Best adjustable tree saddle?

[2bayboys]

After years of having beefcakes in the barn, I find myself with a handful of slender youngsters and a collection of saddles that don’t fit. The current baby ride is 14.2 and downhill, with an A frame back and not much wither. I have a BC with full front gussets that I’ve been padding up to make it doable, but I’m thinking about getting something with an adjustable gullet to help through the next couple of years until this little beast fills out and gains a topline.

Wintec? Royal Heritage? Ovation? For myself I like a slightly deep seat and a forward flap. Nothing too slippery. Under $1000 budget.

Recommendations?

[luvmyhackney]

Try a Kent and Masters or Thorowgood saddle. They are relatively inexpensive, deepish seat. I don’t find my K&M slippery at all. Plus they are wool flocked so adjustable.

UK might have more brands available that are adjustable.

Thorowgood is under budget and K&M’s are 1000-1200 used.

[enjoytheride]

Try the Loxley saddles, adjustable tree is an option and they have wool panels to make it more adjustable. They do have different tree types, the standard adjustable tree doesn’t fit all back shapes.

[Texarkana]

I have two adjustable tree jump saddles: a Wintec Pro that I bought new and an older Kent & Masters that I bought from the UK via eBay for a steal of a deal.

Both a great. I would highly recommend either.

My saddle fitter DROOLED over my Kent & Masters. It’s really pretty despite its age. It fits my curvy backed horse very well. Although, it rides like an old school pancake saddle. It’s “fine,” it just looks a lot cushier than it actually feels. Maybe the newer ones feel more modern?

On the other hand, everyone who rides in the Wintec raves about how surprisingly comfortable it is and how nicely it rides. My middle aged self loves the grippy equi-suede. I’ve never had any issues with the cair panels, and my horse went great in it until her already curvy back got too curvy with age.

[Pandora]

I just bought a used K&M from “The Saddle Bank” in the UK. Total Price +shipping came in around $700. The seem to have a large number of wool flocked saddles for a very reasonable price point I highly recommend.

[luvmyhackney]

That’s a great price.
I see them in US tack shops in the price range I listed with trials.

[2bayboys]

@Texarkana you’re not the first one who has told me that about the Wintec, surprisingly comfortable and secure. There’s one on eBay that’s 16.5, I generally ride in a 17”, do you find the seat to be generous?

[Displaced_Yankee]

I am a fan of the Thorowgood and Kent & Masters lines. IIRC they are still built by saddlers in Wasall, England (as opposed to being stamped out on a mass production factory line).

However, when my fitter tried to put me in a Thorowgood jump saddle the flap was not forward enough for my long femur on my short barreled horse.

[2bayboys]

Yeah, my femur is longer than my torso, so although I’m not tall, I need that forward flap to keep my knee from floating ahead of the flap.

[Texarkana]

@2bayboys

@Texarkana you’re not the first one who has told me that about the Wintec, surprisingly comfortable and secure. There’s one on eBay that’s 16.5, I generally ride in a 17”, do you find the seat to be generous?

Not really. I think they fit pretty true to size. If you need a 17, I’d try to hold out for a 17.

[CanteringCarrot]

I’d look at Kent & Masters and maybe the Cavletti line from Bliss/Loxley. Not sure what Collegiate, Ovation, or Pessoa are like these days, but I believe they’ve had/have an adjustable line of saddles.

[SLW]

@Texarkana

I have two adjustable tree jump saddles: a Wintec Pro that I bought new and an older Kent & Masters that I bought from the UK via eBay for a steal of a deal.

Both a great. I would highly recommend either.

My saddle fitter DROOLED over my Kent & Masters. It’s really pretty despite its age. It fits my curvy backed horse very well. Although, it rides like an old school pancake saddle. It’s “fine,” it just looks a lot cushier than it actually feels. Maybe the newer ones feel more modern?

On the other hand, everyone who rides in the Wintec raves about how surprisingly comfortable it is and how nicely it rides. My middle aged self loves the grippy equi-suede. I’ve never had any issues with the cair panels, and my horse went great in it until her already curvy back got too curvy with age.

I have to replace my Black Country Wexford with a different saddle for my mare. I don’t have 4K for a new BC so I’m looking at the Kent & Masters S-Series Universal GP. Is the seat not deep at all, you mentioned it rode like a pancake saddle.

Also, did I read correctly that the seat and skirt are real leather???

[Texarkana]

@SLW

@Texarkana

I have two adjustable tree jump saddles: a Wintec Pro that I bought new and an older Kent & Masters that I bought from the UK via eBay for a steal of a deal.

Both a great. I would highly recommend either.

My saddle fitter DROOLED over my Kent & Masters. It’s really pretty despite its age. It fits my curvy backed horse very well. Although, it rides like an old school pancake saddle. It’s “fine,” it just looks a lot cushier than it actually feels. Maybe the newer ones feel more modern?

On the other hand, everyone who rides in the Wintec raves about how surprisingly comfortable it is and how nicely it rides. My middle aged self loves the grippy equi-suede. I’ve never had any issues with the cair panels, and my horse went great in it until her already curvy back got too curvy with age.

I have to replace my Black Country Wexford with a different saddle for my mare. I don’t have 4K for a new BC so I’m looking at the Kent & Masters S-Series Universal GP. Is the seat not deep at all, you mentioned it rode like a pancake saddle.

Also, did I read correctly that the seat and skirt are real leather???

Mine is not an S-Series Universal GP. It is a very different style; I forget which model but I think it was from when they first started making them. Here’s the seller’s photo from when I bought it:

It is all leather. For the price I paid it was a fabulous deal. But it’s an old saddle and it rides like and old saddle. I’ve been a bit spoiled by riding in modern “couch-like” saddles this century.

[luvmyhackney]

@SLW

Kent & Masters S-Series Universal GP.

I have this saddle. It rides balanced and my trainer has never said anything bad about it. If I had to complain, I hate the Velcro knee blocks and behind the leg blocks and removed them. I find it secure and it’s more cushier than the stubben saddle I tried.

Most importantly, my horse goes really well in it.

[SLW]

Thank you both for saddle insight! It checks a lot of the nonnegotiable boxes for a saddle I like. I may bite the bullet and take one on trial.

Again, thank you!

[SLW]

The saddle arrived today and for the $$ it’s a nice product. The stitching is well done, fits my mare and I did a short walk/trot ride to see how it felt. I was impressed. I’ll haul to an arena after tomorrow’s storm passes and put it through all the paces.

I had tamped down my expectations going from a 4K saddle to a $1500 saddle but now I’m not disappointed at all.