Does anyone have any experience with this saddle? Any opinions on how it compares to other cross country saddles? I am switching over from dressage to lower level eventing and looking to upgrade my jumping saddle to something a little more supportive that my current Regal jumping saddle. My horse currently goes very well in an Albion dressage saddle so the Albion XC saddle seemed like an obvious first choice. I tried the saddle yesterday. It fit the horse great and I felt much more secure in it, but my coach is not a big fan of the brand and is steering me towards some of the French brands like CWD or Voltaire. I am not a big fan of those French saddles due the foam panels and not being able to adjust/flock them (I have several different horses and might want the saddle refit to another horse in the future) . Albion seems to be a much more popular brand amongst the dressage set than the Hunter/jumper/eventing crowd and I was wondering why.
My experience trying to buy an Albion saddle this week was not great. I took the afternoon off work and the rep brought only 2 saddles to try. Everything else that might fit was back in the shop, which would have cost me another $100 to try on top on the $100 she already charged. Despite my emails, there was no communication about my size (I’m short, she brought a long flap) and there was no measurement of my horses. After hearing great things about Albion, I was extremely disappointed. Plus the saddle was going to be almost $7000. The used demo saddle was only $500 less and I was going to have to pay to have it flocked because it was already compressed.
Have you thought of Butet? They have a gorgeous monoflap event saddle and Alan is amazing to work with.
I have the origional XC saddle from Albion. I love it but they don’t make that model anymore. It is the only saddle I have ever ridden in that I thought was good for both dressage and jumping because of the balance of the seat. I love the older Albions and ride in my dressage saddle daily. I don’t know about the new iteratons of their saddles, but that fitter did the company and you a huge disservice by not having or finding a variety of thigs for you to try 
There are a number of good places to find used Albions to try, just find someone knowledgeable about the way they fit to help you decide what to look at.
I had tried an older Albion of my friend’s that I really liked. When I showed it to the rep, she just said it was an older model that they no longer made. The end.
lol. I had thought that for the call fee the rep could have pointed me in the right direction about Albion fit. Definitely won’t be looking at any more Albions.
Unfortunately, the Butet tree didn’t fit my Roly poly pudgy pony, otherwise that is what I would gone with. Cannot say enough good things about the quality or the service.
If it fits you AND fit the horse, so what if your coach thinks you should buy a different one? S/He must be getting a commission if s/he can get you to buy one. Or, see if Kevin can add blocks to your Regal to give you more support- he’s very good about those kind if things!
If it fits you and the horse, that is really all that matters. I know some people are die hard this brand or that, but the trainer should support what is best for horse and rider. Should, anyway. I know some barns also follow others, some are “Voltaire barns” or CWD, or Prestige, and so on.
I am not in the “big time scene” with a BNT right now, so this barn uses what works for horse and rider.
I recently purchased a Prestige, but Albion was at the top of my list for a dressage saddle. There are many used ones for great prices and the quality is good, they last, and are wool flocked. Between their various models I have seen them fit a variety of horse and rider. It makes sense that if you like your Albion dressage saddle, you’d try their jump saddles.
I haven’t ridden in this particular saddle, but I’m a fan of the Albions. Yes, in North America the dressage saddles are more popular, but in the UK there are a LOT of people using the jumping saddles. I’m currently shopping for an Albion jumping saddle, had a fitting done of a friend’s old Albion forward flap saddle this winter and I LOVED the balance and close contact. I have long legs for my size/short upper body and something about it really worked perfectly for me. I ride in a Amerigo close contact jumper saddle now but I loved this old Albion much more. The Amerigo was getting repaired and the loaner saddle was an Albion and now I can’t wait to find the right one.
French saddles are currently very trendy and i would guess the OP’s coach is simply following the trend.
Albions are a great brand and ridden in by William Fox Pitt among others so nothing to scoff at.
I would suggest the OP contact Jes Stringer if she hasn’t already. Jes is the local rep in Ontario for Albion and can give feedback on fit etc. Her number is 647-444-4704.
Good Luck!
I know that for a while, you could contact Albion saddlery and they actually would make you one of the older jump saddles, but they didn’t advertise that. Devvie I wonder which one you sat in? I know that Middleburg Tack Exchange gets a fair share of the older Albion jump saddles as I continually stalk their used saddle listings.
The older Albion saddles I had were really nice – both jumping and dressage, though the flocking in two that I received in 2004 was poor and had to be strip flocked.
I know that many people love the French saddles, but I cannot get past the fact that their reps are not trained as fitters, can’t make repairs, and the saddles cost as much as a nice used car, but can’t be adjusted to fit the horse as it changes. A saddler told me recently that a basic Devocoux was running $8900 now – is that seriously true?
I’ve had three Frank Baines saddles made to fit two horses, and they are lovely, well made, and were all right under 3K, One of mine is 10 years old, and if I hadn’t allowed a mouse to get to the serge panels (grrrrrrr) it would appear to be brand new today. It is so difficult to find people riding in them. Which is a shame, especially as their new models are GORGEOUS!
If the saddle works for you and your horse, you need to go with it, rather than what the trainer recommends. My first event horse had 19 saddles bought and sold for him until we found something that worked – and he ended up in two Albions until he retired. Their comfort and your balance are the most important concerns. Best of luck shopping!
Legend MW 17.5 with the numbers 2033 on the flap – haven’t figured out the numbers yet. Definitely some Albions for sale in NA but the ones in the UK priced way lower so shopping there. I’d love to have a saddle made for me but never going to be in the budget!
Sounds like it’s the origional XC. I have this one…it is good for both flatwork and jumping. The only saddle besides a Tad Coffin that I have found is good for both. Is it this model? https://www.google.com/search?q=albion+origional+xc+saddle&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi78JrAy9nWAhWT3oMKHcs7BOoQ7AkIQA&biw=1248&bih=838#imgrc=8tLyfFAOA-JSQM:
