Anyone ever heard of this brand? I have a friend who is going to try one out, and I’d never heard of them. So I thought I’d just check and see if anyone here has ever ridden in one, tried one, heard of them…
Yes, I heard.
With all the respect I can offer, may I point out that your response to the OP makes it sound like you are trolling. Perhaps you would share what you heard about the saddles? That would be more helpful.
Just a thought.
6 Likes
I am also interested in this - I’ve ridden in their treeless Startrekk dressage(assuming you are talking about this DP, https://www.dp-saddlery.com/) and quite liked it - the only thing I wasn’t too much a fan of was the stirrup hook arrangement but otherwise it didn’t feel like a treeless saddle at all and was quite comfortable.
I’ve been interested in trying the Maxima but I haven’t been able to do date.
Yes, that same DP - I had tried a Startrekk ages ago - wasn’t in love with the balance of it, but then I’ve yet to try a treeless saddle that I really liked. But curious to hear about this brand - good or bad… My friend is not on COTH, so I’m doing a bit of research for her, and partly for my own curiousity too…
Yes, a friend got the El Campo (one of their baroque saddles, with a tree) a few years ago for working equitation and trails. It is a lovely saddle, and seems well made. I actually rode in it once on a trail ride and, while the twist was a tiny bit on the wide side for me, it was otherwise very comfortable and secure feeling.
It is interesting in that you can adjust the tree with an allen wrench (or maybe something similar, I can’t remember exactly). My friend has used it on a number of different horses, usually just for a trial ride or short term use, so fit didn’t have to be perfect
The Ohio stockist, Kym Farley, is a second generation (or more) saddle maker herself, and a lovely person who wouldn’t associate herself with a subpar product. She is very selective about companies she works with. So I don’t know much about the saddles, but knowing the person makes me sure they are well made! She told me she was thinking about designing a saddle herself to fill some gaps in the market, and then she found DP and they were everything she wanted, so she just made her own life easy and went with them!
I’ve not seen one in person, but I do follow them on Facebook. I really want to try one of the El Capos for my pre mare. I’d love to try one out, it wouldnt be your traditional dressage saddle, but I don’t care since I don’t plan in showing. They were at equine affaire last spring, but unfortunately I don’t go.
Thanks everyone! Sounds like positive feedback other then the one vague post :winkgrin:
1 Like
Revisiting this. Anyone have one? My concern is whether it is comfortable for the horse .My horse has had some back issues in the past.
I think in order for a saddle to be comfortable for the horse the first thing to consider is the way it fits the horse, it needs to fit the horse well in order to be comfortable regardless of the brand.
Theresa McManus is the local rep for the VA/PA/MD/DE area. If you get a group of interested people, she will travel to your barn.
https://www.facebook.com/dpsaddlery/photos/our-premium-dealer-theresa-r-mcmanus-is-currently-at-the-andalusian-world-east-s/1923303067914529/
Obviously. I’m looking for feedback from those who have tried the. What type of horse do they fit?
My friend ended up buying one, and for HER horse, it is very comfortable. Her Custom saddle was causing some wither pressure, and her horse is super sensitive - she gets rub marks from girth buckles, stitching in saddle pads, everything! So the DP has gotten rid of the sore withers, and she got one of their saddle pads and her mare is much more comfortable. Type of horse? Appendix QH - nothing unusual, fairly level, medium wide, regular withers, regular shoulders, decent moving mare - looks like a robust TB. I know someone else that uses a DP on an Andalusian, so a wider, rounder built horse.
As already mentioned, comfort to the horse is dependent on so many things. Including a good fitter!
One thing to be aware of - if flocking needs to be adjusted on these saddles, it is a major project - ask about that (and what it costs) if that concerns you at all.
1 Like
Can you elaborate more? What makes them difficult to flock? And are you talking a strip flock or adjustments too?
Thx
Just an adjustment - apparently the entire panel needs to be removed. So (a) you can’t use someone who isn’t familiar with that specific type of saddle, and (b) you are paying for not just flocking, but panel removal (and then reattachment).
Maude, our daughter introduced me to this brand of saddle this year. She purchased one pre-owned for her 16+ hand Friesian cross mare. Her mare absolutely loves this saddle. I asked her to ride my mare in it and she said she liked it too. Side note: In March we picked up a small spotted draft cross, 13 yrs old, that came out of some kind of riding camp at an auction. When we put different saddles on her she lets you know right away if they are not comfortable by pinning her ears and acting like she will nip you. Last night we took a DP Relvas down to try on her and it was amazing and comical to watch her as we adjusted the size. I picked this saddle up on an auction. It looked like it had been set in a corner on the floor so rolled where the sides. Anyway, after a good cleaning and conditioning it was ready to try and I was hopeful she would like it, as she despises our trooper saddle, owned by our younger daughter. We set the saddle on her bare back to be able to see the fit better, put in the key, and started turning. As it got to small she pinned her ears, made an ugly mare face, and threatened to nip us. As we turned the key the other way and the gullet widened, she relaxed, blew, then pricked her ears. We thought this must be a fluke of behavior so we repeated the process and received the same results. You have got to love an older mare for doing her best to make sure the humans understand her communication. Anyway, now to find a girth long enough for her big belly and take her for a ride. I can message back after we complete that task. What I can say is that our mare really appreciated the adjustability of the gullet to give her more comfort and no pinching.
3 Likes
