Thanks, that’s good info! I’m not keen for too heavy a saddle as I’m heavier too, and the air moving when they spook sounds, erm….interesting 
Saddler
- Thread starter Jessey
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Yes it's certainly interesting 
. I found the cut of it, for me at least, did a fair bit to mitigate that plus Jim had a build that helped keep me in place - massive shoulders to sit behind and a powerful hind end to keep me forward. I;m not sure I'd have been keen on a spooky horse with little front! Also he was easily big enough to carry the extra weight of the saddle.
It was funny when we first tried it and it was before I used the lady I've now used for a very long time. Saddler set it up and I hopped on to try it out - Jim spent maybe 20 minutes testing exactly what movement it would allow and every time I glanced over the poor man was looking paler and more shaken. Thoroughly tested I then did a few circles in what are recognised as normal paces and movements, and very nicely he went too for a (I think) big 6yo. As we stopped he came over and said that was clearly a no and he'd got a few more we could try, to which I replied no he loved the freedom of it and I'd have it. He made a good sale that day but I suspect he went back saying he'd seen possibly the craziest partnership ever, I was right though, he had that saddle for the rest of his life and was always happy with it.
. I found the cut of it, for me at least, did a fair bit to mitigate that plus Jim had a build that helped keep me in place - massive shoulders to sit behind and a powerful hind end to keep me forward. I;m not sure I'd have been keen on a spooky horse with little front! Also he was easily big enough to carry the extra weight of the saddle. It was funny when we first tried it and it was before I used the lady I've now used for a very long time. Saddler set it up and I hopped on to try it out - Jim spent maybe 20 minutes testing exactly what movement it would allow and every time I glanced over the poor man was looking paler and more shaken. Thoroughly tested I then did a few circles in what are recognised as normal paces and movements, and very nicely he went too for a (I think) big 6yo. As we stopped he came over and said that was clearly a no and he'd got a few more we could try, to which I replied no he loved the freedom of it and I'd have it. He made a good sale that day but I suspect he went back saying he'd seen possibly the craziest partnership ever
, I was right though, he had that saddle for the rest of his life and was always happy with it.
Yeah, Monkey has no shoulders and such a short neck that I can tickle his ears without leaning forward, and a dirty 180 in him, so not sure that would be a great combo!
No, probably not the best though you'd have to try it to be sure. I think you need a saddler with a wide range of maks and styles within your budget because sometimes they can surprise us with what they like. Luka seems to do best in jump style saddles, maybe because they're cut to free up the shoulder, but since I like to ride long that meant finding one that allowed me to do that - thankfully I don't rely on blocking and so as long as it isn't in my way it doesn't matter if it isn't in the right place and in the one I now have I actually took out the knee blocks (he has enough shoulder that that acts as a support!).
Yeah, I’d happily try anything. I just find if I ride long in something not designed for it, things are in the wrong place and after several hours in the saddle I notice it. My Freeform is a GP, and I found my calf was on the back edge of the flap, which was really uncomfortable.
It sounds a simple find doesn't it when you know the tree and width. That's Monkey sorted, it's just the seat and panels for you in theory.
To throw a curve ball into the mix have you looked at a stock saddle. I did ride in one one and lived the overall feel of it. Though I guess that comes under a lot of weight.
I am conscious now she's 17 that I use lighter saddles than
If only it were so simple @newforest , but it's like in a dress shop where the same size can be vastly different in different makes. And then the material the tree is made of can also make a difference as some will flex to a degree while others are rigid, the length of the tree points, the shape and depth of the panels, placement of stirrup bars - and I'm not a saddle fitter so have no doubt missed a load of considerations! I can see why people go treeless, though personally it's something I'd never do.
Re the air shift, it's probably not much worse than bareback so not too bad if you ride by balance and your own strength but nigh on impossible if you try to ride a spook by bracing. Sadly a fart won't adjust the air pressure in the saddle
@Jessey I can't say that's a problem I've had, but I can see how it could happen if the whole flap was swung forward rather than made larger to accomodate a short stirrup.
Keep hunting, a saddle is too expensive and important to compromise on.
Re the air shift, it's probably not much worse than bareback so not too bad if you ride by balance and your own strength but nigh on impossible if you try to ride a spook by bracing. Sadly a fart won't adjust the air pressure in the saddle
@Jessey I can't say that's a problem I've had, but I can see how it could happen if the whole flap was swung forward rather than made larger to accomodate a short stirrup.
Keep hunting, a saddle is too expensive and important to compromise on.
I haven’t, I wouldn’t be against trying it, and have perused them for years but they generally only come in narrow and medium widths, it’s quite unusual to find a wide and I’ve never seen in-between sizes. The wintec one is horribly uncomfortable having ridden it on another horse a few years ago, but I find all their saddles uncomfortable.
So I was browsing saddles this morning...it has become an obsession! and I noticed saddle bank have a Fairfax 'Open Seat' which looks just the ticket for me other than it has fixed knee blocks but that might be ok, and is on the same tree as the K&M that fitted Monkey. So I'm thinking it's worth a try, it's top end of my budget but doable.
Kept browsing and had a bit of an epiphany, Thorowgood are also the same tree as the K&M, and I get on fine with those, not armchair comfortable, but I object less to putting a seat saver on a saddle that's less than half my budget even for the leather version. And the have velcro blocks so more likely to be comfortable.
I wanted to buy myself a really nice saddle, but honestly if it's going to be such a fuss and a cheaper one is better for both of us than the pricey ones, perhaps i'm being foolish to keep battling on. On the flip side, I keep thinking back to your comment @carthorse that perhaps he prefers the serge, so maybe I should just have Saddle Company make me what I want, I currently have a saddler to maintain it until she stops doing it (as all the good ones seem to eventually), but I can cross that bridge when it comes to it.
Kept browsing and had a bit of an epiphany, Thorowgood are also the same tree as the K&M, and I get on fine with those, not armchair comfortable, but I object less to putting a seat saver on a saddle that's less than half my budget even for the leather version. And the have velcro blocks so more likely to be comfortable.
I wanted to buy myself a really nice saddle, but honestly if it's going to be such a fuss and a cheaper one is better for both of us than the pricey ones, perhaps i'm being foolish to keep battling on. On the flip side, I keep thinking back to your comment @carthorse that perhaps he prefers the serge, so maybe I should just have Saddle Company make me what I want, I currently have a saddler to maintain it until she stops doing it (as all the good ones seem to eventually), but I can cross that bridge when it comes to it.
Why not try a Thorowgood with a seat saver and see how you get on with it? If it's better than the rest you've tried and he's happy with it too then there's nothing to stop you getting one for now and still looking for something "better" in the future - I say "better" because if it works well for both of you then it's better than an expensive saddle that doesn't. You could get a good real sheepskin, as opposed to the synthetic ones, to go under it that would give him more softness if you think that's what he likes with the serge.
Yep I’m going to keep it in my back pocket for when I am fed up of trying to find something, I would prefer all leather so will keep trying for now.
Hi Jessey, I'm not sure what your budget is but my lovely saddler has just launched her own range Jigsaw Saddles - priced similarly to Chunky Monkey and good for wide bods. I'd recommend her as a fitter, she is great, very thorough.
This has been like an ear worm, couldn’t get it out on my head, why do I struggle with this….. well I think it’s because I have a long thigh, despite being only 5’4”. The regular flaps on 17.5” saddles are made for normal adults, they’re too long for me so my leg ends up on the back edge right under my leg. I’m am also possibly a princess with a pea!
Feel free!!I don't mind browsing saddles on your behalf
I need a dressage 17.5” MW, it must have a neat or upswept panel though and an open seat (I don’t like deep seats), I don’t like big blocks and would prefer they’re movable. I don’t mind black or brown, and would prefer leather. No wintec or their other models and no ideal Jessica/suzanna. I’m trying not to spend over a grand.
Cavaletti dressage saddles - the economy version of Bliss - aren't much above that new, and while they are an economy vrsion they're still leather and a decent saddle if you like the styles they've got https://www.cavaletticollection.co.uk/saddles/dressage-saddles.html
Would this one do? Moveable blocks, not heavily blocked, and not a modern deep dressage seat £1045 https://www.cavaletticollection.co.uk/cavaletti-collection-dressage-saddle.html
Would this one do? Moveable blocks, not heavily blocked, and not a modern deep dressage seat £1045 https://www.cavaletticollection.co.uk/cavaletti-collection-dressage-saddle.html
Do you have first hand experience of them? I was recommended to stay away from them by a saddle trader, though not sure exactly what they didn’t like about them.
It does look like it might work, I’d be tempted to try given you get a 2 week trial.
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Personally no, but I do of Bliss that are on the same tree, I had that on Little Un who sounds like he was a similar shape to Monkey and it was great on him. I also had it on Luka but while the fit was good he didn't like it and his movement didn't help matters either - he'd had bad experiences though and in hindsight the change was maybe too great (he'd been ridden mostly in a race exercise saddle 
).
I do have a couple of friends who have them and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them, both are on natives, though I have to say the leather doesn't seem quite as nice as used for the Bliss - not bad, just not as nice and needs a bit of tlc to get it feeling more supple. I've seen far worse though! Also my saddler supplies them for the lower budget end of the market and I know for a fact she wouldn't sell anything she had doubts about. As with any saddle though they have to fit.
). I do have a couple of friends who have them and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them, both are on natives, though I have to say the leather doesn't seem quite as nice as used for the Bliss - not bad, just not as nice and needs a bit of tlc to get it feeling more supple. I've seen far worse though! Also my saddler supplies them for the lower budget end of the market and I know for a fact she wouldn't sell anything she had doubts about. As with any saddle though they have to fit.
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