Torn on new saddle shopping - anxiety (Duett Fidelio)

[Bloopie]

So my horse needs a new saddle. It should go without saying the saddle has to fit my horse first. And it’s a lot of money.

Anxiety Issue 1)

A Duett Fidelio 34cm tree with upswept panels fits my horse per a fitter. Yay. One part of the problem solved. I’ve tried both a 18 inch and 17.5 inch seat. The 18in seat fits my butt but not my legs. Like the thigh roll is maybe 1.5 - 2 inches too far forward (16ish inch femur) and my seat becomes a bit unstable. Shortening my stirrups to bridge the gap forces me into a kind of chair seat - I think there’s something different about their stirrup bars because I also noticed my stirrups are about 2 holes longer on this saddle. The 17.5 inch fits my legs perfectly but it puts me a bit too far back on the cantle given the panels are upswept. The seat is also very deep but their other saddles don’t use the same tree shape so if I go with Duett I’m kind of stuck with the Fidelio’s super deep seat.

Anxiety Issue 2)

A lot of people at my barn are recommending foam saddles and I have to say I’m tempted. I was constantly calling the fitter out to address new low spots in my old saddle and the cost adds up. I like wool since it conforms to his back and is better at absorbing heat but dang.

Anxiety Issue 3)

Could I even find a foam saddle similar to the Fidelio’s tree (but with a medium deep seat)?

Anxiety Issue 4) & 5)

There is literally not a single saddle at my barn that fits him right now. Not even the western saddles. His trainer is riding him bareback. So there’s a time component here. In addition, New Duett Fidelios go for 3.6k USD and finding used is next to impossible. Even looking at old posts the Fidelio + 17.5 inch + 34 combo looks like it might be less common than other sizes. I’ve also been ghosted by other brands and the person who would sell Bliss of London nearest to me (or whatever they’re called in the US) doesn’t have my size and it would take them 6-8 weeks just to build a demo saddle.

I just feel like I’d be spending a ton of money on a new Fidelio trying to pound a square into a circular hole where I’m concerned 🫤 His prior saddle was great and it felt great the moment I sat in it and he loved it too for a while. I’m just not as sold with the Fidelio and he’s put on too much muscle at the shoulders so the standard “A” shaped tree doesn’t work for him anymore.

[MsM]

A fellow boarder has a Duett for her very round horse. I dont know which model. But it puts anyone who sits in it into a chair seat.

[GreyDes]

Don’t buy something that doesn’t fit you as well as your horse. You’ll just end up out of balance and won’t do him any favors.

Can you post back photos? It’s easier to give recommendations if we can see what type of back shape you’re fitting.

If he’s wide, but not a true hoop true you have quite a few options particularly in the UK brands. If he needs a true hoop tree you’ll be more limited but still have multiple options.

I tried a few Duett models several years ago and none of them worked for me. I also know several people who swear by them for their wider horses and saddle fit is so personal!

[Bloopie]

Added the best back photo I still have from his recent fitting. I can’t find any that really look down his back.

The thing with the hoop tree….apparently Duett’s “standard” tree shape is still a little more U shaped than other brands but they don’t have him in a true hoop tree.

[Amberley]

Duett will customize saddle for you somewhat, it’s worth asking.

Also the blocks are moveable, does that help? Or can your saddler put some foam in the seat to make it fit better?

[GreyDes]

I can’t tell how wide he is, but he’s clearly got withers and some curve to his back. You should have quite a few options.

Take a look at Pelham Saddlery - they sort their dressage saddles by tree size and the wide/XW section may give some ideas. They’re very helpful for long distance fitting with tracings. https://www.pelhamsaddlery.net/tack/dressagew.html

Fine Line Tack is another good place to look. They have a lot of UK brands, which tend to have wider options and a great trial policy. They also let you filter on tree size - https://www.finelinetack.com/category/dressage-saddles

I’ve been happy with Black Country and Smith Worthington for my wide horses. Some other brands you might look at as a starting point are Fairfax, Kent & Masters (both have swappable gullets), Albion and Frank Baines.

[Bloopie]

The blocks are moveable but it doesn’t help. The top flap gets way too bulky when I tried moving them further back than the cut out designed to accommodate them.

And nope, fitter cannot do that

I can ask and see if they can do anything about the flaps.

[js]

I’d do a bit more looking to try and find something that fits both you and your horse. There are other saddles with upswept panels that might work for your horse; you need to be happy riding the saddle too.

[Bloopie]

Thank you for the links!

He’s definitely a wide but he also needs upswept panels and that U shaped tree and thus my options diminish.

[Pepsy]

Curious what breed your horse is as his back looks similar to my mare that I am restarting?

[Bloopie]

Arab/Friesian with more of the Friesian shining through. Except for the length of his back.

[GreyDes]

You have fewer options, but you’re not locked into a Duett if it doesn’t work for you. Get wither tracings and see what the consignment tack stores have available. Short or upswept panels are options on a lot of saddles, although you will have to hunt for them.

[exvet]

I’ve just finished 18+ months of saddle search hell for one of my welsh cobs. Fortunately I found the right one based on measurements I had from my saddle fitter and knowledge about what has worked for me in the past. With that info I was able to stay the course and find something that worked but I also bought and sold a few saddles as long as paid close to $1100 in shipping to try various saddles. That being said it is definitely imperative you find a saddle that works for you both. For my very short-backed curvy Welsh Cob I ended up with a Prestige Lucky (Youth) that’s 35 cm wide. Obviously I’m not suggesting that you go with this saddle but Prestige dressage saddles do come with an upswept panel and have a moderately deep seat. Many of their models have velcro knee blocks.

Now as for the foam panels, prestige saddle come with flocked panels but during my saddle frenzy from hell I did suck it up and purchase an Antares dressage saddle that has a wide tree and foam panels because it fits my even wider, not so curvy but with definite withers ‘other’ Welsh Cob. The foam panels actually conform to my guy’s back very well…of course he’s only 3 so I know he’s going to out grow the saddle but it fits both of us so well currently that I figured I might as do right for now. Good luck having owned and bred welsh cobs for many years I so know the saga.

[MapleFarm]

I’m surprised duett is 3.6k new! I just bought two hoop loxleys, custom, last year for under 3.3 each. Your horse is built a lot like my friesianX, but has slightly more wither. I ended up with a hoop XW with upswept panels and forward flaps.

I would try a used store that fits remotely and will send a couple at a time to try out (shipping will be the same). Lots of nice brands should fit your horse, there’s also black country which is a lot like Bliss/Loxley (but more expensive).

[just_shoot_me]

Duett was sold, then there were quality control issues with raw materials and workmanship (if I remember correctly) so the new owner moved production to the UK. The newer Duetts were certainly beefer. I had an older one as did my barn mate and she bought a UK made one when she got a new horse. I’m guessing better raw materials and workmanship helped inflate the prices.

[Bloopie]

My fitter was pretty impressed by the quality and likes the saddle overall so the price isn’t unjustified…just a lot to drop on a “meh” feeling lol.

[Festivity]

I’d suggest looking at the EQ Saddle Science saddles. They are highly customizable for both horse and rider. They look a little bit funny until you get used to them. I have 3 of their saddles now, one for a Friesian and two for different Arabs. I tried a Duett for the friesian and she liked it but I didn’t. The EQ was able to make us both happy. You may be able to find something of theirs used that would work, the office was great at helping find used options.

[outerbanks77]

You might look around for a used Patrick. Adrienne Hendricks actually has my old Leggero for sale. It is about a 17.5 and XW on a cob tree to fit a rolly poly type. I usually ride in an 18 and actually thought it was an 18 the entire time I had it. I only tried a Duett once many years ago but didn’t care for it at all.

Others I might look at for that horse are Black Country and Albion. A BC Eloquence X might work well. Stubben also works for curvier backs, but I’ve never owned one as they don’t tend to suit me.

[CHT]

I have owned Duett’s before, but only bought them because they were cheap. unless they have changed a lot, I wouldn’t pay what you are quoting as I just didn’t find them the most comfortable.

I tend to own wide horses that need hoop trees, and look to the UK for the best options - Ideal is a good brand that shouldn’t break your budget, but your area might have a different but similar style brand that they favour. Don’t be afraid of going custom - my fully custom Ideal was $3800 Canadian in 2022.

[islgrl]

I have a hoop tree Lovatt & Ricketts for sale that sounds like it would fit the bill if you’re interested…