Another saddle? - Beval Natural v. Black Country Quantum?

[LoriW]

Sorry guys - last question. With Beval's sale that just started -I'm considering the Natural as I can order it in an 18" with short flaps. The Black Country I am considering also has the short flaps. If you had a choice between these two - what would it be? thanks!!

[hollyhorse2000]

You really need to make the call based on your physique and how each saddle fits the horse. They are very different saddles. Altho I've not ridden in the Natural, I had a Frank Baines Elan and my understanding is that it's the same saddle. I liked it a lot but it was nothing like my Black Country Maelstrom, which I prefered and which fit my horse much better.

[LoriW]

Unfortunately - there is no where near that carries either saddle and I don't have my own horse now, so the fit is more geared towards me. I tend to prefer a flatter saddle but I'm just wondering if anyone has tried either or both.

[Jersey Fresh]

I have an older natural with a deep seat. I was in the same boat when I got mine (didnt have my own horse), and it has fit most reasonably well. Even though its the deep seat model, my saddle is not overwhelmingly deep. I like it because it has just enough support without feeling "stuck" in the tack. I will warn you that the seat is not cushy at all and a bit hard, so if you are used to riding in something padded, you may not like it. I've also ridden in my friend's black country saddle and thought it was very comfy and nice. It fits her perfectly and her mare is very happy in it. I guess my question is, unless you are built very unusal, why would you get a custom black country without having a horse to fit it to?

[LoriW]

I'm actually used to riding in a very old flat Beval Ltd. which is not cushy in the least so the hardness I am used to. And the Black country is actually a demo model that is not custom - just would happen to work well since it has shorter flaps and the larger seat.

[TheHunterKid90]

Natural!!! Love it!

[BAC]

I'm actually used to riding in a very old flat Beval Ltd. which is not cushy in the least so the hardness I am used to. And the Black country is actually a demo model that is not custom - just would happen to work well since it has shorter flaps and the larger seat.

I was going to suggest the LTD since you said you like the flatter, hard seat. :yes: Although I haven't ridden in either I think the Black Country is considered a better quality saddle than the Natural.

[splash2009]

I have a Black Country that I will be selling in the next week or so. I absolutely love this saddle but unfortunately it doesn't fit my new horse. I have never ridden in a Butet but haven't heard very good things about them. Same as with passier. After a while they tend to give your horse a sore back. Having a horse with a very sensitive back I opted for the Black Country Quantum and absolutely love it.
:winkgrin:

[Jersey Fresh]

I have a Black Country that I will be selling in the next week or so. I absolutely love this saddle but unfortunately it doesn't fit my new horse. I have never ridden in a Butet but haven't heard very good things about them. Same as with passier. After a while they tend to give your horse a sore back. Having a horse with a very sensitive back I opted for the Black Country Quantum and absolutely love it.
:winkgrin:

I think that "Passiers or Butets tend to give your horse a sore back" is an over generalized statement. Its like saying all horses are brown because some of the horses you see are brown. If this was the case, neither would be produced as much as those two are. Like any other saddle, a Passier or Butet need to FIT your horse. Problems occur, like with ANY saddle brand, if you use a saddle that does not fit your horse correctly. One of the things that goes on with saddles like Butets, is that an entire barn has them because they are "recommended" or "in" and it does not fit every horse. Just like you can't take one pair of breeches and have 10 people try them on and have them fit.

I also don't think that the Black Country saddle is a better quality saddle as BAC stated. Both are nice saddles for a middle-range price ($2500 give or take). Both are English made and both have a very good reputation. My natural is 11+ years old and still in great shape. My friend's BC is a fantastic saddle. I think both are good options and it will just depend on what you are looking for. If you want a less thrills saddle, I would go with a Natural flat or as BAC suggested a LTD or Devon. Even my saddle, a deep, is not that deep. It has knee rolls but they are not that big and the padding on the flaps is minimal. You will find the same in both the devon (not sure if it has knee rolls though) and the LTD.

I honestly don't think you will go wrong with either saddle. Its just going to be a matter of what you prefer as a rider and what will fit the most horses since you don't have your own.

[JB]

I had an older Natural, so I don't know if the new ones are like those. It was a pretty flat seat, and while comfy, not *at all* the same as the BC Quantum I'm currently trialing. The Natural made me feel like I was sitting ON the saddle, the BC IN the saddle, if that makes sense. The BC seat is much wider than the Natural (but again, the new Naturals may not be like that). The BC twist is much wider than that of the Natural, IIRC.

But, like already said, your horse may dictate which one, as they are not shaped the same, so one of them won't fit your horse.

[imapepper]

I love my Natural but it's one of those personal preference things. Maybe you can network here to find someone close to you with those saddles so you can sit in them before you buy.

[meupatdoes]

If you do not have your own horse, I would get a saddle that has wool flocking so that you can slightly tweak the fit to suit the horses you end up riding.

While the tree will still need to fit whatever horse you want to use the saddle on, a wool flocked saddle will give you more flexibility.