A woman at my barn has a Klimke Miller for sale. I guess now the new ones are called Klimke Ovation. Any have any imput on these saddles. I have heard that the seat sizes run small, 18.5 seat is more like a 17.5 or 18 inch seat. Also I have heard they are build more so for a man’s frame. But I didn’t even know there was such a thing. Is that true. Any input on these saddles would be helpful. Thanks.
Had one…loved it!
I had one (had to sell it because it didn’t fit Disco) and it was one of my favorite saddles (aside from my old Passier). :yes: At first, I wasn’t sure because I thought the knee rolls looked large, but as soon as I sat in it and rode, I was in love. I sold it to a friend and she loves it just as much. Great quality, super comfortable, the horses like it, and it put me in a proper position. Don’t know much about the “made for a man vs. woman” thought, though. I’m 5’9" - does that mean I am built like a man?!?!
I have one now that I bought used. It fits my horse and is very solid, comfortable and secure. I wasn’t sure about the big knee rolls either, as I usually like to be able to adjust my position, but turns out that it’s great!
I am a 5’9" woman, so I don’t know what was meant by the “built for a man” comment. I can’t speak to the sizing issue, as I don’t know what size mine was meant to be.
Yeah I said the same thing when someone told me it was built for a man.
How much did you pay for your use Klimke Miller Saddle and what condition was it in?
I own a Klimke Miller, and I love love love it. I am not a man, but a 5’5" girl, and it fits me fine, but the seat size feels smaller than it is (I think mine is a 17.5, feels like a 16ish).
Very sturdy, well wearing, fits most of my horses well. I did take my knee blocks off because I found them to be too big and they got in the way of my feel of the horses’ shoulders. Just took the saddle to my Area’s regional USDF show, and had the saddler slice 'em off!
I payed $1200 (?? don’t quite remember) for mine in 1998…depending on the condish, offer half.
It’s a great saddle IMHO.
My former riding instructor had a Klimke- Miller saddle and I loved it! We used to school Lusitanos everyday and they were great for holding you in the saddle and schooling the greener horses.
I personally liked the larger knee blocks and if I found a used one, I would snatch it up, but I fear it would not fit my horse. Some people do not like the blocks however and say they feel trapped in the saddle.
Check the straightness of the tree.
When I was saddle hunting, I tried several used ones, and each one was crooked in some way (probabaly why the owner was selling it).
So double check that the saddle is straight, especially how the billets are attached.
If it is straight, they are good saddles.
[QUOTE=Janet;3069587]
Check the straightness of the tree.
When I was saddle hunting, I tried several used ones, and each one was crooked in some way (probabaly why the owner was selling it).
So double check that the saddle is straight, especially how the billets are attached.
If it is straight, they are good saddles.[/QUOTE]
How do you check the tree?
Look at it from every angle, both on and off the horse, including putting it on a flat surface, and check for symetry.
Measure the distance from the front of the sadle to each billett.
Love mine and looking for another!
GallopGal,
I bought a very gently used original KM in England last year for $600. I had ridden in my trainer’s and loved it. I like the position it places me in but it also allows for enough freedom of movement. It is a medium tree and fits my 16.3 TB very well and has some room for adjustments. I am 5’9" and long legged. I think they run alittle small. My close contact is a 17.5" and my KM feels smaller at the same size. I am looking for another original KM 18" or 18.5" if anyone has one for sale.
Two of my barn mates also ride in the original KM’s. One paid $800 and the other paid $650 about a year ago.
Good luck. If your decide not to buy it let me know! :winkgrin:
I bought mine from a friend just a few months ago for $500. It is brown, with a few scratches and a little wear around the edges (nothing major). She had used black leathers on it, so the flaps have some staining from that. That is it’s biggest flaw. None of it shows when ridden in, so I don’t care. It fits!
in the last few months I have sold both of mine. they were great saddles but neither the W not the M would ever fit my shark fin guy and I couldn’t keep collecting saddles.
and I had to pay for the Devocoux.
it is a great saddle for the price.
I bought mine used for $125. I know, the steal of a lifetime. A woman had two dressage saddles and an english saddle advertised in the paper 3 years ago. I answered the ad just to find out if the $50 price on one of the dressage saddles was a misprint. It wasn’t and I went out and bought it. While I was there she showed me the other dressage saddle she had priced at $400. I told her to keep my phone number and give me a call if she didn’t sell it.
She called me a couple of months later and told me to make an offer. I offered $125 and she accepted. Her daughter had been involved in eventing and had left for college. The horse had been sold and the tack had been collecting dust in the garage. She was moving and didn’t want to bring the saddles with her. I benefited from the fact that dressage is not as solidly established in this area as it is in other parts of the country, and the fact that she just wanted to get rid of something she had no use for.
It needed cleaning and had no fittings, but it was in great shape. I am also of the feeling that the seat size seems to run on the smaller side. I am 5’5" and am comfortable in it.
