County (Eventer) saddle question

[quietann]

So I’m on the hunt again, for something A/P type and lighter than my huge dressage saddle. I got a 17W County Eventer on trial, rode in it today and found it surprisingly comfortable. It’s a bit wide for my horse.

My trainer happened to be around and she liked it but did say that County, up until some year, tended to set their stirrup bars much too far forward and it looked like this saddle might be one of the problematic ones. Does anyone know anything about this, and especially when the change was made?

Add 17.5 MW County Eventer to my wish list…

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=quietann;7950540]
My trainer happened to be around and she liked it but did say that County, up until some year, tended to set their stirrup bars much too far forward and it looked like this saddle might be one of the problematic ones. Does anyone know anything about this, and especially when the change was made?[/QUOTE]

A strange statement on your trainer’s part since County makes a variety of saddles with a pretty wide variety of stirrup bar placements. Even in the old days, when the County Eventer was still in production, the Pro-Fit and other models had a more moderate stirrup bar placement. But in fairness to your trainer, she’s right about the County Eventer: it’s a true XC saddle in the sense that it’s got a pretty forward stirrup bar and a big, deep seat. It’s meant to put you in a bit of a chair seat. Some people like that kinda thing, especially if they’re long-legged and like to ride with a defensive lower-leg position. Others find it very limiting, especially the cough short-of-leg set.

I sorta vaguely remembered your last saddle thread–to which I didn’t reply, sorry–so I looked it up again. Since your dressage saddle is a Trilogy, have you considered a Trilogy Talisman? It’s a very nice saddle for the kind of riding/horse/rider that you described in the other thread, quite similar in seat architecture to the County Eventer but with a more intelligently-placed stirrup bar. It rides like a couch. My former barnmate has one for her Irish Sporthorse, and she foxhunts and trail rides in that saddle for hours, as does her trainer (who whips-in on the aforementioned horse). Former barnmate would certainly describe herself as “short of leg with some junk in the trunk.” Fine Used Saddles has a 17.5" MW for a very reasonable price.

EDIT: Why am I such an airhead today? So many typos. Fixed them.

[betsyk]

I have a W/XW 17-1/2" county eventer made probably around 2004, and the stirrup bars are just fine. I use it on a variety of horses. I love mine and have spent hours and hours in it.

To that I will add: we have several at the therapeutic riding program I work with. If the saddle doesn’t fit the rider and if the stirrups aren’t adjusted properly, it could dump someone in a pretty good chair seat, especially if it was a little narrow and sat high in front.

[AKB]

I have a 2 year old County Eventer which is wonderful. It is so comfortable.

[quietann]

I decided that this particular County Eventer won’t work for me and the mare, but it’s on my list to try again if one in the right size comes up.

BTW, it is still made, has not been discontinued, and it looks like the stirrup bars are back a little further. Extended stirrup bars and short flaps would help me a lot, with any saddle.

Also – the Trilogy no longer fits my horse, and while it was good for me in most ways, it wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped. This was also my first really deep-seated saddle, and there were a few times on the trail where the mare spooked at something, and I realized I could not have bailed if I wanted to. I can’t do a really shallow seated saddle anymore, but too deep is just as bad, for other reasons.

Back to the drawing board…

[HorsefaceDee]

I have an older model I ride in and I LOVE it. it is a 17.5" and I am almost 5’11"…Fits me like a glove and fits TBs like a dream.

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=quietann;7953469]
BTW, it is still made, has not been discontinued, and it looks like the stirrup bars are back a little further. Extended stirrup bars and short flaps would help me a lot, with any saddle.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I should have used the term "renovated’ rather than “discontinued.”

Also – the Trilogy no longer fits my horse, and while it was good for me in most ways, it wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped. This was also my first really deep-seated saddle, and there were a few times on the trail where the mare spooked at something, and I realized I could not have bailed if I wanted to. I can’t do a really shallow seated saddle anymore, but too deep is just as bad, for other reasons.

Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in my last reply. I read your other thread, including what you don’t like about the Trilogy Debbie McDonald. That’s the whole reason I suggested the Talisman, which is an entirely different saddle with an entirely different tree, and a medium-deep seat design that I would not describe as confining or deep. But maybe you have excellent fit-related reasons for disqualifying it, so I’m gonna stop suggesting it.

[quietann]

[QUOTE=jn4jenny;7953774]

Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in my last reply. I read your other thread, including what you don’t like about the Trilogy Debbie McDonald. That’s the whole reason I suggested the Talisman, which is an entirely different saddle with an entirely different tree, and a medium-deep seat design that I would not describe as confining or deep. But maybe you have excellent fit-related reasons for disqualifying it, so I’m gonna stop suggesting it. ;)[/QUOTE]

It’s more just my preferences. I hardly ever jump and then only tiny things like little logs in the woods, or ditches or puddles. In fact, I am officially not allowed to jump, for medical reasons… Our life is mostly flat work and trail riding, but I do want something that is comfortable if the mare decides to take a flying leap… which she does occasionally. So I was thinking more A/P, but not something with a super forward flap like the Talisman. But also looking at “dressage-y” trail saddles.

(And fineusedsaddles.com does have a couple of lovely A/P saddles, but we already know Lauriches don’t fit the mare and I am not comfortable in them anyway.)

[quietann]

Heads up for County saddle fans: Pelham Saddlery is taking on selling a huge number of their demo saddles. I just found out yesterday and have inquired about a few including a 17.5" MW Eventer.

My trainer agreed that the Eventer I tried had the stirrup bars too far forward for me, so we’re on to other options as well. She’s recommended Kent and Masters as a good one to look at because of the number of tree styles, adjustability, and great value for the price.

[Posting_Trot]

I bought (last fall) a used County Eventer that I think was made in 2011. It looks different than the picture of the County Eventer that Pelham Saddlery has (if that’s the one you tried).

The flaps are a bit more forward on mine, although I obviously can’t say anything about any differences in in stirrup bar placement. But I don’t find that I’m put in a chair seat at all.

FWIW, what I use the saddle for is trail-riding–which includes up and down hills, occasional gallops, and small log jumping–and jumping very low stuff in the ring. I bought the Eventer to replace a close contact saddle (a Black Country) which I finally admitted to feeling insecure in because of the flat-ish seat.

But, I also did not want a deep seat because they make me feel claustrophobic.

[quietann]

Posting Trot – interesting. I believe my trainer may be right about the stirrup bars. The one at Pelham is a gorgeous, well-maintained saddle, but not for me.

It sounds like you do pretty much what I do, with maybe a bit more jumping (as I said, I am officially not allowed to jump…)

Anyway … I will be getting a Kent & Masters GP with the compact tree on trial soon from Hastilow. One of my trainer’s students at the barn switched from a dressage saddle to a K&M GP with the cob tree, and is riding much better and more comfortably.