I’ve recently started volunteering at an OTTB rehoming farm and getting the chance to ride a good deal of horses before they head off to their awesome new homes. I’m currently riding in my 30 year old Crosby Hampton Classic saddle (which is in fantastic shape) but my butt is a tad bit larger that it was when I was a teenager and got that saddle. I had a 19" Tad Coffin a few years ago, but sold it when I rehomed my warmblood (dumb move on my part but then I thought I was out of riding for good). So anyway, I think I need to get a “new” saddle. I’m considering a USED Butet, Antares or another TC. Thoughts on something that would be suitable for a wide variety of horses, but all TBs? I don’t want to spend more than $2,000 - $2,500 MAX since I’m just volunteering at the farm.
What excellent timing! Harry Dabbs is always my recommendation for people who want a saddle to fit multiple OTTBs and they just gave me the OK to start offering a 20% discount on all saddles for OTTBs! It’s so new that I have yet to iron out what documentation will be required to qualify for the discount but this puts a brand new saddle comfortably within your price range.
Harry Dabbs has been a supporter of the TB Makeover competition since its inception and did a really fun demo in 2017 having horses ridden in their own saddles in the Covered Arena then switching the horses to Dabbs saddles. Even without being custom fitted or even flocked to the individual horse, every horse moved noticeably freer in the Dabbs saddle than its own, including one with a custom-made saddle and one with kissing spines. They have a close relationship with the Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Center (TRC) in the UK and developed a line of saddles specifically for them.
https://thesaddletree.com/saddle-fitting-science-for-thoroughbreds/
When you have the info please message me with the info for the discount and saddles for TBs. sounds like it might be a great option for me.
I love my Stubbens. A 31 cm tree fits most TBs. The one I had with shark fin withers, but broad shoulders fit nicely in a 32 cm - the gullet was high enough to stay off his withers, but wide enough for him. I have 2 Artus’s and an Eidelweiss. The Eidelweiss is great but a little hard in the seat, but the Artus, unfortunately a discontinued model, not the current one, is one of the most comfortable saddles ever. Plus great quality. I’m tall, too, and the flap fits me nicely. I owuldn’t hesitate to buy a used one - they age very well.
Prestige Roma Jump
Hmmm…there’s an 18” Artus (with a 31 cm tree) on EBay. I’m hesitant to buy a saddle off eBay but the price is hard to pass us. I’m 5’8” with long legs so this might be a good option
Well, I’m 5’ 10" with long legs, about 135 lbs, and a 17" Artus does quite nicely for me. Mine are close to 20 years old and still look great. I think an 18" would go up a tree size, so there might be even a bit more room in the leg length.
They are wool flocked, so can be adjusted easily enough if the padding has squished down. I believe the tree can be adjusted a bit by a saddler as well. Everyone who has ridden in the Artus loves it. Stubbens are built like tanks and they last forever, although they’ve never been particularly trendy saddles.
Stubben has a strange description system. CS is a close contact saddle, which is what mine is, normally with a square cantle. Mine also say “extra” and i’m not quite sure what that means, since it doesn’t seem to mean a long flap. “G” means a long flap. “D” is a dressage saddle “DL” means it has a longer knee roll for longer legged riders. There are also a couple of all purpose models, one with a dressage tendency and the other with a jumping tendency, but I’m sorry I’ve forgotten how those are designated.
You can probably call Stubben North America (near Richmond, VA) and give them the serial number to find out more about it if you want to.
If this one looks like what you want, I’d say give it a shot.
I’m also a Stubben fan. My OTTB is on the smaller side, and pretty average proportions. We use size 29 wool Juventus dressage saddle, and a size 31 foam Portos for jumping. I love both! But especially the Juventus which has the biomex seat, which seems to help my back.
Count me in as a Stubben fan. I have a Genesis CS.
I ride the tbs here in keiffers or stubbens. Love them.
I agree with Stubben, but I think for most OTTB who are not going to be well developed, at 31 cm Stubben will be too wide. IME, a lot of TBs will fall into the 27-29 cm tree ranges, so you might want to check with a Stubben rep as to what tree size they think would be best for your purposes. In the right size, they are an awesome option.
Caveat, not a saddle-fitter – just someone with a boatload of TBs.
I have yet to have a TB get anywhere near 31cm with professional saddle fitters (including Stubben reps). I have the widest/biggest TB I have had to date (needs a 82-85 in blankets depending on brand, and is NOT a long horse - just wide!) in a 28 cm Zaria.
The newer Stubben trees are a bit different in the tree’s point, as far as I know - which seems to make-or-break fit for a lot of TBs, who traditionally don’t need a very wide channel, but do need a very wide tree point to accommodate their shoulders - most TBs have very wide shoulders relative to their body size.
If you are buying in the $2k range, see if you can find a used but made in the last ~10 yrs Portos or Zaria.
For dressage, I second the Juventus option.
EDIT IN 2021: Said TB no longer enjoys the 28cm option. So maybe his fitter should have put us in a 31cm! lol.
Another recommendation. Like mentioned above, I have a Stubben, but I often ride at a TB adoption facility. They have a Loxley by Bliss (I think I have that right) that they ride a lot of horses in. I LOVE this saddle. It is super comfy and seems to fit the TBs well. The Loxley line is less expensive than other Bliss models.
Seconding the Harry Dabbs recommendation! I have a Future Jump that really suits the OTTB shape but I’ve been able to make it work on a variety of breeds (from ponies to warmbloods; wouldn’t recommend it for long term use on these types but fine for the occasional ride).
Also Kieffer and Prestige. I’ve found Stubbens to be a bit hit or miss as a general OTTB recommendation; some horses the tree shape was so off that even the right combination of padding couldn’t salvage it.
If you’re interested in the Harry Dabbs route and don’t mind used, send me a message. Contemplating selling mine as I think it’s time for me to give up jumping…1.5 years post concussion and I’m still puking off the side of the horse by the time I do jump #4…head injuries suck
What about an old Crosby or similar? I’m still regularly using mine and an old Crump. Also, I find that fresh ottbs are sometimes unhappily surprised by a heavy saddle, another reason I love me my super lightweight flats.
I second the Crosby. I’m riding in my 30±year old Prix des Nations and its comfortable for all my OTTBs. My 2 guys now are 16.3 and long and lanky and 16.1 with a straighter stiffer back, but he loosens up and moves freely when I’ve been riding regularly. I bought a second PDN one on eBay a couple years ago and it’s great too.
Some of the newer Beval Naturals if you can find them!
My Crosby was too tight in the shoulders for one on my TBs and he was instantly pissed… he’s a chubby guy.
I’m using an older Beval Devon saddle and it’s worked out well. I like a flat style saddle. The Crosby didn’t fit me either.
If you can find it, I was just using a Pessoa with alto panels on an OTTB. I sold mine for about $1000. Super comfy, versatile, and it has an adjustable gullet.
I’m actually riding in my Crosby Hampton Classic that, while I love it, I’m a little bigger than I was 25 years ago when I got it.
County Innovation with Skid Row panels. You may be able to find one used. The Skid Row panels are for their hollow withers. I have this saddle for my OTTB. Other TBs I see also have hollow withers. My DWB does not have this physical characteristic. So her Innovation does not have Skid Row panels.
