Non custom saddles you love

[Ready_To_Riot]

Price isn’t an issue per say, but if I’m going to be spending custom money, I’m just going to get a county because I like them and I know that.

I had a prestige dressage saddle a few years back and I loved it! I picked it up for $200!! Older model in brown. It was by far the best thing I’ve ever sat in. I wish I had kept it as I bet it would fit my other horse. Alas, I did not maybe I’ll sit in a few of those.

Also, regarding Bates, I think they either sold the company or contracted out and that’s why the saddles are said to be so much different from years ago. They got too big for their britches and their saddles have suffered

[Frivian]

I bought a “demo condition” Amerigo Vega from Dover last year - but honestly it looked like it had barely been ridden in, so I feel like I got a great deal. It’s been awesome for my horse and I. Fits him perfectly, wool flocked, puts my leg in the perfect position, and it’s that beautiful chocolate brown color that is really popular right now. It broke in pretty easily and the leather is getting really soft. I love it.

[JER]

I ride in Wintecs. I love them, especially the Pro Dressage and the Pro Jump (from the mid 2000s).

I haven’t had fit issues on my horses – and I’m talking about a wide variety of sizes and types, from ponies to TBs to my fat Friesian sport horse.

These saddles fit me well, are easy to clean, cheap to replace and easy to adjust if necessary.

And it’s not like I haven’t tried the fancy stuff. The worst saddle I ever had was a custom Devoucoux. A total POS that didn’t fit one single horse, despite numerous rebuilds and adjustments.

[Marigold]

[QUOTE=Encourage;9013692]
The best “off the rack” saddle I ever owned was a passier military. I’ve forever owned thoroughbreds and have always had luck with passier on them. I regrettably sold my military and I don’t think they make them anymore.[/QUOTE]

They do still make them! I was lucky and picked up a used one for a song a couple years ago, or I would have been on the list for new.

Wool flocked and I absolutely second what you said. To me they are so balanced that I feel like I’m standing on solid ground when I jump in them, it’s amazingly secure. Every upper level event barn I’ve been in has had at least a few in the tack room. You’d have to pry mine from my lifeless hands!

ETA: they also live forever, they are tough saddles. Not the same butter soft leather as many today, but the result is that it may just live longer than you.

[beowulf]

I have had a long-standing love affair with my Ainsley. Seriously, we’ve been together since I was in HS… we went our separate ways after college but always came back together during breaks, family visits, etc.

Sadly, it does not fit my current horse (Irreconcilable Difference #1) but I have never had a more comfortable, stable saddle for me - and it fit so many horses well. I loved it so much I got a second (bigger) one, much younger but I always go back to it. It’s incredibly close contact - some people that ride in it hate it because it really feels like you’re bareback - there’s no leg support or stabilizer or knee rolls - it’s flat as a pancake (which I love).

I don’t know what year it is or exactly WHICH model it is, but here is a picture for reference. I’m pretty sure it’s an older Ainsley Chester XC - maybe it’s a prototype before they launched the ProNational XC. Here is a picture of it in use: click. It cleans up really well and people always mistake it for a much higher quality saddle than it is. It’s definitely an XC saddle and not an AP, as the flap is super forward – but it has no visible marks on it anymore other than the Ainsley emblem. It’s that well-loved :winkgrin:

I also really, really like my Stubben Zaria. I took the plunge and purchased it for the horse in the picture above after we realized that the Ainsley, while it fit on paper, wasn’t doing the job it needed to. The first ride I felt like I was way above the horse, kind of like I was perched over the withers… but once I cantered my guy in the saddle I knew it was The One for him. I no longer feel like I’m perched up on it when I ride in it; I think it was such a shock because it is so very different than my Ainsley. It fits my horse fantastically, he goes very well in it. It puts me in a different position than the Ainsley (a more defensive one, I think) but I like it.

P.S re: M. Toulouse. Don’t bother. I worked at a retail tack store and we had to send a majority of them back for defects in panel length, tree configuration, etc. If you can SEE the warped/uneven panels on the rack (which you can) that is a huge cause for concern.

[Encourage]

[QUOTE=Marigold;9013857]
They do still make them! I was lucky and picked up a used one for a song a couple years ago, or I would have been on the list for new.

Wool flocked and I absolutely second what you said. To me they are so balanced that I feel like I’m standing on solid ground when I jump in them, it’s amazingly secure. Every upper level event barn I’ve been in has had at least a few in the tack room. You’d have to pry mine from my lifeless hands!

ETA: they also live forever, they are tough saddles. Not the same butter soft leather as many today, but the result is that it may just live longer than you.[/QUOTE]

:eek: They do!?! It’s something I asked my local tack shop about when I was looking, but the girl I talked to said they were out of production. I’ll have to do some more research because I’m dying to own one again.

[kashmere]

Encourage - sent you a PM

[lucegoose]

Going to jump in on this thread as I’m also not-not looking for a jump saddle. What is the consensus on Ovation saddles?

[Bogie]

I have also owned a Passier Military and it is a great saddle. Ultimately it didn’t work for me because my femur is SO long, but it is a very balanced saddled and it fit a variety of horses. Keep in mind it is only available in an 18" seat.

[Larbear]

I’m a Passier snob I have the Grand Gilbert and the Wellington (close contact jump saddle).

[CindyCRNA]

Love my Fairfax Jump for my short backed, big shouldered curvy boy!

[no.stirrups]

Another vote for Jeffries. I just started selling them about 6 months ago, and they are hard to keep in stock they are so popular! Custom is wonderful if you or your horse have special needs (and many do) but if you are a typical rider on a typical horse Jeffries saddles are just as well made as some more expensive custom saddles at a lower cost.

[soloudinhere]

Oh, also, I really love my Tad Coffins, though I’m not sure they’d be super desireable for an eventer at least in the modern age, they are a very “nothing” saddle.

[Heinz_57]

It really depends on what sort of horse you’re trying to fit, IMO.

I LOVE my Schleese jump saddle. It has FLAIR panels and is likely one of the few saddles I could buy non-custom that doesn’t require a half pad with shims or lots of padding up to clear his big, looooong withers. He also needs a generous channel width, and many of the older saddles (County, for example) are not wide enough under the seat to provide that (which gets me bucked off). The Schleese/FLAIR works for him and it’s quite cushy for me. I know the majority on this board really hate them, though.

[Finnster]

You might check into Loxley by Bliss. Very affordable and fit similar to Black Country saddles. They’re semi-custom and so easy to work with. I’ve had my Loxley jump saddle for about a year and a half now and LOVE it. Eventually I’ll get a dressage saddle.

In regards to Bates and M. Toulouse, I’ve had both. I enjoyed my Bates saddle overall (CAIR panels excluded–wasn’t a fan of those), but it didn’t fit my horse well, so I had to sell it. I moved to a Toulouse, which had nicer buffalo leather. It was okay, but after my horse kept being unusually sore on one side of his back, I looked closely and discovered the tree was slightly crooked–barely noticeable, but nevertheless there. I also felt it did no favors for my position, center of gravity or general balance. I wouldn’t buy one again.

[arabiansrock]

If you want leather, wool flock and adjustable gullets and don’t want to pay hastilow price, look at the Kent and Masters saddles. They use the same sima tree that hastilow does, but they are off the rack. They come in different “fits” eg high wither, cob, standard to fit different horse frames. They also have both jump and dressage models.

I own a Hastilow with the sima tree and a thorowgood (synthetic version of the Kent and masters) with the sima tree and love both. They are very horse friendly.

[pologirl27]

I’ve had great luck with older Passiers and Countys. Hate the way Bates seems to balance me. Also really dislike the way Toulouses feel on my butt. That’s what I’ve got.

[Ready_To_Riot]

Oh a loxley would be lovely. Can you send them tracings? I’ve never looked in to it. I wanted a loxley to begin with, but couldn’t ever get the fitter to come out. Still can’t. Last time we spoke, she said she had an assistant who was doing her scheduling now and said she would be in touch. Assistant was never in touch, soni give up. I need my county fitted as well… literally fitters are the reason I want to buy off the rack.

[Ready_To_Riot]

I’m curious about opinions on ovation as well. I’ve never seen one in person I don’t think

[fordtraktor]

If you have/can do tracings I would place a call to Smith Worthington. See what they have hat fits your needs. They do the first fitting/adjustment free ( not counting shipping)!so you can have a saddle fitted before you even get it. I have bought 2 this way and they have done an amazing job.