I have enjoyed hunting in both my Bates CC(the original version which has a deeper seat than the present incarnation) as it seems to have a “sweet spot” which hugs your butt when you need to sit into it. I also have hunted a couple of different types of critters and the gullet change although a bit fiddly isn’t hard and does seem to give a more custom fit.
My other favourite saddle is my Crosby XL CC with a nice soft sort of seat and decently but not overly padded flaps. It also seems to be a fairly generic fit for most critters with the fine tuning done with a half pad or thinner pad as needed.
i’ve actually been researching the last two weeks on eBay and found many Stubben Siegfried for sale, some with fair prices so i’m happy to read many of you all like them. VERY interesting how the Kloster Schonthal evolving into Crosby! i researched and could find nothing on them except the listings for the ones for sale at The Old Habit in Marshall, VA.
I don’t think there is any “typical” saddle for hunting though. I’d not want a potential foxhunter to think they have to go out and purchase a certain type of saddle. In my hunt - I see everything from Stubbens to County’s to things that look like they were passed on a grandaddy’s will.
I think whatever fits the horse and the rider is the best choice; regardless of what’s popular at the moment. Good quality and strong and clean - that’s the theme.
i hear you. i guess i just have to do it for a while. find out what works for me and then move forward with finding it. 
thanks!
Well - do yourself a favor and if you start acquiring horses - for God’s sake make sure they can use the same saddle. I’ve got saddles coming out of my ears. Girths, too. Geez - what a mess. Trouble is - I’m a tack junkie and refuse to part with anything.
As an aside - I saw a photo of you with Aga and Bunsen in Horse Country! You’re famous!
I hope that after the season ends, you’ll continue to follow the sport during hound walking. Great way to get to know the hounds - and the puppies are entirely too cute.
saddle for Hunting
I find that my Stubben Scandica is very secure and comfy to spend lots of time in over varied and challengind terrain. I also like the Crosby XL which I have borrowed on occasion.
Kloster Schonthal is now the Courbette, not a Crosby. You still can find a lot of them in Europe. I bought one off of Ebay UK a few years ago and sold it recently to someone here.
The Stubben Scandica is indeed quite secure (I have the MF Special). In fact, I find it a bit too restrictive! I suspect mine will go the way of ebay soon. That’s another model that’s more popular in Europe than in the U.S.
I use a deeper then some mud I’ve stepped in Harry Dabbs. I love the deep feel with the ability to get out of the saddle for fences. Very comfy for hours!
County Eventer
I think I’ve posted on about every saddle thread that’s come up, but I LOVE my County Eventer! Bought it in 2000 and have found it to be the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden in. The seat is terrific for hunting over all sorts of ground and for jumping, and it helps keep me secure even on a spinning OTTB, without getting all in my way. Did I mention that I love my saddle?
I love my Barnsby
Ordered it custom with the knee blocks and colors I wanted. I’ve had it about a year now. Hunted with it on three different horses. It is very comfy and secure.
http://www.barnsby.com/saddles/barnsby_7_series_vss_general_purpose_jumping_saddle/?RangeID=
I started off in a Stubben Romanus CS (black, even), which I hated; swapped to a Crosby Equilibrium DL (?) which I still have and use, and then bought the Stubben Roxane S which is the most comfortable saddle I’ve ridden in. It is NOT, however, any better made than the Crosby.
With Stubbens, the name indicates the leather and the letters the style. The CS put me in a terrible chair seat; the Roxane S does not.
My next saddle is going to be a Black Country, which is built like a brick s***house, and is also very comfortable and affordable. I find that the eventing speciality XC saddles are closer to right for me.
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I love my Stubben Siegfried…I had it custom made as the flaps did not fit my long legs that ride short. I ended up with a CSG, and it has saved my *ss many a time. I used to hunt in a Crosby Centennial…that saddle is like a couch, but I needed more help staying ON, the Siegfried with a thigh block and calf block (I don’t think I could ever ride in anything without a thigh block…)
It does give a slight chair seat, however but I don’t think that is such a bad thing to have while traversing interesting terrain at speed!
My saddle guy told me to never buy anything with foam, wool is the only way to go. He also HATES the Bates Cair panels. After the multiple horror stories I have heard about those, you won’t ever catch me owning one!
The Smith-Worthington’s make me DROOOOOOL…
[QUOTE=Tantivy1;3034444]
Stubben.
Note that the older ones made in Germany or Switzerland are of better quality than the newer ones. [/QUOTE]
I don’t quite agree with that. I have a vintage Siegfried (that I will never, ever part with and that will undoubtedly outlast me) and bought a Stübben Scout new in '06. The Scout is fabulous, and of absolutely gorgeous quality–certainly as nice as my vintage Siegfried. It was custom made at the German factory.
I know Stübben do make a cheaper line (but called CHD or CTD or something) and while OK quality, it’s not anywhere near as nice as the original.
Miss my Seigfried…
I had to sell my beloved Stubben Seigfried d/t one too many herniated discs. An equestrian oriented physical therapist suggested not using a deep seated saddle if you have a bad back and boy she was right. Bought a shallow seat and I’m in business. Crosby Gran Prix. BUT!!!..I tried/sat in the latest Stubben saddle seat design at a saddlery and LOVED,LOVED,LOVED IT!!! BIOMEX!!! I tried one of the medium/shallow seated jumping saddles and it felt like a pillow. Looks weird but I WILL have one…someday…when I get rich…Go on their website and peek. You can customize it and add thigh blocks, etc. And get varied length flaps. Spoke to the rep who lives in Charlottesville and he’ll do anything for you.
[QUOTE=Hotspur;3036009]
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.[/QUOTE]
I have an albion all purpose and I love it. It’s so comfortable, doesn’t look at all like an AP (I showed in eq over fences in A shows with it and I can ride all day in comfort. I would vote for albion anyday. What an often forgotten, great saddle!
[QUOTE=J Swan;3042769]
Well - do yourself a favor and if you start acquiring horses - for God’s sake make sure they can use the same saddle. [QUOTE=]
I’ve always told my clients that it’s MUCH easier to find a nice horse to fit their favorite saddle than to find a saddle that fits the horse they found.
Where were you when I needed you??? :lol::lol::lol: I’ve got more saddles than Imelda Marcos had shoes!!!
All-time favorite saddles
I had a County Extreme which I LOVED LOVED LOVED but it didn’t fit any of my horses… had to take it back to the Tack Exchange and have regretted it ever since… can’t find another. Just bought a Prestige Eventer and it seems to be very nice… I might like it as much as the County once I get used to it… in the mean time I was using a Bates Caprilli which is very comfy for trail riding but not suitable for jumping/hunting as the flap is more straight down and not cut forward enough to shorten the stirrups when needed. Other than that, Albion is my go-to saddle when I’m looking…
With Stubben, a lot of the description has to do with the leather rather than the seat. There seats are the letters after the names. I found that the CS seat always put me in a slight chair seat, while the Roxane S was perfectly balanced for me.
If you buy a new Stubben (and my Roxane was Swiss), the company is WONDERFUL to work with. They gave me extra Ds for free with the saddle. The Roxane comes stuffed more for WB backs than the classic high withered TB back, and they restuffed it to fit.
Another saddle to look at for quality of workmanship and available options is the British Black Country. My next saddle will probably be one of theirs, even if they are more expensive than the Stubben. From the looks of their saddles, they will outlast me and then some.
I’ve been happiest with saddles built for eventing cross country.
I have a Siegfried that probably isn’t much older than I am. It’s a great saddle for hunting in hilly country, but my first string saddle is an old Passier. You can find these on eBay all day long for a very few hundred dollars and for another $150 or so, get the stiching tightened up and have them restuffed and re-billeted and you have a brilliant combination of the Prix de Nations and a Stubben.
You can do the same with the right old Barnsby or Eldonian.
