Stubben Roxanne or edelweiss

[kiwichick]

Please help me saddle gurus

Young horse, short back, curvy, big shoulders and already fairly wide, though isn’t likely to get much wider (rising 6) and Spanish.

We have to upgrade our jump saddle.
I gave decided that a stubben fits the bill, and have located 2 that would potentially work.

Stubbens aren’t common in my part of the world so I can’t try, though one of the 2 is consignment so I can return it if it doesn’t fit.

Both 32 width, the Roxanne as far as I can tell is deeper and curvier.

I did ride in an edelweiss a few years back and didn’t love it, I rode in a Zaria and loved it (different horse) and never in a Roxanne. The Roxanne is double the price of the edelweiss, but can be returned. The cost to do that is significant though so am trying to be sure.

I’m not really asking for opinions on which will fit, i have a fitter that can fit it it’s not totally off, and I know that no one on the internet can really gave the foggiest if the owner doesn’t!

I’m more asking what people loved or don’t about each saddle as I suck at making decisions, so anyone that can offer any insight might help my paralysis!

[Bluey]

I use a Stubben Rex still, is now 50+ years old and still like new and it has been in heavy use starting colts, many for the track and doing ranch work when no roping necessary.
I also have a Roxanne as I needed a bit larger saddle in the later years.

Both saddles, with my light weight, have worked great for most horses, including those with backs as yours seem to have and of course fit me well also.

I would say, the Edelweiss I tried when I bought the Roxanne was a little more flat and not as comfortable for me as the Roxanne, but for a strictly jumping saddle, not to ride for long hours, it probably would be fine.

There are US consignment tack shops that carry those, like Pelham, they have several right now and will let you try them, don’t know if they will ship out of the country for that.

Not seeing your horses and you ride, I would say Roxanne may fit more riders than Edelweiss, but that is just a mere guess.

[Paint_Party]

Although it’s been a while, I have ridden in both.

I owned a Roxanne for years and loved it. It was a great saddle for riding greenies, especially warmbloods. It has a fairly deep, secure seat and the flap was both long and forward enough for my leg (I’m long from hip to knee). It was also very comfortable for trail riding. Much of the time I’d ride in it from my house, across town, to my trainer’s.

The Edelweiss was owned by my good friend, and because I rode her horse a couple times a week, I’d ride in her saddle. It is a “pretty” saddle, if that matters, and as I recall was less saddle than the Roxanne: lighter in weight and just… less heft. The seat wasn’t as deep and it was a little more of a close contact feel. The reason I didn’t like it as much as the Roxanne is because the Edelweiss flap was shorter in length and not quite as set forward. While the seat of the Edelweiss fit me, I always felt like the flap did not.

I hope that helps!

[Saddle_Search]

I love the Roxane, it was my favourite Stubben, wish I had not sold it as they are hard to find. I had the ‘original’ version not the newer style, and mine was the VSS. (all purpose-jumping). I found the saddle very well balanced, I had the 31cm tree on my 16.2 big shouldered broad chested thoroughbred mare, we rode long hours and my horse was always happy in this saddle. I had the Edelweiss and did not like it, I did not find it comfortable and the balance for me was not as nice.

[fivestrideline]

I had an Edelweiss and LOVED it. It was a very minimalist saddle, and had a forward long flap that fit me well. I’m a hunter rider primarily, and it felt like my older French saddles - narrower twist, flat seat, small blocks. It had the biomex seat, which I’d say was essential.

What I didn’t like was the channel. It got very narrow right under the stirrup bars. It had a great open tree head, got down to two fingers width right behind the withers, and then up to 3-4 fingers towards the back of the saddle. So weird! I ended up not keeping it for that reason alone - I really think horses need a wider channel.

The channel issue was not immediately clear on pictures, so just something to watch out for on both saddles - I do not think the design was a fluke or one off for that model I had.

[kiwichick]

Yes I have noticed this, most of the consignment shops give 3 measurements through the channel, and it’s surprising how many are quite narrow.
Certainly the Roxanne I’m looking at has wider measurements than the edelweiss there. It’s definitely a concern as exactly what you say has been an issue before, where the saddle seemed to pinch at the base or just behind the withers.
The more I look at saddle fit, the more I wonder if any of them fit

This has been helpful thank you