I’m starting to saddle shop on a budget.
How do people feel about the ovation and HDR saddles?
Edited to add I am looking at used saddles.
Meh. I’ve ridden in an HDR and it was just ok. Not the worst thing ever, but nothing to write home about. Are you looking new or used?
If you’re looking used, a used Prestige (provided you avoid the ones from when the leather was crappy) can be a lot of bang for the buck.
Love the HDR saddles. They are such a great value for the quality!
The Connected Rider has great pricing and they do offer a trial program. If you are open to that, I would definitely give the HDRs a shot.
http://www.theconnectedrider.com/?tap_a=9643-134fe7&tap_s=54629-678c64
I heard from someone else that a well known saddle fitter actually recommended the bates saddle. not sure if that’s in the budget, but maybe something to consider. of course this is second hand info.
I think, when shopping on a budget, used is a better way to spend a smaller budget than lower end new.
Dover had the stratch and ding section with demos or ones that have been used and returned. The Dover circuit saddles are actually made by the same company that makes Pessoa. Not many people know that! Also, another vote for used! You can find a broken in steal generally…just takes some time! The saddle is one of the most important parts, you wouldn’t wear a pair of Payless shoes to work everyday…take care of your self and your horse! Not sure where you live, but when I started having to pay for my stuff, I got a job at the tack store! I was able to purchase my beval at a steal through the discount! There are options out there, you just have to look!
You will always end up with a better saddle in the end with a low budget by buying a higher end used and now a low cost new. With saddles for most of the time you get what you pay for.
I don’t recommend HDR. A couple of people at our barn have them, and I found them slippery and uncomfortable.
I think Collegiate makes good-quality saddles in the budget range.
I think your money would be better spent on a higher quality used saddle.
I agree with Dewey on the HDRs - I haven’t been too impressed with what I’ve seen.
What are you looking for? We Cothers love to help others spend their hard earned cash!!
agree with multiple other posters: buy higher quality used instead of budget new. ebay is good source of used tack, and if you’re willing to look at older saddles, and/or high-end but not “in” brands, your money will go a lot further.
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8920008]
I’m starting to saddle shop on a budget.
How do people feel about the ovation and HDR saddles?[/QUOTE]
Agree with other posters – you can probably find a used Butet in budget that will meet your needs. However, if you have your heart set on new, I rode in a friend’s Ovation recently and was surprised by how comfortable it was, and how well it fit a variety of horses. Same with a Dover Circuit (I think??) that she had.
I plan on buying used anyway, I don’t believe in buying new! I have a HDR Paris as my dressage saddle and it’s actually a very nice quality saddle but was not sure if the jumping ones were the same and which ones. I’ve also been looking at the collegiate saddles.
I’ve seen the Bates saddles but I’m not interested in the CAIR panels. I’d prefer wool for my saddle fitter but will take memory foam.
Bleh HDR’s put me in an awful position. I didn’t mind the Ovations much. I also really liked the Jaguars (which you can find pretty cheap sometimes) or just the Harry Dabbs jumping saddles. I also really disliked the Bates and Beval I rode in, but those were really personal taste. I did really like a Circuit I sat in, and I also liked a Pessoa. I hated the MT’s!
My best used deal find was an Albion (thought a specific tree). I would look at “high end/lesser known” brands. Also shoot out an ISO. You will be surprised on what you get back within your budget that are MUCH better options than an HDR or the other saddles mentioned above.
I actually LOVED my Ovation. It was a good budget saddle for my high school/college days. I had the Ovation Evolution (which is no longer made) and I bought it new. I had it for a while and really was upset when I sold it 
It was comfy and the medium was a little wider than normal and fit most horses I put it on. When I bought my gelding though, it was apparent that it would never fit him (shark fin) so I had to move on and ended up getting something that’s essentially custom. I wish they weren’t foam but otherwise the saddle was extremely comfortable. I didn’t do many rated shows, but I used it in the hunter ring and even evented in it.
[QUOTE=Belmont;8920217]
Bleh HDR’s put me in an awful position. I didn’t mind the Ovations much. I also really liked the Jaguars (which you can find pretty cheap sometimes) or just the Harry Dabbs jumping saddles. I also really disliked the Bates and Beval I rode in, but those were really personal taste. I did really like a Circuit I sat in, and I also liked a Pessoa. I hated the MT’s!
My best used deal find was an Albion (thought a specific tree). I would look at “high end/lesser known” brands. Also shoot out an ISO. You will be surprised on what you get back within your budget that are MUCH better options than an HDR or the other saddles mentioned above.[/QUOTE]
We have the same taste! Just remembered that as a teenager, I owned a Harry Dabbs, which put me in a good position and held up pretty well.
I’m desperately trying to sell a Bates that didn’t fit my mare at all. The shape and projection of the panel didn’t work with her shoulder.
LOVE LOVE LOVE my $550 Collegiate. Fits my OTTB better than SEVERAL of the expensive brands, fits me well, looks good, and it was CHEAP.
My barn owner sold her Amerigo to get a cheap collegiate. I can’t say enough about the saddles. I lucked out and got a Collegiate with wool flocking. They’re out there!
would look at places like Middleburg Tack Exchange. They have an inexpensive Northrun Ashland that might be your size and is a great price. That is a nice saddle. And an older Pessoa. I have petite friends who liked these saddles. I can’t give you personal advice because we are exactly opposite in our saddle needs given my giant status.
Second the Northrun Ashland recommendation. Great choice even if there’s not an extra zero on the price of a used one because it’s a household name. Good quality, correct position and balance, last forever.
[QUOTE=TaraB_Connected _Rider;8920025]
Love the HDR saddles. They are such a great value for the quality!
The Connected Rider has great pricing and they do offer a trial program. If you are open to that, I would definitely give the HDRs a shot.
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TaraB, might I gently suggest you read the rules at the top of the page? No advertising. You have over 10 self-promoting/advertising posts posted in the last 48 hours.
