Thoughts on the Isabel Werth dressage saddle?

[Cochise]

I'm not talking about fit of the horse, I'm talking about for the rider.
I'm getting my current saddle checked by my fitter today, as he has changed shape quite considerably. If it comes down to a need for a new saddle, I'm going to invest in a dressage sadddle.

Anyway, I was at the saddlery having a sit in some saddles, and was looking at the deep seated Isabel. I sat first in the Wintec Pro dressage which doesn't have a very deep seat. It was nice, I can move in it, and it seemed ok on my back (I have the wintec 2000 GP at the moment).
Then I had a sit in the Isabel. I found it locks you in, and it's hard to move anywhere. I just thought that if I were to go out for a long ride (as I tend to do) I would get a very sore lower back.

Anyway, thoughts on this saddle?

[galadriel]

I like the overall design.

If it's the equisuede that concerns you, perhaps with a little breaking in, it won't "grip" so tight. I just went out and checked the Isabel I've got in for alteration; the equisuede looks like it's still effective, but not seriously overly grippy. (This is a fairly well used saddle but still in terrific condition; don't know how old it is or how much use it's seen.)

Riders I've seen in Isabels seem to be able to use their legs well, with freedom all the way up to the hip; it doesn't look like it prevents movement there.

If the Wintec 2000 can't be made to fit, though, do you think an Isabel could?

[Zingy]

The Isobel is very deep seated, but I like that. It's very secure, and no, being realistic, there's not a lot of allowance for movement in your seat, but I don't find it impairs movement in the leg or giving aids. It does fit horses very differently to the other wintecs as well. It's the only Wintec I like and can use, so maybe if you find others fit you and your horse well, the Isobel might not.

[Cochise]

My main concerns with the Isabel locking you in, is because I have had some severe lower back problems in the past. I need to be able to move on a long ride. For a dressage test length of time, I am fine to stay in the same position for that long. But every few weeks I go out for a 3-5 hour ride.

The equisuede isn't a worry at all, in fact the equisuede on my 2000 has been a blessing for the last 3 years. It's just the overall shape that I am concerned about.

Anyone have lower back problems, and what type of seat do you find okay for you?

I'm not worrying about the fit of the horse just for a second here, I'm just doing the pre-selection of what saddles I am going to borrow for trial from the saddlery as to my budget and what is comfortable for me for a start.

[Stella2]

A friend of mine bought one and could not get along with it at all!! She found that her position was too fixed and not in a good way! She reckons they would be great for a rider shaped like Isobel, but not for the rest of us!

I haven't tried it myself. I have a Bates Caprilli Dressage and I love it.

[bspa05]

I find the Isabell really comfortable. I had the wintec 500 dressage before but found it a bit roomy on the seat as it is not too deep.

I hack out in mine, go for 3-4 hour rides, jump and gallop in it no problem. It does hold your legs further back due to the set back sstirrup bars. This can feel like you are being tipped forward a bit at first, but I quickly got used to it. Some other people that have rode in it really do not like this feeling though.

I love mine and a 17 inch fits my 14.2 welsh cob well. I think that they are slighty smaller in the seat compared to other wintecs (probably bue to the deep seat). I would reccommend that you get one that is 1/2 inch bigger than your normal size. I wanted a 16.5 inch, but the 17 fits by small bum well!

[Grace]

The Isabel Werth is the only saddle my instructor will ride in. She had surgery on her back a few years ago from a riding accident so her lower back is very vulnerable to stress and pain. Her horse is 17.1 with a HUGE trot and she rides at Prix St. George level so she spends many an hour doing sitting trot and having to absord large movement. Its the only saddle where her back doesn't hurt and she ended up selling her expensive leather saddle because it was too painful to ride in. The only thing is, is that she doesn't do any trail riding so I wouldn't be able to vouch for 3 - 5 hr rides. If you had the saddle on trial could you try it on a long trail ride and find out?

[Cochise]

Very interesting the stories about back pain and the differing ideas on whether the Isabell helps or hinders it!.
I'm still quite undecided about it, but at this stage, I'm still not sold on it. I'm coming from a roomy GP, and suddenly sitting in this deep seated saddle is -weird for me!

[Bay Mare]

My trainer (has ridden up to GP dressage) has this saddle and loves it too. He recommended it to me but I'd already set my sights on the SBS :)

[drookitsheep]

I guess any change in saddle would feel weird, but it does seem quite a shift to go from a "roomy GP" to an Isabell which is so deep. Is there any way you could borrow one for a bit to see how it feels over a period of time? Could just be an issue of getting used to the difference.

I find my Isabell really really comfortable and find the deep seat really supportive rather than restricting on the lower back. Normally for hacking I'll use my GP which can get a bit sore on the old back (Murph has a long stride which is quite tiring for me!) - I've not ridden for such long periods in the Isabell, but I have hacked in it and ridden say an hour and a half and find it really comfortable for me. I have the normal flock and Murph seems to find it ok for him too.

Good luck with the saddle hunting!

[varkie]

I have one of these saddles, plus a recovering back injury!

The saddle is great - it really does hold me in position to cope with the youngsters I'm riding, helps me sit those dirty spooks & spins! It helps my position, yet I still find it allows me plenty of space to move my seat & legs however I need to.

As to my back, well my bad back precedes getting the saddle! I don't find the saddle makes me worse at all - in fact if anything, because it offers me support, it probably helps.

[virtuallyhorses]

Ignoring totally what you're asking about ;)

We did a whole section on saddle-fitting on my equine physio course yesterday. Evaluating saddles in a slightly different perspective I guess and the Isabell we had on hand would really only suit a warmblood or possibly a clydie cross type (although I can't remember what cheekie's conformation looks like so may well fit in with those types) due to the large panels and potential infringement on the shelf of the ribs (not something that I had previously considered in saddlefitting before.

[galadriel]

I like large panels for any horse--I'm currently working on a Klimke with lovely large panels for a Welsh cob X pony. They just have to be able to be flocked for the back of the horse in question--and Wintecs often have pretty flat panels, particularly the CAIR, which makes it difficult to adjust them for narrower backs.

[Angel2]

I've got a leather bates caprilli prix st georges dressage saddle for sale if you are interested. It's very similar to the Isobel but the seat is not as deep and the blocks are smaller. I've found it very comfortable and my boy has always gone well in it. He's completely changed shape between four and five so unfortunately ;) i've had to save up for a wow saddle. The bates saddle is 17inchs darkbrown/black and medium narrow, i've used it once a week for about a year so its had hardly any wear. If you want me to send pictures let me know.

[Ipsa]

I went to a dressage seminar a couple of years back with Michael Putz and he was talking about the Isabels as they were the flavour of the year with lots of dressage riders. As he pointed out not everyone is shaped like Isabel Werth and in some cases the saddle puts the rider in the wrong position. The tall slim riders with good flexibility in their hip joints at the seminar looked fine but you could see what he meant with some of the other riders who were not the 'ideal' physique .
Because the stirrup bars are set further back these riders were tipping onto the front of the pelvis and were then compensating for that by leaning back so there body was in a series of unnatural curves.
Some of the top judges there were saying they can tell from a distance when a rider is in an Isabel and they weren't been complimentary.
Having said that my daughter trialled one once in a lesson and she loved it and a friend loved hers as it locked her in on her spooky horse and she felt more secure.- but she had to sell it as the tree was not wide enough for her horse.
There seem to a be a few available second hand and they seem to hold their value fairly well so if you can't trial one and had to buy one you should be able to resell it.