Icelandic horse - Crosby Marathon Endurance saddle?

[woolenegg]

Just wondering if by any chance someone has tried a Crosby Marathon Endurance saddle on their Icelandic and had it work well. I’ve found one for a good price, but it’s a private sale and I doubt I can get a trial. I’m sure I could sell it if it didn’t work, but …

Strangely enough perhaps, my 14-ish hand Icelandic seems to do well in an old Collegiate RD Sr. Event AP saddle with a regular/medium tree that’s at the barn I board at. Not sure how that’s possible, but that saddle seems to fit a variety of horses, and it’s not just my barn owner who has said that about the saddle.

Crosby also seems to be a good saddle, and the marathon endurance has been well-reviewed, so I’m just looking for any personal experience with them.

Thanks.

[candysgirl]

We had a handful of Crosbys for the polo ponies in the collegiate club I was in. They were pretty great. I have no idea what model anything was, they were all donated over the years, but they did fit a variety of horses pretty well. We beat the snot out of them and they took it well. On that alone, I’m a fan.

I’m not familiar with their individual models though.

[woolenegg]

Well, I’ve decided to buy it and hope that it fits us. It’s a wide tree, so that helped in the decision. I probably wouldn’t have taken the chance on a regular tree, even though the Collegiate regular tree seems to fit. Better that it be too wide than too narrow.

I’ll report back once I’ve gotten it and tried it on him!

[woolenegg]

Right, well, it’s a gorgeous saddle, but it doesn’t fit him very well. It wants to slide back, and it feels very odd to ride him sitting that far back, although he didn’t seem to object… I might be able to use a thicker pad or add a half pad or something as it certainly wide enough for him, and keep it from slipping (or add a breast collar).

But… I ended up buying, from someone right in town no less, a Ruiz Diaz Collegiate Sr Event AP, the same saddle that I’d been borrowing from the barn owner, but in much newer condition, for a very good price.

I’m keeping the Crosby because I just can’t (yet) part with it, it’s so nice. But for regular riding I’ll use the RD Collegiate. Maybe I’ll switch out and use the Crosby occasionally if I can find a pad that will work with it.

I still can’t figure out how a regular/medium tree saddle fits my 14h Icelandic with his nice wide build, but I’m not going to complain!

[candysgirl]

Hey, my 14.3h Arab wears a 32cm (wide) tree Stubben. My friends 16.3h TB/Clydesdale mare wears a 29cm (med/narrow) tree! She feels wider to sit on, but for saddle fit is not!

Glad you found one that works! Fwiw, I have 2 horses (one being mostly retired) and about 6 saddles. I’ve used them all over the years for various things and loaned them out to people who were in between saddles.

[Kitt]

Many Icelandics are quite broad, and need a hoop tree. Most of the UK saddle co.s make saddle on that tree, though they vary in shape and fit. If you have a local fitter who can help you out, that would be my recommendation. Otherwise, Panther Run Saddlery and Equestrian Imports both do a lot of successful fitting through the use of templates and photos, and both offer a one week trial on any saddle they have.

[jaybird660]

Trumbull Mtn fits many Icelandic horses. The challenge tends to lie in the short back and round profile. Most need hoop trees as an A shaped tree would generally be less stable on that shape; picture a clothespin on a watermelon! We would be happy to help you via tracings and conformation shots at no cost. We carry Duett, Thorowgood, Black Country, FB, Lovatt & Ricketts and more. Depending on your price range, there are several possibilities. We also have a generous trial policy.