So, our saddle fitter stopped by and looked at the four saddles,
pics attached below:
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the PARIANI is, alas, too big for this horse & rider… sadly. My horse has a short-ish back and this saddle turns out to have a 19" seat! Imagine that! NINETEEN inches. It’s just way too big, since I’m a 17" or 18" usually, but it would be wonderful for someone bigger / stronger than me. Maybe this saddle would be ideal for a big person looking to trail-ride? If anyone out there is in the market for such a saddle, lmk. It’s lovely, all around. Irons and leathers included. I was unable to find a serial number indicating its age, or a model name, but it’s made of the most gorgeous leather and has no major flaws of any kind, despite its age and patina. For its size it is very light and sporty.
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the COURBETTE MERKUR DL is the opposite to the Pariani: compact and small, measuring 16.5" in the seat but feels like a 16, really. It is sleek and smooth like a black panther, and very stylish. It fits my horse but is just too small for my seat and legs. Its only flaw is a set of scratch marks from a cat (my guess) that once jumped up on the saddle. Cat claws and saddles don’t mix well, haha, but the scratches aren’t prominent. My fitter was amazed by the near-perfect condition of this saddle. It’s from the 1990s, weighs very little and exudes timeless craftsmanship and style. I love it and wish I were smaller to fit in it properly, sigh.
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the STÃœBBEN SIEGFRIED is more like the Pariani, minus the style. It measures 17" in the seat, 14.25" flap length, 13.5" flap width, good size all around, not too heavy, and its tree, panels, and gullet fit my horse perfectly. I will keep it for now, I think. Looking forward to seeing how it handles over turf and pine-forest gallops and occasional jumps. I plan on using it once a week or so.
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finally, the HERMÈS STEINKRAUS: it fits, too, and embodies everything I love about saddles. It is light as a bird, close to a racing exercise saddle, and begs to be used. It’s an older model but it will never be obsolete. I love looking at it, haven’t gone on a longer ride in it yet, but my fitter was very pleased with how it has aged. I suspect that it will be more suited to shorter rides, not long, leisurely explorations through the forest, haha. But hey, we’ll see. Keeping it!!
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Detail shot of the Courbette:
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