So I found an older Barnsby Dressage saddle in good condition for a reasonable price.
I don’t know any thing about them so I would love to hear opinions etc…on this brand of saddle.
Thanks
LOVELY quality, but just not a popular saddle here. I had one for a couple years that I really liked, but once my mare lost some topline from being fed improperly, and I could not find anyone to reflock it, I sold it. It never truly fit me because I have a very tilted pelvis, but it was a very comfy saddle.
I did find that it fit my mare very nicely until she lost all her topline.
If it fits you and your horse, they are just lovely and I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Barnsby also makes the nicest bridles I have ever felt.
Thanks so much for the reply! My horse has a nice, strong topline and I know a good saddle fitter/re flocker if it needs adjustment. It does look to be a really nice saddle, I am excited.
How is the leather ? My close contact jumping saddle is calf skin which I just adore. It is so, so soft and grippy. Is the Barnsby pretty soft and pliable?
I would love to have a Barnesby. The reason, I think, that they are not more popular anymore is because they do not have the deep, padded seats. The leather and workmanship is top quality, and I would come close to putting it on par with Steubben and Passier. Barnesby is made in England.
I love the quality of the Barnsby saddles, especially the tree. It is beechwood, and very horse friendly. The leather varies according to the model of the saddle, but the workmanship is excellent.
I used to have a Barnsby dressage saddle…I forget exactly which model. The saddle itself was very well made…but the twist! It had a WIDE twist, man! I hadn’t sat in in a dressage saddle for a long time when I bought it, and I just figured they were all like that and I’d get used to it. The twist was way too wide…it made my hips uncomfortable, and then that made my knees hurt - badly. I sold that sucker on and just rode dressage in my jumping saddle.
Then about a year & a half ago I bought a used Anky (made by Pessoa). Much narrower twist - FAR more comfortable saddle for me, personally.
super good quality.
different models have different twists, mine is narrow.
very good leather.
Thanks again for all the replies! Super helpful.
The model is a Raven, it is 32 Cm and apparently it is a wide tree. The only thing that concerns me is it might be too wide for my horse. He does have some withers BUT a wide back/big shoulder. Usually the saddle is not right up on his wither due to the big shoulder, I keep it just behind it.
So I don’t know if it will fit or not, my saddler may be able to reflock etc…I guess if not I can always resell.
Anyone have experience with the Raven model in wide?
I don’t think I want something with a wide twist. My BdH is a narrow twist and i LOVE it.
Unless Barnsby has changed their tree sizing system, the tree sizes have numbers, not cms. If you look under the flap, there should be a number ranging from 2 to 7, although I haven’t ever seen one wider than 5. A #3 is medium, and a 5 will fit a barrel. Barnsbys fit wide horses well.
The saddle shouldn’t sit on your horse’s shoulder. The owner of Barnsby, when discussing saddle fit, asked that the saddle be placed higher up the wither, slid back, and then pushed forward until the back of the shoulder stops the panel. That is where it should be, and from there, determine if it is the appropriate width.
I think Barnsbys have a twist wider than my taste, too. They also come with a fairly long flap, so they didn’t ever work for me, a shorter sort. Many people and lots of horses like them, and the Raven was a very popular model.
LOL! I “personally know” the saddle being asked about here. 
My trainer and I measured the tree in CM to give people an idea of how wide the saddle is.
I have no idea what Barnsby measures their tree sizes in.
Edited to add, I found the twist “medium” if that makes any sense. I didn’t find it as wide as the Albion that I had, but isn’t as narrow as a Prestige either…don’t know if that will help or not.
I have a Richard Davison model, #3 width, narrow twist. It’s very comfortable and the workmanship is wonderful. The leather is not as grippy as some, but with full-seat breeches I feel quite secure. My first horse was fairly round and it fit her well. My present horse (still very new to me) is narrower due to build and being underweight. It also fits her, although we’re using an orthopedic pad, at least until she plumps up.
I love my Barnsby AVG. I have a Prestige, also, but the AVG ended up fitting my horse better, which suited me just fine as I find it really comfortable. Quality is totally fine.
I purchased the original AVG (Anky’s) made by Barnsby. That saddle is over 10 years old, has gotten soaked several times and looks almost brand new. Very well made saddle. (Have heard the newwere Anky’s are not as well made - but that was a couple of years ago - they may have fixed that now.)
I have owned and currently own a Barnsby. Currently I have a Barnsby Luxus, beautiful saddle with excellent craftmanship and leather; I also owned an AVG, which I regret having sold, it too had beautiful leather and craftmanship and an incredibly comfortable seat. I would highly recommend them.
I have all Barnsby Saddles- 6 right now. The new style Raven AP fits my high withered Tb very nicely while the older Raven AP fits all my paints. They are all rounder with low withers. I love these saddles, I ride in them everyday, abuse them terribly and they just keep going. Very comfortable!! I have never had one with a twist that was too wide and I have no hips to speak of.
Go for it!
I have a Barnsby Raven, medium tree. Barnsby fits TB’s and TB types very well. Several of my students ride in newer Barnsby Ravens - but I wouldn’t say that any of them were particularly wide in the twist. They are very well made, and stand up well over time.
People who are “round muscled” (I’m one) - bulky, “quarterhorse” muscling, as opposed to the classic dressage figure - find that the Barnsby Raven fits them particularly well.
BTW -the newer Ravens are very cushy in the seat. My saddle is harder, but it fits me so well, I just can’t get rid of it!
I test rode a Barnsby Kanter(sp?) It was the most uncomfortable 45 minutes of my life. Balance felt all over the place. Could not wait to get out of it.
Barnsby Raven Dressage
[QUOTE=LookinSouth;3013050]
So I found an older Barnsby Dressage saddle in good condition for a reasonable price.
I don’t know any thing about them so I would love to hear opinions etc…on this brand of saddle.
Thanks[/QUOTE]
I have a Barnsby Raven dressage saddle that I’ve had since about 1988. I’ve used it on many different horses and for thousands of hours and at 20 years old it still looks brand new. It’s the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden in (I do all my long haul trail rides in it), and it fits my big TB well. If he loses weight in the winter, I stick a half pad up under the wither area and he’s fine. If I ever have to replace this saddle, I’ll buy the exact same thing.
This isn’t a dressage saddle and I can’t offer advice on the Barnsby dressage saddles, but I can tell you about quality
I was managing a h/j lesson barn. One of the ponies had a custom Barnsby close contact. It was very comfy. This saddle was ABUSED and the leather still looked fantastic. The leather was soft, but withstood the abuse of children. With a decent cleaning, the saddle looked brand new even though it was 10 + years old.
I have a Barnsby USDF and I love it.The leather quality is fabulous and the fit for my horse is great.I have the flair system which makes it feel like riding on a cushion.
