Does anyone know what general “shape” of horse these fit? The one I’m trying to fit has a pretty flat back, good size wither, big shoulders but isn’t extremely wide overall. I will be doing long distance saddle fitting (probably through Trumbull Mtn) but have to get another saddle sold to fund this one so I’m trying to do some research beforehand on a few brands. Also looking at Duett (though that may be too wide), used passier, used Amerigo Vega, and one used black country. Also Thornhill’s if I hear back from the fitter that has them.
I haven’t tried Kent and Masters but I did try a thorowgood which is their synthetic version, built on the same tree and it didn’t fit my flat backed horse at all. My horse is flat (front to back not side to side) and a pretty normal width and the back of the saddle didn’t even touch her back as it was too curvy. This was the standard dressage model.
MMm yes mine is pretty flat front to back as well. Not like straight as a board but more flat than curved. Darn, probably won’t be a good fit then.
If you take tracings/measurements and send them to Trumbull Mtn they will be able to suggest options that fit your horse. I worked with Jay earlier this year and every saddle she sent fit my horse even if I didn’t like it for me.
I know very little about saddle fitting but I was under the impression that K&M was better meant for more high whithered horses. I may be completely wrong though.
Well he has pretty good size withers, but very little curve to his back. I know K&M has high wither, regular, and cob styles for different size withers but I’m not extremely worried about that specifically, just the overall shape.
Rusty, have you looked at Albion? The SLK tree can be ordered in a flatter version and I’m told the Platinum tree fits a flatter back. Custom Wolfgang Solo and N2 Primus also fit my flat backed girl.
Ditto to what others have said - my KM’s and thorowgoods have all been a bit too curvy, with exception to the cob tree…but then the seat it very shallow and in my opinion doesn’t feel like much like a dressage saddle.
And also Ditto to the Albion recommendation. I currently have both horses in an Albion SL. LOVE that model.
Equestrian imports offers a few details on the SL:
http://equestrianimports.com/shop/new-saddles/albion-sl-dressage-saddle/422.html
I have not looked into an Albion. I would have to find an older used one as my absolute maximum I can spend is $1800, MAYBE $2000.
Rusty, that is what i spent on both of my SL’s…one was 1850 and the other 1500…they can be had! There are other models out there, I know our local tack shops have a few and they are all floating around that same price, though there are some a bit more $ too.
I know quite a bit about both Kent and Masters and Thorowgoods.
The Thorowgoods panels are a bit more angular and channel a bit narrower.
The Kent and Masters have a big range so one should work , its just finding which one.
I find the MGC S Series Compact GP is their most versatile saddle - fitting tb to Clydesdales to Fresian crosses at our yard. It actually has quite a deep seat and I even put dressage straps on mine. The original series standard dressage is a lovely fit and sounds like a good one to try for your horse. Not the S Series dressage. It is a bit more angular. There are also high withered versions for all their models but I find depending on the angle and shape of the withers , sometimes a medium (standard height) works better.
All in all a fantastic range of saddles that can go really wide with lots of space and good value for money.
The Thorowgood T8 was one of the best saddles I ever had.
Smartpak offers a trial on the Thorowgood compact model, which they advertise as fitting flatter backs. I’ve not tried it personally but have considered it for my short-backed horse.
My K&M S-series hi-wither dressage is fairly curvy… my guy went in an old Prestige before I got the K&M. But I had to special order my hi-wither: several of the stockists I talked to said that they almost never needed the actual hi-wither model in the S-series dressage to fit a large withered horse, because the standard provides quite a bit of clearance. So the “regular” S-series dressage still might be worth trying for your horse.
Duetts are almost exclusively hoop trees, which typically means a lower head/pommel, which usually will not accommodate much of a wither.
Amerigo saddles are generally on the curvier end as well.
I tried both Thorowgood and Kent and Masters compact Gps yesterday. The chanel in the Kent and Masters is much wider and the same throughout whereas the Thorowgood is narrower and goes from wide to narrow front to back. The panels didn’t make as nice contact as the Kent and Masters either. My horse has probably the most insane withers known to mankind and all the high wither models don’t work on him. The angle of the tree is wrong. Usually horses that for the standard dressage also fit the compact gps.
PDS Carl Hester Integro works really well for flat backs, super nice saddle to ride in too…Love mine, but my pony is too curvy for it.
