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High end saddles...

Off Course
#21

[QUOTE=ILuvmyButtercups;7066320]
Amen! I’ve ridden in, or owned just about every brand out there, high and low end, and there is no saddle brand better than the Albion. I have two now, a medium tree, and a wide. I only need the medium tree, but I love them so much I won’t sell the wide. Never know when I might need it. :D[/QUOTE]

I know that’s a fact! Horses don’t seem to be getting any narrower…well, unless people don’t feed them, that’s a different story…but certain Albions, like my Platinum Genesis, have parts of the tree that can be changed and that helps with fitting both the horse and rider. My PG’s head plate was changed to a different size for better fit. That’s the kind of thing you just don’t find in a less expensive saddle.

Also, prices of some saddles are higher because they can be altered/stretched/narrowed. Passier and Kieffer are two more of these.

#22

[QUOTE=rabicon;7067203]
Size is different from saddle to saddle. I have a stubben dressage saddle I’m trying to sell. It didn’t fit my new horse, it’s a wide. Had a county rep come and fitted my horse with a wide county. Got NY new saddle and the size is night and day. The county is much wider than the stubben, even though they are both wides. County seems to fit the wider shoulder type better IMO then some. A draft cross would probably go well in a custom county.

I have a courbette jumping saddle. I bought a cheaper saddle becomes I’m mainly a dressage rider. It has a spring tree that I do like actually but the leather after two rides had major rubs! All the way down. Annoyed me a lot since the saddle was still 800 dollars. Yet, my stubben and my county have yet to have a rub mark and the stubben is now about 7 years old.[/QUOTE]

Yes, different tanning methods will wear differently. Stubben’s “special” leather was especially good for wear, it was a favorite of mine before I went to the Albion Ultima line.

#23

Agree with Wildlifer. You can have functional and good in cars and in tack, and then you can have a porsche or hermes. There is a difference. We have functional crosby saddles (and had stubben saddles) and 4 hermes saddles. We have ADT bridles, which are very good, and we have Hermes bridles which are da bomb. We don’t flaunt them. In fact, many people have never noticed them. Which is cool. Like our owner wearing an expensive item of clothing paired with an item from walmart. No one notices. But the fit and the feel are noticeable to us. Besides, a horse looks best in his or her hermes.

Now we want some hennig tack to see how cool that is!

#24

[QUOTE=Skyedragon;7066911]
Well for me my saddle fitting several different horses was very important. I took a years worth of lessons from a trainer whose largest lesson saddle was a 17. My saddle is an 18 so I was dragging it to my lessons with me. Then last fall I was helping a friend leg up her former show gelding. Now I am leasing a draft cross gelding and am hoping that it will be at least a 3 year lease, unless of course my friend decides to sell me her draft mare which will open a whole new can of worms with saddle fitting.

I might have to take a closer look at Albion. I owned an Albion Legion a few years ago and my friend had an Albion SLK dressage saddle, and I didn’t find either to the end all.

I would like something with a deep seat and nice big knee rolls. I never use to be a fan of huge knee rolls, but my lease gelding is awesome 95% of the time before he will throw in a spook and spin. Having a little extra there to hold me in the saddle is always nice.[/QUOTE]

Based on what you have said here, you may want to inquire more on the Albion Platinum Genesis. Mine has been great for the “sideways jump and spin” and as far as I know, it is the most adjustable of the Albion line unless one of their new models has been made more so. I find it to be sized a bit small so you may have to go a size or a half size up from what you would normally use. When I first sat on one in the store, I didn’t like it at all because it was the size I usually use and it was too tight…I went and looked at another that was a whole size bigger and it’s a great fit, I knew as soon as I sat in it that it was for me.

#25

[QUOTE=ILuvmyButtercups;7066320]
I’ve ridden in, or owned just about every brand out there, high and low end, and there is no saddle brand better than the Albion.[/QUOTE]

Strong words!

Don’t you thing that the Best Saddle in the Universe could be built to be a little prettier, rather than along those coarse lines of the Stubben/Neidersuss/Austrian persuasion?

Otherwise, OP it really is all about what someone astutely labeled “freaking butt candy.”

#26

[QUOTE=mvp;7070394]
Strong words!

Don’t you thing that the Best Saddle in the Universe could be built to be a little prettier, rather than along those coarse lines of the Stubben/Neidersuss/Austrian persuasion?

Otherwise, OP it really is all about what someone astutely labeled “freaking butt candy.”[/QUOTE]

Strong words go with strong opinions. While I can’t say I have ridden in every brand out there, I have ridden in a fair few and I have to agree. I also have some very strong dislikes in the high end category because I think they are just plain over-marketed junk. I personally relegate stuff to the “junk” box if it can’t be adjusted in any way other than in having the flocking moved around.

As far as pretty goes, I personally think my fourth one of “The Best Saddle In The Universe” is about as pretty as a close contact jumping saddle can get. I honestly didn’t expect to like it much but still hauled my horse several hundred miles round trip to take it for a test ride and I was gaga for it on first sight. I was in the zone of “What to get, brown or black? What everybody else gets, or what I want?” and this one was custom made two tone in Ultima leather, which I didn’t even know was an option. It was an option on special orders; it’s the only one I’ve personally seen and was imported by the person who ordered it. Hopefully my butt agrees it’s as pretty as it looks after hours of riding, but the Ultima Albions haven’t failed me yet. This one had the added bonus of being almost new, because the horse it was purchased for will not be jumping, and this fitting will be the first adjustment it has so it comes with no prior “special-fit” baggage, which I’ve run into before.

#27

I think everyone who is happy with their Albion just hasn’t ridden in my Custom Saddlery Icon Star. Yet. :wink:

There is, of course, no one saddle that works for everyone - for dressage, while I LOVE the honking knee rolls that force me to be effective, there are equally riders who just can not function with them. (well, I say that, but since having the Star, I have not met one such person).

For a jump saddle, it’s hard to explain, but you will know when you find it. There’s no comparison between trying to do what your trainer tells you to do, over the jump, and struggling… and then getting into the right saddle FOR YOU, and suddenly finding that you do have a base of support, that your lowere leg isn’t swinging back and that all of a sudden those jumps really aren’t very big any more. It’s night and day.

#28

[QUOTE=vxf111;7066634]
Often the difference in price is the difference between a saddle that comes off a rack pre-made and a saddle that is made specifically to you/your horse’s measurements by a trained fitter. It’s the difference between a dress off the rack and a dress handmade by a tailor. Or Nikes vs custom orthopedic shoes made by a podiatrist. Now, if you buy used that benefit partially goes away-- but to those of us really knowledgeable and focused on saddle fit-- it’s worth extra money to have one fitted properly and with flocking that can be adjusted over time. If you buy a used higher end saddle it will typically be wool flocked and more adjustable.[/QUOTE]

Not exactly true. Most “custom” saddles are not made specifically for you and/or your horse. They are assembled from parts that work for your measurements. There are still some saddles that ARE completely custom but they are rare.

I have ridden in a lot of saddles – it’s kind of a hobby for me to try different brands. What I’ve discovered is that my tastes have changed over time and depending on the horse I have. For example, I have a County jump saddle that I loved dearly on my Trakehner. It was balanced and comfortable. I am riding a draft cross right now and the fricken twist is too wide. The saddle technically fits, but it is no longer as comfortable.

Do high end saddles give you more benefits? Yes, within reason. If price were the only determining factor, we’d all be riding in Hennigs :D. I don’t think you need to spend $5K + to get a great, balanced saddle that is well made and will last, but you probably need to look for a used saddle that cost $2-3K new.

I have owned Schleese, Albion, Prestige, Rembrandt, Spirig and Kieffer dressage saddles. The one that I’ve liked the best over time, and which I still own, is a Roosli. It’s not the most stylish looking saddle but it fits a lot of horses and it was “custom” for me so it fits my very long femur.

I prefer a wool-flocked saddle but there are certainly people who like the newer foam panels too.

#29

[QUOTE=Kate Wooten;7070638]
I think everyone who is happy with their Albion just hasn’t ridden in my Custom Saddlery Icon Star. Yet. :wink:

There is, of course, no one saddle that works for everyone - for dressage, while I LOVE the honking knee rolls that force me to be effective, there are equally riders who just can not function with them. (well, I say that, but since having the Star, I have not met one such person).

For a jump saddle, it’s hard to explain, but you will know when you find it. There’s no comparison between trying to do what your trainer tells you to do, over the jump, and struggling… and then getting into the right saddle FOR YOU, and suddenly finding that you do have a base of support, that your lowere leg isn’t swinging back and that all of a sudden those jumps really aren’t very big any more. It’s night and day.[/QUOTE]

I feel that way about my Platinum Genesis for dressage and general riding, and hope my close contact model turns out the same way. While I mainly bought it for hunt seat flat and equitation, I would like to get going over fences with it as well eventually. That will be that horse’s jumping saddle if he proves to me he can jump.

Since you bring up the idea of the saddle being right for the rider, it would be a good subtopic to discuss what makes a saddle a “right” fit for a rider. Many of us know or at least have a clue of what makes a saddle fit a horse correctly, but we often neglect that it has to fit the rider too and you see it seldom discussed. It would be good to have it spelled out in measurable, understandable terms besides “sit in it and try it” in the mainstream just exactly how a saddle should fit a rider, besides the ol’ “how-many-fingers-from-your-butt-to-the-cantle” rot. Twist, drop of the stirrup bar to the edge of the flap versus leg length, that sort of thing. You seldom hear people talk about that when a rider looks at saddles, at least unless they have a very skilled fitter. I know I once had a fitter come out with a SUV FULL of saddles and the only one that I liked did not fit the horse in question, not at all. After that I wasn’t about to even “go there” with that brand. It gets even harder when the rider has a current or prior spine injury…then you’re kind of in no-man’s-land.

#30

[QUOTE=Bogie;7070682]
Not exactly true. Most “custom” saddles are not made specifically for you and/or your horse. They are assembled from parts that work for your measurements. There are still some saddles that ARE completely custom but they are rare.

I have ridden in a lot of saddles – it’s kind of a hobby for me to try different brands. What I’ve discovered is that my tastes have changed over time and depending on the horse I have. For example, I have a County jump saddle that I loved dearly on my Trakehner. It was balanced and comfortable. I am riding a draft cross right now and the fricken twist is too wide. The saddle technically fits, but it is no longer as comfortable.

Do high end saddles give you more benefits? Yes, within reason. If price were the only determining factor, we’d all be riding in Hennigs :D. I don’t think you need to spend $5K + to get a great, balanced saddle that is well made and will last, but you probably need to look for a used saddle that cost $2-3K new.

I have owned Schleese, Albion, Prestige, Rembrandt, Spirig and Kieffer dressage saddles. The one that I’ve liked the best over time, and which I still own, is a Roosli. It’s not the most stylish looking saddle but it fits a lot of horses and it was “custom” for me so it fits my very long femur.

I prefer a wool-flocked saddle but there are certainly people who like the newer foam panels too.[/QUOTE]

Okay, I’ll bite…WHAT newer foam panels??? Are you talking a new kind of foam, or do you mean “foam is new vs. wool flocking”? Because there are some older saddles out there with foam panels.

#31

You are, kind of in no-man’s land ! I will definitely tell you when I have a clue as to what Really goes into a saddle working for a rider. Reps for many brands tell you that they do know - they take a bunch of measurements of the rider, and claim to build the one-off perfect saddle. I can name 5, I think that have done this, and where i’ve seen the resulting saddle and it’s been god-awful. (Bearing in mind of course, that the ones that actually DID work out well, I probably didn’t get to see, since the client was happy with their saddle and had no need to call in an independent to try to fix the problem!)

I’m afraid I’m still in the ‘try it and see’ level of understanding of the rider’s conformation. I am usually very good at predicting whether someone will need a short or long roll, when they are ready for a serious upgrade from a basic Solo, whther they can function in an 18 Advatage or not (usually not). But that’s about it. And of course, my current knowledge it’s very brand-specific. I wouldn’t even be able to start advising a rider on the specifics of a new Albion, County or Schleese.

One of the problems is how difficult it is to get unbiased information. If you can find someone who’s really not interested in selling you a saddle, and who has the depth of knowledge, that’s HUGE. I know I do my best to stay impartial, and frequently advise people to stick with their own saddle from a different vendor, or to go ahead and buy a saddle that they have on trial - but at the end of the day, long-term, one day… I’d like to sell you a saddle ! I think jn4Jenny on here has a fabulous depth of knowledge and is impartial - maybe she can weigh in ?

#32

Oh, and Leslie McGill in Canada would be a good one to consult with on real riders with everyday collections of issues and injuries from life - Leslie does a lot of the para-Olympians saddles.

#33

sold two of my saddles so my price range has expanded a little bit, but I would still ideally like to stick to around $1200 if I can.

I have a Toulouse Larissa out on trial right now. I swore up and down that I would never ever buy another Toulouse after an experiance a few years ago with one that did not end well. However, I like the deep seat, the larger knee rolls, and that it is priced at $1000 and looks almost new. It has the Genesis system which I really like the idea of. I was told that it will go up to a 34 cm, and since I am still holding out hope that my friend may sell me her draft cross mare I am hoping that that is wide enough.

I sat in a Classic Saddlery saddle that I am in love with, however it is priced at $1500 and has what I would consider some significant signs of use. :no:

#34

[QUOTE=Skyedragon;7071225]
sold two of my saddles so my price range has expanded a little bit, but I would still ideally like to stick to around $1200 if I can.

I have a Toulouse Larissa out on trial right now. I swore up and down that I would never ever buy another Toulouse after an experiance a few years ago with one that did not end well. However, I like the deep seat, the larger knee rolls, and that it is priced at $1000 and looks almost new. It has the Genesis system which I really like the idea of. I was told that it will go up to a 34 cm, and since I am still holding out hope that my friend may sell me her draft cross mare I am hoping that that is wide enough.

I sat in a Classic Saddlery saddle that I am in love with, however it is priced at $1500 and has what I would consider some significant signs of use. :no:[/QUOTE]

How significant? There are a lot of repairs that can be done…and you can always try to negotiate price…

ETA: Is this the right site? http://www.classicsaddlery.com/saddles/saddlesclassic.htm

It would seem that a new one is in your range unless I am really missing the boat here…

#35

[QUOTE=RubyTuesday;7071484]
How significant? There are a lot of repairs that can be done…and you can always try to negotiate price…

ETA: Is this the right site? http://www.classicsaddlery.com/saddles/saddlesclassic.htm

It would seem that a new one is in your range unless I am really missing the boat here…[/QUOTE]

Its a used Classic, though now that I see that, they are trying to sell it for the same price as I could get one new with all the same options. Its not so much in need of repair as the cantle has a lot of nicks and scratches and there is a huge scuff/scratch down the side of one of the panels (that may be able to be conditioned away), and the saddle overall has a used look to it.

I could comfortably go up to $2000 now.

#36

[QUOTE=RubyTuesday;7070691]
Okay, I’ll bite…WHAT newer foam panels??? Are you talking a new kind of foam, or do you mean “foam is new vs. wool flocking”? Because there are some older saddles out there with foam panels.[/QUOTE]

The newer foam panels are supposed to be better – more adjustable, more comfortable for the horse, different product. If you do a search here you’ll find many people who swear the newer foam panels are the BEST.

Old foam panels were pretty nasty and the compressed over time leaving no cushioning.

That said, my only recent experience with a foam paneled saddle didn’t work. I had a very nice newer Stackhouse saddle. After a year and a half my horse changed just enough so that the foam panels didn’t fit him any more. I personally prefer wool flocking.

#37

[QUOTE=Skyedragon;7071654]
Its a used Classic, though now that I see that, they are trying to sell it for the same price as I could get one new with all the same options. Its not so much in need of repair as the cantle has a lot of nicks and scratches and there is a huge scuff/scratch down the side of one of the panels (that may be able to be conditioned away), and the saddle overall has a used look to it.

I could comfortably go up to $2000 now.[/QUOTE]

Well, good luck…now you can pick what you want from those and use the old one as a sizing guide!

#38

I rode in the Larissa last night. It wasn’t exactly love at first trot step. The sun did not break out from behind the clouds. The angels did not start singing.

I do however LOVE the genesis system. Talk about easy! And a lot less muscling than trying to change the gullet in one of the easy change systems. Literally took me 30 seconds to take the saddle from where it was (about a medium narrow) to where I wanted it (extra wide). The only thing I didn’t like is that there is no real way of knowing where you have the gullet set. So if you find the perfect setting for one horse and then want to change it for another horse, if you go back to the first horse you are just going to have to play with it to figure out where you had it.

I also think it sat nicely on my friend’s super wide draft cross mare. Going to try it on my lease gelding tonight, but I wasn’t overly impressed, and have been reminded of why I said I would never own another Toulouse by a member on here.

#39

But I also have a Black Country dressage saddle (bought new as a gift for $3200) and it is complete freaking butt candy and fits my horse like it was made for him. I feel like Robert Dover riding in that thing, the balance is so fantastic. That intangible feeling of quality and craftsmanship exudes out of it and there is no comparison.

Omg, butt candy. Hahahaha!!! That was an awesome description. Love it :slight_smile:

The longer I ride, the more I know how to listen to my horses through their backs, and the more I believe that investing in the right saddle is hugely significant. All of my horses have shown a clear preference for wool flocked panels, and having a fitter be able to come and make occasional adjustments as horses change and develop makes a real difference. The high end saddles also will last forever if taken care of. Looking at used ones puts them much more in a reasonable price range. Good luck on your saddle search!

#40

Anybody have any input on the Kent and Masters saddles? http://www.hastilowusa.com/saddles/kent-and-masters-saddles/kent-and-masters-dressage.html

From what I can gather they are made by the same people that make Thorowgood and are their middle of the line saddle.

Also looking at the HDR Buffalo Adjust to fit: http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/HDR-Pro-Buffalo-Dressage-Adjust-To-Fit-P3009.aspx

Or on the total flip side, the Tekna S Line dressage saddles: http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/Tekna-S-Line-Dressage-Saddle-P5405.aspx

I have yet to hear anything bad about the Tekna saddles, while I have heard mix reviews on the HDR saddles.

Or I am still considering the Classic…I can afford the saddle, but spending that much on a saddle makes me shudder, haha.

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