I bought a Bates Artiste for my new horse last summer. I absolutely love it…that “ahhh” feeling when I settle into it is so great. However, my horse required the widest XW gullet plate (white) when I bought it, and now he has gotten broader still and the white XW is now too narrow.
Here’s the dilemma: He now needs to move up to their wide saddle series gullets, but Bates doesn’t make the Artiste in the wide series. I can buy the lavender gullet that fits my horse, but they won’t guarantee the tree in my current saddle if I install that wide plate.
So do I just scrap the idea of keeping my Artiste and start searching for another saddle…or dare I gamble and try the larger plate?
And have I mentioned how much I hate saddle searching?
I wouldn’t. It’s also possible that your horse needs a hoop tree/more U shaped gullet, so the Bates/Wintec gullets might not be suitable anyway. I’d probably call a fitter and consider some other options.
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Thanks…that’s the direction I’ve been leaning anyway, just wanted a bit more perspective in case somebody else has tried it successfully. 
My problem is where I live. I live in the middle of nowhere, and I’d have to haul about four hours each way to get to a good, independent fitter. While I do have an idea of potential saddles, finding them without going full custom is a “needle in a haystack” endeavor.
I’ll keep searching online.
I have seen them get twisted if you use the wide gullet in the regular saddles. I believe even Bates doesn’t recommend it for that reason.
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I figured I’d best not try it. Just thought I’d toss it out here to verify my thinking. thanks!
If the Bates tree/panels fit your horse well then, I would consider going to their wide version. If you have a saddle brand that works you might at least try the wide version. Try the saddle, it’s worth that much to save you starting the search for a completely different saddle and spending a lot of time (headache) and money trying new saddles.
FYI a lot of saddle manufacturers have low to no stock in off the shelf saddles.
No, I would not put the purple gullet plate in your current saddle, while it might work it might also cause damage to the tree. Not worth the risk considering what you paid for the saddle. Get the Opulence Leather so at least you have the upgraded leather that might make you like it as much as the Artiste.
I’d do that…except their only plus is being wide. They lack most all of the features I like about the Artiste…monoflap with small exterior blocks, different panels, adjustable stirrup bars, the HART system I can’t see spending money on something that I’ll just use temporarily until I find what I want. My Prestige will work for now until I find what I’m looking for. Thanks!
Just a note, the BAtes wide does have adjustable stirrup bars, the HART system, and the panels appear to be the same as on the Artiste. It’s def NOT monoflap, but the blocks are not huge. btw, the artiste has HUGE elephant ears blocks, not sure how you can call them small (I am not dissing the Artiste I would actually like to try one, its the price thats stopping me). I think the biggest difference you would find is that the Bates Wide has a VERY wide twist. I am willing to bet the Artiste is not a wide twist. I wish you luck in finding the right fit for your wide body horse. I have 2 round arabs, so I have walked that path, saddle fitting is hard enough, add superwide to it and it gets REALLY hard.
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The Artiste is indeed a narrow twist saddle…and Bates says the wide is narrow as well, but having ridden a client’s Isabell a while back, that had a wide twist and I disliked it, and am suspicious of the twist on the wide. Bates doesn’t mention any of the other features in their description on their website?. The blocks on the Artiste are not all that big in comparison to most mono flaps…they are set high, short and nicely shaped so they’re comfy for my leg but don’t interfere.
Thats why I would like to try the artiste. the blocks being short, up high, and moveable to find correct angle for your leg. I am short and this sounds perfect to me.
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That’s one of the things that appealed to me as well, since I’m also vertically challenged. And the blocks have a nice curve to fit your leg rather than just being big oblong lumps like on so many saddles. That curve fits so smoothly it’s like they aren’t even there and don’t really notice them.
I was and still am intrigued by the Artiste. Do you find the flap to be long? That was my only concern for myself, really.
I’m 5’3" and it seems to fit me quite well. I measured the flap just now and was surprised to find it measures 17.5"…sure doesn’t ride like that. Maybe it’s the sort of cutaway at the back edge?
