Anyone have any info on these? Do you have to go through a rep to order custom? Custom trees or pre-set trees? Other customized options? What kinds of backs to the trees fit best (i only know LG and verdades have this saddle)?
Prices for brand new and customized?
I took a Dresch saddle out on trial and I really really loved it. As soon as I took it out of the box, I melted. I was so disappointed when I realized that the saddle seat was a half size too big for me.
I do believe you need to go through a rep to order a custom saddle.
My understanding is that there are two lines, a fully custom and a semi-custom line.
When I last spoke to the rep, these were in the $5k+ range.
I have two, though I’m currently riding my three horses in two Customs. When my new baby outgrows the Custom she’ll likely be in one of the Dresches - right now she and my gelding can share, but she’ll end up needing her saddle wider as she fills out, I assume. My custom one was from a rep who is no longer repping them, and the instability regarding their initial reps and ability to replace parts was a turnoff against the company. I don’t know what they’re like now, though. My other Dresch is a young horse saddle which didn’t fit as well as my Custom, so I’m not using it on this specific young horse. She’s abnormally uphill and balanced, though - and I love the open seat and variable balance possible with the young horse saddle.
It sounds like they’re now more expensive than they were when first in the US, so I don’t have answers on that. The website used to be pretty clear.
I bought mine (used) from a rep 3 years ago. Before she came to the barn, she had me take very specific photos from certain angles of my horse’s back, then she came out with a van full of saddles to try. We narrowed it down pretty quickly to which tree would fit him and she watched me ride in 3 models of saddle with that tree. Again, this is for a used saddle, so my choices were limited to the used stock she had, but when I picked my favorite, stuffed/fit it on the spot and I’m super pleased with my purchase.
The rep I worked with was awesome, but she does travel all the time, so you do have to make a fitting appointment months in advance.
If you are buying new, you can either go full custom, or they do have a semi-custom (Pret-a-porter) line as well. But even with the semi-custom line, you cant just order it from the website. To make sure the saddle is the best for you and your horse aa rep will need to come out. pricing is what you would expect for a well-made custom saddle.
I have a custom Dresch and love it for my pony. I went through a rep and it was fitted to meet her needs as she’s short backed and wide through the shoulders. They made adjustments to the seat for me.
LetItBe
I went through a rep…love my Dresch. Unfortunately they started making the flap way too thick for some reason (couldn’t get leg on horse) One of my clients bought one…we had to send it back to get the flap thing redone. They were difficult about it for some reason.I am hoping if I need another one in the future they have fixed that problem.
I bought one on consignment in August because even just sitting on the plastic horse it felt wonderful. Its the Legolas tree apparently and after sending the closest rep pics of my horse’s back I was told it would never work and might damage my horses back…well its been a few months and my horse and I still love it. It hasn’t been fitted or adjusted. Its the first saddle that I have ever ridden in and forgot it was there basically. I have worked at a tack shop so have the benefit of training from various reps and as a trainer myself have ridden in clients’ saddles of all makes and models for over 25 years, so I am not uneducated about fitting. I have even gone treeless with a Moffett Vogue which is the only other saddle my horse approved of. He gets balky and threatens to rear and I joke he is a Prince always looking for peas!! As for price, I see them on ebay in the $3k and up range but I got mine for less than half that. I have no idea why it was priced so low but definitely feel like the horse gods were blessing me…lol The difference in my horse’s way of going was huge from the first ride and we have made rapid progress in comparison to the time spent prior trying to deal with the other saddles that he didn’t like.
Bumping this old thread to see if there are any newer experiences. I’m looking at a 2023 Verdades. The reviews I’ve read seem mostly positive!
I have a friend who uses Dresch saddles. The old ones are well-made, she says. The newer ones are built on an Argentine tree and are CROOKED. She’s had all sorts of trouble getting left lead canters, left bends, etc. She took a careful look at the (newish) saddle and realized the tree was warped.
Dresch started cutting corners when they went to Argentina for their trees.
Always check saddle trees for straightness, used or new! Even a well-built used saddle can warp over time with bad riding or bad care.
Wow, good to know! They are not cheap, so why are they cutting corners on the tree? I have it on the way for a trial, I will bring it to my local person the check out for sure!
I’d guess they want to increase their profit margin. Good trees aren’t cheap, or cheaply made.
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