Looking for a new jumping saddle for my TB - thoughts on County vs Stubben?

[tarheelmd07]

After trying valiantly to convince myself otherwise, I have accepted the fact that my beloved L’apogee jumping saddle does not fit my TB. He’s really not the right shape for the “French” saddle curvy trees…as much as I wish he was.

We finally found a dressage saddle that we’re both happy with and fits him well - it’s a County Perfection with a Narrow tree, skid row panels and shoulder gussets - fits his narrow TB withers and big shoulders like a dream. Now that I’m shopping for a jumping saddle, I’m torn - do I start by trying County saddles, since I’m guessing if the dressage one fits, I could find a jumping one to fit as well. I’ve never sat in a County jumping saddle (and I’m in a dressage barn, so none around to try) - but I’ve found a couple of Inspirations online for good prices that have the skid row panels and the shoulder gusset…does anyone have any input on whether the fit of the jump saddles is similar to the dressage saddles? Any thoughts on the Inspiration in particular?

I’m also tempted to look at the Stubben Zaria Optimum, as I had good luck with Stubbens and TBs in the distant past. Has anyone tried it? Any thoughts on how it would fit a narrow-but-big-shouldered TB?

Here’s the TB in question…he’s actually narrower than he looks!

I can get the Stubben rep out for a fitting easily - my County rep is dealing with some family issues at the moment, so not sure when I could get her out to sit in some jumping saddles…but I’m tempted to take one of the used Inspirations on trial and just see how it fits…

Any thoughts are much appreciated!

[yellowbritches]

I could not get Stubbens to fit Toby (I actually was really trying to make the Zaria work). We went quite narrow in Stubbens and still had them sliding back. County fit him better. I don’t know if it was the tree shape or what, but he was a lot happier trying to different Countys than trying the various Stubbens. I also like the wool flocking in County.

[alto]

[QUOTE=tarheelmd07;7467280]
After trying valiantly to convince myself otherwise, I have accepted the fact that my beloved L’apogee jumping saddle does not fit my TB. He’s really not the right shape for the “French” saddle curvy trees…as much as I wish he was. [/QUOTE]

Stubben tree is also on the curvy side … looking at that back photo, I’d focus on County (out of the 2 you mention - there are certainly straighter tree options in many of the UK brands).

As you have a Perfection, just call Head Office & ask if they have any demos that you might try, that offer similar fit for the horse (& yourself as well ) - obviously your rep can do this as well, so you might call her first & discuss (she may not be able to come out but may still be able to sort some likely saddles to try).

Have you discussed fit of your L’Apogee with these rather nice people?

I’ve no idea what the County Inspiration model is :o

[kcmel]

My TB is built similar to yours (from the sounds of it) and I bought a Stubben Excalibur for him (28 cm). I liked the Zaria, but I was afraid of the foam panels.

[PNWjumper]

I think it’s worth trying both.

My horses go in Counties generally speaking (jumping saddles, not dressage, and all go in narrow trees). But a friend was selling a Stubben Edelweiss (again, CC not dressage, W tree) and I bought it as a backup saddle. I also bought a Stubben Scandica dressage saddle (M tree) from another friend.

All 3 saddles fit my warmblood mare who is a pretty stout mare but with a serious set of withers on her.

So to summarize, in my case, for a horse built similarly to yours:
County Stabilizer N = Stubben Edelweiss W = Stubben Scandica M

On my other horse who goes in the County Stabilizer N, though, the Stubben slid back like crazy because it was too “flat” through the front panels. That horse has massive divots behind his equally massive shoulders, and both Stubbens just slide back over those divots.

Funny that so many people say the Stubben trees are so curvy. All of my horses have sharkfin withers plus really flat backs and both of my Stubbens seem to be very similar in panel shape from front to back as my Counties. The difference in the ones I have seem to be more in the construction of the front of the saddle where my Counties really do well on horses with big shoulders and big divots behind them and my Stubbens seem to do better on horses with more of an A shape to their wither/shoulder, if that makes sense.

[sheltona01]

The Innovation is the jump version of the Perfection. If you like your dressage saddle try out an Innovation with the features.

[Highflyer]

I’ve had really good luck with Stubbens and TBs-- I have the Roxane though.

[candysgirl]

I love my Stubbens. I’ve got a Roxane for my Arab and several other models for various purposes as well. Get the Stubben rep out and see what happens. If you don’t like the saddles hey don’t fit to your liking, get the County rep out.

[anmoro]

I have a 2006 model County Stabilizer. Too bad you aren’t closer to SE VA, I would let you try mine (since I’m not riding much). Coming from H/J and being more used to the very forward hunt seat saddles, it took a lot of getting used to. Now, I wouldn’t trade it for the world (although I wish the flap was more forward).

Your TB looks very similar to mine although more narrow. My gelding has a high wither (borderline shark fin) a flat back and freakishly wide shoulders. While one would think he was easy to fit, he wasn’t. My Stabilizer is a MW, and only has huge rear gussets. Those have made the biggest difference in the world for him. The saddle sits perfectly on his back. I also love the wool flocking. As much as his back has changed since he hasn’t been getting ridden much, it is nice to know we can adjust it accordingly.

/Users/Amy/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2013/Charmer/IMG_0014.JPG

/Users/Amy/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Modified/2013/Charmer/IMG_0126.JPG

/Users/Amy/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2014/Show items for sale/IMG_1752.JPG

Hopefully those links work. The top is his back this past summer, the next is him tacked up with the saddle and the last is a photo of the saddle sitting on a flat saddle rack in my house. I absolutely love my saddle now.

[Kitt]

Handsome horse!

Rather than getting a rep out, is it possible to work with an independent fitter? You’d be likely to get a (relatively) unbiased opinion from an independent, and might find you have more options than you think.

Many “narrow” horses are really wider than they appear; often, a modified panel like the skidrow/K are necessary, and often, narrow horses widen considerably when their fitting needs are accommodated. The two narrow horses I’ve fit in 15 years of doing this job both outgrew the narrow tree in a few months and had to go to a wider tree.

[tarheelmd07]

[QUOTE=Kitt;7469553]
Handsome horse!

Rather than getting a rep out, is it possible to work with an independent fitter? You’d be likely to get a (relatively) unbiased opinion from an independent, and might find you have more options than you think.

Many “narrow” horses are really wider than they appear; often, a modified panel like the skidrow/K are necessary, and often, narrow horses widen considerably when their fitting needs are accommodated. The two narrow horses I’ve fit in 15 years of doing this job both outgrew the narrow tree in a few months and had to go to a wider tree.[/QUOTE]

After I sit in a couple of stubbens, I’m going to have an independent fitter I’ve used in the past out to look at the options that are comfortable for me (I found a couple of used Counties I could take on trial with the options I need) and give me their opinion!

[scubed]

Don’t forget www.hastilowusa.com. They also do the K gusset etc for TBs, Annette is a great fitter and the prices points are desirable

[scubed]

Also, both Sally Cousins and Kate Chadderton have gone to Zarias. Both ride a lot of TBs.

[tarheelmd07]

[QUOTE=scubed;7469621]
Don’t forget www.hastilowusa.com. They also do the K gusset etc for TBs, Annette is a great fitter and the prices points are desirable[/QUOTE]

I would love to consider the Hastilows…but my experience with getting a fitter out was quite poor…even when I kept the horse a lot closer to where the fitter was I was leaning towards a Hastilow for my dressage saddle, but ended exploring (eventually purchasing) a County saddle when I couldn’t get anyone to get in touch with me (on the heels of having my fitting appointments cancelled and rescheduled more than once the previous time I tried to use them). The difficulty of getting a fitter out plus several friends’ experiences with not getting the saddles that they ordered has left a bad tase in my mouth…