Chunky Monkey brand saddles?

[fivestrideline]

I’m beginning the perhaps overly optimistic process of saddle shopping for my rehab case. He’s currently going in a saddle that fits him “okay”, but he’s Mr Special and just can’t tolerate anything except perfect.

My list of needs:

• wide, but not WIDE. I’ve been told he’s a candidate for a hoop tree based on his broad back and low withers, but he’s probably a MW/W type. It’s the head/apex of the tree that’s the issue.
• short/upswept panels. He’s got about 16” of weight bearing surface
• WIDE channel. Tbh the wider the better. His spine is almost as wide as my entire hand
• long flap. 3L CWD fit me great.
• set back stirrup bar, NOT a bigger seat. Lots of things put me in a chair seat, especially “forward flap” type models where sellers look at my height and automatically pull a 17.5-18. I fit best in a 16-17”
• brown, double flap, hunter ring appropriate

I have a budget, but it’s more of a “I don’t know if this horse is going to be able to jump or if I’ll be shopping for a dressage saddle next year” budget.

My barn owner just got a custom Chunky Monkey saddle for her couch-with-legs, and is quite thrilled. I was wondering if anyone has experience with their jumping models? The price is good, we have a fitter here, but I don’t know anything about them.

I’m also open to suggestions - I had a Stubben on the 32 short point NT tree that fit great, but he’s packed on more muscle and width now so I’m afraid that’s no longer an option.

[StormyDay]

As they are a UK brand, you may have better luck over on horse and hound.

Duett makes hoop tree saddles and will custom make a saddle. They can customize it to be more forward than their standard models. It would probably run about the same amount.

Black Country makes hoop type saddles too but they would be significantly more $$.

[fivestrideline]

Good point. I was hoping for some US hunter type input, since my experience with UK brands has been different than what I’m used to coming off the circuit.

I had talked to duett before, but I’d like to put hands on a saddle or at least have a fitter come look at my horse before making a decision. I really don’t want to order custom without ever having sat in one. Our CM fitter won’t be in the area until March, so I’m just doing some preliminary research.

[ladipus]

Not familiar with that brand but County makes lovely wide tree options for the truly wide backs/no whithers types

[fivestrideline]

I’ve sat in a few Counties and they’re okay - but they’re also out of budget new. But they do run quite wide, so they’re on my radar for used, if the right thing pops up!

[AAHunterGal]

A Tad Coffin usually fits this type of horse, and you can find a good one used. Just make the the panels haven’t flattened down too much.

[fivestrideline]

Interesting… I’ve looked at a few and I like them for me, but I don’t know much about their stamps/tree options and stuff. I’ll look into them!

[AAHunterGal]

They just have one tree and panel for each of their two models (it sounds like you’ll want an A5), which is great (most of the time, lol). If anything, they are too wide for some horses.

So you’ll just need to get the right seat/flap for you.

[enjoytheride]

The Chunky Monkey saddles I’ve seen look nice in pictures.

I have a Loxley, they’re made in England and the company is English but there are many reps in the US. I have two hoop trees for my potato with legs.

[Pico_Banana]

A former dressage trainer of mine really likes their dressage saddles as initial saddles. Not sure if that translates to a jump saddle, however.

[Nous]

AH Saddles specialise in wide horses:

AH Saddles Ltd | Wide Horse, Cob and Pony Saddle Specialist

[lenapesadie]

I bought a custom Duett after trialing several saddles from them. I have a dressage saddle so can’t speak to the jump model stuff but can attest that the channel is quite wide on my saddle. I can fit my whole hand in it. I found Steve and Sheri to be lovely to work with and they did a great job using my tracings to help me select a saddle and to adjust the flocking once the saddle was built.

[CHT]

I am considering a Chunky Monkey for my wide pony (once she is going under saddle and earns one) mostly because of the name…but also because my saddle fitter listed them as a possible good brand and a reasonable price. If you get one, let me know! Curious how comfy they are. Thinking of getting her a used Duett for now - I like them, but they are slippery (maybe the newer ones are better).