What kind/brand of saddle do you hunt in?

[SteeleRdr]

Well, I’ve saved up enough money that I can think heavily about getting a new saddle and not worrying about having to put it on credit. I currently hunt in my CC Crosby Prix de Nations that I’ve had for quite some time. This past year I rode LOTS of greenies hunting and realized that it kind of sucks for hunting, it is totally flat with no knee rolls or pads and when you stop fast, even if you have a well balanced seat, you are likely to almost slide right through!! I really like the saddle for doing flat/ring work and showing jumpers/hunters in, but definitely not for hunting. I changed saddles with the lady I ride with one day because her saddle fit the horse I was riding better, and man I loved it!! (And boy did she not like my saddle!) She has a custom Berney’s Bros. saddle from Ireland and it is a CC saddle, but has enough padding and such around the knee that it gives enough support.

Anyways, I just wanted to get other people’s opinions on what they prefer out hunting or what they think of is a nice saddle?

[2ndyrgal]

I have two…

that I really like for hunting. My tried and true stubben and a Neidersuiss all purpose saddle(they are generally more known for their dressage saddles) The Neidersuiss is deep seated with a knee roll and thigh block. My husband calls it the amazing butt sucking saddle, because no matter what the “greenie” does, your leg just doesn’t move. Both have saved my bacon more than once.

[Equibrit]

D G Stackhouse - you can have EXACTLY what your butt prefers!

http://www.stackhousesaddles.com/

[KimPeterson]

Black Country Wexford “arm chair ride” excellent field hunting saddle and esp for young horses good blocking, knee padding, and deep seat it is made by Black Country Saddles Walsall England.

[SidesaddleRider]

For astride, I use either an Antares or a Butet. The Antares is SO comfy.

[JSwan]

I bought a Stubben Siegfried and love it. Nice big fat hunting saddle for my nice big fat butt. I got it over at The Old Habit on consignment -but it looked brand new - wasn’t even broken in.

It looks similar to the one that Kim Peterson posted pictures - my saddle may be a bit deeper but otherwise very similar.

Have you seen the Roxanne S? Wow. Take a look at that one. I think there are some foxhunters that really like that Stubben. It’s on the Stubben website.

[SteeleRdr]

Thanks for all the great replies, I am definitely looking into consignment! I don’t really want to sell my PDN, and man some of the saddles out there right now are soooo expensive! I remember when I bought my saddle it was $850 and I had the tack store lady I could put it on consignment for that and get it and I’ve ridden in it for 8 years (although I have to admit it looks almost brand new!).

Anyways, I am definitely looking at some and drooling. I don’t want to get too deep of a seat though, just as a precaution if a greenie decides to pop a fence or something, plus never been a fan. I will look at that Stubben though!

[Nlevie]

I still hunt in my Crosby PDN & prefer it -

I have to say, I have tried some “more padded” saddles, but they just weren’t as comfortable to me ? I do add my beloved fleece “butt-warmer” when it gets cold, which probably helps, but if I’m coming off, I’m not sure that knee rolls will help . . .

Isn’t that what the mane is for ?

[Regal_Grace]

Ditto Stubben. I have the Stubben Roxane VSS and LOVE IT though you would probably want the S instead. Makes me feel so secure and comfortable in the saddle. It is deep seat and intially I was not sure I would care for it but have to say I don’t feel stuck or restricted in it. A new one is probably more than you want to spend ($1500-$1600) but it’s still more resonably priced than a Antares or Stackhouse. Mind you I wouldn’t mind having one of those saddles but I felt I got more bang for my buck with a Stubben.

I’ve seen used Stubben Roxane’s on EBAY and Equine.com as well as on consignment at Tack stores website but I could never find an 18" seat and narrow tree 28 cm for my TB. Did not want to wait any longer so I bought new.

[Elghund2]

flyover

I have a jeffries flyover which is a mono-flap with no blocks.

[Thomas_1]

my favourite is Barnsby

http://www.barnsby.com/products.asp?Range=&ProductID=&Type=1&SubType=2

[SteeleRdr]

Nlevie- Don’t get me wrong, I’ve hunted in the PDN for a long time, but after trying the lady I ride for’s Berney’s and having a few occassions where my greenie slammed on the breaks and such, I think I’ll defintiely prefer something with just a little more in front of the knee.

I may break down and go ahead and get the Berney’s, but I wanted to get opinions because I know the Berney’s took FOREVER to break in.

[Scaredacoops]

I hunt in an Albion K2 jumping saddle. It’s close contact, ample seat, nice knee rolls.

[bird4416]

I hunt in a County Stabilizer. I love it and my horse loves it. County is one of the few saddle makers that has an extra, extra wide tree. He is a draft cross and the saddle fits him nicely.

[Houndhill]

I went through a saddle search last year where I tried a gazillion different saddles, hunted in many. My two favorites were a Butet-like PJ Original, made of this yummy, obscenely soft and comfy French calfskin, and a very secure County Pro-fit with buffalo seat that had knee and thigh blocks.

I went with the County and haven’t regretted it. It is very comfortable and very secure, and seems so tough you feel like you could run the pick-up over it! I have been out in downpours in it and it is none the worse for wear. I think the PJ would have been great if you just rode well-behaved horses in the show ring or at home, but for hunting, the County is perfect, fits the horse perfectly, and really has saved my butt more than once by keeping me in it!

[Houndhill]

Just wanted to add, saddles are like underwear, what suits one person, another will just hate. The only thing to do is to try as many as you have the patience to try. Most of the websites and your local tack stores will have used saddles that they will let you try for a few days. It is funny how sitting on the saddle in the store is completely different from actually riding in them at home on your horse, and hunting in them is different still, so do try to hunt in them if at all possible.

[MuleLady]

I hunt in a Thornhill Berlin…I don’t love it, because I wish the flaps were more forward, but its extra wide (36 cm) tree fits the mule’s wiiiiiiiiiide back perfectly. It’s comfortable enough to sit in but does nothing to make one feel secure over jumps. I have another Thornhill, the Germania jumping model. It feels very secure but doesn’t fit my big mule, darn it. I’m hoping I win the lottery or some unknown rich relative dies and leaves me a token of his/her affection so I can buy a County one of these days…I have a had a couple of them in the past and they were delightfully comfy and secure feeling.

[Ray]

Bates AP

I have a Bates AP and love it. Affordable saddle, has the CAIR inserts for changing the width, and has a deep enough seat to help you, yet I jump in it all the time. Very comfortable too.

[middy]

Bates CC

I too was a hard core PDN rider before I started hunting. I wanted something with no knee rolls and not much padding. I even hunted my older mare 3 years in it but when I get my gelding it had to go. HE was greener and though I never came off I did want a more secure ride. The bates CC has a much deeper seat than the PDN but I didn’t feel locked in like I did with the deep seated saddles like the Stubens and others that I tried. Eventually I got so used to my bates taht I sold my PDN.

All I can say is try alot of different saddles to see what you like better.

[fuzzydise]

County Extreme

It is a cross country model, but I love it for my greenies. It has fit everything from a narrow TB to a fat QH to my TWH now. I have never loved a saddle so much! My husband says that any horse I buy must fit the saddle as I could never replace it! Mine has been identified by a county rep as the prototype saddle for the County extreme from when they started making them. The newer ones look a little different, but they are still just as comfy.