Everyone's favourite - looking for saddle recommendations

[Piaffe11]

So it looks like I need to buy a new saddle as my current one has bit the dust. Problem is - I have no idea where to start.

Saddles I’ve ridden in over the years:

1. An old Spirig - liked it, but the flaps were too short for my long legs.
2. Albion SLK - was okay, but felt I was in a bit of a chair seat and it felt like my seatbones were on the edge of the seat, which was uncomfortable.
3. Butet (don’t know which model) - was fine, but I didn’t love it.
4. BR Beethoven - again, it was okay but nothing more.
5. Stubben Scheulteiss - it’s a fine saddle, but it’s a pancake and not very comfortable.
6. Custom Advantage - Probably liked this one best except the twist was too wide, which made getting my legs on difficult.

The only saddle I’ve sat in and truly loved was a Trilogy Verago. My legs fell perfectly. The only downside was the twist on that one felt insanely narrow - like I was sitting on a 2x4.

I’ve disliked every Passier and Prestige saddle I’ve sat in.

Typically I like a flatter, deep seat (no cup shaped or I’ll tip forward), a straight flap with a knee block (doesn’t have to be huge but preferably not small).

Living in Ontario, it is very difficult to be able to get a hold of saddles to try. The nearest tack store has quite a few used, but a lot of them are Passier, Albion, or Keiffer. There’s another tack store a ways away that has more, but it would be difficult to get out there. I usually end up buying “blind” and hope for the best. So far I’ve done well.

I’m pretty tall (5’10) with a 33" inseam.

My mare is a large warmblood (we’ll need a MW or W), but with a very typical warmblood back so she is not difficult to fit as long as the saddle isn’t banana shaped.

I’ll be looking to buy used!

Any brands/models you all can suggest for me to look at?

[CanteringCarrot]

You’ve somewhat described the Fairfax Gareth I have. The flaps come rather long IMO. Which is fine for a person of your size, but I had to opt for a short flap. It’s adjustable in the gullet and not much of a curve to the tree. The twist is wide-ish, but def not the widest I’ve sat on. I rode in a Kent and Masters that had the 2 x 4 feel to it though.

Dressage saddles are so personal. So preferences and rider fit can really vary.

There are a few posters on here with Custom saddles, so maybe they can direct you to one with a similar style, but narrower twist than the Advantage you tried.

[outerbanks77]

I’m about your height and length of leg, and love my Black Country Vinici. It feels narrower because it’s a monoflap, has a nice place to sit and very nicely balanced. Off the rack, they come with a long shaped but soft block. I had one of these and YMMV since you say you like a straight flap, but my knee always ended up on the block, so I had one made with a forward flap and a short block that ends just above my knee, and it is perfection. I had it made for a round 15H appaloosa (it’s on a hoop tree), but it has fit several other horses quite nicely including a 16H GOV and a 15.2 Appendix (with flocking), and it’s looking like it just might work for my 17H Westfalian as she is filling out. My saddler loves these saddles and considers them much more horse friendly than a Custom, which is what so many people ride in around here.

[soloudinhere]

I have been in a Custom Icon Alpha for about two years now, which has a very generous flat spot to the seat and is very easy to sit in. I’ve been very happy with it and haven’t found any other saddles on the market quite like it.

The Frank Baines Etude looks similar in structure but not quite the same in the seat.

[LadyB]

Have you looked at Equipe? Although Holly is hit and miss to deal with, she is someone that can bring Demo’s of the brand to try. She’s more out Guelph location but seems to travel pretty wide. I think she also has connections with Albion saddles.

Nathan from Sprucewood has a fair amount of options, and Bahrs seems to offer a good amount too.

Bakers… well you have to go there with an appointment, they have tons of options, but you’re pigeon holed into setting up an appointment just to look at them.

[Equi88]

I am finally the owner of a used Custom Wolfgang Solo and when I have the $$$$ saved up, I hope to be the owner of a brand new Wolfgang Solo! I am 5’7 with a 17 inch seat. That saddle fits me to a T. Can’t sit wrong if I tried!! So comfortable.
I am a big fan of external thigh blocks as they seem to give a nice close contact feel but with safety build in.

[Goforward]

Why not make an appointment at a Schleese fitting clinic? They’re made in your province. You
could support Canadian company while making your horse really happy!

[billiebob]

I love love love my Laser saddle. It has the magical deep seat that doesn’t lock you into place, it’s adjustable and wool flocked, and the block is fairly unobtrusive for how large it is. I am slightly taller and longer in the leg than the OP for reference. I have the Amulet model and a friend has the Trident, which is a little cushier and has a slightly wider seat – my Amulet is super comfortable but the Trident is like sitting on a cloud. You can also find them for an absolute steal if shopping used.

[Scribbler]

So much depends on the size of the seat and if the saddle fits the horse.

The same saddle can be comfortable in an 18 seat for me and hurt my back in a 17. A previously comfortable saddle can tip me forward or start to rub my butt if the saddle isn’t fitting that horse correctly. So I wouldn’t rule out all saddles of a given brand on one try of one model and size.

I tried a lovely County jump saddle once that somehow had a seam right under my butt that bruised me but ended up buying another model of County. I love my Passier Optimum dressage saddle in size 18 but on my coach’s very similar vintage 17.5 Passier the stirrup leathee buckles dig into my thighs and I need the leathers buckled at the bottom. No one else has this problem with this saddle. Etc.

[arabiansrock]

I would suggest trying the Kent and Masters. They have the flat open spot with rise behind for a deep seat. The twist is definitely not wide, but I disagree with the above poster, it is NOT like sitting on the wrong side of a 2x4 for me. And I am very sensitive about that, I hate saddles with a narrow twist. Adjustable gullet, very adjustable, solild saddle. Only reason I am considering looking for a new saddle is my new boy has a very short saddle spot for how big he is, and I have very short legs, and the flaps are just really long for me. Otherwise I would never even think about looking for anything else.

[Piaffe11]

Thanks everyone for your advice!

I brought home an Amerigo from the local tack store to try this week. I also sat in a Trilogy Verago, but it was an XL and too wide to try on my mare. Also sat in a Devoucoux Makila Harmonie which wasn’t bad, but was too narrow to try on my mare.

I thought I wouldn’t like the Amerigo, but it felt pretty good. The Trilogy was also quite nice and the twist not as narrow as I remember. It was an 18" (which I normally take), but I didn’t have the full 4 fingers of space behind me in the saddle. Do they fit small? Should I look for an 18.5 or 19 if that’s the way I go??

There’s a tack store in London that carries Fairfax saddles, but doesn’t have anything used at the moment. I may be able to get down there to sit in a few though.

[Jealoushe]

@Piaffe11

Thanks everyone for your advice!

I brought home an Amerigo from the local tack store to try this week. I also sat in a Trilogy Verago, but it was an XL and too wide to try on my mare. Also sat in a Devoucoux Makila Harmonie which wasn’t bad, but was too narrow to try on my mare.

I thought I wouldn’t like the Amerigo, but it felt pretty good. The Trilogy was also quite nice and the twist not as narrow as I remember. It was an 18" (which I normally take), but I didn’t have the full 4 fingers of space behind me in the saddle. Do they fit small? Should I look for an 18.5 or 19 if that’s the way I go??

There’s a tack store in London that carries Fairfax saddles, but doesn’t have anything used at the moment. I may be able to get down there to sit in a few though.

Amerigos are great, not sure if you know but there are several models and they all have different tree shapes to match your horses topline shape. So depending on your horse, the feel will improve with the right model for the horse. I ride all mine in Amerigos. They’re the bomb.

[CanteringCarrot]

@arabiansrock

I would suggest trying the Kent and Masters. They have the flat open spot with rise behind for a deep seat. The twist is definitely not wide, but I disagree with the above poster, it is NOT like sitting on the wrong side of a 2x4 for me. And I am very sensitive about that, I hate saddles with a narrow twist. Adjustable gullet, very adjustable, solild saddle. Only reason I am considering looking for a new saddle is my new boy has a very short saddle spot for how big he is, and I have very short legs, and the flaps are just really long for me. Otherwise I would never even think about looking for anything else.

I am the “above poster” that you disagree with. I cannot recall the model my fitter had me try, but it did fit my horse well and I would’ve rather gone with K&M vs Fairfax. I rode in a friend’s K&M GP saddle and I have no issue with the twist in that one. What model is your dressage saddle? I’d love to give them a second look. Do you find that the flap runs long? I found the regular flap on the Fairfax was quite long and opted for a short flap. Usually a regular flap suits me fine.

[arabiansrock]

Hi Cantering Carrot - I have the K&M S series, moveable block under the flap, regular wither fit, in size 18. The flap measures about 16 3/4 from the top of the stirrup bar, 16 1/4 from the bottom of the stirrup bar. Also if panel length is important, on my saddle it is a tad over 22 in long. It is very comfortable, although not extremely cushy.

[freddo.frog]

Kent and Masters seem to be very dependent on the individual - I have several friends who ride in one and love it, whereas my sister and I both get the “wrong side of a 2x4” feeling. For me it’s not just uncomfortable but actually painful to ride in, with the pressure points it creates.

According to my saddle fitter a lot of people feel very strongly about them, either love them or hate them, depending on your anatomy.

Unfortunate for me as they fit a lot of horses well (including mine!).

[J-Lu]

I have the Euroriding Titan 2. It fits my horse and me very well, although I wish it didn’t have such large knee blocks. I really hate large blocks. I tried many saddles with my horse as a 4-5 year old and while I LOVED sitting in the Fairfax at the tack store, it didn’t translate to my horse and me. The Kent & Masters didn’t work either.

I’m afraid you’ll just have to try saddles to see what you and your horse like. I never felt comfy in Trilogies even on the horse it was made for. I mostly liked Hulsebos but felt like I was sitting on a 8 x 4. I felt the “fall off” of the saddle on my upper, inner thighs. Was it terrible? No. But I felt off the back of the horse. I’m a 17.5, with COTH supported reasons why 17 doesn’t work for me! 18" is too large for my horse, says my saddle fitter and I agree. I LOVED the Frank Baines saddle but by horse objected even though the fit was good. I was lucky enough to have an independent saddle fitter work with me with all of these saddle tries.

While I didn’t particularly like the Titan at first, it fit my horse extremely well and continues to fit extremely well. It was given to me and I adjust for the blocks and stopped looking. My finicky horse really likes this saddle.