Anky Dressage Saddles

[Banshee]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about Anky saddles? I’m looking on eBay at one, and it’s in my budget and has a little bit of a longer flap–which I need-- but I don’t know much about the brand. I see it uses the same interchangeable gullet system as the Pessoas and Ovations. Is it more on the Pessoa side of the quality scale or the Ovation?

Also, what kind of horses do they tend to fit? I have a thoroughbred with a pretty high, long wither, and a bit of a dippy/curvy back and fairly large shoulders. To make things more fun, I’m 6ft tall with long legs. Finding a saddle to fit both of us that I can afford on my college student budget has been a challenge. I’m currently borrowing one that is a sort of okay fit on my horse but is a terrible fit on me. My knees sit on the knee rolls, and I find it pretty uncomfortable to ride in.

I’ve had some people recommend Albions to me, but it seems like they’re just a little too far out of my price range for right now. I’m also having trouble finding one with a long enough flap. This Anky seems a little bit too good to be true, being under a thousand dollars and having a 17.5" flap.

[Scribbler]

If you Google Anky saddles and COTH there have been several threads on this.

My first question would be, who is the manufacturer? Obviously Anky is not a saddle maker just a celebrity rider. So this has to be a collaboration with an established company. It sounds like they are on the lower priced end of things. I did see the Anky saddle connected to Pessoa on one of the threads so perhaps this is a Pessoa base.

[CanteringCarrot]

Is it an older or newer version?

[Banshee]

@CanteringCarrot

Is it an older or newer version?

It’s an Anky Salinero. I’m pretty sure it’s newer, but I’m not sure how to tell with these saddles? It looks like it’s only a few years old.

Scribbler – I have actually read the other threads about them. I didn’t see much about these when it comes to tree shape and things of that sort. But after some digging I think you’re right, they are made by Pessoa. They’re both made on DuPont trees, with the same gullet system, and panels.

[Scribbler]

@Banshee

It’s an Anky Salinero. I’m pretty sure it’s newer, but I’m not sure how to tell with these saddles? It looks like it’s only a few years old.

Scribbler – I have actually read the other threads about them. I didn’t see much about these when it comes to tree shape and things of that sort. But after some digging I think you’re right, they are made by Pessoa. They’re both made on DuPont trees, with the same gullet system, and panels.

Then you could expect them to be Pessoa with some bells and whistles or design features.

[Banshee]

Pessoa’s tend to be flatter through the tree correct? I remember trying an older CC Pessoa on my guy probably a little over a year ago and I think it bridged… I tried several saddles on him that day though so I could be thinking of a different one.

[Scribbler]

@Banshee

Pessoa’s tend to be flatter through the tree correct? I remember trying an older CC Pessoa on my guy probably a little over a year ago and I think it bridged… I tried several saddles on him that day though so I could be thinking of a different one.

I don’t know a lot about Pessoas. The one I tried rocked on my mare which I’d interpret as too curvy for her. That was before I had a saddle fitter and back tracings in the mix, which have been invaluable in saddle shopping.

[Suspiria]

The older fixed tree Pessoas are more curvy, where the new Pessoa/Ovation with XCH are flatter through the tree. Panel construction also factors in. The Bayflex foam panels are flatter and the AMS (synthetic wool) are curvier, although the tree is the same as far as I know.

I do not have an Anky but I have an old Pessoa A/O and a newer Pessoa with AMS, as well as an Ovation San Diego with Bayflex. I work a lot of babies so the changeable tree is a very cool feature for those ever changing backs, but caveat emptor: I do not work with narrow horses or TB types.