Hello friends! I am a recent convert to eventing and am looking for a nice, used Dressage saddle for my horse. I believe I want to look most into the Albion brand. They came highly recommended by a saddle fitter I know and my friend also owns one and adores it. Hers is an older model and I quite like the quality of leather. I am casually shopping around and was approached by a girl who has a 2017 Albion SLK in my price range for sale. I was primarily looking at older models/saddles (I truly believe no one makes saddles as good as they used too!), so I am not sure if this might be a good option for me or not. All of the specs meet the needs of my horse. Any thoughts?
I have an SLK for my 5 year old and a very old Style (predecessor to the SLK) for my mustang and stinker pony. I have run back to Albions time and again but then I have a native breed in addition to the mustang so they seem to always have models that fit my critters and me. The Style I’ve had since 1993 and it was used when I bought it.
My PRE goes in an SLK. I’ve been very happy with it. I’d guess it’s about 10 years old.
I love my Albion SL, which has a flatter, more open seat than the SLK. I didn’t like the locked-in feeling from the SLK, but if you have a big mover I bet it’s appreciated!
Sadly it is too big for me after I lost weight. I am really not looking forward to saddle shopping.
I have had an Albion SL and presently have an SLK narrow seat. The SL was never really comfortable for me, though it was nicely made etc., it was just not my dream fit, the flap was too straight, etc. Fast forward about ten years, and I own another horse, tried numerous saddles that didn’t work well for at least one of us. I rode my my trainer’s SLK narrow seat and it was like coming home, and my horse goes well in in it.
If you are fond of a narrow twist, look for an Albion with this option.
It seems to me they hold their value, and they certainly hold up well.
Good luck!
I had an SLK for a few years. It seemed to fit a variety of horses pretty well, being neither too straight or too curvy. I ended up selling it because I have a long thigh, and with the straight flap, my knee was always popping up onto the block. With a modified/tapered block and/or forward flap it would have been great. I’ve also had a Legend close contact and both saddles offered a very balanced ride.
I have 2 SLK’s and find them very comfortable. They’re fit to 2 very differently built horses, so I’d venture to say they fit a variety of horses. I much prefer the SLK to the SL or Style, which are more of an open seat.
Had an SLK Ultima that was the most comfortable saddle…I just sold mine (had decided to take it off consignment and of course it sold that week). Wished I had kept it, but it’s a long emotional story. I’ve found that the Trilogy Verago feels very similar to me…so I’m currently riding two in that style of saddle. I still have an Albion Platinum SL, which I use on the youngsters until they fill out enough to be fit for something long-term.
I rode in an SLK for a while; then I realized some of my position issues came from stirrup bars being too far forward… so be sure it fits YOU as well as the horse.
We have 3 Albion SLKs right now. Fit neither of our two horses, but we like them so much we are hanging on to them just in case the next horses fit. Could have them changed I guess, but loathe to fiddle with them. Really like the saddle.
I have a 2007 Albion and I absolutely love it. If the saddle fits your horse and puts you in the right balance it’s a great saddle. Mine is 12 years old and the leather is great quality.
Albion makes good saddles. The older model trees are not adjustable, other than the flocking so that’s where they can be problematic. The new Genesis trees can have the head plate changed out to change the width, so that is an improvement. You can tell if it has a Genesis tree because the button will be a silver G.
I have two older Albion SLKs and I love them. My trainer turned me on to them They do fit a variety of horses. The older ones can have good width between the panels which is what my trainer prefers, 5-6 fingers, which is what she had me find.
