He needs a hoop tree with short upswept panels. His back is curvy not flat. I want a shallow seat, fairly narrow twist and I am long from hip to knee so needs to fit my leg…
I don’t want to go custom right now and I’m working with a fitter, but still looking for ideas. The saddle I loved the most in the past was a roosli pilatus, but that has the wrong shaped tree… I don’t care for Schleese’s so probably wouldn’t try those, I think they are too heavy…
Any input welcome. Thanks in advance
It would help to see the horse but we’ve done this with Black Country and Duett. Lovatt & Ricketts’s Ellipse also has un upswept aspect to the rear as well.
No real suggestions but just wanted to say I understand!! and good luck!! Trumbull Mountain is supposed to be a great source of information so maybe keep working with Jay above 
(Owner of a Morgan, tried at least 30 saddles, rode bareback for months to not have to confront saddle fit issues, owned 5 saddles before settling on a Pessoa jumping saddle, whew!)
[QUOTE=the_rook;8657865]
(Owner of a Morgan, tried at least 30 saddles, rode bareback for months to not have to confront saddle fit issues, owned 5 saddles before settling on a Pessoa jumping saddle, whew!)[/QUOTE]
Ugh! 30 saddles?? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that…
Pelham Saddlery has a huge selection of used dressage saddles. If you send them wither tracings and photos they can help you out.
Rick’s Heritage (SaddleSource.com) is local to me and they have a number of used saddles. My local fitter goes through the website and will recommend used saddles for me to pick up and try. Maybe your fitter could go through the Pelham Saddlery and the Rick’s website to give you suggestions on which ones to try based on what they have available.
Like the_rook I had saddle fitting hell for my horse for a jump saddle. I tried probably 25 saddles. I only owned 3. In some ways I want a dressage saddle but I am so done with the whole saddle shopping thing and he is 16 so I think I will stick to my current saddle.
OP I hope yours goes much easier.
Something to keep in mind you mentioned that you like a narrow twist. Some morgans can have that broad flat back. My arab has that and because of that I cannot get a narrow twist as it would pinch his back per the Master Saddler that has made Finnegan’s 2 custom saddles. I am assuming when you say curvy you mean front to back. Finn is curvy front to back, high withers but his back once you get behind his withers is short, flat and wide.
[QUOTE=islgrl;8657961]
Ugh! 30 saddles?? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that…[/QUOTE]
Don’t worry, I had a saddle fitter come out with like 10 different ones, plus trying on other people’s at the barn, so that took up the bulk of it. I did have to rule out a couple that might have worked but were too much money (I had a limited budget).
I had a pretty hard time finding something that fit both of us. Most dressage saddles just didn’t fit her well, or were too deep of a seat for my comfort (I feel awkward in a really deep seat). My friend let me borrow her Pessoa which fit wonderfully so I looked for my own and the first one I tried fit (with a small riser). It was like all the church bells went off and birds were chirping! haha
But seriously, I’m sure you’ll find something faster than I did!
I went through over 70-80 saddles for my uber wide, curvy backed pony Lipizzaner pony mare. Anything with a hoop tree was too wide of a twist for me.I found a Kent and Masters Cob dressage that has a narrower twist, fits from very narrow to very wide and curvy backed, with an adjustable gullet and it fit my long femur well. I am selling mine only because I need a deeper, more secure seat now for my safety and security on my agile little ‘airs above the ground’ pony…
My ASBs use a KN Symphony. It seems to sit nicely on their back, stays enough off of their shoulders, and it fits me!
You may find that fitting you is harder.
The British brands, in my experience, tend to fit better. They have cobs over there I’m currently using a Black Country Celeste that I bought new from Trumbull Mtn, with a lot of semi-customizations to fit me. It is “not quite right” but is by far the most comfortable saddle for me. I’m just not quite ready to take on another saddle search.
If you’re on a budget and want new, a Thorowgood T8 might do. They come with several tree shapes and the gullet width is adjustable.
Watch out for gusseted panels that extend well behind the cantle. I had a Trilogy with shortened panels for a while, and even that was too much… and my Morgan mare is not super short backed.
My student who has Morgans and nothing but Morgans has had a lot of luck with Roosli saddles, and Lovett & Rickets as well. Agree that the British brands tend to work better than the US or German made saddles.
[QUOTE=Mondo;8660414]
My student who has Morgans and nothing but Morgans has had a lot of luck with Roosli saddles, and Lovett & Rickets as well. Agree that the British brands tend to work better than the US or German made saddles.[/QUOTE]
Roosli sadly doesn’t work for him… I love them myself…
[QUOTE=quietann;8660355]
You may find that fitting you is harder.
The British brands, in my experience, tend to fit better. They have cobs over there I’m currently using a Black Country Celeste that I bought new from Trumbull Mtn, with a lot of semi-customizations to fit me. It is “not quite right” but is by far the most comfortable saddle for me. I’m just not quite ready to take on another saddle search.
If you’re on a budget and want new, a Thorowgood T8 might do. They come with several tree shapes and the gullet width is adjustable.
Watch out for gusseted panels that extend well behind the cantle. I had a Trilogy with shortened panels for a while, and even that was too much… and my Morgan mare is not super short backed.[/QUOTE]
thanks QuietAnn, tried to send you a PM but your box is full…
My general experience with “round” bodied horses (Arabs, Morgans) has been Passiers will work (but of course, one of the more expensive name brands. Sigh.)
Also, while I loved my Passier general purpose of many years ago, I’ve found most of their dressage models have “hard” seats. Still, I haven’t tried any of their newer models, so perhaps that is no longer the case. It’s just the last time I was saddle hunting and looking at used saddles, the Passiers fit me and my horse, but I was not happy with the rock hard seats and ended up with a slightly used Dresch instead. My current horse is base narrow but has well sprung ribs (he’s half Arab) and a “roundish” (but not extremely so) back. YMMV.
OP, you say you don’t want to go custom, but if you are buying new there is no difference in price between new-off-the-shelf and new-customized in most cases.
Harry Dabbs is one of the few English saddle makers that makes a true upswept panel, and they have many trees, including cob-shaped, to choose from. Customizations including a long flap and shallow seat are easy if they are making it for you, and their prices are very reasonable.
[QUOTE=no.stirrups;8661210]
OP, you say you don’t want to go custom, but if you are buying new there is no difference in price between new-off-the-shelf and new-customized in most cases.
Harry Dabbs is one of the few English saddle makers that makes a true upswept panel, and they have many trees, including cob-shaped, to choose from. Customizations including a long flap and shallow seat are easy if they are making it for you, and their prices are very reasonable.[/QUOTE]
not planning to buy new… but thanks
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