Saddle Suggestions

[BaileyTW]

I just got a great prospect for some hunting. I havent ridden in anything but a dressage saddle for so long though, I forget about other kinds of saddles!!

Does anyone have any suggestions for a saddle that would be good for hunting, good for jumping and going down trails and fields. I’m planning a trip down to the “local” (closest thing to me… 1 hour or so away) consignment shop to see what saddles they have, It would be cool to have some idea what I’m looking for or good brands, etc. My budget is under $700, though… but I figure I can find a decent used saddle for that price.

[Elegante_E]

Don’t get a flat seats as in hunter types as they aren’t as secure. You want a deeper seat for the hilly terrain. I have ridden in a Wintec ap 2000 and it was pretty good but works better with my winter boots - not tacky enough with my real leather boots. I’m currently in the market for a real leather saddle as well.

Someone suggested the Stubben Siegfried and Stubbens in general are well made - they are a curved tree which isn’t as good for a flatter backed horse. My saddler suggested a Passier (flatter tree for flatter backed horse and adjustable by a saddle) and I just found one to try - an AP VS. Btw, if it’s an AP saddle, you want a VS (more for jumping) not a VD (less knee so more for dressage).

I’d also suggest good sized knee blocks for the hills.

Hope this helps a little.

[TBlitz]

Used Stubbens can usually be found for very reasonable prices and they last FOREVER! They might not be as comfortable to sit in as some of the newer, big name H/J saddles, but they are durable and affordable.

[BaileyTW]

Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve been hearing that about Stubbens, durability is a biggie for me! I hear a lot of people comment on how they are the “indestructible saddles”.

Thanks, both of you, for your suggestions! I’m really looking forward to getting this new guy out to try him in the park, I just have the feeling he’s gonna love hunting.

[Delphia]

Saddle shopping is so much… fun?

Don’t worry about brand name but just between you and the horse, look for unbroken trees, wide saddle panels, long enough flaps, and strong billets.

I have seen many saddles with broken trees in consignment shops. :eek: Have someone show you how to check for this.

Old (30+ years) saddles were built with less padding in the seat; something that works well for hours of sitting in them. Just because a “soft seat” feels good for a half hour does not mean you will sit comfortably after 3 or 4 hours.

Take home several and try each for an hour or so until you know if you can stand it. Work up a sweat on your horse and look for misfit to see if she can stand it.

And then go hunting!

[BaileyTW]

@Delphia;3232099

Saddle shopping is so much… fun?

Heh, yea, he’s going to be… fun… to fit. He is built kind of different, his butt is probably an inch or 2 lower than his wither, so his shoulder seems to get pinched by everything I put on. My dressage saddle fits him fine… but can’t really ride that hunting. Its nice for a quiet trail ride or dressage, but I definitely need a jumping saddle for him, he’s really taking to jumps well, he has a nice smooth, easy-to-ride jump.

[marta]

BaileyTW

[QUOTE=BaileyTW;3232904]
H, his butt is probably an inch or 2 lower than his wither, so his shoulder seems to get pinched by everything I put on. My dressage saddle fits him fine… but can’t really ride that hunting. Its nice for a quiet trail ride or dressage, but I definitely need a jumping saddle for him, he’s really taking to jumps well, he has a nice smooth, easy-to-ride jump.[/QUOTE]

you may need to use a correction pad with the saddle to make it fit. my mare has a considerable drop like that and although i had an awesome albion kontrol gp made to the template of her front wither tracings, we thought that she might need the correction pad to lift the back of the saddle some. so far so good, and no need for shims, but it’s an option for horses built like that.

also, i realize your budget is only $700, but if you see a used albion gp saddle, i’d highly recommend it. awesome trail saddle.

[Elegante_E]

You never know what you may find online if you find a saddle you love but it’s too expensive.

There’s always padded undies if the seat does end up a bit hard. Makes a big difference on those 2+hr rides.

[BaileyTW]

[QUOTE=marta;3233347]
you may need to use a correction pad with the saddle to make it fit.[/QUOTE]

Yea, they were using one on him when I went to try him. I probably will need to get one for the jumping saddle. My dressage saddle is treeless, so I don’t really have any fit issues other than if the pommel is too wide/narrow, but it fits him fine.

I am hoping to get to the tack shop next week, as I have off work the entire week, so I’ll have the time for the drive! I’m going to take a wither tracing along with me, they have a real wonderland of saddles there! some good deals on used stuff, and if all else fails, I can see what fits and look for a better deal online. I can probably grab a corrector pad while I’m there. I need a new pair of work boots for myself too… I’m gonna be so broke… I need an accountant to manage all my purchases after I go to a tack shop!! :eek:

[marta]

focus on saddles with gussets

those generally fit these conformations better.

[2ponies]

I have a County Conquest with gussets- fits my horse beautifully and is very comfortable and awesome for hunting. I took the thigh blocks off because I hated them, but that’s just me. It wasn’t cheap by any means, but worth the investment.

[Painted_Wings]

Keep an eye out for a used Barnsby. They are built to last and are very comfortable for both you and your horse.

[gabriellemg]

I like the older stubben models and the older Courbette models.
I used to hunt in a Courbette Baron Von Trek. It was great, but all my new horses are too wide for it.

GMG
Texas USA

[Foxnhound919]

My daughter and I both hunt in Albion Controls. We have 4 so we can fit just about anything that comes along. Nice deep seat, big knee roll to keep those knees safe from trees (we hunt in the woods here in Michigan), a little narrower twist so it’s comfortable for you and and still wide for a wider built horse. My saddle fitter complains about working on them, but I love them!

[faluut42]

Stubbens are great saddles, but i HIGHLY advise riding in deep/shallow seated saddles, more forward flaps, etc.

People always tell me get a deep seated saddle. Well… I tried a few, hate them. I prefer my flat as a board saddle with almost no blocks, and I ride at the beach (galloping), on trail rides (galloping and jumping), and schooled through prelim, some intermediate.

So it REALLy matters the rider. So I encourage you to try every saddle you can afford.

[Ray]

When I first started hunting, I bought a used Bates AP for around that price, and used it for hunting and BN eventing. very comfortable saddle, and deep enough seat if you are used to a dressage saddle, and not a close contact, you might like it . Its not really the best saddle for jumping, but I did manage to use it for several years.

[armandh]

sold my old steuben years ago

after I got a Nona Garson Prestige
worth every $ given the crashes I almost had.
probably rare in the used market

otherwise look for
deep seat
soft “non slick” leather
big knee rolls and calf blocks
one that fits you and your horse.
be sure there is an exchange policy.

then get some hours in it to see how you like it.

avoid
hard slipery leather covering over a too small or flat a seat. IMHO

[BaileyTW]

thank you for all the suggestions! You are doing a great job clueing me back into jumping saddles. I was hopping Baloo (said hunting prospect) over fences in my dressage saddle in shorter stirrups yesterday… just kept thinking, a saddle for jumping would be nice about now!

So now I know some things to look for!

[Painted_Wings]

Tack of the day has some good possible saddles for sale for $1300 you might want to check them out.

http://www.tackoftheday.com/extra/default.aspx

[wateryglen]

OOoooooo!

OOooooooooo! I was in a tack shop yesterday just enjoying goofing off and the air conditioning and decided to just sit in a coupla saddles for the fun of it…BIG mistake!! :winkgrin: Fell in love with a Marcel Toulouse Premia. Nice “sticky” leather, movable knee/thigh blocks, uber comfy and under $1K which around here is el-cheepo!! My next fav was a Stubben somthing or other (not Sigfried tho’) with the Bio-Mex seat - yowza!! Price was somewhere between $2-3K.