The Saddle Search Saga: The Stress is Real

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

Last saddle I tried was a new Pessoa saddle, which didn’t work for Bennie. Besides, an acquaintance who is a saddle maker in Florida told me not to do adjustable tree saddles. So I sent it back. It took two weeks after I returned the saddle for the money to come off hold on my card. This was very frustrating because there were other saddles I wanted to try but couldn’t because the cash was not back in my account. That was besides the cut I took paying almost $200 to send the saddle back.

Now I am very timid about trying another saddle via mail. One, it takes forever for the money to be credited if it doesn’t work. Two, sending them back at that cost is not a sustainable way to continue the saddle search. I’ve tried nearly every saddle at the barn, so I’ve done what I can locally.

From recommendations from saddle people, I’ve narrowed it down to three saddles that will work with his medium-high withers and curvy back:

1. Meyer Act 2
2. Antares Evolution
3. Devoucoux with D3D panels

What’s difficult is that in an 18" saddle, it seems most of the flaps available used are long and forward. I’m looking for an average length flap without it being terribly forward. I ride with a little longer stirrup because of pain in my knee from ACL repair.

I know people have made suggestions on other threads, but I welcome them again here. I have called the County rep, but haven’t heard back. I haven’t been able to find any local wool-flocked (like County or Black Country) saddles to try, unfortunately.

[StormyDay]

Where are you located? I’d try a local tack store.

I recommend devoucoux for high withered horses.

Also, I PMed you.

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

@StormyDay

Where are you located? I’d try a local tack store.

I am in Tucson, AZ. No tack shops here. There’s one in Phoenix, but they don’t carry consignment saddles.

I would really, really like to try a Devoucoux.

[StormyDay]

That’s such a pain. Some of the saddle brands can adjust the saddle tree and padding to fit your horse if you send it back to them. Devoucoux does it, I think Schleese can too. They can change the tree size by a size up or down, IIRC. So a MW can go to a wide or medium, etc. It may be cheaper in the long run to buy one that fits you and is as close as you can get for your horse, and then send it out to get adjusted.

[Paint_Party]

You know I feel your Arizona pain. The entire state is a tack shop desert.

Unless you want a western saddle, especially a western show saddle, then it’s like being a kid in a candy shop. But a selection of huntseat saddles? Nada.

@StormyDay

It may be cheaper in the long run to buy one that fits you and is as close as you can get for your horse, and then send it out to get adjusted.

Since you have a horse with a conformational challenge, I agree with this idea. A friend up here claims that a “great” saddle fitter comes out to Arizona every couple of months. When I see her this week I’ll try to pin her down and get the info for you. At least maybe you can get some insight on what to do to help fit your horse.

[kenyarider]

Butet is your best best. The older ones are wool flocked so you don’t need to worry about the original fit, you just get the tree right and then, have a saddler stuff it to fit him.

[StormyDay]

The only thing I could see being an issue with this is a lot of the older Butets have really low pommels. They are recommended a lot for really wide fat ponies……

[Cabaret_SK]

I really like an Amerigo DJ for curvy backs, and they don’t tend to have overly long flaps. You can find wool flocked ones, too. I’m pretty short, and in an Amerigo can do a regular flap (when I’m typically a short flap in other brands).

[TheDBYC]

Silly question: Does an 18" seat fit him ok? Stops before his T18?

Off the top of my head, what about something like an Albion K2? Panel-wise, I’m sitting here looking at a used Forestier sitting on the chair next to me that I have out on trial from a local consignment store (appt with the saddle fitter got postponed until Thursday due to the snow). The panels look very similar to the Devoucoux’s D3D & even new are about 1/3 less than a Devoucoux. Also, I get where your saddle fitter acquaintance is coming from re adjustable trees – no adjustment will help if the channel doesn’t fit right. However, I personally wouldn’t unilaterally eliminate adjustable trees on that basis alone. It is possible that there is a saddle out there with the correct channel/panels that just needs a gullet plate swap to fit best.

[ColoradoCopper]

I know this isn’t in your listed brands, but I bought a Black Country earlier from Patty Merli. She does virtual saddle fittings now and I think works with people all over the country. There are many options, including the ability to totally customize the saddle (and I don’t think there’s an additional cost to that). She did a great job on my tough-to-fit horse and we both love the saddle. Might be worth a shot reaching out to her and looking into the Black Countries.

[vanraf]

You could check with some brand reps to see if anyone is planning on being around during the February Tucson circuit – I can give you the AZ CWD rep’s info if that interests you at all. Not sure about other brands but it’s certainly possible! There also might be some reps planning on making a stop in Arizona during their travels to Thermal, so it’s worth a call at the very least.

Additionally, Tack Solutions up in Phoenix does carry consignment saddles – https://tacksolutionsaz.com – but that is quite a drive for you. You’re right that the other two tackshops don’t have consignments, though.

You might also consider checking some of the Arizona/Southwest equestrian Facebook groups and maybe posting an ISO ad, here are a few:

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1478849208929537
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/EventersoftheWest
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/785758098513767
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/azhorsesales

[anon68314200]

EQ saddle science has a very reasonable trial program.

[Due_s_Mom]

I feel your pain. I ended up calling Stubben and they sent a gal out. I couldn’t be happier with my semi custom, wool flocked Stubben. It is most definitely a desert out here tack wise

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

@Due_s_Mom

I feel your pain. I ended up calling Stubben and they sent a gal out. I couldn’t be happier with my semi custom, wool flocked Stubben. It is most definitely a desert out here tack wise

How long did it take and what is the price range on their new saddles?

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

@anon68314200

EQ saddle science has a very reasonable trial program.

What are their saddles like?

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

@vanraf

You could check with some brand reps to see if anyone is planning on being around during the February Tucson circuit – I can give you the AZ CWD rep’s info if that interests you at all.

Great ideas! I’d love to talk to the CWD rep.

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

I wonder if this Devoucoux would work.

Here are some pictures:
IMG_0280.HEIC (3.1 MB)

This is me in a fairly short flapped Prestige Nona Garson, 18".
IMG_3284.HEIC (1.2 MB)

IMG_0265.HEIC (4.2 MB)

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

Hadn’t considered an Amerigo, but this one is in pretty good shape. Is there a downside to Amerigo?

[anon68314200]

@MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks

What are their saddles like?

https://youtu.be/fNnfzyUQsko

[TheDBYC]

@MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks

wonder if this Devoucoux would work.

What are they going on about in that ad? “Full length billet guards, so hard to find at this price point!” Really?? I saw 5 saddle models with full length billet guards today alone. At 1/3 the price of that Devoucoux.

Eta: It also has longer flaps, which you said you don’t want.