For those who tried the Stabilizer AND the Innovation

[ExJumper]

Hey, County folk! How you all doing? I'm the proud and happy owner of a narrow Innovation with all the bells and whistles. The bull leather and all the gizmos that they can throw on to make the saddle fit those sharkfinned TBs that we all love so much: the extra deep gusset, the skid row panels, the trapezius thingies...probably some more that I can't remember.

Anyway, the narrow boy has now been replaced by a average-backed WB who traces a medium tree so I am looking to cut the narrow loose and find myself a medium.

Herein lies my question: When I tried the saddles on my TB I liked the Innovation the best. The County rep is coming next week to try the Innovation in the medium tree as well as the Stabilizer. I can't say that I remember WHY exactly i liked the Innovation better back when I made the choice, but I thought that since I was switching to SUCH a different type of horse that required SUCH a different type of ride, I should give the Stabilizer another shot.

Did you guys who tried them both find that you always liked one saddle over the other, or did your preference change when you were on different horses?

I bought the Innovation for a TB ride, soft forward and 1/2 seat almost always. Now I'm shopping for a more sitting and more aggressive ride. Do you think that I will see any difference, or will I still prefer the Innovation?

My bad habits are all related to creeping forward, jumping ahead, and leaning up. I'm trying to learn how to stay back, wait longer, and sit up.

I'll be trying both saddles again next week, but I was hoping to get some insight before then. Plus, I love talking about County saddles and hearing about everyone else's experiences!

[IslandGirl]

I have two Stabilizers and an Innovation (each of my "keeper" horses has a saddle that's fitted just to them), plus a Dresprix, which I haven't ridden in in AGES. That written, I definitely prefer riding my TB gelding in his Innovation, and my 17H WB in his Stabilizer. My [chestnut] TB mare has her own Stabilizer but there are times when I definitely wish it was an Innovation!!!

To me, the Innovation has a deeper, more secure seat, but I have no trouble getting out of it if I need to, or sitting in it when necessary. When I first tried the Innovation several years ago, I hated it. Hence, I bought the second Stabilizer. When the time came for a narrow-treed saddle, I tried the Innovation again and I really do like it. Bottom line: each model has pros and cons and yes, I think it depends on the horse. So just go with what feels best on THAT horse. My guess is that you're going to go for the Stabilizer...

[ExJumper]

Thanks for the post, IG! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for!

Tell me, what leather is on your saddles? I got the bull on my Innovation and I love it. I'm trying to do my shopping from my rep's demo list (because I want to sell the narrow and buy the medium withOUT having to put any money into the swap) so my options are a wee bit limited in my seat size and tree size etc.

I keep going back and forth on the XTR. And although all my previous saddles have been "normal" leather, I'm not sure how I feel about downgrading to the regular calf after being in the bull for the past 2.5 years...

[foursocks]

I tried both on my TB with a monster withers- the Stabilizer was awesome for him, but with the correct fit it seemed like either would have worked. The Innovation was much better for me, though, so I got it configured to fit him and it's been saddle nirvana for us both.

The Innovation fits me better because it has a narrower twist and a deeper seat for sitting to the big jumps. I didn't feel like I could sit as well in the Stabilizer and I need that to get him to the base.

[oldenburger with fries and a cold beer]

I have three Stabilizers, one of which I had customized with the bull leather. I believe this added $500 or so dollars on the ticket. My mare is a kick ride with a wide back. For some reason, the Innovation put me ahead of her and I did not like the feel of the deeper seat. I am not sure whether or not they are offering the bull leather for the Stabilizer as yet. You should ask your rep. Good luck and have fun!!! I love shopping for saddles and I think County has a quality product. I won't even go into the horrible experience that I had with a certain french saddle company...there was a very long thread about said product.;)

[oldenburger with fries and a cold beer]

By the way, I have the Stabilizer in all three leathers and I would give the bull and A, the regular a B and the XTR a C. I think the stamped leather looks kind of cheesey.

[norcalammie]

I have the Stabilizer in the XTR leather that I have had now for about 7 years. The newere XTR leather that people at the barn has seems to be completely different from the leather on my saddle as the grooves appear deeper. When I bought my Stabilizer my horse required the Narrow tree. Just recently had County replace the tree (it broke) with a Medium Narrow as my horse had matured. Works great.

The Innovation trees run completely differently than the Stabilizer per my County rep. A friend replaced a wide treed saddle with a Medium Narrow Innovation and it fits her mare great.

The ride is different in each saddle so try both again and see what works best on your current horse. Every horse moves a bit differently and whereas you may like the Innovation on one the Stabilizer might work better for you on another.

Love the saddles - I bought the first one at my barn and now 7 others at the barn have County saddles. Everyone loves them.

[horsepoor]

I have a Stabilizer for one horse and an Innovation for another horse -- I actually preferred the Innovation when I tried them out but that first horse was very expressive in his preference for the Stabilizer. Made a big difference in how he moved, so I went with the Stabilizer for him but did the bull leather upgrade for me.
I know that the Innovation is supposed to be a little deeper, but it doesn't feel that much different to me. I just notice it being a little wider feeling, and I think my leg stays in a better position in the Innovation. But the two saddles feel very different depending on the horse as well -- my trainer hated the Innovation on the first horse, and then preferred it hands down on the second horse.
I only just noticed the other day that one has a round cantle and the other a squarish one -- and I can't remember which was which. Not that it makes much difference other than the look.

[PNWjumper]

I have a Stabilizer in XTR leather and an Innovation in Bull Leather. I actually prefer the XTR leather....I kind of like the pattern :)

My feeling on the two saddles is that the Innovation has a much more forward balance and the Stabilizer sits me further back. Both of my saddles fit both of my horses and I definitely prefer the Innovation on my warmblood mare that I do the bigger jumps with. I tend towards riding my TB gelding in my Stabilizer, but only because it's flocked slightly differently and he seems to like it a little more. I would really prefer riding him in the Innovation (puts me in a better position), but until I get the County person out in a couple of weeks to tweak both saddles I don't have much of a choice. I may end up buying a second Innovation so that I can have one for each horse (please please please don't tell my husband I just typed that :lol:).

[woops]

For me I had the innovation and it pitched my pelvis tooo forward.

I wait far better and feel more in control in the XTR Stabilizer.
XTR and regular stabilizer are different maybe just slight but huge to me.
The Innovation is sssoooo comfy but makes me ride to forward. As for leather
yeah I like the Bull but I have the xtr and since most of my body covers the saddle I didn't care -- I needed the $$$$

[Airamennyl]

I liked riding in both saddles, the Innovation was more cushy and comfortable, but I liked the freedom of the Stabilizer. Another poster was right in that the trees are different. My horse would have needed a narrow medium in the Innovation and a medium in the Stabilizer. I ended up going with a Stabilizer as that was the better fit for my horse. I went with the bull leather. I should hopefully get my saddle in a few weeks.

[oldenburger with fries and a cold beer]

By the way, I did not mean to offend anyone by my comments about the XTR. It is a lovely saddle. My eye seems to be attracted to a more homogenous look. Have fun shopping for the saddle and let us know which one you end up with.

[Beethoven]

I have a Pro-fit. They do not make them anymore, but I love mine! So, does my TB.

I did not like the stablizer on my TB, but I do like stablier on more WB type horses.

I really think it depends on the horse!

[IslandGirl]

Thanks for the post, IG! That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for!

Tell me, what leather is on your saddles? I got the bull on my Innovation and I love it. I'm trying to do my shopping from my rep's demo list (because I want to sell the narrow and buy the medium withOUT having to put any money into the swap) so my options are a wee bit limited in my seat size and tree size etc.

I keep going back and forth on the XTR. And although all my previous saddles have been "normal" leather, I'm not sure how I feel about downgrading to the regular calf after being in the bull for the past 2.5 years...

Sorry it's taken so long to reply: Both of my Stabilizers are XTR leather, and my Innovation is bull. The XTR leather seemed much more "buttery" from day one, but I like the bull just as well. I really don't seem to have a strong preference.

Best of luck in finding just the right saddle for you and your pony!