High end saddles...

[Bogie]

[QUOTE=Skyedragon;7076038]
I am emailing with the seller of the brown Rembrandt. I think that is what I will end up getting. It is the exact model of the the Classic I sat in and loved but didn’t want to drop $1500 on a saddle that looked well loved. I wish I could try it first, but for $700 I think I will take the risk, though I do fear that being brown might be a harder resell should it not work. If it does work I am rather excited about having that much money left over and am starting to look around at upgrading my bridle too.[/QUOTE]

Is it the Rembrandt that is adjustable using an allen key? I had one of those many years ago and my take on it back then (may have changed) was that the saddle widened with use and didn’t stay locked into place. I had one a LONG time ago so they may have fixed that.

I also found that while you could adjust the tree width, it didn’t fit both my horses.

[Snowflake]

[QUOTE=Bogie;7076075]
Is it the Rembrandt that is adjustable using an allen key? I had one of those many years ago and my take on it back then (may have changed) was that the saddle widened with use and didn’t stay locked into place. I had one a LONG time ago so they may have fixed that.

I also found that while you could adjust the tree width, it didn’t fit both my horses.[/QUOTE]

Yes, this is an allen key. If it doesn’t stay locked in place, it’s a sign of a warn mechanism and can be easily repaired by Classic saddlery, so I wouldn’t discount it because of that.

Skyedragon, I love mine so much and it’s a fixed wide tree. Considering that I’m casually horse shopping, if it doesn’t work out for you I may be interested to have it on hand for whatever horse I do wind up with next. So, I say buy it, try it out and should you not love it, lemme know!

[Skyedragon]

[QUOTE=Kate Wooten;7076056]
Does anyone know how Trumbull Mountain are to work with now that they have no Kitt and no Edie ?[/QUOTE]

The person that I was emailing with was a lot more blunt that I was use to getting from Kitt and Edie. They were also very unyielding about the wanting to price match, saying that they “can’t keep the saddles on their shelves” as a reason. Edie was awesome to work with, I bought a CTD that she recommended a few years ago using tracings and pictures and it was a perfect match for the horse.

[Skyedragon]

[QUOTE=Snowflake;7076109]
Yes, this is an allen key. If it doesn’t stay locked in place, it’s a sign of a warn mechanism and can be easily repaired by Classic saddlery, so I wouldn’t discount it because of that.

Skyedragon, I love mine so much and it’s a fixed wide tree. Considering that I’m casually horse shopping, if it doesn’t work out for you I may be interested to have it on hand for whatever horse I do wind up with next. So, I say buy it, try it out and should you not love it, lemme know![/QUOTE]

Awesome, I will keep that in mind!

[netg]

Good luck- I hope this one works out for you!

On the original question, since the rest seems answered:
I started riding something like 30 years ago, and I got my first high end saddle this year. VERY worth it! Butt candy for sure! My horse is a pretty easy fit. He kept outgrowing saddles every 8 months as he developed muscle, but stayed the same easy to fit shape. I am 5’1" with ample backside. I bought a Dresch, which is a new brand to the US and was created by a German saddle fitter- but I believe they are built in the UK. There are semi-custom and fully custom options, and mine is fully custom to fit me. The flap is extra short, so are the thigh blocks, and the blocks are adjusted based upon blocks velcroed to the flap of the demo saddle while I rode and adjusted for the angle and location which suited me. The underside is the medium width of one of 20 tree shapes they have and which fits my horse wonderfully-and is adjustable. I have extra deep thigh blocks due to my rounder thigh shape, and can adjust them a bit on my own between fittings. I swear the heavens did open on my first ride in this saddle, as I was able to sit properly without thinking about it, and upon being asked to collect the canter by my trainer it worked so well we discovered half pirouettes were easy and repeatable. Each ride I like my saddle better, and knowing the difference in how it makes it feel to sit on my horse (doesn’t make me cry from hurting AND lets my legs reach him), how well he reacts to the saddle, and that it has thigh blocks for emergencies when he explodes without their getting in my way most of the time (because I dislike thigh blocks on most saddles) - totally worth it for me!

[Skyedragon]

Rode in the Toulouse again last night, my trainer likes it and liked how I rode in it. It is a lot more comfortable on my lease gelding than my friend’s slightly downhill mare. On the mare it made the fact that she is downhill even more noticable.

I need to decide by today what I am going to do. My ride last night has me scratching my head again. Literally the only thing I don’t like about this saddle is that it is a Toulouse. :lol: I worry about how it is going to hold up to the test of time. It is the wet pull leather from what I have gathered.

I was a little confused last night too…when I untacked after our lesson he was super sweaty everywhere except directly under the saddle panels where it was dry. The saddle isn’t bridging and appears to be making even contact across the entire panel. Should I be concerned about that?

[jaybird660]

[QUOTE=Skyedragon;7076298]
The person that I was emailing with was a lot more blunt that I was use to getting from Kitt and Edie. They were also very unyielding about the wanting to price match, saying that they “can’t keep the saddles on their shelves” as a reason. Edie was awesome to work with, I bought a CTD that she recommended a few years ago using tracings and pictures and it was a perfect match for the horse.[/QUOTE]
I am sorry you feel that way as I felt I was being direct and honest in answering your question also telling you that we do sometimes offer deals but not on those at this time.

[Skyedragon]

The girl with the Rembrandt has not gotten back to me on a shipping quote so I am back in flux again. The Schleese that I liked appears to have sold which is disappointing. I have a Wintec Isabella on trial right now. The twist on it is pretty wide, not sure if it is something I am going to be able to get use to. The Toulouse did go back, just felt very insecure about the quality.