Saddle Question - County Competitor

[kpony]

OMG! I just tried an old, 16.5 County Competitor on my little horse and I LOVE it - feels like it was made for me. Of course, It doesn’t look like it has enough panels for horse’s tabletop back and prominent spine. What do I do? rebuild entire panel area? Is there a new model with the same close feel and pencil rolls?

Stick with Neidersuss (always my favorite) and just buy new in her correct size? (I have one slightly too wide which dumps me behind her withers).

Current saddle is a Passier GG 17" which worked fine for the 1st year and probably needs flocking adjusted… Now dumps me forward a little and I seem to be fighting for position, and hating the knee rolls. I’ve never been happy with the way it fits her shoulders… it was fit with a fleece pad to fill in the dump spot behind her withers.

Any advice appreciated!

[jaybird660]

It’s hard to judge on which choice to recommend without seeing photos of the horse naked and the saddles. You mention table top but also prominent spine which seem contradictory. Those saddles tend to be more angular laterally a not flat longitudinally so it depends on if you mean straight front to back or laterally or if you mean straight longitudinally but angular laterally.

[Graymaresrule]

County still makes Competitors and their Connection is very similar. I’m not sure what you mean by prominent spine and tabletop back but if you mean ^ rather than -^- your horse might benefit from what they call skid row panels.

I’ve always gotten lucky with their demo saddles
http://countysaddles1-mybigcommerce-com-wn-pp-268040870.netsolads.com/dressage-saddle-1/
and if you know what you want they are readily available used or on eBay.

YOu can start here
http://www-countysaddlery-com.netsolads.com/pages/fittingguide.html
they also will do phone consults

[kpony]

Thank you for the info. I’m a little hysterical! Her back is flat side to side and short front to back. The way she is put together, the bigger/wider panels on the newer models seem better for her. The balance and closeness in the older model I tried felt so good, I wonder if the panels can be remade bigger, or if the newer models ride as nicely I can look for a demo/used

[kpony]

County rep was out and did recommend skid row panels and shoulder gussets

By tabletop I meant there is a broad, flat part to her back before it curves away into a huge ribcage. Large prominent scapula and hollow behind the shoulder despite large shoulder muscles. Saddles tend to travel forward and dump behind the scapula. Wish me luck finding the special panels/gussets used in a 17 MN while waiting for rep to get back to me!

[alto]

[QUOTE=kpony;7770978]
County rep was out and did recommend skid row panels and shoulder gussets

By tabletop I meant there is a broad, flat part to her back before it curves away into a huge ribcage. Large prominent scapula and hollow behind the shoulder despite large shoulder muscles. Saddles tend to travel forward and dump behind the scapula. Wish me luck finding the special panels/gussets used in a 17 MN while waiting for rep to get back to me![/QUOTE]

You might also enquire about the cost associated with having panels re-done, either by County or an independent (or approach the person that does work for County in the US).

Note that new Competitor does ride differently than the old (though I suppose that depends on what you mean by old )

If you are considering having the old Competitor re-paneled, you’ll want someone to assess the tree & leather etc … of course this is true of any saddle which you might consider modifying.

Based upon your description of her back, I’d have another rep confirm that a MN saddle is really the best option ie just book a fit session & see what rep/fitter comes up with

[kpony]

Thanks Alto, fitter felt the old (1985!!) one, with it’s old style of tree, couldn’t really be remade to fit my horse ideally. It is in almost mint condition, somehow! MN seems a bit much to me also, but horse is not quite 15 hh and truly pear shaped - everything “big” or “broad” about her is on a small scale. Fitter did say maaaybe M. Previous fitter said M, but didn’t have a good answer for her shoulders/dump spot except full custom. Good thought to confirm though… and make sure fitter actually feels the bone structure. It is quite a nice place to sit when the tack stays balanced

[alto]

My “old” Competitor is an '86 (also bought in mint condition, hadn’t been used enough to even “break in” the original wool panels) … as for the big or broad being on a “small” scale, they are plenty of 14+H Arabs, Welsh etc that are County W’s :lol: much to the surprise of most people

Happy Saddle Hunting :winkgrin: