Duett saddle vs County XW tree

I’m riding one horse in a Duett Fidelio right now and it fits her OK, not perfect, but me not at all. It’s a 34cm tree and just wide enough for her but really it’s a bit flat front to back, possibly doesn’t really have enough clearance under the middle of the seat and also a bit long in the panels. Horse is wide but has big tall, well muscled withers, almost like a stallion, a short back and is a bit croup high. She goes well enough in it but she’s a go-along, get-along kind of horse. I like the seat ok on the Fidelio but my leg really doesn’t fit on it even though the seat is quite big for me, probably too big really.

I’ve found a County Competitor, newer version used and in good shape, for sale in an XW tree and I know it will fit me, it’s my favorite saddle. I think it will fit the horse better as it has a more curvy tree front to back and more clearance under the seat for the long wither plus I can go down a seat size as the flaps will fit better so it will be shorter in length. The overall design of the County I think will fit her better, I’ve ridden similar horses in them. My main question is will it be wide enough? Does anyone have any idea how these two might compare?

I will do a trial but if someone can definitely say “nope that’s way narrower in front” then I’ll save myself a couple hundred bucks in shipping.

The Duett is not a straight tree but you might need a different hoop tree or a hoop tree with a different panel. Some Duett saddles are also available with an upswept panel but they are rare or have to be ordered. The County saddles are more A shaped although the Competitor is more open than most. The A versus U shape means that even if very wide, the A shape, if not the appropriate shape for your horse, might pinch somewhere along the tree points of the A, whereas, the U will drape over your horse.

I would check the gullet channel and make sure the panels are broad enough to allow enough surface contact to disperse pressure.

The three hoop trees I’ve tried on her fit her great in the shoulders but seem perilously close to hitting her in the withers further down the gullet. The Fidelio isn’t as hoopy (is that a word?) as the others so it’s OK. But it’s not like the perfect fit either.

We need a wider tree with a taller panel, ore more curve front to back or a narrower gullet or something to keep it up off her back.

Did you try a hoop tree with more depth in the panel? This sounds like a familiar conversation. Did we chat already?