I had the chance to look at and sit in 2 Fairfax and Kent&Masters Saddles last weekend. They were very comfortable and the panels and gullet/channel are generous. They use the replaceable gullet system similar to the Wintec, but the panels adjust with the gullet so the whole panel of the saddle changes to fit the horse. They are advertised as being very good for the horse and allowing freedom of movement. Anybody here riding any of them and what do you like/dislike about them? Model?
Although the gullet bars are changeable like the Wintec, they are shaped differently with some being R, longer bars, and some being shorter, the S bars. The different length bars allow the pommel to be more raised as the point pockets don’t sit lower, hence, more suitable for withered horses and the S bars have a lower profile.
I have ridden in all of them by trying them on our horses at home, both cob/broadback and the hi-wither and the Fairfax monoflap. They are quite comfortable. The tend to look perched up until you sit in them. Some have more open seats than others. They have changed the trees fairly recently so they will run more true to size, the compact tree. This also has a tree slightly shorter and will be more useful for those short coupled horses.
The Fairfax has some significant changes in that the front of the panel ends a bit further back then it had before, allowing for more shoulder movement and is supported by a different block system. They say that with all of the testing, and free shoulder movement in the Fairfax, that the horses have more scope and ability to jump higher or have more loft on the flat. I haven’t ridden in the newer versions yet so I can’t confirm that but I did look at the studies.
I have this saddle:
http://www.fairfaxsaddles.co.uk/products/17-monoflap-dressage-saddle
It’s an 18-inch seat and right now has the wide gullet (have not changed it yet).
It is a very comfortable saddle for me and seems to be working well so far for my youngster. I bought it specifically for him and had a saddler adjust it to him before I ever sat on him. Other saddles I tried were sliding up his withers on the longe line. This one has wither gussets and stays in place much better. He’s a big, tall thing with a short back, long sloping shoulder and withers that go all the way back, yet he hasn’t developed his shoulders yet. This saddle seemed made-to-order for him
As Jay mentions, it does look a bit perchy just sitting on him, but it is well balanced when I’m mounted up.
The only problem is that I can’t shorten the stirrups much without the blocks getting in my way. I mentioned this in the “big thigh/knee block” thread, that I prefer a concealed block. But it hasn’t caused any real problems and I have survived some bucks, spins and a couple of rears (he tried a bunch of naughty stuff one day).
All in all it is a very nice saddle and I am thrilled that I found it (barely used for $1700 on eBay). Now, to keep it working for the next few years as he grows up – we shall see.
Larkspur, that is the saddle that I really liked. I sat in a 17 and a half and it seemed to fit me well although I worry the block maybe too straight for my long thigh. It was super comfy though. My horse does not have a high wither and has prominent shoulders and a short back. Jaybird do you think this could work for my horse?
I own a K&M dressage saddle – LOVE it and it fits my TB like it was made for him. The gullet plates have much longer points than the Wintec plates (which I do still use in my Collegiate jump saddle) and it has amazing wither clearance. The balance is great and although it felt wide when I first got it, once it settled, it felt perfect.
I have this one:
http://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/s-series-range/s-series-dressage/42-s-series-dressage-high-wither-moveable-block
I absolutely LOVE it. I couldn’t have gotten a better fit for my horse if I’d ordered a custom saddle for him, and it’s well balanced and comfortable for me.
[QUOTE=Halfling;7400205]
Larkspur, that is the saddle that I really liked. I sat in a 17 and a half and it seemed to fit me well although I worry the block maybe too straight for my long thigh. It was super comfy though. My horse does not have a high wither and has prominent shoulders and a short back. Jaybird do you think this could work for my horse?[/QUOTE]
Without seeing your horse it would be hard to be sure. They have made innovations as I mentioned before that allow for more shoulder freedom and combined with the shorter length, maybe.
I am very curious about these saddles as well. I have a 4 year old Lipizzan pony mare who is very wide and mutton withered, extremely short backed, and at this point a smidge bum high. I have been looking at the cob dressage saddles for her. I have bought and sold at least a dozen saddles for her, right now I have a Lovatt and Ricketts Ellipse, but it is a 17.5" and I think it is a bit too long, and it isn’t quite as hoopy as she needs. It also slides forward on her shoulders. It measures an xw, but was made to template and isn’t completely U shaped. I have issues with back and neck, can’t ride a really wide twist or seat. What is the twist like and how wide does the seat measure in say a 17"? thx
Both the K&M and Fairfax offer nice fit and quality for the money. However, changing the gullet plate will only affect the width - it does not change the panel. They’re flocked, though, so a good fitter can tweak them to your horse’s specs.
A thought if you’re thinking about stepping up from K&M to the price range on Fairfax: Hastilow is building on that same Simatree technology and that same changeable gullet system. So it may behoove you to look at both lineups together. At that price, you deserve to get exactly what you want.
Considering a Fairfax for my short backed youngster…can anyone answer whether the S bars can be used instead of the R bars in it? Thinking the shorter points would probably be better for his wide-ness and shoulders…
@Myout pm @sheltona01 She is an amazing saddle fitter and sells the brand you are considering. She also rides dressage.
They’re not interchangeable within the same saddle. If it takes R bars, the S bars won’t fit, and vice versa. You’d have to buy a square cantle saddle to use the S bars.
I had a K and M cob dressage. Fit my horse but did not work for me, I could not get out of a chair seat. Quality was great, got a great resale price when I sold it.
I have seen the s-bar in an r-bar once, but it really is not good. I would be worried about the structure of the saddle not being supported and it being warped. Plus it really would not shorten the tree points like what you want. If you want a higher end saddle than the Kent and Master in an S-bar you need to go to the Hastilow’s. Andy is making a new line called the Highland Cob built on the S-bar, plus it is still reasonably priced.
