Black Country vs Fairfax Gareth (Saddle Opinions Please)

[CanteringCarrot]

I think the Optima has short blocks, I don’t know if they still make that one.

While I liked my Fairfax well enough, I do find Black Country saddles to be very comfortable and I hope I can find one and a good fitter when my 2 year old becomes a ridden horse in a year or so.

My ridden horse had an Amerigo, and I liked it very much too. He was a PRE (same as young horse) with a shorter back, but prominent withers and more of an uphill build. I had adjustable thigh blocks, which was a nice feature in case one wants to change them, or for resell perhaps.

[DawnJL]

@outerbanks77

I had to count and I think I’ve had seven BC saddles over the years!

I’ve had 2 BCS Eloquences (both 17W --one at home & one at the barn where I had a horse in training-both built to spec with upswept panels on hoop trees) I rode in an Eloquence from 2008-2018. I started riding in a Kur (on a different horse) in 2016. I eventually decided that the Kur was a better fit for me, so I sold the Eloquence saddles. The Quantums have been used for starting some of the youngsters who were better fitted at that point with the forward seat saddle and for when I’ve had horses started over jumps.
3 BCS Quantum (jump saddles–all hoop trees) 17W, 17MW, and 18W (the latter was a barter from a friend that I then resold)
4 Kur 17XW (for my 14.1 3/4 H super short extremely wide backed mare), 17.5W, 17MW (20+vintage model), 17MW (owner sold the new saddle after horse died before could use the saddle )

I also trialed a used Equinox and a used Frelsi (the latter was during my search for my very wide short-backed mare). Neither of those specific saddles were what I needed at the time for the horses I was seeking solutions for, but both were comfortable for me.

So I’ve owned 9 BCS saddles and currently still have 6 of those (4 Kurs and 2 Quantums). The 17XW Kur, 17.5W Kur and 17W Quantum were all built for either my stallion or a personal riding horse. The 2 17MW Kurs and the 17MW Quantum were acquired for my young green horses whose backs were still developing. Most of my horses have matured to need a W hoop tree or XW, though a few have continued to be fitted well by a MW BCS hoop tree. I get the saddles checked and reflocked by my fitter regularly. When I’ve had them built to spec, I’ve always gotten the serge panels. My 3 used ones came with leather panels; I still prefer the serge for cooling the back, less tendency to slip (a wide round horse issue), and for conforming a bit more to the horse’s back. The serge panels do need to be reflocked a bit more often than the leather panels.

In the end, what matters is that the saddle fits the horse and the rider is able to sit comfortably and effectively in the saddle. The BCS saddles have been a good fit for most of my horses, and I have been comfortable in them, but each horse/rider combo needs whatever works best for them!

[fermecinqsens]

Can someone explain the freedom tree?
I told BC my horse has a flat back and they told me she would need a freedom tree. I don’t understand though if the freedom tree only means flat panels or if it’s specifically for wide/broad horses. My horse is MW and actually very petite. She does not have a BROAD back but has a flat back in the sense that the wither is the highest point and it’s basically flat to her croup. Right now my Vinici has a classic tree and there is a slight rock, although it’s not outrageous and nothing I would sell the saddle over.

[DawnJL]

@fermecinqsens

Can someone explain the freedom tree?

AFAIK, the freedom tree is both a hoop shape in front with flatter rails. FWIW, horses need not be wide backed to have the less angular shape behind the withers that justifies the “hoop” part. Have you sent BCS wither and back tracings? They offer a variety of panel options to suit different conformations. Some models can be built on either the classic tree or the freedom tree.

I’ll poke my saddle fitter to see if she has more detailed insights. She posts on COTH from time to time and was a BCS rep for many years.

[outerbanks77]

I’m not sure about the Freedom tree, but my Vinici is their standard wide hoop tree and fits a lot of horses. They can also put in wither gussets if needed. Horse I ride in it with now isn’t super wide and she fits it nicely with just a regular pad + Thinline. For awhile I rode a friend’s mare who is fairly petite and usually a M/W and she did well in it with a thicker half pad. Mine has serge panels and it seems like they are just more adaptable to the horse’s back than leather.

If you decide to got the dressage-style endurance saddle route, Lovatt & Ricketts also makes one that might be worth checking out. At least in the US, new ones are more affordable than BCS.