I am a hunter rider and have been riding in my Innovation for many years which I love …I recently got a Friesian and am starting to embark on a dressage journey. I did purchase a M. Toulouse Aachen Pro Dressage saddle off the recommendation of the seller …problem is I hate it …the twist is too wide for me and I’m just used to my County Innovation …so my question is which County dressage saddle would be similar in feel to my Innovation or would be a good first dressage saddle for my Friesian …for reference my wide Innovation fits him well. I’ve heard good things about the Epiphany …but there’s so many models …Connection, Competitor , Fusion , Perfection etc
I have an Epiphany. It has a very narrow twist, and more forward flaps. Coming from a jump saddle you might really like that. It might be a sweet spot between the more straight flap dressage saddles (like the Perfection, which I also have) and the more forward you are used to.
When I bought my Epiphany my horse was still fairly green and I liked those forward flaps as I could shorten my stirrups if I needed to. The Epiphany is also a mono-flap.
Each of the models is sort of designed for a slightly different horse, rider, feel. I think. I do remember I didn’t like the Fusion at all, but I can’t remember why.
Do you have a County Rep in your area?
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Ok …that is very helpful ! I do tend to like a forward flap. Yes I’m in Pa and there is a rep not far from me!
Have the rep bring every single thing they think might fit your horse. Ride in them all. It’s worth the effort. My rep brought about 10 saddles, even her personal ones, and some that wouldn’t fit me, just to see what sat best on my horse’s back. I rode in probably 5 of them.
I will say the Epiphany is going to sit you very differently than what you are used to. It’s designed to “make sitting trot effortless”, so make sure you can post comfortably in it regardless of flap style.
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Ok thank you !
I’m a life-long Hunter rider but I’ve sat in a lot of County saddles. I loved the Epiphany!
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Interesting, I had an Innovation until my mare outgrew it, and tried all the County dressage saddles as well. I absolutely loathed the fit of the Epiphany. I found all their dressage saddles to have wider twists than I’d prefer, but the least offensive to my bits was the Connection, which I don’t think they make anymore but is readily available used.
Definitely have your rep out with ALL the models and try them out! Everyone and every horse fits differently.
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@ladipus I’m in PA too and love Patti. She’s amazing. Try as many as you can. I’m in an epiphany and very happy with it. Good luck!
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Great ! Yes …Patti has been helping me for years! I’m waiting to hear back from her.
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I will be selling a Connection.
I’ll be looking for a 17 1/2 inch or 18 inch seat with a wide tree and a forward flap
Sent you a pm
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