Duett Companion, Stubben ,Update I finally got a saddle

[candyappy]

Duett Companion:
I am looking at these and wonder if someone can give any information based on experience?

Does the seat match sizing for a traditional english saddle or do they run small?

All other english saddles.

How do you convert endurance gullet width to the cm tree size you might need in english?
I currently use a Abetta wide endurance saddle with a 7 inch gullet width.

I am wanting to go between 7.5- 8 inch and switch to a traditional english saddle as I don’t like the position the Abetta puts me in.

I am looking at used saddles so any idea what cm tree size english I should try?

34, 36, 38 40 42??

I had a Stubben for 20 years that I loved and it fit a wide variety of horses but my mare was too wide, so I sold it. I have no idea what cm tree it had.

[Guilherme]

This can get you started: https://stubbennorthamerica.com/tidbit-tree-width/

Here are two more data points:

https://equineink.com/2010/02/21/what-size-is-that-tree/

https://schleese.com/2016/03/08/saddle-fit-tree-angle-width-tips-8-9/

G.

[candyappy]

@Guilherme Thank you !!

[BlueDrifter]

My Stubben seems to fit all my horses, too, and I tend to like warmblood mixes, or stout QH. I have a 31 tree. I would have guessed I needed wider, but not so. This is a Genesis D Special dressage saddle.

[candyappy]

@BlueDrifter

My Stubben seems to fit all my horses, too, and I tend to like warmblood mixes, or stout QH. I have a 31 tree. I would have guessed I needed wider, but not so. This is a Genesis D Special dressage saddle.

I did a wither tracing and she came out as needing a 38cm tree. I am looking at a hoop tree as it looks to match her shape better than a traditional tree I see in looking at saddles.

I love Stubben saddles but they don’t say what the XW is and I don’t want the expense/ aggravation of buying and selling over and again if it is too small.

With any luck I have a choice between 2 I have found. Not brands I am familiar with, but in checking they are high quality.

[BlueDrifter]

The cm that Stubben uses likely don’t match where you are choosing to measure on your wither tracing. I believe they measure the tree points’ width rather than where the leather might end up. They don’t even have sizes of 34 or 36, do they?

Good luck on your saddles though. Saddle shopping is worse than horse shopping…

[Guilherme]

@candyappy

I did a wither tracing and she came out as needing a 36cm tree. I am looking at a hoop tree as it looks to match her shape better than a traditional tree I see in looking at saddles.

I love Stubben saddles but they don’t say what the XW is and I don’t want the expense/ aggravation of buying and selling over and again if it is too small.

With any luck I have a choice between 2 I have found. Not brands I am familiar with, but in checking they are high quality.

Stubben has a fitting service on their website. You might go there and see what kind of help you can get.

There are some differences in the way some people measure trees. I don’t believe there is one, universal standard (although it would be nice if there was).

I don’t know if Stubben does it but some saddle makers, like Steele, will send you a trial saddle. It will not be new or pretty but it will give you a chance to do a “hands on” test. I just Googled “trial saddle makers” and got a number of names. Most of these are not “bespoke” (which is a very pricy way to go) but rather an attempt to use an existing tree with horse under you. Such a fit might never be perfect, but it can be excellent.

The Stubben trees are very well engineered and do have a wider range of fit, it seems, than some others. Is that being “sloppy” or it is being “generous”? I guess that depends on your point of view!

G.

[candyappy]

@Guilherme

Stubben has a fitting service on their website. You might go there and see what kind of help you can get.

There are some differences in the way some people measure trees. I don’t believe there is one, universal standard (although it would be nice if there was).

I don’t know if Stubben does it but some saddle makers, like Steele, will send you a trial saddle. It will not be new or pretty but it will give you a chance to do a “hands on” test. I just Googled “trial saddle makers” and got a number of names. Most of these are not “bespoke” (which is a very pricy way to go) but rather an attempt to use an existing tree with horse under you. Such a fit might never be perfect, but it can be excellent.

The Stubben trees are very well engineered and do have a wider range of fit, it seems, than some others. Is that being “sloppy” or it is being “generous”? I guess that depends on your point of view!

G.

I think you are right. I used Stubben’s site and actually see there is 1 store in my state that does saddle fitting and they are only 60 miles from me and do on farm .

I am so leery of winging it by just my wither tracing alone. I ordered a flexible curve and will attempt a detailed tracing to see how I did the first time, but I do think I will try to get a professional out .

The store carries new/ used Stubbens as well as many other brands and offers consignments so maybe if I take my time I can get something I know fits us both.

[Guilherme]

@candyappy

I think you are right. I used Stubben’s site and actually see there is 1 store in my state that does saddle fitting and they are only 60 miles from me and do on farm .

I am so leery of winging it by just my wither tracing alone. I ordered a flexible curve and will attempt a detailed tracing to see how I did the first time, but I do think I will try to get a professional out .

The store carries new/ used Stubbens as well as many other brands and offers consignments so maybe if I take my time I can get something I know fits us both.

I’ve always believed that an excellent way to find a saddle is to haul your horse to the tack shop and let them start trying their wares. If you engage a saddle fitter (because you feel you lack the skill to make a proper call) then bring them along. Ten years ago this was easy to do in most areas as tack shops were reasonably common and if you went into a major urban area you would have multiple choices. Today, with the on-line competition gutting the local shops like fish, it’s much harder to do. Big shops with large inventories are much more rare. But if there is one within a reasonable distance it’s still a viable option. Even if the shop does not have the exact model you need you can get a really good read on just what works and what doesn’t and make a very educated guess on what to order that will most closely meet your needs.

G.

[candyappy]

UPDATE

It took a while but I finally went with a Duett Tango ( hybrid dressage/ trail) I found on Ebay.

I am happy to say it fits my mare and I love it!