WeatherBeeta brought back Crosby saddles - are they the same as before?

[Equestrian24]

I just noticed that Crosby saddles are making a comeback and they also have a redesigned Prix des Nations. I’m wondering though, is this going to be like with Collegiate where the manufacturer is different and the product is going to be nowhere near the same?

I loved the older Miller’s Crosby bridles, but heard that towards the end of the last WeatherBeeta run that the bridles were being made in India and had turned to junk. I’m hoping this isn’t the case with this new line of saddles.

Does anyone know anything about these or have you seen them?

[dani0303]

I remember the early 00’s Crosbys. They were solid mid range saddles; along the same lines as Pessoa and Bates. I suspect the new ones will be similar. Do you have a link??

[Equestrian24]

@dani0303

I remember the early 00’s Crosbys. They were solid mid range saddles; along the same lines as Pessoa and Bates. I suspect the new ones will be similar. Do you have a link??

https://www.crosbysaddlery.com/

[mvp]

I get the vibe that those saddles are not made by the Walsall Riding Saddle Company-- the company that made Crosby saddles for Miller’s and then for Weatherbeeta (at least initially). If WRSC didn’t make these, you aren’t getting a product that will be comparable. I don’t mean “comparable” in the sense of “just as good,” I mean “comparable” in the literal sense-- you can’t compare or extrapolate from the saddles and trees you remember from The Good Old Days to these.

Spend your $3.5K with your eyes wide open. Personally, for a company as large as Weatherbeeta, I’d want to see one of these in person at a tack store first. A big, strong distribution company like that can send one to your neck of the woods, IMO.

[Renn_aissance]

Well, the phrase “Crosby Prix des Nations Deep Seat” is an abomination. PDN and deep seat don’t belong in the same sentence. :lol:

I would expect the feel and the quality to be similar to the Bates and Collegiate saddles, which appear to have been the basis for these. I don’t see anything PDN-ish except the name.

Personally, I would not pay $3500 for covered leather.

[ecileh]

I have two of the original Crosbys and love them. Been riding in one for almost 20 years now. I have seen newer Crosbys around and they look nothing like my saddles–can’t imagine that they’d ride like one either.

I think I recall reading somewhere that Walsall was still making saddles with the old trees and patterns, they just can’t use the Crosby name. But that was years ago now, so who knows if it’s still the case. You can still find the original Crosby’s on ebay and FB if you are patient and know what you are looking for. I had to physically restrain myself from picking up a third just this week. No need to have more saddles than horses.

[Linny]

I loved my PDN from the 80’s. PDN and “deep seat” makes me choke. I’m not sure what the difference between the H/J and EQ is since they both seem to have “med/deep” seats. Usually EQ seats are flatter.
The mid $3k range is high for an “unknown commodity” when you can get a very nice Bates for about $2200 and only the Tomboy’s in the Pessoa’s are over $3k. A friend of mine just sold a very nice and good fitting Collegiate last year for a song (to buy a used French saddle for $$$$) and when I rode her horse, I really liked that Collegiate. I’d tend to recommend them over an unknown.
TBH, since the French brands really flooded the market in the last few years, they are now available for pretty short money on the used market. As a result, selling new saddles in the $2-3k range is challenging, especially without built in brand loyalty. For many people, a used but good condition Devoucoux or Antares is a better investment and a higher quality product.

PS, How do they keep the prices so low on the dressage side?

[Cammie]

@ecileh

I think I recall reading somewhere that Walsall was still making saddles with the old trees and patterns, they just can’t use the Crosby name. But that was years ago now, so who knows if it’s still the case.

Exselle is the brand. I believe they still make saddles, but I don’t know if they have a distributor in the US. It seemed like they were more readily available in Canada at one point. I see one very rarely here and there on the used market. I know there were discussions in the past on which Crosby models the current Exselle saddles were.
http://shop.allsaddles.com/exsellesaddles.html

[sheltona01]

I also know if another company who the designer of those saddles worked with and they are fully customize starting around 4k. They are just like those saddles.

[Willesdon]

@ecileh

I think I recall reading somewhere that Walsall was still making saddles with the old trees and patterns, they just can’t use the Crosby name.

It is day 5 of total quarantine for me so I’m going to be an nit picker…

The “Walsall Riding Saddle Company” rather than just “Walsall”. Walsall is a town in the English midlands that still has the highest concentration of leather workers in Europe. They make all those lovely traditional leather saddles as well as designing and creating lovely innovative ones. The trade there started a few hundred years ago and carries on as the market is now world wide. The local soccer team is nicknamed “The saddlers”.

[Capall]

I have an old PDN from either the 70’s or the 80’s, flat as a pancake and super simple. I agree “deep seat” and “PDN” is just WRONG haha.

[Equestrian24]

I was thinking the same thing about the PDN; nothing like the ones I have and remember, and definitely the furthest thing in my mind from “deep seat”!

Thank you for all of your responses! I’m wondering if they’ll be similar to the Bates and Collegiate as well.

[Dapple_Grey]

I rode in a Crosby PDN in the 80s and loved it. I’m curious to hear how these compare. Anyone know where they’re made?

[NO-CTRL]

Weatherbeeta has had the Crosby brand for quite some time, distributed here in Australia. I can’t speak for these new saddles, but can confirm that Crosby strap goods like bridles, definitely have a made in India stamp on them. They are not the same quality or workmanship as the old 90’s crosby products i remember

[AAHunterGal]

For $3500, I would definitely get a used French brand rather than one of these. I too loved the older Crosby’s, I rode in a Hunterdon for years, and I still look for NOS bridles on eBay!

The great thing about our sport is that we can get used equipment that “can” be nicer than new, since leather gets better with time and care. It’s not like getting a bike that’s outdated in a few years. I am a huge fan of high quality used tack, and it’s easier now than ever to find it.