I inevitability support finding a correct saddle...?
So I've been riding a year now and since I'm developing more responsibilities at the barn and obtaining more riding time, I'm arranged to buy my own saddle (not to mention the one I usually use is uncomfortable and missing stirrup rubbers *sigh*). I've spoken to my instructor, plus several others, and I know that I have need of English/French leather, a close contact, 17 1/2 seat, long flaps, and a wide tree (oh... I ride English... hunter/jumper). The Pessoa A/O seems to be the singular saddle I can find that fits all those requirements (on eBay) and it's a whopping $2k (off eBay). Being a poor freshman in college, I can't really afford a $2k saddle (despite how much I desperately want that pretty Pessoa).
I've also been told that an HDR would be angelic... but I can't seem to find an HDR that offers long flaps.
Any suggestions?
although the requirements you think you need are extremely specific, all saddles fit differently. i have a 17hh dutch warmblood and i have a pessoa a/o that was a wide tree but after a while this didn't fit him so i now hold had to get a county saddle with a atmosphere tree.
my advice would be to test out different brands and styles of saddles. i know dover saddlery have a program where you can test out their saddles. i know they proposal the pessoa in that as well.
here's the link to their network sight http://www.doversaddlery.com/test-ride-a...
you can also test them out from consignment shops usually...
after you find one that fits both you and your horse i would look at consignment shops, on http://www.tacktrader.com/, on ebay, on http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites and you could also check near dover because they often sell their test saddle for cheaper than retail price.
good luck! i know how hard it is to find the right saddle! :)
if you go to this link, you can email kellie sharpe thru here. she's a wonderful horseperson and saddle fitter. i *think* you can also catch a consult with her.
hope this will help.
Answers: The problem with Pessoas and HDR's is that although the leather is french or European, they are made contained by INDIA, which means the craftmanship is lacking...
If you're looking for close contact saddles, why not Crosby's Sovereign? Or Courbett or even Stubben?
http://www.stubbennorthamerica.com/stuSa...
http://www.kiefferusa.com/index.html
http://www.pariani.it/
http://www.passier.com/
Find what you resembling here and try again on ebay...
I love my A/O it is awesome :) though the seat is a little to narrow for me o.O and I dont even ahve a big butt haha. But, anyways whether you can some how afford it it is worth it. Other than Pessoa Collegiates are AWESOME (I love my friends), and I have heard M Toulose(sp?) are very simular to Pessoa of late cheaper, and BdH are pretty good, I just dont know many who use them.
Collegiate:http://www.doversaddlery.com/collegiate-...
M Toulouse: http://www.doversaddlery.com/marcel-toul...
&
Curcuit: http://www.doversaddlery.com/dovers-circ...
http://www.doversaddlery.com/dover%92s-c...
BdH:http://www.doversaddlery.com/the-origina...
Allof those are nice, resembling I said my friend's Collegiate is amazing, and she got it used :) M Toulouse's are very pretty, but idk how wel they hold up. I have single heard that BdH's are good, and I have also manager that Curcuits are hard and uncomfortable...but the ratings are good on this verbs and they seem for pretty for the price.
Good Luck...and maybe santa will bring you a Pessoa lol :DDD
EDIT: What exactly do you call for long flaps for? I didn't even know long flaps came in any close contact saddles...I guess I be wrong. If it is for long legs, which is all I can think you would need them for, Collegiate have a saddle especially for long legged people (I should ahve gotten it lol)...or it might have be Circuit. I get them confused lol well I will see if I can find a long flapped close contact for you :)
EDIT: The BdH does come contained by long flap :DDDDDDDDDDD look at the BdH link then the third box says BdH Original Long Flap :) You can also audition ride it to see how well it rides. Good Luck xD
Completely agree beside Rosi M. I personally do not like Pessoa OR HDR. I do not like them for copious reasons:
Pessoa
-if you can find a used Nelson Pessoa, GET IT!
-newer pessoas have tended to shift down in quality/craftmanship because they are now made in India
-newer pessoas tend to own problems with the pommel rubbing through
-I personally find that the Pessoa tips me way too far forward
HDR
-I personaly find that resembling the Pessoa, the HDR tips me way too far forward also
-HDR I find the be on the same playing field as Pessoas contained by quality of craftmanship
You can find used Stubbens for reasonable prices and if you look REALLY unyielding, you can find the same reasonable price on Passier saddles too (have come across them although lately I enjoy heard people complaining of the quality of Passier saddles). Crosby and Exselle would also be other brands you should hold an eye out for. Some people tend to be a bit skeptical of Exselle seeing how it is still a *fairly* new company, however Exselle actually operate under Crosby (when Crosby went bankrupt) and both are made in Walsall, England. Barnsby is another brand to also look out for. I enjoy also seen other brands such as Prestige and Devocoux out there for just slightly over $2,000 used so whether you can really stretch your budget, I would suggest taking a look at one of those saddles too.
You could also consider the Bates Caprilli but I will warn you that the latest Bates saddles are made in Vietnam versus the older Bates saddle which were manufactured in Australia.
You may also want to look at the option of a wool flocked saddle versus foam or even the CAIR system surrounded by the Bates Caprilli. This could make/break a decision also.
Certainly check out local tack shops and see what they have on consignment. You can potentially score some pretty awesome deal but you most definitley have to look for them.
If your going HDR, I would go near the Eurocup, the flaps are slightly longer. I too have long legs (: and it seems to fit me quite resourcefully, and it really works on alot of different horses I find. Another good brand would be Stubben, their saddles last FOREVER, although expensive it will probobly ending you ten years. The advantage to the stubbens, is the range in models you will most expected find one that would be perfect for you.
good luck with your hunt!
http://greenhawk.ca/cgi-local/SoftCart.e...
Do you have your own horse at this time or do you ride like peas in a pod horse regularly? The reason that I ask is that a saddle needs to be fitted to the horse that it is used on. If you are riding several horses, you can't fit it and it could potentially hurt them. I recommend that you wait to purchase a saddle until you in fact have a horse so that you can go through the fitting process.
EDIT - Two saddle brands that I can recomment are Stubben and Zaldi. Neither is French or English but they are both European. I've used my Zaldi jumping saddle for over 20 years. My friend have a Stubben jump saddle that is just as out-of-date, and I've been really pleased with my Stubben dressage saddle. I can't say for certain if either offers long flaps, but I am certain that you can get all the other options you looked-for.
