Underrated/overlooked saddles for eq?

[IPEsq]

I don’t like the newer Butets. The quality hasn’t kept up with the crazy prices. Same for really all the brands owned by LIM group.

I do really like my Equipe saddles which are Italian. The Allegra has a very flat and open seat like the Butet P seat but high quality leather and a closer contact feel to the flap. You can customize the blocks. The flap shape fits me so well I don’t really notice the standard blocks. It also has a cutback tree that works for a WB that needs more room for the withers and shoulder, which I needed and wasn’t finding in French saddles other than maybe Antares which was not the right shape overall.

I’ve also ridden in some deeper seat models like the EKGO and the Evolution, and they don’t bother me at all because the twist is still narrow and they just don’t get in the way.

I find County and Erreplus to ride a bit more bulky even in the flat seat, so if you don’t like the CWD, you may not like those. The Voltaire Calgary is their flat seat model and probably has the rider feel you are looking for, but the leather is not known for being very durable.

[Mareish]

Not an underrated brand, but the newer (2023ish) Antares Evolution for me rides very differently than other Antares with a much more minimal feel. Could be worth trying that specific model if you haven’t already. I also felt like many saddles (other Antares, CWD, even Voltaire and Renaissance) were too much saddle for me.

[gradytb]

Where to look—I would suggest eBay, seriously! I ride in a Crosby PDN from the 1970s—it took me to the Maclay finals and I still ride in it. But as a backup, I found a newer PDN on eBay for about $200. It’s an inch smaller but it fits me because my older one’s seat was always a little big. My original PDN probably needs re-flocked and I need to find out where to send it for that. But OP might be able to find a good candidate for not a whole ton of money.

[Belmont]

Ugh, I’m such a sucker for a PDN. I don’t even ride HJ anymore and I still consider buying one when I see them come up for sale.

[Arelle]

Okay, don’t completely bring out the torches for this suggestion - but I’m a Butet girl. I like a flat, hard seat with a narrow twist.

I’ve been riding in this saddle for six years and I love it: https://www.doversaddlery.com/circuit-premier-special-eq/p/X1-15060/

It’s not french. But it’s super practical and the $6K I saved buying this instead of whatever the latest trend is allowed me to put $6K more towards horse shows and horse flesh.

[gradytb]

OK – I’m gonna brag a little.

The first one (with fittings) is my little eBay PDN. Those are also my original stirrups—only pair I’ve ever owned. Crazy. It needed some TLC when I got it but is fabulous now. The one without fittings is my 52-year-old PDN. I’d hate to have to find another saddle if anything happened to these.

[mika0116]

What about an old LaBelle – those things are flat, narrow twists and hard - my trainer has one that I ride in every few months for a tune up. All the models I have ever seen are from the 80s? or 90s?

[kenyarider]

Finding a saddle that fits the horse is key for me. I have in the past 2 years, tried Voltaire, CWD, Equipe, Stubben, Butet and finally Devoucoux. Voltaire, CWD, Butet fit me nicely. None of them save the Devoucoux allowed the horse’s shoulder sufficient space to move. His shoulder muscles are plump and he’s happy. Well, as happy as he can be since he’d prefer to be with play fighting with his mate.

[albytb]

Im a little concerned about what use such thin panels are for the horse… plus those old saddles often have tiny channels that don’t properly clear the spine.

[Maria]

I have one that looks “almost” that good.

[Fluffie]

Enabler here: I have removed blocks from both a Butet and an Antares. It was terrifying for the first few seconds, but with a very sharp implement (seam ripper, box cutter, etc.) it was a non-event. The Antares, which was much newer than the Butet, had more glue, but it eventually wore off without consequence.

[MHM]

@Fluffie

Enabler here: I have removed blocks from both a Butet and an Antares. It was terrifying for the first few seconds, but with a very sharp implement (seam ripper, box cutter, etc.) it was a non-event.

I’ve been so tempted to do that with one saddle I have. I think I even had the seam ripper in my hand, but did not quite feel brave enough to do it at that moment. Lol.

Regarding what saddle is suitable for the equitation, it’s the one that fits you and your horse the best. As long as the leather is not purple or hot pink or something, it will be fine.

I have definitely seen the occasional monoflap saddle in the show ring, and nobody cares.

If you prefer to stick with a flat saddle, you can easily find used models for extremely reasonable prices these days.

[Belmont]

Yesss. CWD blocks are also easy to remove.

[fivestrideline]

I LOVED my circuit premier EQ! It’s basically a CWD (which I also have), minus the bells and whistles. If it fits the horse (they run narrow), they’re great saddles.

Those old PDNs definitely don’t give “horse friendly” vibes. We had one as a backup lesson saddle and it didn’t fit ANYTHING because of the channel being so narrow. I’ve seen quite a few in lesson barns over the years… I wouldn’t put one on my horses. But I do like a flat seat and narrow twist!

[MillEQnial]

I do really freaking love my early 90s collegiate. I’ve told my kids to bury me with it if nobody wants it when I leave the earth I’ve been regularly riding in a Voltaire Palm Beach for one barn and it’s… fine. Still feels like a bit much and wants to place my leg for me. I’m of the mindset I want the least going on with my tack so I can just ride the way I know how. Thanks for adding a few to my hunt list so I can try various things before committing. Clearly I’m a creature of habit and don’t like change!

[MillEQnial]

Good to know about the sales! I spend a lot of time in Italy and wonder if I could double dip on pricing discounts by purchasing over there. Food for thought if I trial one and like it. I have revisited my open tab on the Renaissance many many times. I have not found the plain flap used anywhere.

[MillEQnial]

This is very much my mindset in all things horse. I grew up the poor kid with passion at a fancy barn. I never had the nicest anything. Nobody ever asked why I had a $250 collegiate, they asked if I’d school their horse. Frugal people unite!

[MillEQnial]

I swear I’m hitting reply to comments… and then see my replies floating in space without the replied to comment. I’m old, but not so old to not hit the reply within a comment Forgive the randomness above - if you think I’m replying to you, I probably am! Thanks all for all your input. It really is helpful to me and I look forward to hunting down the perfect bareback pad with irons feel that’s burned into my soul!

[mika0116]

@MillEQnial

I spend a lot of time in Italy

Where in Italy? I have some extended family and some family related stuff to handle & would love more info on the equestrian world over there if/as I spend more time out there!

Like can you DM me a list of tack shops and stuff??

Last time I spent more time than a breezy vacation out there was college and I wasnt riding that semester!

[KandC]

I’ll devil’s advocate and say if you find one, pull the trigger. I joked to my trainer I wished I had a budget for two saddles because I adored the Renaissance (and so did my horse), but alas, a flat saddle with small knee rolls wasn’t quite in the cards for me on a young horse.