Saddle

[Cac0587]

Ok, we are working with a fitter, but I am truly trying to help my 15 year old working student. She is on her own on this adventure, parents are helping slightly.

So i sold her a warmblood/TB mare 2 years ago and she has been using my saddle to ride her (mare is sold on payments over 48 months and stays at my farm.
Her parents bought her an old stubben jump saddle, and its too wide.

The mare fits in my KN dressage saddle that is a medium tree that a fitter adjusted slightly. Now we need to help find her a jump saddle. She can get between 350-400$ for the saddle she has now, but we need to find something that fits similar to a KN tree, for her high whither, slight dip behind the shoulders and short back.

anyone have any suggestions? budget will probably be $850-900 max and I am trying to help her out with that with extra work. I know dressage saddle, I do not know jump saddles. this girl events.

[SweetMutt]

Maybe a narrower Stubben? They come in a range of widths and I’ve found them to be a good shape for what you describe. County also makes what is (or was, for some years) known as the Skid Row panels for a high wither. Not sure if you’ll be able to turn up a used one in that range, but it’s worth a look.

[JenEM]

@SweetMutt

County also makes what is (or was, for some years) known as the Skid Row panels for a high wither. Not sure if you’ll be able to turn up a used one in that range, but it’s worth a look.

Some of the older models I’ve seen on the FB group have been going for that price range, like the Eventers or even a few older Stabilizers (though that model might be a little flatter than you want to event in).

What level of Eventing is she doing?

Something like an older, decent Pessoa might work too, those were usually a good fit on a TB back, which is what this sounds like you’re shopping to fit. If she’s not doing big stuff, just BN-ish, she probably doesn’t need all the deep blocks etc on a lot of the saddles now. I evented through BN in a Beval Natural and a Dabbs AO (a very similar model to the Pessoa) quite happily.

If you haven’t already, you may want to cross-post this on the Eventing forum.

[Cac0587]

Stubben kept putting the rider in a horrible chair seat because of how the stirrup bar was placed, we have tried several. For the new few years i do not see her competing above Novice with her mare.

[Night_Flight]

Obviously this isn’t an ideal solution, but is the stirrup bar long enough that you could slide something in front of the stirrup leather in order to place the stirrup leather further back?

I forget exactly what I saw recommended as a spacer at a centered riding clinic a few years back - it might have been bit keepers?

[Bluey]

@Cac0587

Stubben kept putting the rider in a horrible chair seat because of how the stirrup bar was placed, we have tried several. For the new few years i do not see her competing above Novice with her mare.

How long is her leg, would something like this old one work?
Is an old Crosby 17.5", 15.5" flap, Tad Coffin Lexington that has been sitting in the tack room forever and just sits here. Is very comfortable.

Is what was used when Stubben was not fitting, an alternative that fit the described horse type:

F647FC97-8C05-49EC-B2C0-A7903968555B.heic (923.8 KB)

A43D7C51-D770-4E7C-B894-A2DBD3741418.heic (1.3 MB)

Can’t get the picture to show?

[2bayboys]

OP I have an older County Pro-fit with skidrow panels, 17.5, medium tree, buffalo leather, that fit beautifully a horse that sounds very similar to your student’s. The horse has been gone for a while now. I’m happy to send you more info.

[Pokerface]

This mare’s shape sounds a lot like my gelding and I had the exact same issue with the Stubben. I recently tried a slew of Black Country saddles on my horse, The Ricochet was ok, but did slide back. The Quantum pinched in the shoulders. BUT, the Solare was a winner, sat very nicely on his back and didn’t slide. It also was VERY comfortable for me. Now I’ve just got to find one that fits both of us (this one is owned by a friend and its too small for me). Black Country tends to be much more affordable and they are popular with eventers.

[Paisley_Pony]

Would something like this work? https://www.ebay.com/itm/294734924865?hash=item449f920c41:g:HeQAAOSwPIdh5MVM It’s a Crosby Olympia, which is technically an all purpose, but it’s a jumping tendency AP. These are lovely saddles, made in England, and this one looks to be narrower than the Stubben you described. Also well within her budget.

[Cac0587]

She needs a saddle that the front gusset panels and be really filled in with flocking because of the concavity behind the shoulder blades. She tried a Medium tree Fairfax jump saddle (of coarse, way out of her price range) but the fit was beautiful

[js]

Henri de Rivel Memor-X Close Contact Saddle | Breeches.com

With the 30% off it’s down to $658. I’ve seen nothing but good reviews for this particular saddle though I’ve never seen one and don’t know how they fit.

[Paisley_Pony]

Would a used Kent and Masters or Thorowgood work? Hastilow USA that sells the Fairfax saddles also carries these, and they tend to have models that work well with Thoroughbred conformations. Another option might be a shimmable half pad that would fill in the area behind the shoulder blades.

[TooManyTBs]

If she can find a used one, try an HDR Devrel close contact. They were (allegedly) made in the Pessoa factory and are flocked. My horse goes in a KN dressage saddle, medium tree with adjusted flocking and also goes in the HDR Devrel in a 3 tree, which is their medium. I work with an independent saddle fitter and probably sat in 15 saddles the day I bought the HDR. This was not a cost issue for me - I’d given myself a $4k budget and this fit my horse the best and put me in the best position. I’ve had mine 5 years, it’s aged well, everyone that rides in it loves it. New it was around $1,200 so I’d assume she can find a used in her price range.