Thoughts on this saddle?

Lot1983

Lot1983

Active Member
Oct 16, 2006
7,260
5
38
The Cotswolds
392375_10151080671319447_811019446_13301887_189923454_n.jpg


It's a Pennwood saddle, quite an old brand, not sure how old the saddle is and it's more of a showing saddle to my eye than a dressage saddle. Is it worth the risk buying it to see if it fits or does it look a bit too old fashioned.

I know it's impossible to tell from one picture, saddle is a very good price.

If I bought it as a maybe I have the saddle fitter coming at the end of the month so would get him to double check it.

How much would you say it's worth?
 
Some horses it might suit, but it just does not look like it will be a good fit on most. All that panel at the back and it won't be in contact with the horse's back.
 
Wally said:
Some horses it might suit, but it just does not look like it will be a good fit on most. All that panel at the back and it won't be in contact with the horse's back.
Click to expand...

Paul just said he knows a horse this would fit - ex-racer TB who had had too much weight on her too young, and had developed a seriously dipped back. He said he thought there was NO way they'd ever get a saddle to fit it, but it took the most banana-shaped saddle ever - Wish we had a photo!
 
Saddle

I think it is so old and flat it would need completely re flocking and even then you couldn't say it would fit your horse! It looks like something my Dad used to use for his horses (eg 40 yrs ago) and I cannot think it would be comfortable without some serious work, which might negate the good price. I would also guess it would be VERY heavy? Just a thought!

You would be better off with a Thorowgood T4 or T8 if the budget ran to that as you can change everything to fit (gullet and reflock if you get the flocked versions )and they come in different styles cob/high wither/GP/GPD/dressage (£350 to £495 new but less on Ebay secondhand) You could speak to your saddle fitter about the best style and then see if there is one to bid for before the visit. She could then change the gullet and flock it to fit if possible.

I am sure I would not be the only one to say from experience a cheap saddle is like a cheap horse - they cost the same in the end as they need so much work! Also if you purchased it and the saddle fitter said no, you would have a saddle to sell (that looks old and might not sell!)

Not sure if that is helping you though! Good luck with your new saddle.:unsure:
 
Ironically it is the sort of saddle I love to ride in, I do not do large knee/thigh rolls like modern dressage saddles. I don't think however, banana shape apart, it would be a good show saddle as it is too high in the cantle

Much as I like Thorowgoods for the RS I would never show in one.
 
We have a lovely brown Albion GP (well, we'll see how lovely when it's checked later this month!) that we can use but I'm keeping an ear to the ground for a dressage saddle just in case!
 
I don't like the Albion Selecta at all and the Albion dressage saddle I rode in was totally wrong for me so not sure I'd stick with Albion.

I'm just keeping an ear to the ground for a cheap saddle, it's not urgent!

(Popularfurball, we ride at a pretty none existent level at the moment :D we're a work in progress!)
 
Saddles that age also tend to have very narrow gullets at the back, even narrow spines need about 3 fingers width to clear the spinal processes. I've never seen a tree that shape really fit any horse, even one with a very dipped back.

The most dipped back I ever saw was Lolly, a horse owned by the NLP writer and dressage judge, featured in more than one of her books. The only thing that worked for him was a ReactorPanel with the most shims that have ever been used with one!:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/volatishurakan/Saddlefitting/pics03-05017.jpg
 
sbloom said:
The most dipped back I ever saw was Lolly, a horse owned by the NLP writer and dressage judge, featured in more than one of her books. The only thing that worked for him was a ReactorPanel with the most shims that have ever been used with one!:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/volatishurakan/Saddlefitting/pics03-05017.jpg
Click to expand...

how was he even rideable? :eek: no wonder his hind toes are squared off:help: yet he looks happy and pain free stood still?

Gong to have to get the book to read about him now:tongue:
 
Oh lord, it'll take a lot more than a chiropractor to put that horse's back right! Now there's a banana if I ever saw one........
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom