Antares Evolution Questions

[Blueeyedroan]

Looking for a saddle for my thick little mare.
Found an Antares Evo in my budget (far away of course) and am wondering if they really do fit thicker shouldered horses ?

I used to only ride TBs so have TB saddles . Have a County Innovation N tree that is too narrow on her. A Devoucoux Chiberta that fits LONG and HIGH withers with a crazy sloping laid back shoulder well… it’s all wrong on her and way too narrow.
Then I have a Bates with the wide gullet installed which both bridges , and rocks.

I can spot the saddle a TB needs from a mile away.
But I definitely need help with suggestions on what fits this ?
Hoping an Antares evolution might be the answer as I truly love the brand.

[Blueeyedroan]

[Against_All_Odds2]

Do you have a saddle fitter local to you? I ended up with a brand I never considered with the help of a fitter

[Blueeyedroan]

Only if you can afford brand new or demo condition saddles. There’s not much for good fitters around and none that have a selection of good used saddles.

[Paint_Party]

I think I own your horse’s half-brother, LOL! He’s also a bay roan, but even more round and stout.

The saddle that fit both him and me the best was an Antares Connexion with the A01 (wider) tree,

I don’t know enough about the different styles to know how the details of the Evolution differ from the Connexion, though.

[greywithchrome]

I LOVED my Antares Evolution, I regret selling it to this day. And it did fit wide shouldered horses well, it was the wider tree. But I can’t say that all Antares Evolutions fit that way.

[StormyDay]

I’ve not heard of Antares being a brand for wider horses. I’ve got 3 barrels on legs and I’ve tried most saddles out there.

Tad Coffin is usually the recommended saddle for wide horses, if you want that French saddle look.

[Tha_Ridge]

@StormyDay

Tad Coffin is usually the recommended saddle for wide horses, if you want that French saddle look.

This is true; the standard TC tree is “wide,” by most standards. Having said that, this horse’s back looks pretty standard to me—the only horses I’ve had trouble fitting have been the shark-fin wither types where you need to worry about the saddle pressing down on the wither once it’s girthed up.

[StormyDay]

I think the horse is deceptively wider than it appears; I actually wouldn’t be shocked to find out it needs a hoop tree. Look at those shoulders. OP may need to do a ‘narrow’ hoop tree to fit this horse.

[IPEsq]

I think the Evolution has a cutback tree, and that is what helps with withers and shoulder fit. But you might need the wide based on all the other saddles you mention being too narrow.

[Spotless]

I love love love my Antares Evolution and it truly seems to fit a variety of shoulders due to the panels being so flexible. I purchased it specifically for my paint who was wide with WIDE shoulders and it was the only saddle he loved.

[danacat]

My Antares Evo beautifuly fits my 16.2 Tbred with similar build to your mare (thick shoulders etc). An Antares rep did come out and fitted him, and then found me a used one that was perfect. The Evo was the only saddle that both fit him and me. I love it.

[Blueeyedroan]

Well I missed out on the Antares Evo I was looking at , it sold FAST.
Managed to get a medium wide (would be considered a wide by most standards) Exselle Debut. Which I believe to be a hoop tree, wool flocked saddle made by Walsall.
Bloody thing still isn’t wide enough! I’m thinking with the flocking scooted around though it may work.
The saddle doesn’t exactly fit me ( I need a forward regular length flap and this is a longer straighter flap - and such a wide twist) but for the $700 I paid it will work until I find something better.