Shout Out to An Old Hunterdon!

[Proffie]

I've been saddle shopping for months. I'm willing to spend up to $2k. Can't find a darn thing. Still riding in my too-small, too-stiff Wintec CC.

Came across an old but well-preserved Crosby Hunterdon on Ebay CHEAP, with no reserve. My trainer still uses hers, can't say enough good things, so I bought it for a song (just over $200 with shipping) and figured I would make it work in the interim.

OK, it's been a week and I absolutely LOVE it. Fits me, fits my horse, comfy, soft, lightweight. It has to be 20 years old, but it's fabulous. I seriously think I'm going to stop looking for anything fancier.

Just wanted to spread the word that this saddle is fantastic! :cool:

[Renn/aissance]

An old Crosby is a good Crosby! Congrats on your find!

[kansasgal]

Yes, I can't believe how much the cost of a new Crosby is. From what I have read, the used Hunterdons are much sought after.

I recently got a used, beautiful Stalker Naffey (pre-Harry Dabbs), still in great shape, for $135 on E-bay. It is the best balanced close contact saddle I've ever sat in.

Just goes to show that you don't need to spend a lot, and of course there's no promise that the more you spend, the more satisfied you'll be......

Congratulations and best wishes from Kansas.

[ef80]

There's nothing like the old classics! I'm very partial to early PDN's myself. If I feel like I need a bit more padding there's nothing quite like the original Pessoas and Crosby's Hampton Classics.

[BeastieSlave]

I think the older Crosby's will always be appreciated. I just sold an older Hampton Classic for more than twice what I picked it up for. Like the OP, my daughter LOVED that saddle and looked great in it, but it didn't fit the beastie :no:

[KnKShowmom]

DD has a Hampton Classic and loves it - I have a Sovereign but can't wait for her to outgrow hers so I can have it - very comfy and easy for my old bones to sit in!

[Angela Freda]

If I feel like I need a bit more padding there's nothing quite like the original Pessoas and Crosby's Hampton Classics.
When I lessoned with COTHS own Sillymommy she let me ride in her Butet.
Thanks alot sillymommy, such a nice saddle I am ruined for any other!

[CHF]

Yep I have a 25+ year old Crosby Hunterdon that my daughter still rides in and loves it... It is still in really good shape and I probably will never sell it! :D

[forward ride]

i used to have a crosby hunterdon! i did love it, but ended up selling it. where are you located? i wonder if you have my old one! :)

[mvp]

I remember riding around in my PdN and looking enviously at the people who sprung for the Hunterdon. The distinctive New Market color and high cantle stood out.

I still look at them and remember thinking about how much I wanted one. Now if the trees and gullets weren't unrealistically narrow...

In any case, thanks for the memories of a high school crush on a saddle!

[indygirl2560]

I had a Hunterdon! I loved it(perfect eq. saddle for me) but then my legs got too long and I outgrew it and moved up to a Delgrange. Both are wonderful saddles!

[MMorgan]

I'm a diehard Crosby fan too. This past winter, mice made a nest in my saddle cover and chewed my Crosby Sovereign (yes, I was inactive all winter). The damage is bad enough that I could never show in it but it's still fine for schooling. I contemplated buying a replacement on ebay and noticed that there were quite a few of the Hunterdons listed, which is tempting. As I've never ridden in a hunterdon, maybe some of you could describe the differences between that and the sovereign?

Thanks!

[mvp]

They are slightly different-- think of a hybrid between a PdN and a Hunterdon.

The Hunterdon will be made from the printed leather and pig-skin seat that PdNs had, not the softer bridle leather on the seat and smooth leather flaps of the Sovereign.

The Hunterdon's seat is deeper-- not deep by modern standards (say, a Delgrange), and not deep with the balance point far back like a Stubben. I think you can count on Crosby to build a balanced saddle.

I can't now remember what it was like to ride in these saddles, back to back, as that was more than 20 years ago.

Hope this helps!

[MMorgan]

Thanks mvp,

So it sounds like I'd be trading the beautiful bridle leather for a slightly deeper seat; the deeper seat might be nice. I guess it will boil down to availability and price when I'm ready to buy.