I am saddle shopping…love the Voltaire Stuttgart but have only flatted in it…is it too deep of a seat for the hunter ring…I am only jumping 2’6"…I am looking for comfort and security but don’t want to feel “stuck” in it over fences…any opinions…Stuttgart vs. Palm Beach…
Have also considered CWD Seo 1, 2 or 3…or mademoiselle.
Any advice is appreciated.
One of the trainers at my old barn rode in a Stuttgart and jumped several horses a day in her saddle.
I don’t know how it compares to the Stuttgart, but I ride and jump in Butet’s deep seat “C” model, and have no trouble getting out of the tack. Prior to the Butet, I had a County Innovation, which is also a deep seat. Before that, an HDR with a much flatter, more typical hunter seat… I don’t expect to ever wish to go back to that 
I think you have to try these saddles and see what is comfortable for you. I don’t think any are “too deep” for the hunters if YOU feel comfortable in them
The Stuttgart is definitely deeper then the Palm Beach and typically preferred by show jumpers for the heightened feeling of security over larger jumps. That being said, one is not for jumpers and the other for hunters- you need to ride (and jump!) in both, and see which you prefer.
I have a Palm Beach. I felt that the Stuttgart was too deep for me too comfortably go between a half seat and a full seat easily. I know other people who adore the Stuttgart though, its really personally preference. I show hunters.
Agreed ^^. I have a CWD SE01 and while I was having it repaneled recently I rode in both a Stuttgart and a Palm Beach. The Stuttgart was definitely too deep for me to get off my hunter’s back easily, and the Palm Beach was extremely comfortable and secure. You do see more of the Palm Beach in the Hunter ring as a generalization. It is slightly deeper than my CWD but didn’t hinder getting in a light seat when I wanted to. It is also less heavy than the CWD’s. But I agree with everyone else that saddles are very much a personal preference kind of thing, so you should try them and go with what you like.
If you like jumping in it, then get one. I did find that I had to change sizes when I tried one so that I would be balanced properly and not feeling like I couldn’t catch up to the motion (I typically ride in a very flat seat). If I go down a sear size but more forward in the flap, it works for me. Wasn’t quite the best for my horse, though he liked it more than most, so I ultimately passed. I wouldn’t worry about whether it’s what everyone has in the hunter ring or not if you like it, can ride well in it and it works for your horse.
What aspects of the deep seat make it hard to get out of the tack?
I have a Stuttgart and ride in the hunters. I thought I preferred a flat seat until I rode in the Stuttgart and absolutely fell in love with it. I have no trouble getting off my horse’s back. Saddles are such an individual preference though!
IME it’s not so much how deep the seat is but whether the sweet spot of the saddle works for you. If it puts you in a chair seat for example, you may feel stuck. Or if the balance is off for the rider, then it can feel more like the pommel is restricting you. You have more ability to move around where you sit on a flatter seat to compensate for these kinds of problems.
This is a bit OT, but those of you who ride in Stuttgarts, do you find they offer more wither clearance? Does the deeper seat mean a higher pommel?
Which ever model makes you feel the most secure and ride your best! If you can effectively get out of the saddle for your undersaddle or longer spaces on course, then I say go for it if you love the saddle. Voltaire would probably do a trial period on one of their demo saddles if you wanted. They are an amazing company to work with.
When I was doing the 1.25m jumpers I bought a Palm Beach despite the rep telling me show jumpers typically prefer the Stuttgart. I now use the Palm Beach for all three phases when I event. Basically, I agree with other posters that saddles are a personal preference!
Thanks for the recommendations. I brought home a Stuttgart on trial…will see how it feels tomorrow!
Yes and yes, relatively. It’s a totally different tree shape from the others. The wither clearance aspect of it is what worked well for my horse. Unfortunately, once he got loosened up and through in his back, the rear of the saddle started to bounce. He needs clearance well into the gullet—has prominent, long withers…not shark fin. I didn’t try hard to see if we could get it better balanced for him in motion because I was just doing a trial while I had my CWD out to be redone (horse grew), and I was concerned that he had changed too much for the CWD. Wound up not having to buy a new saddle.
The pommel is higher relative to the seat than say the Palm Beach, but I didn’t really notice it being a problem whereas in County saddles with a deeper seat, for example, the pommel really bothers me.
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