Favorite "Thoroughbred" Dressage Saddles

[Winding_Down]

Looks like I will have a “shark fin” withered Thoroughbred in my barn which means that I have no saddles that fit. Of course I can pad up my current saddles - but eventually, I want to have a custom saddle that fits the horse. Jumping saddle can wait longer.

I love my County Perfection, but I have a feeling it is not the sort of saddle that fits this type, even with a narrow tree, sr panels, etc. I’ve been eyeing others…

The Custom Wolfgang Solo has always caught my eye but I have no idea if the tree is suitable for a TB.

I will likely be buying used - as I don’t want to fork out 3k+ for a saddle.

Ideas?

[Jumper_Princess1988]

The HDR Buffalo Pro came highly recommended by our saddle fitter…found a gently used one on Facebook for a steal - the saddle and the reflocking cost me less than $600 I believe. Pony is happy and the trainer is happy with my leg position, too!

[Beam_Me_Up]

I have on various shark fin TBs used a Kieffer Orphee TB, an Albion SLK high head, and a County Connection (N/SR).

[EventerAJ]

Not all TBs are the same. Wait till the horse is in your barn, and then start trying saddles. What works on one TB may not on another-- just because they have big withers, they can still have a curvy vs flat back, and if recently OTT their muscling may change a lot. Some horses are in the “don’t care” camp, others are princess-and-pea when it comes to tree shape. Too, what puts you in a good position on one horse can make you awfully uncomfortable on a different horse.

That said, I like British-made saddles more than others for my Intermediate TB. But I wouldn’t say he has shark fin withers-- big ones, yes, but he is a MW with well-developed shoulders and strong back, and a high rise. Current saddle is an Arthur Kottas, but also wore a County Competitor and an old cutback Kent Olympic (also British made).

Another OTTB in the barn has a very weak back, enormous Kris S shoulder, very prominent wither. He’s going in a Cliff Barnsby med-narrow dressage saddle, with thick poly pad and sheepskin pad with shims. A suitable fit for now, but he will change as he fills out. Not worth spending big bucks on saddle to fit him at this stage of life.

[yellowbritches]

Also, if the horse is young, it’s going to change a lot.

Countys us are my go-to for TBs. But my Neidersuess was great on a couple of TBs (until Toby beefed up substantially). When I sold it, it went on to another TB. I also like Albions. But, really, getting the horse home and trying different things is the best thing to do. And also resigning yourself to the fact that what works this year might not work next year.

[jaybird660]

It’s the saddle options that matter in my opinion, as well as, longitudinal and lateral shape. I like wither or full front gussets and a deeper front panel such as a skid row, trapezius or K panel. These keep the saddle from collapsing into the wither and allowing the saddle to accommodate the wither sides and shoulders.

Some TB’s are straighter, some curvier so the rear gussets vary and a saddle that has options is good.

Frank Baines, Black Country, County and many other UK saddles offer these options.

[brody]

Agreed with the wait don’t rush. Stuebbens and knifes work here generally though.

[fordtraktor]

My TBs with shark withers fit well in my Stubben. It is an older model (Scandica) and 31cm tree. I don’t like to go super narrow in the tree, even though my horses are pretty “narrow” I prefer saddles that are not that tight but have room for the wither. I think a tight saddle tree can restrict the back.

Features like a semi-cutback head can also help make room for withers without tightening up the tree too much. I have a couple jumping saddles with that feature and they are wonderful when it comes to fitting TB withers.

[LadyB]

Prestige is great for those shark fin TB’s. They have a cut back Pommel, and have worked well with my TB. They are great quality, and middle range in price.

My friend has a shark fin mare, she recently purchased an Equipe. Not well known in the US, but they are around and can be found.

[Jersey_Fresh]

I am in the same boat OP. I tried a few county saddles on Friday but couldnt find one that I loved. I have an Amerigo on trial, and it seems so far to fit him ok (havent ridden in it, just put it on him).

Not to hijack, but what is everyone’s opinion on shims/pads for a horse like this? I normally would just try to find something that fits him well like my jump saddle, but my horse is 17 years old so I dont know how much longer he will go. I talked to my trainer and she said to find something to fit myself and shim it to fit him. But I’ll be honest-I feel bad even thinking about this.

[Winding_Down]

oh dear, I did not mean that i was going to go out and buy a saddle before I have a horse… ! Do I have stupid written across my forehead still? :eek:

There are just so so many brands that I want to narrow down the trials to a few makes. I am a County Lover through and through and I recall having a Connection that worked on my tbs in the past. I also had Luc Childeric that worked well but it was awful on my broader irish types. I have always liked the feel of the Wolfgang saddles as well but do not know if they generally do well on the high withered sorts. The particular horse I have my eye on is very steeple-sharkfinned in the weather but quite broad through the shoulders. My guess from what I was told, is that he will be a Conquest MN SR. But I haven’t had my hands on him yet so I could be dead wrong.

[Winding_Down]

oh dear, I did not mean that i was going to go out and buy a saddle before I have a horse… ! Do I have stupid written across my forehead still? :eek:

There are just so so many brands that I want to narrow down the trials to a few makes. I am a County Lover through and through and I recall having a Connection that worked on my tbs in the past. I also had Luc Childeric that worked well but it was awful on my broader irish types. I have always liked the feel of the Wolfgang saddles as well but do not know if they generally do well on the high withered sorts. The particular horse I have my eye on is very steeple-sharkfinned in the witheer but quite broad through the shoulders. My guess from what I was told, is that he will be a Connection MN or M SR. But I haven’t had my hands on him yet so I could be dead wrong.

[CookiePony]

I’ve had great luck with a Custom Everest for my two TBs. it was designed for horses with a higher wither. The Customs are wool-flocked so a fitter can do some adjusting for you.

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=CookiePony;8587268]
I’ve had great luck with a Custom Everest for my two TBs. it was designed for horses with a higher wither. The Customs are wool-flocked so a fitter can do some adjusting for you.[/QUOTE]

I have only sat in the Custom Dressage Saddles. The Wolfgang Solo feels terrific. Will look for the Everest.

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=Jersey Fresh;8584415]
I am in the same boat OP. I tried a few county saddles on Friday but couldnt find one that I loved. I have an Amerigo on trial, and it seems so far to fit him ok (havent ridden in it, just put it on him).

Not to hijack, but what is everyone’s opinion on shims/pads for a horse like this? I normally would just try to find something that fits him well like my jump saddle, but my horse is 17 years old so I dont know how much longer he will go. I talked to my trainer and she said to find something to fit myself and shim it to fit him. But I’ll be honest-I feel bad even thinking about this.[/QUOTE]

I used to pad-up and shim saddles all the time when I had multiple horses. Honestly, I never had a problem. My current situation is different: I now have 2 horses on average so I can pick a particular saddle that fits without shims.

And I hope to have only 1 horse by the end of the year.

See! I AM winding down!!! bwahaha!

[fordtraktor]

My Stubben fits both my TBs beautifully without padding. I use a Thinline under it but not because the horses need it. I have a bad back and I can’t sit the canter without it (and walk without dragging a leg afterward). Horse people, I’m glad we don’t have to be sound.

[Saskatoonian]

Might not be quite “as much saddle” as you like, but my TB and I are in love with my Butet. Had Stubbens back in the day and the new ones might be different, but even though the saddle was fitted, both horses I rode in it hated to lift their withers. The second horse was night and day different in a Passier Relevant (newer type, with freedom panels) - sold the Stubbens after that!

[crimsonsky]

i’ve had good luck with Devoucoux and Prestige.

[Outyougo]

My Moose-TB cross is quite picky about the saddles he will wear! Kieffer too narrow, Lemki (sp) too wide Old reflocked Black Country Eden Just right! but each saddle has to fit not just the same brand but the exact saddle.

Moorses are quite picky–odd for a big kind guy.

[tarheelmd07]

County perfection with shoulder gussets and skid row panels - fit my shark fin tb like a glove