The purgatory that is saddle shopping

[Squirt]

So I have decided to try something different and want to concentrate on pure dressage for a while…may even attempt to become bronzed

My new trainer pointed out that my current saddle isn’t doing me any favors as far as my position, which is not really a shock. I bought the saddle because my budget was limited, it fit my horses, and I didn’t hate it.

And here we are.

My current saddle is an Albion SL, which my horses seem to love. I tried out a Custom Wolfgang Solo with the short blocks and I loved it for me. I kind of knew that I liked that saddle because I used to ride for someone that had it in a smaller size. I don’t know how I feel as far as fit for my horse though.

I like the English made, wool flocked saddles, so obviously I like the Albions and County saddles. I just don’t know what models to try that would help put me in the same effective position that the WG Solo does. And I really don’t know what shaped backs that County does best on.

I don’t want to eat up my budget with sending saddles back and forth, and I don’t want to have to go through this again in 6 months because I was too impatient to wait for the right saddle.

Any suggestions on which brands/models to try?

The local Stubben rep has had rave reviews and is willing to work on other brands so I am looking to get an appointment with her. And while I am not totally against Stubbens, I have yet to sit in one that doesn’t feel like I’m riding a 2x4.

There are just so many different fitters and they all say something different that I don’t know who to believe any more. I also don’t have an unlimited budget or a young horse to continually play hit or miss.

Maybe this is also a whining post, just because I hate this process and I know many of you will understand.

[Displaced_Yankee]

General location? Members can give you some recommendations for fitters/reps who have worked for them.

[Snowdenfarm]

If you are on the east coast, I like Veritas saddles which are made in England. Have had great experiences with both Fred Taht (NJ) and Diane Sasscer (FL) fitting Albion and Veritas saddles.

[Squirt]

I’m in SW Michigan

[NaturallyHappy]

Sally Dietrich is in Michigan. She is very nice. I have had excellent service from her working on, of all things, wool flocked Butets; I believe she reps Trilogy. PM me if you’d like her number.

[mombc24]

My saddle fitter usually sells Customs to my trainer and her clients but since I had a smaller budget she has me in the Ideal Iconix, has similar blocks and seat position as the Customs. Also English made which you should like.

[Cowgirl]

I had a saddle I loved for over 20 years. I went through about six saddles to find it. It was a german saddle (Hennig) and they don’t sell them here anymore, and eventually the tree busted from so many adjustments. I decided that I don’t like the idea of a tree press for adjustments, which many of these brands do these days. So I have a Fairfax. It is a high end adjustable gullet saddle (gullet plates every half size, plus you can do flocking adjustments). It has a half panel but a set of adjustable full panel pieces, and several different models (I have the World Class, which has a narrow twist). Both of my horses like it. You still need a good saddle fitter.

[Fiesta01]

I remember the pain and think the title of your thread should be “The hell that is saddle shopping.” I don’t have any current recommendations as I was one of the people who had a wonderful experience with Schleese. That was many years ago, and I always saw Johan personally. Before the Schleese, I had good luck with Stubben and County.

Much luck in finding something suitable without too much pain in the process.

[sheltona01]

I think Sally is retiring.

You can try Lori at Flow and Fit. She is a Custom Rep. However she is SMS trained as and has access to other brands.

[NaturallyHappy]

I really enjoyed Sally-good for her, though!

[Squirt]

Tried an Amerigo Vega tonight. Horse-loved it, I loved the sweat patterns it left. Me-Hated it. Felt like I was perched the whole time and I had to force myself to sit back. It really almost felt like it was pushing me forward. So mark THAT off the list.

[joiedevie99]

If you like the Wolfgang Solo, other than trying other Custom models, I’d recommend you try a County Epiphany and a Trilogy Verago.

[beowulf]

What specifically doesn’t your trainer like about your current saddle? I wouldn’t be inclined to try and fix what’s working – just after having my own saddle shopping hell too.

[Squirt]

She wants something that is going to encourage me to sit back and down more. I’ve been mostly a H/J rider for the last 30 years, and old habits and instincts die hard (i.e., getting immediately off the back when the pony gets upset)

My current saddle is better than my last dressage saddle. But when I rode in the WG Solo it encouraged me to sit back, and reminded me when I started tipping forward. It was effortless, and I could all of a sudden sit the big trot easily. Trying to recreate that feeling on a saddle that the horse approves of.

[Willesdon]

@Squirt. Could I suggest that before you buy an expensive saddle (with all the associated stress of saddle shopping) you maybe do a couple of months in your current saddle while you begin to undo 30 years of HJ habits. Dressage doesn’t require the exaggerated “heels down” of the Hunter style, instead feet are parallel to the ground, and that alone will radically alter your seat and so alter the feel of any saddle you use. Just dropping your stirrups will change your position. As a life-long ride anything, riding school rider, I can do effective “dressage” even in saddles where most of my leg is behind the panel and on the horse’s side. The correct saddle does help but is not essential. I have a friend who rode up to 4* Eventing using the same saddle for all three phases as that was one place she could save her pennies.

[candyappy]

@Squirt

I tried out a Custom Wolfgang Solo with the short blocks and I loved it for me. I kind of knew that I liked that saddle because I used to ride for someone that had it in a smaller size. I don’t know how I feel as far as fit for my horse though.

Do they not have ways to adjust fit?

[beowulf]

Isn’t the Albion SL a dressage saddle already?

I can appreciate wanting a saddle that puts you in a more secure position, and I do think many of the new[er] dressage saddles on the market do just that - they are shaped in such a way that you really only have one way to sit. But don’t confuse that with effectiveness or better riding.

I would involve a saddle fitter first, not going off the advice of your trainer. I am sure she means well, but she is not the one paying the bills or offering to buy the saddle. It may be my general wariness here too, but some trainers are sponsored by specific saddle companies and they get a small bonus if they convert their client base to their saddle brand.

[Foundgoosefarm]

would a Dover Werendorf saddle work? I liked it and it’s a pretty reasonably priced saddle that could get you through for awhile!

[Natalie]

Since you said the Stubben rep near you is good, I would encourage you to try them! I had only ever ridden in the older, hard and slippery Stubbens before I shopped for a dressage saddle. Their newer models are cushy and comfy. I ended up with an off the rack 1894, which I think is pretty impressive for the price–the seat is soft, the leather is grippy, and it feels nicely close contact for me, which I appreciate as a crossover h/j rider.

[SaddleFitterVA]

You really want the tree shape to be right. Then you can adjust things like gullet width and flocking, but if the basic tree shape is too flat or too curved for the horse’s back, you’re usually going to find that the saddle is difficult to keep adjusted.