I had a Prestige Jumper R found for $350 but it sold before I could get my computer to cooperate! I haven’t been able to find another one under $1200 since!
I ridden in a Thornhill (possibly a 24k? It was a newer jumping saddle). I loved it! It was the most balanced saddle I ever rode in , and I loved the feel of the leather! Unfortunately, only one tack shop sells these saddles brand new near me and my horse is currently going through saddles like shoes since she is building up or else I would get one!
Id pick the pessoa over the bates anyday
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I just had a Devoucoux Biarritz offered to me for a VERY reasonable price…
I talked to a few saddle fitters and they said due to the slope from withers to T18 that I should be looking for a saddle that has a gusseted back to help balance the saddle… The only ones I’ve found like that in my budget is a Bates Caprilli.
I’ve ridden in some thornhills that I liked, but these definitely look for used because their resale value sucks. I actually like the balance a lot on my Bates AP, but I don’t think I’ve sat in their jump saddle.
Personally I like the newer Stubbens; both my horses’ jump saddle is that brand (1 a monoflap and 1 a cc) and one dressage saddle.
What I tend to do if I only have a general idea of what I’m looking for is to stalk Ebay and buy something I know is below market value so that I won’t lose money if I have to resell. But this might take some time and patience.
Good luck!
You can find Stubbens gussetted but many of their off the rack ones aren’t.
One of the saddle fitters is trying to sell me a Courbette Vision for $800. I’ve heard a ton of mixed reviews and the. It’s brown/Black 2 toned so not good for the Hunter ring.
I’m having a hard time with this gusset deal. Some Stubbens I found look like the may be gusseted but I’m not sure because it’s not as much as the example I was show. The Bates Caprilli that’s gusseted is priced at $500 with shipping and an extra gullet plate.
I had a courbette for years…That could be my saddle haha which was also gusseted and two toned black and brown. I wouldn’t pay 800, closer to 400, but I would get the caprilli jump, which I actually like.
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With the Caprilli at $500 if it didn’t work what are the chances I’d get it resold for at least that? They won’t trial it so that’s what I’d have to do. Other than that Collegiates are the only other thing I’m finding an abundance of with a gusseted back.
I think a decent looking bates caprilli sells for 500+ daily. Courbette is in my experience a harder sell.
Have you looked at Ovation or Pessoa? New the Ovation is around $1200, might find a used one more reasonable, quality is much nicer then Courbette and Bates (in my opinion), new Pessoa more but you might find one on sale or a used one reasonable. I had a Bates years ago, did not like the leather and not crazy for the CAIR. I have a Pessoa with the Bayflex panels that I really like. I would pass on the Courbette.
I’m pretty afraid to try another Pessoa. The last one caused quite a few issues. It’s not gusseted though so that MAY be part of the problem but I’m not sure I want to take that risk… I have been eyeballing quite a few Ovations.
HDR - just say no. Blech. Stiff leather, poor balance, etc.
I have been impressed with the Bates saddles in our barn for the price point. They’ve fit several horses well (including our diva mare) and hold up well. The CAIR panels aren’t an issue, but if it was for you, they can be reflocked easily.
Thank you everyone for all your input!!!
so as far as Bates vs Ovation if they are both priced at $500. Which would be best to try? Are the Ovations on the same tree as Pessoas?
I have 2 saddle fitters pushing British brands that say French saddles will never fit him and that he needs rear gussets. Then I have 2 saddle fitters telling me a French saddle could work. They did however both agree the Devoucoux would not. I was offered a CWD dirt cheap though that they agree probably would! I seriously don’t know what to do. That CWD offer won’t last long is all I know!
I used to ride regularly in a Bates Caprilli with CAIR and liked it quite a bit. Do not be scared off by CAIR. I think it’s garnered an unfair reputation that it’s “always” bad, uncomfortable, or will cause harm over time. I own two CAIR saddles and my princess & the pea horse does not complain at all; and believe me, if there was a problem, she would let me know. Like anything with saddles, it works for some horses and doesn’t work for others, but I haven’t found it to be uniformly better or worse than the alternatives.
I had an older Pessoa Gen X that I enjoyed and fit me well, but it didn’t work for my horse.
I have this blasted Courbette that I bought new nearly 20 years ago. I hate the thing and have been saying I’m going to sell it for like 10 years now, but their resale value is crap and it always seems like more trouble than it is worth. Then I used to ride another horse who went in a Courbette dressage saddle that was equally as awful. Unless the company has undergone some major changes, it would be hard for me to consider another.
Any of those would be a good choice. I have to say I think what you’re hearing about the Stubbens being narrow is based on people’s experience with the older ones. The newer Stubbens have nice wide gullets.
