Try a CWD? A rep may be able to get their hands on something that could work. The panels have many configurations.
Maybe a Hastilow…they cost less than County (would probably fit in your budget new, custom or very close to it). They fit my horse better than the County I had, but hey, everyone is different and I don’t think the twist is too wide but someone else might. Hastilow trees are adjustable, and the adjustment will widen or narrow both the gullet and rails. Kent and Masters is a less expensive option.
For a French type saddle with Custom panels, there is Voltaire. The company will try to help you find a used one in that price range and I thought they were pretty good at fitting from a distance when I trialed a saddle with them. They have more of a close contact narrow twist feel than the English made saddles.
Thank you. Both reps make frequent trips to my barn. I’m going to call the CWD rep and see if I can try some of their used saddles.
I hesitate to buy any saddle I haven’t ridden in. My saddle fitter makes custom saddles from the tree up for about the same as a new Voltaire. Even if I could afford one, it’s kind of a crapshoot.
[QUOTE=LadyB;8526967]
I’ve had great success with Prestige saddles, in the budget and beautifully made!
Great for the high withered horses as they have cut back pommels. Highly recommended.[/QUOTE]
There is a Prestige dealer local to me, but they only have three models, none of which are my seat size. CWD has a couple of used ones. I will check them out.
You should definitively look into Delgrange saddles!
To add: Patty had a custom Black Country made for me and my weird horse that is heavenly, for just a bit more than your budget. The Solare model feels a lot more like the French saddles for the rider, so if the average UK saddle is too wide in the twist for you, I’d look into that one.
I have also had Matt at Heritage in the UK make me a custom monoflap for another horse, and both horse and I loved that one too. Pluses: custom saddle, good quality construction, extremely good price. Drawbacks: hard resell, can’t ride in before you buy. If your budget is $3k and you want to ride in it first, I’d just keep this option in your back pocket.
I also have a Hastilow and agree they should do well on this type of back; plus, the trees on these can also be pressed to adjust the width, and they are wool flocked. No idea of the model of mine, but it wears like iron and is comfortable and secure. Wider in the twist than my BC Solare, but not super wide like some Albions I’ve been in.
I have had a Prestige Jumper R and currently have a Prestige Top dressage saddle. Love them both for me, and for high-withered horses. Most of their jumping saddles have combination flocking that can’t really be tweaked much. The Prestige Roma (?) I believe comes standard with wool flocking, but not sure if it’s the same type of tree as the others. The back portion of the panels did not work for my propane tank mare but are fine on the more “normal” TB back, that is not super flat across the spine. They are not as flat front to back as some of the UK saddles, but are not as curvy/ banana shaped as many Stubbens or some of the French saddles. You should be able to get one in your budget if it fits; if you find one you like but new here is out of budget, check on ordering direct from Europe via Calevo: https://www.calevo.com/cgi-bin/calevo/
Hope some of this is helpful!
[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8526370]
Thank you, that’s very kind of you. I checked them out on Google and they look yummy. Is there a Meyer dealer around here? Are they priced same as the other French saddles?
Which Albion dressage saddle is it that you have?[/QUOTE]
The Meyers are really nice… and price is about the same as the French saddles… I also have a CWD and how it’s a nice saddle it’s not nearly as light and comfortable as the Meyer.
I will get the information off my Albion… I ordered it from the numbers from my Dressage trainers saddle.
Here is a pic of it… I do look like a hunter rider in this photo LOL…
Thermal will have just about all the saddles that are being discussed… Larry is the saddle rep I got my Butet and the Meyer from. I can get you his contact info. I know he is at the horse shows.
Has a photo of this animal’s back been posted?
Some horses just don’t have decent backs–and they are not riding horses. But can be driven with great success.
[QUOTE=JustJump;8534900]
Has a photo of this animal’s back been posted?
Some horses just don’t have decent backs–and they are not riding horses. But can be driven with great success.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. It will happen, though!
doublesstable, I wish I could afford a new Meyer or Butet. I’m assuming they are between 5K and 6K. You look great in the dressage saddle!
[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8530668]
There is a Prestige dealer local to me, but they only have three models, none of which are my seat size. CWD has a couple of used ones. I will check them out.[/QUOTE]
Prestige seats are a bit different than most. Not sure if you sat in one but a 17" is closer to a 17.5". Just slightly more generous than most saddles.
[QUOTE=MIKES MCS;8524634]
Old school Crosby, Narrow twist, narrow tree, cut back … just saying, never had a TB get a sore back from one , also the Older Butets and Brunos and forestiers fit pretty well too[/QUOTE]
Great advice.
Had good luck with a Duett on a horse like this.
The Stubben custom option is going to be a good bet. We have a couple of high-withered, narrow TBs in the barn that have had custom stubbens made for them. They are inexpensive relatively, and really well balanced. I find the seats to be quite hard compared to my Voltaire (which I thought had a hard seat before I sat in the stubbens), but it’s a really nice customized saddle for the money.
[QUOTE=Bristol Bay;8523828]
I am in crisis. I had a saddle that caused no harm to my horse, but it wasn’t a great fit for me, not uncomfortable at all, but wasn’t helping my position. I bought a new, stickier one and after having the fit checked by a pro, sold the original saddle. Six months later and the new saddle was causing my horse to be sore.
I consulted a new saddle fitter, who showed me what was wrong. Also, the dressage saddle that is so comfy for me, is also not doing the horse any favors.
I have tried to have a pile of saddles for him to look at when he comes, but between me and my sore hips, and the horse, almost nothing fits both of us. I have had him out to look at a saddle, he said he could make it work but the saddle itself was wearing holes in the flaps and not worth the price. So I found that same saddle, same size on eBay and bought it. It’s way too wide.
(County N SR)
So I am back to square one, no saddle and I’ve spent $500 on shipping and consultations. :eek:
Any ideas how I can find a narrow twist, narrow tree, for high and long withers? 3K is my budget.
If it helps, the one dressage saddle I tried that was a good fit for him was an Albion SLK High head.[/QUOTE]
I have a horse with high withers and had a tough time finding one with the clearance. I started with a Stubben Roxanne and while the saddles are nice the fit for me as a rider was poor as it set me too far back and the fit on my horse with a 28cm tree didnt have enough clearance.
If your budget is 3K have you looked into some French used saddles? I found the one that worked best for me and horse was Voltaire. I was able to get a nice one for $2,700 (only 2 years old) through frenchusedsaddles.com. They are actually an Antares dealer. But super great to work with and you can test all the saddles they have. If you have a specific brand you want to try you can contact a rep in your area and see if they will come out and fit your horse and see what they have.
Since I got my first one in 2011, I recently upgraded to a newer one as they have a TB wither tree designed better for my horses wither and back. Bonus was they took my current one against the price of a new one!
Best of luck!
Didn’t read the whole thread, but has anyone suggested a Passier? - most models have a cutback pommel and mine works well on my high withered/flat back TB.
I have a horse with an extremely long and high wither and a short back to boot. I just demo’d an Amerigo. First time ever that I’ve ridden my horse without a mountain of pads and he was super soft and happy.
[QUOTE=mfglickman;8524027]
County is having a demo sale right now. They are out of my budget even in demo prices but people I know who have them, love them. I also second Black Country - we have one on trial right now that doesn’t work for our wide, flat backed pony but it is a very cool saddle with serged panels, something I had not seen before but looks pretty comfy for a horse.[/QUOTE]
This is exactly what I was going to say! I have an older County Stabilizer and I swear by it. I love it so much, I’ll buy my next horse to fit it. Lol. Have you looked at the County Innovation? Made for high narrow withers and complicated backs. If your state’s County fitter doesn’t have one on demo, maybe another does? I lucked out with my previous horse and only went through 7 saddles (yes sounds crazy but I consider that to be not a lot). I tried two Black Country models and they REALLY hurt my hips and IT bands. My good friend loves hers and swears by it, however the three people I know riding in them have funky equitation. I’m dead set on wool flocked only, as I firmly believe in having a saddle I can adjust when the horse’s muscles change.
I’m not sure where you live, but check out the County demo sale and call your state rep. I’m in VA and Ann Mary Bettenson is our rep. She’s awesome. If you are here, I can get you in touch with her instantly (we talk all the time). We also have an awesome independent saddle fitter (who travels to other states), Ann Jacobson, that is awesome as well. Lots of us have been through saddle fitting hell so you are in good company.
Thank you for all the great ideas. I’m seeing the SoCal CWD rep today, so I should be able to try various makes and models. It’s encouraging! 
My horse has long, high withers, and a narrow Beval Natural fit him like a glove. Its also got one heck of a narrow twist. I felt like I was sitting on a fence post, I didn’t enjoy it, but that’s a personal preference. I know someone who is selling one for less than $1,000, but its a 17" seat. Also, old Crosby Hunterdon’s are good for long, high withers and they’re cheap. It may hold you over for a bit while you’re saving up for something else.
