My suggestion would be the Bates AP or Caprilli CC depending on your riding level. I ride many different horses and find that most of them love the Cair panels! The gullet is interchangeable so they fit a wide range of horses. And yes, flocking may be added above the cair panels to tweak the fit if needed, so don’t let people tell you otherwise. The leather is lovely, and the saddles are very comfortable. I know some saddle fitters that love them, and some that hate them, so let you and your horse decide. Good Luck!!
hotspur
i’m so glad to read your post re Albion Kontrol.
i ordered one in november and just got a word from my saddle fitter that’s it’s ready and awaiting shipment to the states:) i know a couple of people who ride in Albion’s but none in that particular model. i’m curious what color your saddle is and if it’s that dark havana brown, what fittings did you find to go with your saddle?
to the OP,
my saddle fitter (certified) has a truck with over 100 saddles on it. she’s a rep for Albion and Duett but she has used saddles from various manufacturers on her truck (including my Prestige Galileo that i traded in to get a new Albion). perhaps someone in your area offers a similar service. not sure where you’re located. she’s out of Port Jervis NY and you can find her info at this website (in case it’s near you): http://www.dutchessbridlesaddle.com/
[QUOTE=Taza;2300784]
The Flyover saddles are not wool flocked, they are foam so I don’t believe there is much of anything a saddle fitter can do after the fact.[/QUOTE]
Hi Taza
I made a great discovery this fall and that is Jeffries does make a wool flocked flyover! As far as I know they do not actively market it in the US.
I have one that I bought from a website in the UK after a long discussion with the saddle fitter about finding a saddle like the flyover to fit my difficult to fit mare. I sent him a template of this mares back and he adjusted the flocking to fit her high withers and low back. When I put it on her back with a level it is perfectly balanced. It is of course heavier than the flyover sold here (in the US), but equally comfortable and free feeling. IMO, the wool flocked is also made of slightly sturdier leather with a few reinforcements in wear areas.
To keep my saddles from slipping I put a wool pad on the horse’s back and then a square section of that rubbery looking shelf paper between that and the saddle. It comes in white and so it’s ok for hunting.
I’m very small but the 18" fits me well.
I have a Stubben Kerry LD, which is also called the Survival. It’s an “endurance” saddle, but you can get your leg into a nice two-point/ jumping postion in it.
http://jts.jupitertack.com/jt/product.asp?dept_id=24&pf_id=STSURV
It’s got monster knee and thigh blocks. I had always been hesitant to try saddles with blocks since I hate them on dressage saddles. However they are the best thing ever for me for hunting. Even if you lose a stirrup your leg isn’t going anywhere, yet I never feel trapped by the saddle. It’s got tons of heavy duty D rings too.
The Siegfried MF is a similar saddle.
http://www.stubbennorthamerica.com/stuAllPurpose.html (bottom of page)
I tried a friend’s on a trail ride and fell in love. I was actually looking for an MF when I found the Survival. (The Survival was in stock so I bought that one instead.)
Valley Tack in Ohio and Noble Horse Saddlery in Washington state are great to work with for Stubben stuff.
Good Morning,
I charge 220 to remove foam or cair panels and replace with wool. I would want to be certain that the tree is of the correct width and shape for the horse and that the panels are of the the correct design.
[QUOTE=imissvixen;2294779]
I am in the market yet again for a saddle. I hunted this year in a Jeffries Flyover which I found quite comfy but apparently it caused alot of concussion on my boy’s back. He has been laid up for the past month and will be off for another month until vet is convinced he is better.
I am a little bit big for him (read heavy) so I need something that will disburse my weight better than the Flyover did. In hindsight I don’t think it is designed for someone to be in the saddle for four hours at a time 2 to 3 times a week.
Anyhow I would like a deep seat all-purpose saddle. It doesn’t have to be close contact. Does anyone have any thoughts? A friend suggested an Albion. Unfortunately they are very expensive and I haven’t seen any used ones.[/QUOTE]
My husband and I have used Albions. They’re out there if you look. I have a jumping style, he has an AP. Very well made and comfortable for hunting.
My brother just bought an older Stuebben, also a nice hunt saddle, though not as cushy.
Imissvixen…I’m late to the party here, but Stubben had a black monday/tuesday sale with great prices on their saddles, including their monoflap eventing cross country saddle, the Excalibur. That sale has ended, but if you’re interested, it might be worth emailing them to see if there’s any stock left. I was tempted to buy one during the sale, but chickened out at the last minute.
This is the Excalibur:
http://www.stubbennorthamerica.com/stu09Excalibur.html
