Dipping my toe back in the eventing world - Saddle help!

[EventingMaff]

After a long hiatus in the dressage-only world, I now have a lovely young warmblood mare with more event-oriented bloodlines. The last year+ we’ve been focused on getting her flat work strong, but recently I’ve been popping her over small jumps to break up the monotony of arena work as the bugs are SO horrible on the trails this year that we’ve been driven out of the woods. I’ve just been doing this in my dressage saddle (we’re talking <2 ft) but now I remember how fun it is and so I hope to dabble in low level eventing (novice and below) next year along with continued focus in dressage.

She’s a solid medium-wide with limited whither and a flat back. She’s not a tricky fit – I just have no idea what to look for!

Budget - ideally <1K but some wiggle room (I just don’t expect to jump enough to warrant dropping more)

What I’m looking for - quality used saddle from a good brand ideally with good resale value in case I decide to upgrade in years to come

Her Needs:

• Rear gussets (no upswept panels)
• Flatter tree
• Ideally front full gussets (can’t have half-moon)
• Freedom of shoulder movement - she’s got a wide shoulder for her build and considerable reach in her front legs (deceptively large mover)

My needs:

• Blocks to help keep my leg in place
• not too flat a seat
• narrower twist

Saddles that I know fit her well:

• Albion Platinum Ultima
• Stubben Zaria
• Equipe Emporio
• Prestige 2000D - tree fit well but panels a bit too upswept so needed a half pad otherwise she’d get a bit sore in the lower back

Saddles on my radar:

• Stubben Edelweiss or Roxanne
• Sam Worthington
• Albion Kontrol
• Barnsby
• Kieffer (I know not for everyone, but when living in Europe I rode in a couple and didn’t mind them! but they’re hard to find in the US)

Any others that I should consider or look at??

[16_Hands]

I suggest a Kent & Masters. You can find them used for $1,000 or under and are totally adjustable by a fitter. I just bought one and love it! Fits my horse, fits me, very comfortable (like sitting on a sofa), wool flocked, movable blocks. If you didn’t know it, you would think it is a very high end saddle. I had a Kieffer and really liked it but didn’t fit my horse.

[mychestnutvalentine]

I love my Equipe Emporio- I have both their jump and dressage saddle. I bought my jump for $900 and my dressage for $1,600. I felt like I finally had my horse back after several saddle buying failures.

If I hadn’t found Equipe in my budget, I also would recommend Kent & Masters- I had a sponsored Devoucoux rider try their S-Series dressage saddle on their hard to fit WB mare after none of the Devoucoux saddles fit. She was really impressed with how the saddle rode.

I also really enjoy Prestige and the d2000 has been my fall back on option many times… I think you will have to trial many saddles to see what is out there!

[EventingMaff]

@mychestnutvalentine – An Equipe for $900!? Tell me your secrets!!

[mychestnutvalentine]

@EventingMaff

@mychestnutvalentine – An Equipe for $900!? Tell me your secrets!!

It was my trainers. It is an older model as well- maybe the original Emporio? The dressage has nicer leather, etc.

[catchcan]

@16 Hands

I suggest a Kent & Masters. You can find them used for $1,000 or under and are totally adjustable by a fitter. I just bought one and love it! Fits my horse, fits me, very comfortable (like sitting on a sofa), wool flocked, movable blocks. If you didn’t know it, you would think it is a very high end saddle. I had a Kieffer and really liked it but didn’t fit my horse.

You can also look at the Thorowgood T8 Jump. It is a mix of real leather and synthetic, but a very nice synthetic that is hard to distinguish from real leather. It is basically a Kent and Masters at a lower price point, so rides as described above, also wool flocked. It is a really good bang for the buck. Here is a thread about it: https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/f…-i-m-impressed

[anon69112984]

@EventingMaff

After a long hiatus in the dressage-only world, I now have a lovely young warmblood mare with more event-oriented bloodlines. The last year+ we’ve been focused on getting her flat work strong, but recently I’ve been popping her over small jumps to break up the monotony of arena work as the bugs are SO horrible on the trails this year that we’ve been driven out of the woods. I’ve just been doing this in my dressage saddle (we’re talking <2 ft) but now I remember how fun it is and so I hope to dabble in low level eventing (novice and below) next year along with continued focus in dressage.

She’s a solid medium-wide with limited whither and a flat back. She’s not a tricky fit – I just have no idea what to look for!

Budget - ideally <1K but some wiggle room (I just don’t expect to jump enough to warrant dropping more)

What I’m looking for - quality used saddle from a good brand ideally with good resale value in case I decide to upgrade in years to come

Her Needs:

• Rear gussets (no upswept panels)
• Flatter tree
• Ideally front full gussets (can’t have half-moon)
• Freedom of shoulder movement - she’s got a wide shoulder for her build and considerable reach in her front legs (deceptively large mover)

My needs:

• Blocks to help keep my leg in place
• not too flat a seat
• narrower twist

Saddles that I know fit her well:

• Albion Platinum Ultima
• Stubben Zaria
• Equipe Emporio
• Prestige 2000D - tree fit well but panels a bit too upswept so needed a half pad otherwise she’d get a bit sore in the lower back

Saddles on my radar:

• Stubben Edelweiss or Roxanne
• Sam Worthington
• Albion Kontrol
• Barnsby
• Kieffer (I know not for everyone, but when living in Europe I rode in a couple and didn’t mind them! but they’re hard to find in the US)

Any others that I should consider or look at??

Myself rode in Stübben all my life except on the riding academy where they tortured us with Kieffer saddles. Which were way to wide across the seat for my short legs. I also had a Barnsby for a special horse long time ago and loved it 🤩

But in all I say trust your instinct on this one:)

[16_Hands]

I have the Thorowgood as my dressage saddle. You really can’t tell that the flap is synthetic. I tried a friend’s and had to have one for myself. SmartPak has them for $895.00. I bought my Kent & Masters lightly used for $1,000.

[caevent]

Of those you list, I like the Albion the most

[quietann]

The other nice thing about K&M/Thorowgood is that they have several different tree shapes available. If one of them fits your horse, then it’s a matter of whether the saddle fits you.

(My mare, alas, loved the cob tree but the saddle was sitting on her withers, because she has big ones, unlike most “round” Morgans.) The other trees didn’t work for her.)

[EventingMaff]

Thanks all! I have an Ideal coming to trial - apparently very similar to a barnsby and good for flat, round, and limited wither so we’ll see if it fits her and me!