might be too close to Butet to work, but I loved my friend’s Beval Natural, as did Toucan. Super well balanced; good for big shouldered TBs. I don’t remember if it was wool or foam though - it was older.

[beowulf]

at the risk of sounding way off base, what kind of tree does your horse need?

circuit (dover’s line) just came out with a monoflap event saddle that i hear has a lot of rave reviews with the department.

[lesson_junkie]

Have you looked at Smith Worthington? They have a huge selection of seat/flap types, and will absolutely work until the saddle fits your horse. They aren’t cheap, but the quality is top shelf.

[Xctrygirl]

[QUOTE=beowulf;8556672]
at the risk of sounding way off base, what kind of tree does your horse need?

circuit (dover’s line) just came out with a monoflap event saddle that i hear has a lot of rave reviews with the department.[/QUOTE]

No wider than 28 cm with wool flocking to adjust to his back.

I didn’t think it’d be this hard. Saddle companies love medium trees, Gin doesn’t.

Emily

[Dewey]

I suggest either calling Stubben and working directly with one of their fitters (a farm visit is very reasonable–it cost me $100 last year) or calling Smith Worthington as suggested above. They have lots of saddles (mostly wool-flocked) that are not even listed on their website. They can probably find you something in your budget and will absolutely work with you to make sure it fits.

[Xctrygirl]

[QUOTE=Dewey;8557614]
I suggest either calling Stubben and working directly with one of their fitters (a farm visit is very reasonable–it cost me $100 last year) or calling Smith Worthington as suggested above. They have lots of saddles (mostly wool-flocked) that are not even listed on their website. They can probably find you something in your budget and will absolutely work with you to make sure it fits.[/QUOTE]

My saddle fitter is a Stubben Rep for sales, but she does independent saddle fittings. She is speaking with Stubben and getting a quote for what the total cost to make a Portos elite with wool flocked panels would be.

I will look into SW too. Thanks for the suggestions on that brand. May have also stumbled onto a consignment saddle that might work. We’ll see.

~Emily

[kcmel]

I have a 28 cm Excalibur if you are interested in a monoflap. My young horse just outgrew it. I can hand it off to Stephanie if you want to try it (I board my retired horse at her barn). It’s a 17.5.

[Xctrygirl]

Hmmmm That’s interesting Mel. Maybe. Let me think on it. My hesitation is that my Stackhouse is already a forward cut and I’d like to get back to a more traditional Close contact, but I’m also pretty ouchy… So maybe.

I’ll send you a note on FB once I discuss it with Stephanie.

Em