Recommendations for Hunt Saddles?

[Prime_Time_Rider]

I am new to hunting (started last hunt season) and rode the entire season in my Butet close contact hunt saddle. While it was comfortable, I am thinking I need a slightly deeper seat saddle for hunting with more durable leather. I love my Butet, but it scratches if I breathe on it!

I am looking for some saddle recommendations. I don’t want a Stuben as the ones I’ve tried feel like I’m riding in a box. I want something close contact but with a slightly deeper seat that will hold up in the hunt field? Any recommendations? I tried a friend’s Jaguar XJS briefly and liked it, although I haven’t jumped in it yet.

[gypsymare]

People hunt in everything from race saddles to Stubbens to Devoucoux. Whatever fits you both. That being said, Barnsby is often recommended. I loved mine but sold it when I no longer had a horse it fit.

[Bogie]

One of my friends bought a Kent & Masters last year that has a slightly deeper seat and is both comfortable and durable. I rode her horse a couple of times and thought it was really nice for the $$.

I hunt either in a County or a Kieffer.

[Beverley]

I would be using my vintage Crosby Prix des Nations but it doesn’t fit current stock. However I am very pleased with my most recent saddle acquisition from Smith Worthington. Not quite as flat as the Crosby but built to take the rigors of hunting.

[jaybird660]

it would be most helpful to see conformation shots as described in this link but also have a price range.

http://www.trumbullmtn.com/saddle-fitting/helpful-conformation-photos-for-saddle-fitting/

[wateryglen]

Marcel Toulouse Premia !! I adore it! Comfy! and they make an EXTRA WIDE for my …ahem…cough…witherless wonder…who’s enjoying waddling around the pastures and is wide bodied right now so to speak! It’s reasonable priced and well made!

[Beau_s_mom]

I am dreaming of the County Conquest in the buffalo hide…(sigh).

[jawa]

I second a Barnsby or County.

[candysgirl]

Which Stubbens have you tried? I’m admittedly a Stubben person and don’t mind the old style ones that most people seem to find about as comfortable as sitting on a 2x4. However, I have a newer (5-10 years old…my other Stubbens are 20-30 years old) Roxane that I foxhunt in. People who HATE Stubbens and are used to the super cushy saddles really like my Roxane. Might be worth trying one. To me, it doesn’t ride the same way as any of their other models do.

About half of my hunt rides in a Roxane. Most of them have custom ones as they have MUCH deeper pockets than I do, but mine is off the rack.

[IFG]

Ainsley Chester. Love it. You can find them quite reasonably as well.

[SidesaddleRider]

For hunting astride, we use or have used: Tad Coffin, Hermes, PJ Delgrange, Butet or Antares - it just depends on what saddle fits the horse best. So flat or half-deep saddles. As others said, it is personal preference. Mr. SSR and I both intensely dislike deep seats, as we feel we cannot get out of them enough, and want a close contact saddle vice all-purpose, with minimal blocks.

[Bogie]

[QUOTE=IFG;7686964]
Ainsley Chester. Love it. You can find them quite reasonably as well.[/QUOTE]

Yup, I have one of those, too. Make sure to find one of the older models as they are nicer.

[Hinderella]

Smith Worthington makes some great saddles that would be suitable for hunting. As a less-talented rider I like the deep seat of my Mystic, but the very traditional Avalon would be a great buy from their clearance section. Their Beaufort and Danzig saddles are in the regular price section & very nice.

[xeroxchick]

Antares and Butet for me. A deep seat hurts my back.

[gypsymare]

[QUOTE=candysgirl;7686946]
Which Stubbens have you tried? I’m admittedly a Stubben person and don’t mind the old style ones that most people seem to find about as comfortable as sitting on a 2x4. However, I have a newer (5-10 years old…my other Stubbens are 20-30 years old) Roxane that I foxhunt in. People who HATE Stubbens and are used to the super cushy saddles really like my Roxane. Might be worth trying one. To me, it doesn’t ride the same way as any of their other models do.

About half of my hunt rides in a Roxane. Most of them have custom ones as they have MUCH deeper pockets than I do, but mine is off the rack.[/QUOTE]
I’ll second that. I hunt in middle aged Roxane. Not sure quite how old it is but it feels entirely different from my 5 yo Siegfried VSSG. No chair seat at all. The newer Roxane’s are super cushy.

[BCGirl]

Crosby Prix de Nations or Equilibrium. Depends on which horse as each fits a different one. If you love flat saddles, the Equilibrium is a nice choice because it has a very small thigh block that doesn’t bother me (and I cannot stand thigh blocks or knee pads as they tend to hurt my hips). That being said, I would love to get an Antares or a Stackhouse or Black Country custom made. I have also been on the look out for Barnsby and Ainsleys as I have heard great things about those.

[Jump4FT]

Try frenchusedsaddles.com. They have a large selection

[clue1005]

I have a Barnsby Cirrus I that I hunted in for years. I loved it! It fit my quarter horse as well as the draft crosses I rode. So comfy!

[La_Gringa]

I hunted in my Devoucoux Biarritz, I loved it for hunting. The knee and thigh block gave me security, It didn’t seem to get too scratched up either. They have a deeper seated model too if you want it to really keep you in there.

I am Devoucoux fan… but you can find similar saddles from most top makers now. Butet is of course similar too but if your leather is too delicate… the Devoucoux may work better.

[JSwan]

As far as quality and durability - County is excellent. All of mine are at least 10 years old and one of them has been underwater several times. They take a licking and keep on ticking.

I do not care for deep seat saddles; not for hunting. And like sidesaddlerider I prefer minimal blocks and a cc style. That’s just my preference. But the most important thing is fit for you and your horse. County has several styles to choose from and I think some have deeper seats than others.