Saddle for an adult ammy to use on multiple horses

[cmy1992]

Hi all, I’m an adult ammy who is just getting back to riding after selling my horses and taking a break for career and grad school 4 years ago. For now I’m just lessoning/hacking out with perhaps a half-lease in the future due to adult time constraints. Previously when I was really “in it” I had a Devoucoux, a Voltaire, and a borrowed Amerigo on loan from trainer that fit my one mare who had broken withers. All were sold years ago. Since this saddle would not be fit to a specific horse, and I’m really looking to ride on a more casual basis I’m not looking to shell out for a high end french saddle if I can help it. Since I have been out of it for a minute, I’m asking for any brand/model insights on saddles that tend to be affordable and fit the typical hunter-jumper big Thoroughbred/Warmblood type.

~Disclaimer~ since I triggered Reddit with a similar post: I know that the saddle needs to fit the horse. I know in an ideal world every horse has it’s own custom professionally fitted saddle - I also know that’s not reality especially at lesson barns or even AA show barns I’ve ridden at in the past. I’m also a taller adult ammy who really needs a 17.5" - 18" saddle, and the 16" saddles typically used on lesson horses isn’t a particularly comfortable experience for me or the horse. I obviously would not use this saddle on any horse my trainer thought it was a bad fit on, and I’d use it with a good shim pad. Please don’t crucify me in the comments.

[Lusoluv]

I ride several horses in my Antares Spooner. I find it fits a lot of average conformed horses: WBs, TBs a DraftX and an Appendix. It does not fit undermuscled or shark finned TBs or sway backed horses, but it does fit the others very well. You can find these used online quite easily around $2k depending on condition, and the balance from stirrup bar to middle of the seat is very good.

[JB]

in general, the saddle should be as wide as the widest horse you think you’d ride, and as un-curvy (I hesitate to say truly flat) as reasonable, with a cathedral/taller pommel

You can use shims and extra pads to make a too-wide saddle fit well enough for occasional rides, and shims can fill in around more hollow withers.

You can use shims to make a flatter saddle fit a curvier back IF the gap is more or less in the middle and it’s not a giant banana shape.

What you can’t do is make a flatter saddle fit a shorter back with a rise to the loin
You can’t really safely pad up a saddle that’s 3 widths too wide for a horse.
you can’t use a saddle without enough wither clearance, no matter how the rest of it fits

[BeeHoney]

Ok, so one possible route would be to get something like a used French saddle with a medium tree and pro panels. Another option would be to get an off the rack French saddle, for example Antares makes an off the rack saddle (with some handy flap options). I’ve had good luck with basic models fitting a wide variety of horses. French saddles do tend to have curvier panels, so sometimes they don’t fit as well on wider, flatter backed horses.

One other option would be something with an adjustable tree, like the Pessoa line. I have a wall of custom French saddles, but I picked up one of these at some point and I really like it. It fits the widest variety of horses of any saddle I own and it’s a nice saddle. Obviously things change over time, so maybe double check recent reviews to confirm the quality still is what it used to be. You might be able to pick one of these saddles up used for a super reasonable price. The one I have has slightly flatter panels than typical French saddles, which is nice for fitting wider horses.

[cmy1992]

thank you everyone so far! Very helpful!! I totally forgot about Antares! I’ll also check out Pessoa and do a little research on how their quality is. I remember a childhood riding friend of mine had one back in the 90s that was quite nice and fit a pretty wide variety of horses.

[BellaFortuna]

What about a pro flap on your desired saddle/model? It’s what the trainers have and tends to be more versatile.

[Jealoushe]

I have a Voltaire Lexington with Pro panels that I use on a few different horses without issue. Very flexible saddle.

[Madison]

With a reasonable width tree, pro panels, and a good shimmable half pad, you’ll be fine! And it is absolutely worth it to have something of decent quality that you can be comfortable riding in. My Voltaire Palm Beach with pro panels fit a decent number of horses with a shimmable half pad, and before that I had a CWD SE02 that was maybe slightly less versatile than the Palm Beach but still worked when I was leasing.

It might be worth looking at their inventory and reaching out to https://www.highlinetack.com/category/saddles/ to see what they have in their used inventory that might work for your purposes, they are great to work with and have a good selection.

[fivestrideline]

@BeeHoney

One other option would be something with an adjustable tree, like the Pessoa line.

I concur about the generous tree pro panel saddle, shimmable pad, and also with this. The Pessoas run a bit more “A frame” than some, so I’ve found they fit the sharkier TBs pretty well. Having two saddles has served me well historically (I have more now but, you know, hoarder tendencies ), one for the more rotund and one for the more withery. Luckily, the Pessoas and brands on that system are easy to find used online. They’re not a high end product, but Pessoa had a full grain leather model not that long ago that was pretty nice for the price!

[cmy1992]

thank you again everyone! I finally got some normal replies on my reddit post recommending a used Voltaire with pro panels, and I loved my Voltaire so they’re back in the mix too.

also thank you @Madison for reminding me Highline Tack existis - I realized when I went on the website I actually bought my first Devoucoux from them a decade ago now. I’ll definitely be reaching out to see what they have.

I’ve been taking a look at the used Pessoa and Antares market and there’s actually a few nice options used at consignment shops right around me - so I am keeping them in consideration too.

[Harriet1]

I have a medium wide saddle I use on multiple horses with a three pocket prolite balance half pad (the tripad). It’s worked well for my situation, and the shims on the prolite are really easy to deal with.

[GraceLikeRain]

I’m not super familiar with reddit but I would expect that you are reaching a lot of teens and horse hopefuls on a place like that compared to COTH which has posters who have been regular contributors for 20+ years with long demonstrated expertise.

The more I learn about saddle fit the less keen I am on moving a saddle between horses. If the barn isn’t very thoughtful about fit though, a saddle brought in may not be any worse than what they are already using. I’d snag an appointment with a good fitter once you get your saddle and see if you can borrow a few of the horses you normally ride to do a quick “what’s the best combo” for each with saddle plus shims. If you’re mindful about the timing of the appointment I don’t see a barn taking issue that you are investing time and money into ensuring that you are using a saddle as responsibly as possible with their horses.

[outside_leg]

I import and sell horses regularly throughout the year. They don’t all get a custom saddle (some sell before the saddle would even come in lol). What works for me are two saddles, both with pro-panels and slightly different trees. I have the Voltaire Palm Beach and a CWD Mademoiselle. I have yet to import a horse that one of those saddles doesn’t fit, along with a properly shimmed half-pad. These horses are all warmbloods, generally with similar conformation, so that helps. If you’re riding different breeds, like TBs or QHs, you may need a brand that fits the shape of their typical backs better.

[IPEsq]

I keep my older CWD around because it tends to fit a lot of horses well enough. It’s a 2015 flat seat 2Gs. I almost bought a second one at one point that my friend had for sale just because it was the older style. I originally made mine to fit a not easy to fit horse, but after he passed away, I got it re-paneled to a more standard fit, and it’s been useful. The tree is a little more relaxed on those older models, especially if it’s been opened up a time or three for panel adjustments. While there are less of that vintage floating around the used market, they are still out there especially if you need a 17.5+.

[BAC]

@BeeHoney

Ok, so one possible route would be to get something like a used French saddle with a medium tree and pro panels.

That’s exactly what I did in a similar situation to the OP’s, I bought a CWD with medium tree/pro panels and it fit both of the long term leases horses I rode for several years very well. Both horses just happened to be very similar in build. I also had a Stubben Siegfried to use in cases when the CWD didn’t work, or else I rode in the horse’s own saddle if neither of my own saddles fit.

[cmy1992]

thank you all! have begun perusing resellers. any recommendations on dot to dot width? My prior Voltaire was 4.5” but wondering if 5” would be better.

[Astride]

I am in very much the same boat! Adult re-rider looking for something to feel stable in while changing horses. Currently trying two different Voltaires that are the same seat size and flap, one FIN and one PRO panels. Also sat in a used Mademoiselle, but think it might be a little too much “seat” to be a flexible fit.

[IPEsq]

This measurement is very unreliable and not standard. It depends on the panel configuration, length of tree points, and head iron shape. A lot of modern saddles don’t even have any “dots” any longer.

Instead, you will want to read the stamps. If it’s a Voltaire, for example, unless you see AO on the stamp, then it’s going to be their regular medium tree. One might fit more roomy in the shoulder or sink down lower compared to how the panels are done, but the tree width is going to be basically the same. With the rare exception of something like my older 2Gs which were known to get a little bit wider in the tree when they’d work on them, but supposedly newer trees and the wood based trees don’t do that.

[albytb]

Based on what I saw on their social media, I think the Antarès Spooners/Skylla’s are on sale for August. If you have a rep local to you it might be worth trying. I’ve had two trainers with Spooners that seemed to fit everything and have held up well to excess use.

Aesthetically, I can’t stand Voltaires and CWDs unless it’s the plain, all leather ones lol!!! I just think the extra bits look so tacky

[Astride]

There is a CWD for sale near me with pink piping