Hi everyone,
I am thinking about purchasing a Kieffer Wein dressage saddle to use on my Thorougbred horses…What do people who own them or have ridden in them think of them? It is between the Klimke and this Kieffer…I’ve ridden in the Klimke but not a Kieffer yet…Please respond…thanks!
My Stepdaughter bought a Kieffer, about 15 years ago. I don’t remember the model, but it was an all-purpose. The company guaranteed that they could adjust it to fit her Quarter horse. They didn’t know that her QH had very high withers that ended in the middle of his back, and that his rib cage was so wide he took a 56 inch girth, and you could still feel ribs. Gus was only 15.2 hands tall, according to my stepdaughter. I think he was closer to 16 hands with those crazy withers! After three tries the distributor for Kieffer finally got it narrow enough to fit as promised. She has had many years of comfort and fit. The leather has held up beautifully.
I myself have a Smith Worthington Endurance Maxx. It is custom made to fit my heavy thighs, big butt and short legs. It also was made to fit my QH. The fact that it fits my legs so well is a blessing, because of muscle weakness due to constant chemotherapy for cancer. It also has nice sized knee blocks that I can brace against when my horse gets naughty.
[This message was edited by Reginapony on Feb. 13, 2001 at 12:07 AM.]
I love mine. I have a very fat warmblood with extremely pronounced withers, and it fits him just great. It’s like riding in an armchair. Love it!
Hi everyone,
I am thinking about purchasing a Kieffer Wein dressage saddle to use on my Thorougbred horses…What do people who own them or have ridden in them think of them? It is between the Klimke and this Kieffer…I’ve ridden in the Klimke but not a Kieffer yet…Please respond…thanks!
I bought mine hardly used 3 years ago. I had just gotten my 3 yr old 16.1 TB gelding. He was in pitiful condition, you know no topline, all ribs, a neck like a giraffe, legs going every which way. We fondly referred to him as Forrest Gump, as in Run Forrest, run! 
Now 3 yrs later he has blossomed into this wonderful 16.3 TB and the saddle still fits him wonderfully. I don’t see how you could miss with a Kieffer.
[This message was edited by Cactuskate on Feb. 15, 2001 at 06:36 PM.]
I don’t have the Wein, I have a Lusitano, similar, but it doesn’t have thigh blocks, and the twist is a bit wider.
I really like the saddle, it’s been comfortable since day one, and has really helped my leg position. I’m a H/J rider, but with this young horse I wanted to get a good ground foundation first.
I especially like the cut back pommel, and the adjustable tree. In fact, I bought the saddle when my mare was 4, she’s coming 6 now, and the saddle is back in to have the tree adjusted (second time). Much cheaper than buying a new saddle!
My only dislike is that it has the “v” girthing system, and getting a saddle pad to fit, and not slip using just the girth straps is a bit difficult. But then my saddler says that that’s due to the shape of my mare, and not the saddle. A friend also has the Lusitano and doesn’t have the pad problem so…
I’ve ridden in a Wein and liked it very much. It’s comfortable and fit my horse well (he’s an Appendix, built like a TB). It’s still a very popular dressage saddle. I don’t think I’ve heard any negative comments about them.
on my Warmbloodish Appy (16.3, 1,450 lbs.,v.big boned, a bit level in the croup like an “old-style” hano) and it’s fit on him was “okay.” It fit my present horse, whose conformation is very TB, extremely well, and was extremely comfortable for me, but… My present horse is relatively narrow for his size (16.1-1/4) and I found that with the Wien, my leg just couldn’t maintain the kind of contact I needed to be effective. It was not the saddle’s fault - it was my horse’s conformation. I’m sure on a horse that is not as narrow through the girth, that problem would not exist. The workmanship is fine and I sold my saddle for as much as I paid for it, after using it for seven years. I would have kept it forever except for that one little problem…
Worked at a private stable where most of the horses had Keiffers (and Wiens were popular). If we had problems with a fit, we would send the saddle to the company with a wither drawing and get a custom fit. Works like a charm. That’s the one nice thing about a Keiffer!
Personally, may favorite is the old Bates Haute Ecole from the 80s. Really nice saddle. Now their more cheaply made and I don’t care for the design as much.
To pick the right saddle is like picking the right horse.
One person just loves one saddle and another can stand it al all. And it also depends very much on the horse too.
I have ridden in a Wien and loved it very much and in our barn most people like the saddle, but there are also one or two who hate it.
All in all, we have 3 or 4 Wien in our barn and and the reaction to the saddle is mostly positive. 
I really appreciate everyone’s response to my question…I have decided to puchase the Kieffer Wien… I’ll let you know how it is as soon as I ride in it…
Thanks again everyone for your time
Amanda
I purchased mine in 1987. I understand that it has changed since then, but I love it. I ride in it every day. I have used it on a dozen or more horses over the years, and the medium fiberglass tree molds itself to just about any shape of back. After 14 years of hard work, it looks “just broke in”, and has never needed any repairs.
Thanks a ton everyone for your replys…I am seriously considering this saddle now…I liked what I read about it and I like what you peeps had to say about it…
Thanks again for everything!!
Happy riding!!
I had a Wien years ago and I agree about the comments concerning fitting a narrow horse. The mare that I was riding at the time was extremely narrow. I had a hard time getting my legs to her and maintaining my postion. The saddle also bothered her back and caused soreness. I ended up buying several saddles before I finally found one that really worked on her.
The Wein is a wonderful saddle that is very well built.
Carie
