This brand has been around forever… And they make saddles for other brands - many saddles are made by Ideal, then a different “brand” name is put on the saddle. However, they now do custom saddles, and I’m seeing several in the area, and they appear to be lovely saddles (and with an attractive price point). Does anyone here ride in one? Opinions?
Following…Mystic, I have wanted to try one of their saddles for a long time now because they seem to be popular among the welsh cob crowd but I’ve never seen a used one that was the right size for both me and the horse (based on educated guess) in this country. I’m very interested in hearing about what you find out so if you get feedback off line please share.
I know a couple people who ride in them and like them. They’re reasonably priced for the quality because of the brand name. I’ll be looking at them when I buy a new saddle within the next year. I have a rep local to me.
I think they offer great “bang for you buck” and they are definitely more common here/in the UK.
The quality is good for the price and they have a few models to choose from and options.
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Yup have had them in the past, nice saddles and never had a horse not like them.
The biggest issue with them is they are not very adjustible (+1 each way), so for me with young horses they dont work for long. When my guys get older and stop growing ill def consider them and if your horse isnt half cart horse like mine, or older and not growing, be a great saddle.
Yes, this is why I ended up with a Fairfax. Otherwise, Ideal is not a bad choice, but this saddle was for a changing youngster.
Yes I have one that’s sitting unused and needs to be moved in my tack room, but only because I have nothing that it fits at the moment. I would say their quality is comparable to Albion, but
you can find them cheaper since they are not a popular brand.
Hastilow USA usually has several used Ideals on their website if you want to check out used ones. They also offer new Ideals.
Good saddles, great value for the price.
I rode in a Jessica for three years, really liked the saddle. As others have mentioned good value for the money.
I had one…the saddle fitter I had carried Ideal and Albion (I was an absolute Albion user at that point). When I trialed it on a younger horse (5yo) I really liked it, more than the Albion models at that time. However, as my guy started to do more upper level work, the saddle was not fitting me (talk about major rubs…ouch). Saddle was fitted regularly, so not a function of not fitting the horse or I. I happened to get a used Trilogy for a different youngster, and decided to ride it on my other guy. He had always had trouble getting his “lift” and rhythm in the extended trot. When I rode in the Trilogy he was a different mover…major difference.
Needless to say, I bought him a Trilogy and was very happy that I was able to sell the Ideal. It generally was a nice saddle…just didn’t work for us. The downside is it didn’t have great resale value…and the leather fades (a lot), which is apparently a common issue.
I have gone through saddle fitting hell over and over through the years. I always seem to circle back around to Albion because there are 2 models that always seem to fit both me and the horses (welsh cobs) the best. I also have had good luck with one specific dealer in the US though it costs me a small fortune each time I’ve sent my saddles for reflocking and repairs. Still I’ve been fortunate that the work has always been spot on. It’s helpful to know that there might be a more economical option.
May I ask which models fit your Cobs well? I’m looking at older Albions for my QH gelding and need short panels. So far the HR and Original Comfort fit him the best, but I can’t stand the twist in the OC and finding an HR with a straight tree is proving problematic. Would love to know which others have short panels and fit the cob shape. 
SL, SLK and the Old Style - my welsh cobs are the riding type (Llanarth lines mostly)
Thanks! All of those are border line too long for him in the 17.5 seat I need. Have an older SLK on trial in a 17 that I’m trying to decide if I fit in or not. Saddle shopping
I’m short and ride in a 16 or 16.5 so that’s likely the difference. All the Albions I’ve had have fit my welsh cobs including the 13 hand section C I competed for years. I should also add that I’ve paid to have the Albions fitted to my stallions as well as one gelding - fortunately that was enough to have at least one that would fit each of my beasts since my breeding (mares included) stock was/were required to serve double duty (be ridden, compete as well as produce foals).
Yeah, I’m tall-ish with a long femur. Means I usually need a 17.5 unless I were to go custom. I’ve also got an HR on trial that I think is going to work. One more ride tomorrow night to decide. It needs billets, dye, conditioner, and a strip flock. But if it fits him and I don’t hate it, I shall make the investment! :lol:
Yeah, that is me - I’m not tall, but I have a long femur. 17.5 because of my leg. The Ideal saddles have a lot of customizable options, including a shorter panel. I love the Albion saddles, but also at 17.5, they are too long for a short bodied cob. I think I’m ordering one of the Ideal saddles - my guy is not young anymore, so he’s done growing. He will develop a bit more, but he is fairly fit at this point, so hopefully not so much that the saddle will become a problem.
I’ve been riding in Custom saddles for years now - but their prices keep going up, and its hard to justify spending that kind of money on my “free” pony :lol: They also offer short “pony panels”, as does Schleese, and a few other companies.
Some of the French style saddles also have short panels - they are upswept in back instead of gusseted out. But from a riding balance, they are VERY different. Forward balanced for the riders, which doesn’t work for me, but you might see if you can find one to try. It may or may not work for you?
We’ve been through most of the brands. The issue is that he’s kinda MW from a tree angles point of view and wide from a tree arch point of view, but not so wide that he can use a hoop tree. And to compound it, he needs the panel angles to be very flat as he is flat side to side, but not wide so wide channels are out. He’s a PITA to fit. Saddle fitters now just laugh at me - seriously, several have suggested I just find another Western saddle and do western dressage.
I was all set to order him a custom Ryder saddle in Feb and then he went lame lame lame on multiple legs. He’s now 3 very light rides back under saddle and still NQR. So I need a saddle to rehab him in but I refuse to order him a custom saddle until I know if we’ve got long term prospects (he’s got arthritis at C6/7 and C7/T1 and engaged in stifle damaging stupidity in turn out to compound the issue).
Hence the Albion HR. I actually like it for me (I’m a former reiner) and it is both short enough and wide enough for him without rolling around or sitting too close to his withers. I’ll never get my repair / rehab money back out of it, but that’s okay it will still be cheaper than order even a custom Ideal or Ryder.
[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;n10145097]
Yeah, that is me - I’m not tall, but I have a long femur. 17.5 because of my leg. The Ideal saddles have a lot of customizable options, including a shorter panel. I love the Albion saddles, but also at 17.5, they are too long for a short bodied cob.
QUOTE]
Looks like we all have the same problem.
I have a cob too, I have also long femurs. Ive found the right size albion to be too much saddle for my horse, but there are some ideals that are the same too. I ordered in an ideal for my cob and when it got here it was actually quite comical the size of it.
A friend has it on her full friesian now. Ive been wary of the jump ones since.
