Duett Saddles - or suggestions on what may work?

[AMWookey]

I know how hard this is online, but unfortunately where I am living now is proving to be very difficult to find good dressage advice or a saddle fitter unless I want to trailer 2 hours away. Which if it comes to it, then fine, we will do it.

Do to some recent hind end changes, my 10 year old chunky guy is being refocused purely towards dressage. He currently goes well and is fitted to a Bate Caprilli close contact, but I would like to switch to a dressage saddle.

I saw an ad for a Duett Fidelio. I am curious whether it is worth it to drive the 2hrs to grab it as a trial. It’s a good price, it’s just the arranging a trial and getting it that is a chore and a half.

I personally prefer a narrow twist. I have never really ridden in a dressage saddle (not a good one). I fully plan on doing trials with whatever I am looking at, just wondering if this is a good place to start.

Photos on the next post (my computer hates me)

[AMWookey]

After a r![](de, I finally remembered to take the photos.

[IMG]http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/andreawookey/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_165505_zpsfn2jtvpn.jpg)

[IMG]http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/andreawookey/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_165526_zpseamsgjb1.jpg)

[IMG]http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb336/andreawookey/Mobile%20Uploads/20160725_165551_zpsurmvmt3j.jpg)

[Draftmare]

A picture straight down his back with you standing on a mounting block would be beneficial. In my unprofessional opinion, he is much too high withered for a Duett. They are geared more towards horses with low, mutton type withers, and very round backs. My mare fit very well in a Duett and her back looks like this: https://goo.gl/photos/G8G6ttBiFHRCmKoj7

Another thing to keep in mind is that because Duett saddles are made for wide horses the twist on them is very wide. There is simply no good way to make saddles as wide as they do on hoop trees without having a wide twist.

[AMWookey]

Thanks for the info! That is exactly what I was hoping to find out. We won’t bother with that one as your info corresponds with what I read as well.

[jaybird660]

I find the Fidelio is narrower in the twist than the Largo or Tango, having ridden in both. Your rear photo is not that helpful but the side shot suggests that you might need a deeper front panel to keep the saddle balanced. It is made for a horse that has a wither versus the Largo which has a much lower profile and better for the mutton withered type but it has a standard type panel and could pose a problem.

[AMWookey]

Thanks Jay.

I went to your website, it was extremely helpful! I will grab better shots of him today so that I have them on hand. I am beginning to think I will end up working with a saddle fitter remotely to figure out the best fit for the both of us. Too much of an investment to get it wrong!

[Pocket_Pony]

From the pictures, it doesn’t look to me like your horse is wide enough to need a Duett. I have one (jumping model) and it has fit my QH and mustang, but they are both wide horses. The twist is wide on it and I can no longer ride in it because of hip issues (although Mr. PoPo rides in it).

[RedHorses]

I don’t know where you are, but if it’s Eastern Ontario or west Quebec shoot me a PM if you want the name and contact for my fitter. Five years ago she managed to fit a jumping saddle on the horse I had been trying saddles on for two years in one visit ( it helped that I could provide details of what didn’t work) and this past February my extremely sensitive young horse from a few photos and three saddles that had worked for a while. She associates with a tack shop, but is an independent fitter so she has access to many brands and models without the high pressure to buy THAT brand/saddle. She listens to the rider. She wants to see you ride in at least two saddles (even if one is your current saddle) for comparison.

I can’t say enough nice things about her. She was my first choice when I decided Mr. Sensitive needed his own saddle. I didn’t even try to find one on my own.

[mtngirl]

They do come in normal sizes…like a 32, 34 which would be a MW

I’ve been riding in a Duett Fidelio for years and find the twist more narrow than a Wintec, a Prestige and about the same as my old County. I use it on an 16.2 h Appy who has decent withers and not a very flat back, but more “flattish” so that the Fidelio fits him beautifully ( a size 34, that’s had the flocking tweaked) and I also use it on my Hannoverian.

The horse doesn’t have to be super wide or flat for the Duetts. After all they carry quite a range in sizes…my 34 would be about a MW in most trees/gullets. Love mine!

[jaybird660]

I base the need for a hoop tree on the lateral shape of the low point of the back and not just the wither shape of the lack of a wither. Some horses need a hoop tree because they are more broad and need more lateral room for their musculature even if they still need more panel support in front such as full front gussets, etc.

Some horses are on the cusp and will have a preference. A horse can need a hoop tree and be a medium. They don’t have to be “kegs with legs” as we say.

[Luna]

I just bought a Duett all purpose and previously owned an Encore. Mine needs a fair amount of adjusting by my fitter to really make it work, but overall I am pleased with the value for the price. I have a p/b’r that jumps so the AP is perfect for us both, and since my horse is a table with withers, the Duett fit him better than just about anything else I could find. The only other saddle I had success with was a lovely older Exselle. It was dead comfy and perfect for him, but the flaps just weren’t long enough for my legs. Considering that they are not positioned as a high-end saddle, they are still a good value for the horses that need the hoop tree.