you favorite hunt saddle and why

[horsegirltv]

hello there. i’ve been researching saddle lately. we recently shot an episode on being “in the tack” in which we covered basic tack requirements and although it was not specific to fox hunting we touched on hunt saddles.

i was curious what your favorite saddle is and why? this is what i know…

STUBBEN is old school, new school and in general a top choice even used. i’ve read about the Roxanne and Siegfried.

JEFFRIES MONOFLAP was my favorite to sit in but not my favorite price point! i liked the idea of feeling so close to the horse but was wondering how they held up in the field even though they are built for cross country.

M TOULOUSSE PREMIA was like sitting on a fitted couch and an excellent price point but i’m wondering with this one how well it holds up to hours in the saddle.

SCHONTHAL i know little about this one but saw it on the old habit website and was wondering if any of you have ridden or enjoyed this particular one.

i’ve found lots of stubbens in decent shape for sale on eBay this past month and was wondering if there were any ins and outs (beyond regular saddle buying concerns) for shopping on eBay?

TIA for any info. i’m very interested in learning more about fox hunting saddles and finding one that might fit in my budget!

[Tantivy1]

Stubben. They come in a wide variety of models and thus are easy to research until you find one you like. Their website has a good breakdown of current models. They are the “Mercedes Benz” of saddles, and so lots of them to be had in consignment shops etc. Like MB, high priced when new retail, but easy to find a good quality used one with little effort. Do the research, decide what model you want, then shop tack shops or ebay for used ones.

Note that the older ones made in Germany or Switzerland are of better quality than the newer ones. How to tell? New ones have the enamel “Blue Dot” on the saddle skirt, it is plain metal on the older ones. Several models are built with little variation (like the leather) but on the same tree.

Might want to get a wider one, so it will fit more horses. Just be careful buying off ebay re: size. Get the seller to photograph the measurements to be sure you are getting say a 17 inch and not a 16.5.

I favor them also because they are easy to sell if you get one that does not work for you for whatever reason. I tend to shy away from ultra expensive hunting saddles, or the cheaper opens (ex: Argentinian). Stubbens are…a nicer sort that can be had for a fair price with a little shopping; i.e., good value for the money spent.

I tend towards staying simple and basic. There are lots more hunting saddles out there, but buying a $2,000 saddle for 50-90% off retail works well for me. The Parzival is a super model, I like to get them well used and cut out the knee pads under the skirt. This gives you a closer contact feel but with a lovely well padded seat that will hold up for decades something most true show-ring close contacts will not.

I also steer clear of “fad” saddles; in fact, at this point I could not even name any today!

[JSwan]

I have a Stubben Siegfried and 2 County’s.

The only reason is that I was dumb enough to acquire horses that have completely different builds from one another.

The County’s are Symmetry’s. I evented one of the crosses in a Symmetry and it was a nice saddle. It’s a CC; bit of a thin knee roll.

I guess I’m old fashioned by I’ve always liked Stubben. Good solid company, good quality, wears well - the kind of saddle you can leave to someone in your will. I had looked at a Roxanne S but could not find one; I would very much like to try that model. I’d like a saddle that put me back a bit farther - as one of my horses has no neck and it’s no fun jumping.

The County’s are nice too. But I’d trade my County for a Stubben Roxanne S with a long and forward flap.

[Equibrit]

If I am spending several hours in the saddle, several times a week, it is worth every penny to get a custom Stackhouse and luxuriate in all the comfort that you, or your horse, could possibly want.

http://www.stackhousesaddles.com

[Beverley]

I’m minimalist. My all time fave is my vintage 1971 Crosby Prix des Nations, flat, flat, flat. Alas, it doesn’t fit anyone in the current fleet. I also have a vintage 70s Stubben Siegfried (technically hubby’s saddle)- good solid saddle, I always used it when the Crosby was temporarily out of commission for a billet or somesuch.

Currently hunting in a Wychanger-Barton- a semi custom saddle, measured to fit me and the horse that outgrew the above two. It is the flattest model they have, and blocks were added but my saddle guy assured me he could remove them whenever I want flatter. Five years later, I’ve still got them in place, they ARE handy for steep mountains.

Some would say the Crosby couldn’t possibly be comfy for a day of hunting, or hours on the trails- but I have plenty of padding on me, no need to add any to the saddle.

[gothedistance]

In the Dark Ages I hunted in an Apollo by Hartley close contact saddle. It was horribly uncomfortable and gave me really severe saddle sores. For years. But I was very young and didn’t know better. When I finally learned there really was such a thing as a comfortable saddle – I dubbed that instrument of torture “The Saddle From Hell” and promptly gave it away… to someone who (for some unknown reason) loved it.

The last treed saddle I used foxhunting (and whipping-in) was a Crosby Gran Prix. Nice saddle, very pretty, and the seat felt soft compared to other saddles, but… when I began to compare it to my treeless endurance saddles, I realized it, too, was far too hard and uncomfortable for sitting in for hours, and was hurting my horse’s back despite all efforts to have it fit him correctly.

I now use a Sensation (made in Canada). My horse LOVES it! Because there is no tree, there is no fitting/pressure issues. It is an incredible saddle, very pretty, very traditional looking (see the photo on my website), comfortable beyond anyone’s wildest dreams (like sitting on a down pillow), extremely secure and my whole body is just as fresh and happy at the end of 3-4 hours hunting as when I climbed in the saddle. I feel sorry for folks I see standing in their irons to relieve their sore rears after 2 hours hunting – how well I remember I used to do the same. No more.

This is, however, the only treeless saddle that I’ve found (to date) that seamlessly blends right in with the traditional hunt field saddles, and fits the bill for this extreme sport.

[SteeleRdr]

There is a VERY long thread on this here in this forum from when I was looking to purchase a new saddle.

I went with a Tad Coffin. I’m partial to a flat, but comfy saddle. I ride many horses, and so this one is useful for that because of the system Tad has created (and he’s in VA if you ever wanted to do a segment on him and his saddles). I, like Beverly, am a minimalist, thought, I did find with the TC that I am in love with the knee pads (not rolls).

BTW- my old saddle was a flat as flat gets Crosby PDN.

Berney Bros. also make a nicer (on the cheaper side), custom saddle.

[JSwan]

People’s butts get sore out hunting?

[Bogie]

I used to hunt in a Stubben Siegfried, but I found it put me in a slight chair seat and the seat was so darn hard!

I currently hunt in a County Extreme which is a discontinued model. I love it! It’s got very forward flaps but is well balanced and comfortable.

In bad weather I ride in a Wintec Pro XC. Another discontinued model! Wish this one was more widely available.

I’ve tried the Flyover and found it was comfortable, but never rode in it that long. They are hard to find used here in the U.S. Keep in mind that they run small; you typically need to buy an inch larger than you would normally ride in.

Kloster Schonthal is a german brand very similar to Stubben – it evolved into what is now called Courbette, but the older ones can be quite similar to Siegfrieds. You can usually pick them up for a song. They can be nice saddles, but make sure you get one of the ones that is flocked with wool. The old foam panels get really compressed.

When buying from ebay my rules are:

• Only buy from sellers with 100% positive feedback (or darn close)
• Never, ever pay by money order. If you pay by credit card you get some protection.
• Only buy from someone who regularly sells tack (scammers, or people who hijack accounts typically don’t have a history of selling saddles)
• Ask lots of questions to determine condition
• Find out if they guarantee that the tree is sound
• Only buy off of ebay if you know exactly what model and size you want as most sellers will not let you return.

[gothedistance]

@J Swan;3034662

People’s butts get sore out hunting?

Hey, you know those folks aren’t standing in their stirrups to get a better view … especially when you see them “hovering” while the hounds are just hangin’ with the huntsman, everyone at rest for the moment.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[SEPowell]

I have two Jeffries monoflaps (Flyovers), one is wool flocked and the other foam. It’s just about impossible to find wool flocked Flyovers in the US but can be bought from England through the internet (I can dig up info if you wish). They’re my absolute favorite saddle because they fit thoroughbreds’ backs well, there is perhaps 1/8" leather between your horse and your leg, the theigh block in front provides the support you need going down slides and steep hills, and they feel so open, eg you feel like you can move where ever you need to. I normally wear a size 17 but this fits in an 18 and agree with many who say to go with a larger size in this particular saddle. The wool flocked version is sturdier than the foam version, and I think better made. The only reason I happened to dig up the wool flocked version is because I have a mare who is very difficult to fit and needed a saddle that was wool flocked so we could fit it to her high withers and flat back. The only wool flocked saddle I could find in my general price range was the Smith Worthington Extreme Eventer. They wouldn’t sell it to me because I don’t event! They sent their classic hunt saddles which I hated and then finally gave up on me or I gave up on them (basically all they do anyway is take a medium tree saddle and stuff it to fit your horse). Anyway, in desperation I emailed a saddle maker in England and told him what a hard time I was having and why, and also that what I really wanted was a Jeffries that was wool flocked. voila! He emailed back, asked me to send a template of her back, adjusted the wool in a Jeffries and sent it to me. The saddle sits on her perfectly, I can put a level on it and it’s absolutely level, she loves it and I love it.

Having just gone through a saddle search that lasted a year, I should warn you to check sale saddles very carefully for faults. One I tried was called “nearly perfect” but had lopsided panels. IMO that’s a long way from nearly perfect!

[JSwan]

@gothedistance;3034799

Hey, you know those folks aren’t standing in their stirrups to get a better view … especially when you see them “hovering” while the hounds are just hangin’ with the huntsman, everyone at rest for the moment.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Oh - I was just thinking that FINALLY there was a benefit to having a big ass.

[SLW]

In 1995 I finally admitted I outgrew my 1975 Stubben Wotan. It’s sits covered in my dinky tackroom as a memorial to my teenage and young adult days gone by. I replaced it with a Bastes AP. (Unlike Beverley, I have never, ever been able to ride in those flat Hunt Seat saddles and I’m pea green w/ envy of those of you who can “REALLY” ride in them, not sit for a photo op but ride. I tip my hat to you!)

My Bates is not chair seat at all- it is a High Chair for a Rider. Once I’ve mounted my little mare nothing will dislodge me from my secure perch. I use it for LD and CTR rides too.

What attracted me to the Bates, in addition to the extreme security, was the interchangalbe gullets. I’ve used it on the past three horses we’ve owned w/ no problem. It does have CAIR panals which I’m not fond of and lucky for me they haven’t been an issue w/ the mares.

I lucked out and bought it lightly used- it was a year old and the gal was a once a week rider. Paid half of what new retail was running at the time.

[armandh]

same saddle since '97

prestige [the one with the white leather strip on the cantle] [Nona Garson?]
because it keeps the horse between me and the ground.
B4 that a Steuben Sigfried

[Ray]

[QUOTE=SLW;3034860]
In 1995 I finally admitted I outgrew my 1975 Stubben Wotan. … I replaced it with a Bastes AP. (Unlike Beverley, I have never, ever been able to ride in those flat Hunt Seat saddles and I’m pea green w/ envy of those of you who can “REALLY” ride in them, not sit for a photo op but ride. I tip my hat to you!)

My Bates is not chair seat at all- it is a High Chair for a Rider. Once I’ve mounted my little mare nothing will dislodge me from my secure perch. [/QUOTE]

I hunted my first 2 years hunting in a Bates AP, and I liked it alot; very comfortable and, yes, it did help keep me in the tack or at least make me feel more secure.

I got a Tad Coffin for jumping and showing, and now thats the only saddle I put on my horse. Its very comfortable for a close contact and its great for jumping. So far, BIG knock on wood here :eek: :eek:, I have managed to stay in the saddle while hunting.

I agree with someone’s suggestion that the OP go visit Tad Coffin (Olympic medalist), he is very accessible and has put a great deal of time and intelligence into developing a high-performance saddle that fits horses very well.

[SidesaddleRider]

I hunt in either a PJ Delgrange, a Butet, a N. Pessoa Jubilee, an Hermes, or a sidesaddle. All are great.

I personally don’t like deep seated saddles, such as the Stubbens.

I would LOVE to try a Tad Coffin, but so far the price tag of a new one is a bit off-putting.

[SteeleRdr]

[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;3035491]

I would LOVE to try a Tad Coffin, but so far the price tag of a new one is a bit off-putting.[/QUOTE]

Give Tad a call, if you haven’t already. He gets used ones in (they are definitely still pricey though), and he’ll send one to you on trial. I got mine used, I definitely was not willing to pay the price for a new one…though I’m realizing now, I may end up having to find a new one…my sister stole my Tad and took it hostage in Knoxville, TN. When I sent mine to him to get D’s put on the side, he sent me a “loaner.” He’s really great to work with, and has GREAT customer service.

If I ever get mine back from my sister, you’re more than welcome to give it a try.

[Ashby]

My all-time favorite is the Stubben Siegfried with all sorts of thigh blocks and what-not. Yes, it puts me into a slight chair seat. That’s old-fashioned hunting style, and I’m old-fashioned. Riding in this thing is like putting a Barcalounger with a seat belt up on your horse. It’s hard to dislodge me when I in this thing, and that’s a testament to the saddle not to my skills.

Of course, everybody’s butt is different.

[lesson_junkie]

I have an old early 70’s Wotan in my tack room too! I got it for C’mas in 1970-it was a big stretch for my folks-I’ll never part with it. I have a Roxanne, and a SW Beaufort in buffalo-very secure. The buffalo leather is almost tacky w/o being sticky. My SW was custom done for a tender backed TB. I did not have any problems with getting it fitted-I did have to be patient. The process took quite a few weeks. I need to send it back to be redone to fit my Dutch horse, but he doesn’t seem to mind it and I hate to do without it.

[Hotspur]

Albion Kontrol

I have an Albion Kontrol and my horse and I just love it. Our Albion rep did a great job of fitting and I believe the $$ spent on custom fit really pay off when you are in the saddle for hours while out hunting.

The Kontrol is a pretty deep saddle and I like that feel when we are traversing the hills, creeks, ditches, and jumps.