What can anyone tell me about these? Saw one listed very at a very affordable price but can’t seem to dig up much at all on them. Saddle has a Society of Master Saddlers stamp on it, in addition to the Cardanel stamp (maybe the SMS is the brand?).
It’s a French brand. Not sure if they still make them. I rode in a couple many years ago and really liked them, they are good quality. But since the one you are seeing is inexpensive, I suspect it is fairly old (10+) years.
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I think they are British? The brand I am thinking of is no longer in business. Good saddles.
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It looks at least that old. I don’t believe it’s marked with a date. Do you remember much about how they rode? This one has a pretty narrow twist and shorter thigh blocks, which are both “pros” in my book. I’m a bit concerned that it will be hard (and thus hard on my back) like the older saddles (Stubben, Beval, etc) I have ridden in before.
I don’t know if I have ever seen one in person, but going by reputation. They just went out of business a couple of years ago, I believe.
Cardanel used to make at least one of the Trilogy models.
Proof for myself that I’m not crazy: https://web.archive.org/web/20150909095613/http://www.cardanelsaddles.co.uk/s-trilogy.htm
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@kaya842 I recall them as being really comfortable. I love a narrow twist, but these days prefer a bigger thigh block. If that’s not your jam, then I think you might enjoy it. But how about fitting it to your horse? That’s a consideration too.
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They are not made anymore, but I’ve seen them pop up on eBay and in the tack for sale groups. I had one a few years ago, it was a nice saddle, my first ever new saddle.
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I used to own one and found it very comfortable to ride in and of very good quality. The manufacturer did make one of the Trilogy models which was very similar to the model I had which came from Britain. I used it on my widest of wide Welsh Cob x morgan mares when nothing else fit. It did have a narrow twist which was exactly what I needed. I sold it when I retired the mare to our broodmare band.
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I didn’t! I ended up with a different brand for what I feel is a steal, otherwise I would have gotten this one on trial.
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I rode in one not too long ago - it was incredibly balanced and comfortable but a smidge too small for me in the seat. My horse went beautifully in it. I know you found something different, but for anyone else who stumbles across this thread, its a well made saddle and worth trying.
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Suuuuuper comfortable saddles, and well made.
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They were made in England. I don’t know if the business exists anymore. Best to search “cardanel saddlery” with .couk NOT .com As only American uses .com & other countries use their version (England is .couk / Germany is .de /etc)
I haven’t found much info about them, but I did find that they were for certain made in England from a saddle I saw for sale. I was hoping if you could tell me if your horse is hard to fit or has a slope to its back/withers/etc. If so, they need a curved tree & their shoulder blade determines what kind of flap is necessary. For instance these horses need a tree with curved bars & the bay needed a short flap & the black needed a regular flap because of the angle of the scapula.
Both needed wide gullet channels in the rear because they had wide backs & a lumbar spine than other breeds. These are EXTREMELY important factors in saddle fitting.
