Dressage Saddle Recommendations?

[PiranhaBoy]

I’m in the market for a new (or new to me) dressage saddle and I’d apparently forgotten how difficult saddle shopping is :lol: I currently have a Custom Saddlery Steffen’s Advantage Monoflap, M and 17" seat, which I bought for a previous horse. It does fit current horse per saddle fitter but I just cannot deal with the massive knee blocks anymore.

Current horse is a 6yr OTTB eventing prospect (going BN with long-term goals of going prelim and 3rd level dressage), thinly built, big shoulders, croup high, short back, and withers (not shark fin though). Jump saddle is a 29cm 17" Stubben Portos, which fits both of us to a T. I’m 5’2" 110lbs with long legs and torso (for my height) and narrow hips.

So far I’ve test rode:
County Competitor - really liked it, but it does have a crotch killing factor
Roosli Pilatus - beautiful saddle but definitely a no go
Stubben Juventus - I liked it but didn’t feel like I could ride with a long, dressage leg in it but rather a hole down from flat length in a jump saddle, if that makes sense?
Stubben 1894 - I wanted to really like the saddle, esp if I customized it with smaller blocks, but I just didn’t love it
Stubben Genesis - hated it

So any recommendations on saddles with M/MN trees, small knee blocks, and narrow twists below 2.5k? I can fit anywhere between 16.5 and 17.5 depending on the depth of the seat. I do prefer English and German saddles! Thanks in advance!

[CanteringCarrot]

I did ride in a Kent and Master’s before I bought my Fairfax, and the twist was very narrow, IMO. Too narrow for me, and the blocks were smaller. 2 of their models have moveable blocks, and the other has a larger fixed block IIRC. They’d also fall within your budget, are English made, and adjustable (may be good for young developing horse). They come in low profile, standard wither, and high wither. Perhaps there are some floating around the used market where you are located.

I am not sure about the twist sizing, but I also love Black Country saddles and find them to be very comfortable.

Harry Dabbs is also an English brand that has a special panel for a larger shoulder in one of their models. I’ve never seen a Harry Dabbs dressage saddle up close, but maybe another brand you’d like to look at. There are many on the used market here for fair prices, but again, depends on where you are located.

[Suspiria]

Offhand, i would say if Stubben has been working for you and your horse, keep looking there. Maybe try to find some older models to demo (Scandica, Romanus, even a Tristan could work). You may have to cut flaps down or pay for a reflock but some of these can be had for Very Little Money so you might still come in under budget.

FWIW, i really really like Stubben. I think the quality has been consistent since the dawn of time.

Depending on how flat your TB’s back is, Passier can work also, but you will almost certainly be in flap trimming territory.

How long has your horse been in work? Do you think he is going to stay croup-high? When you start getting serious strength through dressage training, his front can come up a ton from the building of the core muscles. Pessoa PDS with the Alto panel . . . nah never mind, i just remembered about the big block being a problem.

If you can find a Hennig with a 3/4 block, that might be a good choice also. My experience is that most of the Hennigs are built for rooftop shaped horses, and have the points swept back to accommodate shoulder movement, and almost all the seats on the used market are 17" and deep.

[UpChuck]

I agree, keep looking at Stubben. I have a horse built similarly to yours who goes in a Tristan. It fits us both well and while it did need to be reflocked, I picked it up for about $300 on eBay. It’s in great shape, will last forever, and I could probably turn around and sell for about what I paid for it (not that I would, I love it!).

[2DogsFarm]

I treated myself to a semi-custom Stubben Maestoso about 6 or 7 years ago.
Got it to fit the 17h+ WB with Mount Withers & had it made with mere pencil knee rolls, no thigh blocks.
LOVE the feature where you can stash extra leather length behind the flap,

Both of us loved the saddle, then I lost that horse and ended up with a 16H TWH with normal-shaped withers.
Fits him too & I am still comfortable in it.

[Myout]

I second the find a Stubben, ebay is loaded with them at very reasonable prices!

[Dune]

I rode my GP horse in a Stubben Scandica many moons ago and it worked for us. I’d also consider, as someone posted above a Black Country. They’re English made saddles that aren’t “too much” either saddle or price wise.

[PiranhaBoy]

Thanks for the recommendations! Pelham Saddlery is the closest tack store to me that has a good saddle selection. Unfortunately, at least last I checked, they didn’t have really any Black Country or Stubbens in the correct size, but I’ll more digging on that! Good to know about the Harry Dabbs, Hennig, and Kent and Masters!

@Suspiria A Passier is actually next on my list to try, esp since Pelham has a couple in stock that should fit (but good point on the flap length). As for being croup-high, I was really hoping he’d even out a year ago but that didn’t happen :lol: Hopefully increased dressage work of 1st level and up will help, but at the moment we’re still doing training level (1-2% away from moving up to 1st. It’s so close haha)

[Suspiria]

I swear Passier’s stock flap length is 18.5". If only we were all 6’5" German dudes with perfectly flat thighs! Alas.

As far as your horse being butt high, I hear you. Croup high is a tough one from a saddle fitting standpoint, but it is common, and you are in a part of the country with some good fitters so at least there is that. Upswept panels in the rear can help, which may be why Stubben has been working well. Stubbens also tend to have really short tree points. Passier (the older ones anyway) tend to have fairly long points. Longer points can help a saddle fit well on a slab sided horse, so it will be interesting to see if that works out for you.

Best of luck though!! Saddle hunting is only fun for about 15 seconds. COTH is a wealth of information and people who are glad to help out because it’s not our money going to fitters and fittings and shipping both ways.

[scruffy_the_cat]

The Stubben Aramis might have a flap that works better for your leg. Fits OTTBs quite well, doesn’t have a big knee roll, and is very moderate in its twist. It does have an NT model that has an even narrower twist that might work for some people. I have one that isn’t the right size for you (18", MN) and I’m about an hour away from Pelham in MA but if you want to borrow it to see if it’s in the right ballpark, I’m happy to lend it.

[PiranhaBoy]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! The winner ending up being a Frank Baines Elegance

[Hayburner]

I could have sold you my Baines Elegance. It’s a bit wide for my mare.