Questions about Wolfgang Solo, Steffen Peters Mono Flap and Fairfax Saddles

[Clarissa24]

Hi,

I am currently shopping for a dressage saddle with the more pronounced and slanted external thigh blocks. Ideally, I would love one that has an adjustable tree or gullet, a mono flap and has a deep enough seat. I have tried the M Toulouse Verona mono flap w/ external blocks and disliked it because the blocks were too straight and overall it was very uncomfortable for me.

I have heard good things about the Wolfgang Solo saddles (proportion wise, they seem perfect); however, they are not adjustable and the only mono flap version I could find on the site below is a buffalo leather one that costs $4,395. The “signature” one looks pretty much the exact same with regular leather and is $2,595. Does anyone know if they can make a mono flap version of the regular leather Wolfgang solo saddle around the same price?

http://www.mysaddle.com/DressageSaddles.html

Next, the Steffen Peters Advantage Monoflap (with the two different external block lengths like the Wolfgang) is $2,995. The block seems slightly less slanted…does anyone have this saddle? Again, the external block version not the internal version.

Lastly, the Fairfax monoflap is a saddle that ticks off every one of my boxes and is around the same price as the rest. I haven’t heard anything about them but it is a monoflap, adjustable and has the slanted thigh block. Any advice or feedback on this saddle would also be great!

I am definitely looking for a saddle that helps you maintain a good position (with my legs back closer to the engine) but realistically I like to sell and then buy a new horse every 2-3 years so that is appeal of the adjustable saddles for me. I can’t decide if I should sacrifice a monoflap over an adjustable tree or vice versa…

Thanks in advance!

[normandy_shores]

I have a custom Coronado. Adjustable tree, monoflap, and the knee roll is substantial but not as inhibiting as the thigh blocks. I thought I loved the solo and the icon flight, but I actually like the Coronado better.

Oops, sorry, skipped the part where you want the pronounced thigh block. I will say I wanted that as well until I sat in the Coronado. It rides quite nicely.

[joiedevie99]

The Signnature line of Custom Saddlery saddles is an off-the-rack line. You can’t customize anything. There are limited tree sizes too (no MW). Personally, I think the leather is sub-par for the price. I’ve had two of their custom saddles, an Everest and an Icon Coda, which are nice saddles.

At the moment, I have a Black Country Vinici on trial from Trumbull Mountain for my new horse (whose body type is a bad match for Custom Saddlery). It’s also a mono flap with an external block.

[jaybird660]

The Fairfax is a very nice saddle and well priced. It is wool flocked with changeable gullets and a monoflap. It also has an option of a point or center billet arrangement and has full front gussets. It uses the R bar which doesn’t make the points more down the shoulder but gives more height in the pommel. I tried it on my OTTB and liked it a lot but chose to stick with my BC Vinici which has a block that is anatomically designed to follow the leg.

The Fairfax, I feel, is more suited to a withered though not necessarily TB type as the bars go quite wide but not available in the XXW size. Feel free to email me directly with more questions,
jay@trumbullmtn.com

[sheltona01]

I would also look at Hastilow. They met all of your requirements. Plus you can get the saddle custom to your measurement so you would not have the problems with the blocks.

[rothmpp]

I have the Solo with the long blocks. When I bought this one, the rep was at the barn with a trailer full of saddles. I sat in probably 12 saddles that day.

Granted it was 18 months ago, and they may have changed slightly, but the Advantage sat nothing like the Solo. I thought I wanted the Advantage until I sat in the Solo. I don’t remember the names of everything I sat in, as some of them I only sat in for a minute as that was enough to know it was not going to work for myself and the horse so I don’t know if I tried the Coronado.

Depending on where you are located, if you think you want a Custom, it might be worth contacting your area rep - mine has 20-25 saddles on her trailer every time she comes out and gives you a chance to try a lot of styles. My understanding (and it may wrong) is that Custom gives them the demo saddles so the reps tend to have quite a selection (depending on the time of year and where you are in their trip) with them, rather than some brands that make the reps purchase their demo saddles, so they often can’t afford to have tons with them.

A couple of us split the barn visit, so I think I paid like $200 total to try virtually everything she had on the truck. That is what it would have cost me to have 2 saddles sent in from a tack shop if I then had to return them. Mind you, before tweaking, my horse and I are a pretty common starting point - he is MW/W and I am either a 17.5 or 18, so if you are more out of the ordinary, may not be as prolific a visit as it was for me.

[Ocean_of_Nuance]

[QUOTE=rothmpp;7906553]

Depending on where you are located, if you think you want a Custom, it might be worth contacting your area rep - mine has 20-25 saddles on her trailer every time she comes out and gives you a chance to try a lot of styles. [/QUOTE]

This is how I came to own my Custom. The saddles all look pretty similar but they ride differently and you should try many. Slightly different balance points it seems. I bought one of the demo saddles and it was adjusted with tools in the trailer until the saddle fitter could come out and do the exact fit.

The Custom was a turning point. I wouldn’t have thought a saddle could matter that much that quickly. I stopped having to fight for position. Without that on the table, I was able to actually work on other skills that were what advanced because more correct equitation became the default.

[MysticOakRanch]

I agree, try the different saddles - the balance varies significantly, as does the fit to the horse. Some are built for flat backed horses, others for more dippy backs. I rode in the old style Advantage and it was comfortable but a bit too deep and “sucks you in” for me. Haven’t ridden in the new mono-flap though.

I currently ride in the Coronado - and love it except the seat is very hard, so if you like a softer seat, this is not the saddle for you. It is a slightly flatter and more open seat then some of their models, and the balance point is a bit further back, so it works well for a longer legged person.

As for adjustability - all their custom saddles are adjustable by the reps - it costs about $250 to adjust the tree. I don’t think the Signature Series (the $2595 saddles) is adjustable, although I may be wrong on that? I do know they are not made as well - the leather is not as nice, and the panels are extremely gusseted, so if your horse is shorter backed, that will be a problem!

[Ocean_of_Nuance]

For me, I had tried a Custom for a few minutes and wasn’t motivated to buy one. It was only when I did an entire lesson in one wherein everything was much easier that I realized how much I was fighting the tack for position in my other saddle. essentially I was running an experiment in my old saddle with no control. I thought everyone fought their tack for position. I thought it was just the dues you pay to learn to ride. Well no it isn’t.

[catzndogz22]

[QUOTE=rothmpp;7906553]
Depending on where you are located, if you think you want a Custom, it might be worth contacting your area rep - mine has 20-25 saddles on her trailer every time she comes out and gives you a chance to try a lot of styles. [/QUOTE]

Same here. I rode in 7 or 8 Custom saddles that day. A couple of them I eliminated within a couple of walk strides from the moment I sat down. The Solo was one of them. I hated the long blocks because there was no place for my knees to go. I narrowed my choices to the Icon Coda and the Revolution, leaning towards the Revolution, and then I rode in each again, cantered in each direction, and found I could sit the canter MUCH better in the Coda.

[LarkspurCO]

I got the Fairfax monoflap as a first saddle for my young, growing horse. It has proven to be a very good choice because it is so easy to adjust and was inexpensive (I basically stole it). It’s been adjusted twice – last time went up a whole tree size to the widest gullet. The saddle fitter loves it because it is so easy to work with. This saddle would not fit a sausage horse but works well on a horse with some withers.

It fits me very well and the blocks are just right for my long legs – it actually looks like it was made for me. Still, I have never really “loved” the saddle and really prefer traditional concealed blocks. I just find them more comfortable. But it works and fits the horse so I will be keeping it as long as possible.

I believe the Fairfax comes with either short or long blocks. Mine are long.

This one on eBay looks like the short blocks:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-Fairfax-Monoflap-Dressage-Saddle-Size-18-18-5-Black-/261698529309?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cee72a81d

[Clarissa24]

[QUOTE=sheltona01;7906390]
I would also look at Hastilow. They met all of your requirements. Plus you can get the saddle custom to your measurement so you would not have the problems with the blocks.[/QUOTE]

I met with our area saddle fitter today (she deals mostly with the British brands, and the simmatree (sp?) saddles). Anyway, tried a Hastilow Elevation Concept saddle. It was absolutely gorgeous, It had the silver piping and the back cantle was customized with the most beautiful patterned fabric I had ever seen (think Coach Poppy). It was very comfortable, adjustable, unfortunately not a monoflap and the block was an internal but it felt great. Loved the deep seat, I got a whole another canter from my horse that I had never experienced.

I also have on trial the regular Fairfax dressage saddle (small internal blocks and not a monoflap but it does have a deep seat and will tell me if I might like the other one. Lastly, I have on trial a Kent & Masters external block saddle (also ajustable tree) that looks very comfortable but I will have to ride in it tomorrow or soon.

I absolutely love the look and feel of the Hastilow Elevation Concept saddle but it is out of my price range at $3500. Even a $2900 would have been a stretch, but the Kent & Masters one is only $1700.

[J-Lu]

I think you really have to try them on your horse.

I soooooo wanted to be in love with the Fairfax saddle and I was ready to purchase it but it wasn’t working for me when I rode my horse with it. My knees got too far into the long thigh block and I found it “hindering”. It’s a very nice saddle, though and I so wished it worked for me. The Wolfgang Solo is designed for people with me with a longer thigh. I’ve also heard some complaints about the Custom quality these days and I can’t speak to that.

Try before you buy (if at all possible!!).

[Schiffon]

[QUOTE=joiedevie99;7906001]

At the moment, I have a Black Country Vinici on trial from Trumbull Mountain for my new horse (whose body type is a bad match for Custom Saddlery). It’s also a mono flap with an external block.[/QUOTE]

What body type does Custom Saddlery not do well for?

[MelanieC]

From what I understand, the Wolfgang Solo and Steffen’s Advantage have different trees, with the former having long flat panels and the latter being more suitable for horses that have some curve to their backs. The Steffen’s Advantage has the same tree shape as the Icon Flight and Icon Coda (but the Coda is a polyflex tree). I have an Icon Flight for my big, curvy/short-backed Arab gelding with withers and love it. I’m not sure if it’s the seat or the monoflap or what but I definitely feel like I’m sitting more into my horse’s back rather than on top of it than I have in other saddles, although I’m not generally picky about saddles.

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=Schiffon;7908759]
What body type does Custom Saddlery not do well for?[/QUOTE]

That’s a good question - they have different trees and saddles for different body types. So while ONE saddle may not fit a body type, another will.

[Char0308]

According to my saddle fitter who is rep for Custom and several other brands; All Custom Saddlery Saddles off the shelf and custom models can have the trees adjusted 1-2 sizes up or down from original tree size by Custom Saddlery Rep. I have Custom Buffalo Wolfgang Solo with Short block and love it;(hated long block models) but just FYI you really want a trial ride in anything you buy, as Custom Saddles even the same models can vary a bit depending on what year they are made as they are always trying to improve their models. Also the off shelf model Wolfgang Solo Smooth Leather and Custom Wolfgang Solo Buffalo leather models ride a bit different as the seat is a bit different (Off the Shelf Wolfgang solo as a slightly more open seat ) and the tackiness of the leather is very different, so they can feel 1/2 size different in my experience.

[Clarissa24]

[QUOTE=Char0308;7909257]
According to my saddle fitter who is rep for Custom and several other brands; All Custom Saddlery Saddles off the shelf and custom models can have the trees adjusted 1-2 sizes up or down from original tree size by Custom Saddlery Rep.[/QUOTE]

If you are right, then this could be great for me! I am getting to the point where I am just not clicking with any saddle and I don’t want to put the money toward something that I kind of like, I want to love it. I will probably only be able to afford an off-the-shelf Wolfgang Solo (with short blocks) because there is a huge price difference between these and the custom ones. I am usually not too picky about leather, but am picky about thigh blocks and the Solo seems have be the only saddle with those slanted large blocks and a deep seat. Thanks for your help, I will e-mail our area saddle fitter and see what she says or if she has anything used. Thanks!

[MelanieC]

I’d look around on eBay and other sites - the Wolfgang Solo is one of the more common models and the easiest to find used IME. Unfortunately it doesn’t fit my horse!

[jn4jenny]

[QUOTE=Clarissa24;7918955]
I am usually not too picky about leather, but am picky about thigh blocks and the Solo seems have be the only saddle with those slanted large blocks and a deep seat.[/QUOTE]

Just for the sake of being thorough, know you have other options that meet this description–especially if you’re willing to flex on the monoflap thing. There’s the PDS Showtime XCH Monoflap, the HDR Austal Adjust-to-Fit Monoflap, and the Classic Pro RTF (not a monoflap but it’s got a tilted external block). If you can flex on the adjustable-tree thing and are prepared to hit the upper end of your budget, the Loxley Monoflap Dressage may also fit the bill: http://www.loxleysaddles.com/wp-content/gallery/dressage/mono-flap-dressage-cream-stitch.jpg . I don’t know the exact price on the Loxley Monoflap; the double-flap model retails at $2630, and there’s an upgrade fee to make it a monoflap, but I don’t know the exact size of the upgrade fee. Schleese isn’t my favorite brand, but they make some monoflaps with those external tilted blocks, too.

I’m not saying “avoid the Wolfgang Solo.” I’m saying, “Don’t paint yourself in a corner by assuming that it’s your only remaining choice.” But regardless, I’d suggest a call to Patricia at Fine Used Saddles. She’s got some used Wolfgang Solos, Black Country Vinicis, even a Fairfax Monoflap Dressage in her inventory.
https://www.fine-used-saddles.com/saddles/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=p&idcategory=3&SFID=&SFNAME=&SFVID=&SFVALUE=&SFCount=-1