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| Need saddle recommendation... | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 1 2009, 11:40 AM (1,116 Views) | |
| TarynJ | Jun 1 2009, 11:40 AM Post #1 |
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Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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Having now ridden in that Barnsby saddle I bought, I've realized that I just want something a little more secure for starting Bria over fences... I think she'll be pretty blase about it, but if we do the baby over-jumping I just want a little more than an elegant, simple CC (trainer doesn't jump any more. She'll be talking me through it from the ground, but it'll be me hopping over x's...)Any recommendations? Requirements: - under $1k - needs to fit a substantial shoulder - XC or jumping type saddle. Something that sucks you in and holds you there. Yes, I know that's cheating. No, I don't care. - good flap for a long-legged rider Not a stubben as they don't fit me so great through the pommel.
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| jn4jenny | Jun 1 2009, 07:38 PM Post #2 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Bates Caprilli CC. A very fine saddle for the babies although not my personal favorite saddle (for anal retentive reasons, most of which probably don't apply to you and Bria). Be sure to budget for a sheepskin half pad to lift it up and off Bria's withers, but that's the same advice I'd give about most saddles on a withery horse like Bria. Can be found used in US for $800-$1200. If looks are not an issue and money is, try the Wintec Pro Jump. Equisuede seat and knee rolls really lock and load you. Other than the synthetic exterior, it's basically a Bates with long flap option under the hood. Ask me how I know. The Philippe Fontaine saddles might match your needs. They retail for just under $1000 US and they're designed to be knockoffs of the French saddle brands, so they're quite "lock and load". They're made by Stubben but all reports indicate that they have nothing in common with Stubben in terms of ride experience. Have not seen enough of them in person to judge if they'd fit Bria's topline, but someone over on COTH bought one for her withery TB and was pleased with it. An acquaintance of mine bought it for her curvy-toplined TB and she was very pleased with how it fit the horse, but she was not pleased with where it put her leg. www.pfsaddles.com Pity you probably can't cram Bria into a medium tree. There is an Amerigo CC 17.5" medium at Saddler's Row that is a steal at $1200. I can't BELIEVE nobody has bought it. I paid three times that for my beloved Amerigo CC (to be fair, mine is in way better shape, but still). www.saddlersrow.com I personally don't love the Toulouse saddles--they're usually very nice for rider and less nice for horse and they fall apart in about 5 years--but I've heard good things about the Toulouse Annice model. A tack shop owner who's very "in the know" about saddle lines told me that Toulouse was deliberately trying to clone an Antares when they build the Annice. Nice saddle for the price, retails a little over $1000 but if you shop you can find it at $995 + free leathers and irons. I also dislike HDR saddles pretty intensely, but a local tack shop owner that I trust (not the same lady referenced above) told me that this is the nicest saddle in their range and she's had success with this saddle on a withery, curvy beast: http://www.vtosaddlery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VTO&Product_Code=HPSJS&Category_Code=SDL I like the Collegiate Convertible line, but it's not my pick for a curvy topline. Ditto with the Beval tack. Edited by jn4jenny, Jun 1 2009, 07:40 PM.
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| jn4jenny | Jun 2 2009, 11:01 AM Post #3 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Thought of another one today while I was doing saddle stuff for someone else. The Kieffer Norbert Koof is one of the ugliest saddles you'll ever see, but it's a lock and load with a lot of accommodation for a wither. Also has an adjustable tree. This gal has had one on consignment forever at $995: http://goodsaddles.com/tackpage.html#jump_saddles\ |
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| TarynJ | Jun 2 2009, 07:57 PM Post #4 |
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Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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Ok... I think I've figured out what I need. I just have to find one for sale now! County Extreme Eventer, 17" seat, mw or w tree. Keep your eyes peeled! I have a call into the local county rep to see what she might have... |
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| jn4jenny | Jun 3 2009, 06:13 AM Post #5 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Umm...that's not going to be a $1000 saddle. You'll also have a time finding one since that's a discontinued model. Your best bet is to call your local County reps--they would looooove to call a few of their clients and see if that client will part with their old Exteme Eventer in favor of a new Conquest (very similar saddle to the discontinued Extreme Eventer). And alas, since it is an AP saddle, most folks who typically ride in a 17" saddle upgrade themselves to 17.5" in this model, so it's tough to find a 17".Happyhorsetack has a 17.5" medium that you could have widened. Total cost about $2000 once you pay for the widening. http://www.happyhorsetack.com/usedsaddles.asp Or the County Conquests. Someone in my barn just had her horse outgrow a County Conquest 17.5" wide if you want me to ask her about it. Otherwise: County Conquest 17.5" medium, once you widen it about $2300 invested: http://www.tacktrader.com/show_item.php?tack_id=285639&share_this=Y |
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| TarynJ | Jun 3 2009, 08:27 AM Post #6 |
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Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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Wow - way more expensive in your neck of the woods. Little secret... a used County goes for about $1200 - $1400 around here (PNW)... so if you ever want one, be sure to come this way! |
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| jn4jenny | Jun 3 2009, 08:31 AM Post #7 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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I probably have 10 tack stores in the PNW on my Saddle Bookmarks, and at least on the US side, Counties tend to cost more than $1000, at least the better/newer models do--you can easily get the Drespri, Eventer, Pro-Fit, and a few other models for less anywhere in the US. But rare indeed is the County Conquest or Extreme that goes for less than $2000. If Vancouver is dripping in $1400 County Connections, Conquests, Innovations, and Stabilizers, then I may have to make a resale investment trip!
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| TarynJ | Jun 3 2009, 08:54 AM Post #8 |
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Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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Well, the one I tried was $1300... a friend paid $1200 for hers. There's one for $1295 at Olson Mills right now (although only in "fair" condition). The one I looked at was nearly new. There aren't a lot of them around here used, so it can be a challenge finding the right one! For a good saddle I'll go over the $1k... we're also swimming in absolute crap saddles around here too. A lot of western riders who buy a cheapie english saddle to have one kicking around. Edited by TarynJ, Jun 3 2009, 09:51 AM.
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(trainer doesn't jump any more. She'll be talking me through it from the ground, but it'll be me hopping over x's...)



12:28 PM Jul 11