Reasonably priced saddles that come WIDE

[JB]

I certainly don't want bottom of the barrel, but neither do I need to spend $3k+ on a saddle that would be mostly used for schooling. I won't sacrifice quality material and construction, period. But I also know it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

So, while I'm very familiar with CC saddles, I'm sorely unfamiliar with Dressage models.

I have sat in a Prestige (no idea which model :() and was positively in heaven. Not knowing the model (I'll find out) I have no idea of the price, though I am pretty certain they aren't the most economical.

It was also a wide saddle - 36cm. My boy needs that. He could even go a bit wider, as I have NO problem adding a bit of padding as he still has room for muscle growth.

So what do you like? I realize there are wide range of preferences in how the saddle tips your pelvis - keep in mind the Prestige I tried put me in a wonderfully "stacked" position. Sadly, I don't know if all Prestiges would do that, or only certain models. But, it's a starting point.

I don't like a narrow twist. I don't want it super wide, but I don't want to feel like I'm straddling a fence post ;)

[SaddleFitterVA]

Duett comes to mind. I think they are still under $1500.

[pintopiaffe]

Prestige can be had for not-that-bad if you stalk it on Ebay. Some VERY reasonable depending on time of year. You can widen up to 4cm. So only watch ones that are, say, 34cm to start.

Duett and Thornhill are the two I'd look at. If your horse *really* fits in a 36, the widest Thornhill may just do the trick. Duetts come much, much wider if needed. Problem is they may not agree with YOU.

Old, Ancient Passier in #4 or 5 tree. Can be widened quite a bit if needed. MUCH narrower in waist and twist than Duett. Probably will feel more like the Prestige. In my experience, the oldest, ancientest "Traditional" model does best for wide. Some of the PSLs are good too. Not so much the GG's or Nicole's as they are misnomered here.

I've seen ONE HDR dressage that was VERY wide. Super wide. Maybe even wide enough for my horses, though I did not *try* it. May be worth looking into. I like the buffalo model best for balance and fit. I don't quite know it's name though. NOT the Rivella.

Thorowgood is nicely balanced, and not bad if you don't like synthetic. Their XXW Cob isn't *quite* enough for my guys, but is enough for most more normal wide horses. (i.e. wide vs. stupid wide.) I like the way it fits and positions the rider much better than Wintecs.

Those are my top pics. The list of what DOESN'T work at ALL is much, much longer. Trust me. :dead: :lol:

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

I just ordered a Custom Saddlery Advantage, the Steffen Peters model, off the rack. Got a good deal as it was a demo from Dover's. Should receive it tomorrow. Ordered a wide & hope it fits.
As I posted on another site, I liked the looks of the Anky Euro.
During my saddle shopping experience, I was amazed at how expensive they are now. I also didn't want to compromise quality. I've had a Hopfner Ahlerich for the past 20 years & that saddle is just the best quality I could ever want.
Almost forgot. I picked up a saddle for a friend to try on her daughter's round as a barrel morgan pony. The extra wide didn't fit but this pony is built like a table top, flat!
Saddle was a M. Toulouse. The quality of the leather was amazing for the price. I just loved it. Soft, beautiful saddle. I believe it was the Aachen model. Have never ridded in it but we all were suprised at the quality feel & look of it. The price of it was around $900 new.

[atr]

Thornhills come very wide and are reasonably priced and decent quality.

[Coreene]

I agree, I have a Thornhill Vienna and I loved it so much when it arrived that I bought their jumping saddle as well. Edited to say that the jumping saddle is nice for trail riding.

[Paula]

Try some of the Kieffers - they are adjustable tree and some come very wide. I have had four different Kieffer saddles and all have been very wide - the the gullets have been more than wide enough to slide a fist down the wide way and they fit my wide WB and now my very wide fjord. Here are some pictures of me on Frodo to get an idea of his stoutness http://www.pbase.com/paula_chmura/frodo_clinic (ignore the riding ;) and here are some pictures of him sans saddle for you to really appreciate his, um, width of shoulder shall we call it http://www.pbase.com/finnskeeper/frodo_and_galiana&page=3 (Frodo is the stouter fjord and Galianna is my more dainty fjord :) My Kieffer has been fitted on him by clinicians and twice by saddle fitters and both all feel it is a good fit. I have the Wein DL right now, but I used to have a Kieffer Koof jumping saddle that fit him well, and a Kieffer Achen (bigger knee rolls) that I used on my wide warmblood. You can generally find Kieffers quite reasonably priced to and mine have always worn very well and have been excellent quality. Different Kieffer models have very different twists though so you will need to try them to see which you like. Good luck!

[FriesianX]

Albion's run wide and can be found on eBay too ;-) Neidersuiss tends to run wide. Someone already mentioned the HDR saddles, decent quality for a lower priced saddle. If you liked the Prestige, look for a used one!

[seabreeze]

Lots of saddles have "wide" or "extra wide" trees, but the shape of the tree is the problem. When I was in the market for a saddle to fit my wide-body saddle-fitting-nightmare of a horse, I found 3 saddles that would work for him: the Duett Largo, the Black Country Eloquence X, and the Albion that is built with the "hoop" tree. The Duett actually fit him best (lo and behold, it was also the least expensive by far). Surely I could have had a custom saddle made, but that simply was not in my budget.

Good luck!

(P.S. Sent you a PM)

[JB]

Thanks for the bit of name throwing :D

Yes, please know that I am VERY particular about fit and understand all about the banana shape vs flatter, dropping off at the spine vs staying flat, etc. I'm a huge saddle fit fanatic ;) I have found though, in reading various other "what saddle is good" threads, that whole list of criteria comes out and then "we" learn that the saddles thrown out don't come wide enough. So, that's my first criteria :D The rest will come after. IME the list of saddles that come wide enough narrows the field a lot sooner :D

Other criteria - the rear panels can't drop off too soon, and the back panels can't be banana-shaped. I wouldn't say he's got the flattest back, but it's certainly not "curvy".

[seabreeze]

JB, I would add that Nancy at Duett is very accommodating. You might give her a call and give her your criteria and see what she can come up with. Good luck!

[pintopiaffe]

Don't be too quick to dismiss a curvy tree. For the super wide-flat, or the short-coupled wide-flat, the tree swoops up where it needs to in something like the Passier or Prestige. (Or HDR for that matter!) Flat, gussetted panels can dig in the loin.

It's a little counter intuitive in that respect.

[Phyxius]

I've owned a Thornill Vienna II (basically a knock off of the Passier Grand Gilbert), but I sold it because it was too wide for horse, it was fairly comfortable, but I prefer the Duett. Both are reasonably priced. More expensive new, but fairly easy to find used are Albions, and you can find them in wide sizes too.

I have a VERY round mare now as well so I needed to buy yet another new saddle and for her I got the Barefoot London, a treeless dressage saddle made in Germany. It's a different ride from a treed saddle, but very, very comfortable!

[JB]

Don't be too quick to dismiss a curvy tree. For the super wide-flat, or the short-coupled wide-flat, the tree swoops up where it needs to in something like the Passier or Prestige. (Or HDR for that matter!) Flat, gussetted panels can dig in the loin.

It's a little counter intuitive in that respect.
No, I totally understand what you are saying. I have no problem if the very back of the panels curve up to get out of the way. I'm just talking about a banana-shape overall, which will not work for my guy :)

I have a VERY round mare now as well so I needed to buy yet another new saddle and for her I got the Barefoot London, a treeless dressage saddle made in Germany. It's a different ride from a treed saddle, but very, very comfortable!
My CC is treeless, so I'm certainly not ruling that out :)

[amm2cd]

I have a Schleese saddle for my foundation QH gelding (sorry, I can’t seem to remember the model). It does have banana panels, as he’s got the shortest back ever, but I love the fit. Schleese is located in Canada, but they custom fit the saddle to the horse, which is great for the hard-to-fit types. You can either go to one of their clinics (look them up on their web site) or send in a tracing and they will adjust the saddle to fit. For a cheaper Schleese, check their consignment page. I love their saddles… but that’s just me! ;)

[mjhco]

Frank Baines makes some WIDEEEEEE saddles. Nice quality.

[JB]

Frank Baines makes some WIDEEEEEE saddles. Nice quality.

As in - Balance saddles? I had a Balance CC saddle for a while and you're right, nice and w-i-d-e :D Loved it.

[mbm]

you can get older Keiffers for cheap - like under 1k. and they are pretty wide and fit a huge variety of horses.

i LOVE my keiffers. look for weins

or you can try Neidersuss - again you can get tehm cheap and they do come wide and the older ones are really well made.

oh! for the keiffers - the tree can be widened to any width... and the fee is relatively inexpensive (DE does it for 120)

[barbarachloejosie]

I was trying a few saddles this past week and when I sat in the Prestige I was hooked. I really like having the big (soft) knee blocks and the leather was really impressive. I bought mine used in excellent condition.

barbara

[Olympussporthorses]

I have a niedersuss olympik I use on my very wide gelding. It's a nice saddle and you can find them used for under $1500

[EqTrainer]

Well, since it was the miracle of all miracles that it fit YOU and YOUR HORSE I would try to duplicate it ;)

It would help if the owner of that saddle could remember what model it is. She will try to check on it when she tacks up the horse that it belongs to, tomorrow :lol: She does know it is a 36 cm :)

She sees them fairly regularly on Ebay and with her neighbor the saddler, for around $1500.00.

[NCSue]

JB. My Iberian is very wide. 36 cm fits only in certain brands. For width and quality of saddle I have been very pleased with the KenTaur line. Not well known in US, but becoming more so. My only issue is that the shape of the panels do not fit his back correctly. EqTrainer knows my gelding as well as yours so might be able to give you some insight into whether this saddle is appropriate. It's certainly friendlier on the budget than a Prestige.

[EqTrainer]

Tee hee, my post was so silly because it was MY saddle that she rode in :lol:

Her ginormous horse definately needs that shape panel. I just thought it was simply amazing that it fit BOTH of them so nicely.. how often does anyone ever get that lucky?!!!

[JB]

Tee hee, my post was so silly because it was MY saddle that she rode in :lol:
:lol::lol:

Her ginormous horse definately needs that shape panel. I just thought it was simply amazing that it fit BOTH of them so nicely.. how often does anyone ever get that lucky?!!!
It was more than luck, don't sell yourself short :p You'd watched me ride enough and certainly had physically laid hands on Rio often enough that you were pretty sure it would work for both of us. What was LUCKY was you having such a saddle :D

Is this going to be like when you go to a restaurant for the first time, have a meal that is absolutely scrumptious, and when you get it again, it's just not as good? :winkgrin:

[TouchstoneAcres]

For the record, please don't think a 36 in one saddle means you want a 36 in any other brand, or even in another model of the same brand. They will all measure differently.

To get a bit abstract on you, draw a triangle. Now draw several lines parallel to the base, between the base and the top. Each will measure a different width but it would be essentially the same saddle fit. Now draw an entirely different triangle, wider at the base, same height. Repeat the process, drawing lines parallel to the base. All of those widths for that triangle are the same fit. Now compare the two triangles and line wdiths. You could find a 36 cm in both triangles but they won't fit the same. That is what you are doing comparing saddles.

You can find diferent widths in the same triangle that are the same. So do a tracing or try in person. I sell Duetts and have some demos people nearby can try.

[cheekyhorse]

I fully recommend the KN (Karl Neidersuss) saddles. They are around $1500 to buy, and come in all the tree sizes. They are comfortable saddles and put you in a nice position.
(my stallion is quite wide and I've ordered a County Perfection for him........WOW! SUPER COMFY! BUT, they are pricey! Did have a KN and then a Schleese for him at one point, but I wanted something better. Hated the Schleese saddle.)

[JB]

For the record, please don't think a 36 in one saddle means you want a 36 in any other brand, or even in another model of the same brand. They will all measure differently.
Yes, I fully understand that. I am saying that *that* Prestige saddle, in a 36cm, fit wonderfully. Without that piece of information, there is no basis on which to judge what I mean by "wide". I fully understand that the 36cm is based on the tree before the padding is put on, and how another saddle is padded makes that 36cm wider or narrower than this one :)

Obviously if someone doesn't have a clue how certain saddles compare to each other, they would have no idea whether their idea of a 36cm is the same or not as "mine". But there are lots of folks who do understand how different saddles relate to each other, which is what I'm after :)

[Cold Spring Farm]

Hey JB -- sent you a pm.