Hi all-
I am looking into the Albion K2/Kontrol/Kontact saddles. I have an Albion Platinum Ultima dressage saddle that I love and fits my horse well. Does anyone know if the gullet/panel/tree shapes are similar in their H/J line? And does anyone have any of these saddles that they can review? I am looking for something with a more secure, deeper seat. I like having a little more saddle with my young guy, and these saddles seem like they would fit the bill!
Several years ago (maybe 8ish?) I had an Albion H/J saddle – bought it used through a rep for a very hard to fit horse and loved that saddle! I would definitely characterize it as a deep seat (compared to other popular hunter/jumper brands). For the time I had it, which was 4+ years, it held up extremely well. I was sad to see it go, but it didn’t fit my new horse.
I would say it feels similar to a Prestige Meredith, County Innovation or Bliss of London in terms of depth of seat and the position it put me in.
I hope that helps!
@Brutus614 Super helpful, thank you! I was also looking at the county innovation but its a bit out of my budget. Happy to hear they are similar in feel!
I have a Kontact and enjoy it quite a bit for my sometimes-spastic mare who can get Very Excited over crossrails. Love Albions. I prefer a flat seat but the Kontact is deep without being restrictive, so I can handle it. My Kontact has a calf block which has pros and cons. Pro, it’s extremely secure and has kept me out of the dirt on many occasions. Con, you are limited with stirrup length because a calf block is only rideable within a fairly short range of stirrup length. Dropping my stirrups down to practice dressage isn’t really an option, and if i drop my stirrups in the jump arena, i have to hold my thigh up and keep my leg short because of the calf block.
My Kontact for my wide-to-xw, flat backed mare is an XW with a wither gusset and was a perfect fit right off the rack. I had an older Legend Lux dressage with serge panels and no wither gusset that fit the same mare in the same way. I can tell you I didn’t have the same love when i demo’d an SLK but it was more how it fit me than how it fit her. I find Albion to be a good choice for a flattish to F L A T back. If your horse is curvy, I’m sure a good fitter can assist with flocking configuration. If your horse is real curvy, I might look at other brands.
I don’t know which trees fit like which trees as you transition from dressage to jump, so i am sorry i’m not helpful there. That may be an email to Albion to find out.
@Suspiria Thank you! My gelding has absolutely no curves, which is why I think the Ultima fits him so well. It sounds like the H/J saddles would be very similar.
I have an Albion K2 Jump. I don’t love the big blocks on the front but I sort of got used to them after a while. I am currently having a “fit to horse” issues that is not the saddle’s fault, but in the abstract I like the saddle just fine. I generally ride in UK, wool-flocked brands and I find the quality and style equal to Black Country (they’re my usual go to brand, I have 2, and I have always been happy with how they hold up). It is a “more secure” and “deeper” seat than my BC quantum. I think overall I prefer the quantum.
