Trilogy Saddles - for the narrow horse?

[ProfessionalAmateur]

Looking for feedback on or experience with Trilogy saddles on a narrow, high withered horse. I’ve searched high and low, and know they make them, but I’ve yet to find one in anything narrower than a medium ( they do make both a NM and a N). Am I looking for something that’s just not “typical”, or are there none out there because they just don’t work for that type of horse?

Long story short, I’ve been playing a game of musical saddles for years, and I’m exhausted. Every time I sacrifice something for “close but not quite”, it ends up with one of us unhappy. I would prefer to go used, but am not against new if I find the perfect fit for both of us - I’m losing saddle time (and patience!). Yes, I’m working with an experienced and qualified (independent) fitter who knows both my needs and my horse’s. Trilogy made it to our short list of possible fits for our needs. I could go on forever, in great detail, about what else I’m looking at/what we’ve tried, but Trilogy is the big question mark on the list so came here for input. I have reached out to my local rep, who is going to let me sit in some options to see what works for me but does not currently have a narrow tree in her demo rotation.

What I like: short flap, forward in some brands, a higher block placement, and a deep seat I don’t feel perched on top of. I’m short, but with long legs and a long femur. Straight, low blocks are not my friend.
What he likes: long tree points, serious wither clearance, shortish panels, narrow trees with shoulder room.

Trilogy fans, or those it hasn’t worked for, thank you in advance - is this a rabbit hole worth falling down?

[atr]

They used to run narrower than many saddles so it might be worth trialing a medium if your horse isn’t extra narrow.

I rode in Trilogies very happily for many years and would probably still he doing so now, but my current horse has the typical short bearing surface of an Arab cross, and the panel was too long for him and made him uncomfortable.

Very nice well made saddles if they work for you, though. A nice close feel but with a reasonably deep and secure seat, good balance.

[blue_heron]

Hi- lots of experience with Trilogies! Trilogies typically fit wide, flat, and big. You won’t find short panels on older Trilogy, I know some have short-er panels now but they are not the saddle I would recommend for a horse that needs short panels. Though my small horses/ponies (Lusis, mostly) have been happy in them and can need short panels, but they’re also pretty wide. If you haven’t seen Trilogy panels from the back of the saddle, they aren’t what I would expect a narrow horse needs, unless he’s very wide in the belly/back and has very small shoulders. They’re basically flat and have a really wide gullet. So I’d think on a truly narrow horse or a horse with an angled back, the spine would sit “inside” the gullet, if that makes any sense.

[2tempe]

You might want to contact Debbie Witty. She owns Trilogy saddlery and is in Wellington. She is very good and can tell you what might work, or not, and can perhaps get one to your local rep. Worth a try. I have 2 now, for two different horses. Have been very happy with them.