I need a saddle NOW and Schneiders has a payment program. They have the Palermo and San Diego Ovations and those are the most appealing in my price range. Just wondering if these new Ovations are ok quality? I know they won’t compare to $2000+ saddles with amazing leather. I just want it to be well balanced and hold up to regular use. Also, what type of horse do they fit? My horse doesn’t have a curvy back really, but the wintec I tried was just a little too flat front to back. My horse was also a little too A shaped for it. Width wise I’m not concerned about the ovation as he averages a MW-W in gullet plates.
I used to ride in a San Diego. Really nice saddle, and fit the high withered TB gelding I was riding perfectly, but it also fit a more rotund WB mare too.
Are the flaps reasonably long or are they on the shorter dude? Also how deep is the seat? I’m 5’11 and my leg barely fits most saddles. The Palermo comes in a forward flap though, so I’m wondering if that would be better for me.
I can vouch for another Ovation model, the “Competition Show Jump” and it is a great saddle for the money. It is well-balanced and I felt quite secure in it. I moved up to a French saddle when my horse got older and changed shape on me, but I sold the Ovation to a kid in the barn who is still in it 3 years later and loving it.
I’ve also have the show jump saddle (mine is going on 10 years). I’ve always liked it a lot; it is balanced and comfortable. It broke in really nicely. It has been on a multitude of horses over the years.
Another vote for the Ovation Competition Show Jump! I have it in a long forward flap, and it fits my 21" femur perfectly.
Neither the San Telmo nor the Palermo fit my legs - I was over the flap
There is a stable in my area giving lessons 7 days a week and about 10 hours a day. The trainer told me Ovations are the only saddles they use. He says they hold up and the horses seem to like them.
Do they fit a flat back or one with a tiny bit more curve to it? This is my gelding: https://www.facebook.com/kendra.whittemore.7#!/photo.php?fbid=787886724566447&set=a.476913245663798.106073.100000353798044&type=3&theater
[QUOTE=Rusty15;7900328]
Are the flaps reasonably long or are they on the shorter dude? Also how deep is the seat? I’m 5’11 and my leg barely fits most saddles. The Palermo comes in a forward flap though, so I’m wondering if that would be better for me.[/QUOTE]
For me the flaps were long, but I’m 5’4" so I can’t say for sure about someone taller. The saddle was a 17.0" and was kinda on the big side for me. The seat is relatively deep, which I don’t personally care for but I know some people like that.
My ovation (can’t speak for them all!) is a medium tree, and one of those saddles that magically fits most horses. It needs a half pad for the shark-finned TB mare, and it won’t fit our super-wide WB, but most other horses, it fits perfectly.
Mine is not the newer exchangable-gullet saddles, though. But the plus side is that I bought it used (it was used 4 or 5 times before the seller’s horse was retired - not a mark on it!) for under $500. I love it. It’s not fancy, but it fits me well and most of my usual lesson horses well.
I have had mine for a year and love it. My 16.2 TB pitched a fit when I brought him home and put my lovely show saddle on him which the prepurchase vet said was great for him. Although he is not a narrow horse at all the saddle fitter found he needed the narrow gullet and he has been happy ever since
I LOVED my Ovation Show Jump model. But it was the older one model with the fixed gullet. It was by far one of the most comfortable saddles i have had but when I sold my horse I “thought” I would no longer need it. I was wrong… But I would recommend the brand to anyone and think that the newer models are even better than what I had. My saddle fit the shark fins and the A shaped withered ponies I rode, one had similar withers to your horse so you should be fine. And with the interchangeable gullets you should be able to get a good fit.
And don’t let people tell you that “cheap” saddles aren’t any good. Obviously they won’t be as nice as the $2000 but you can find really good deals on saddles for under $1000 that will last just as long and ride just as nice as the more expensive brands.
