Tell me about the County Conquest

[April MD]

So I had the County rep out yesterday. What an experience! I learned a lot and sat in an awful lot of saddles. I went into it thinking I would want a 17" M Stabilizer, and ended up feeling best in a 17.5" Conquest with forward flaps.

But I feel as if it is difficult to get a sense of how a saddle performs in many situations by just hacking around a ring and hopping over a few crossrails. Not to mention that I am used to riding in my pancake-flat hunter saddle that is more like a postage-stamp than a saddle :lol:
The conquest just looks so....BIG! I hadn't even considered it when I read about the County line since it kinda reminds me of an all-purpose (read:no purpose) saddle! Plus i have never owned a saddle with such enormous knee rolls and thigh blocks. I keep thinking they should interfere but they never did.

So...who here has a Conquest? Who has ridden in one and liked it/disliked it?
What situations does it excell in and where does it suffer? I want all the dirt. It is an enormous expense for a saddle :eek: and I want to make triply sure it is going to be right for me!

[2horseowner]

I got a demo from my County rep about 2 months ago. I had been riding in a BC Quantum, and I just didn't have a good balanced feel. Great saddle, just not for me. The Conquest has made a huge difference. Great centered balance and fits my horse wonderfully. Going from your "pancake" is a big difference! Don't be put off by the huge knee and thigh blocks, I don't notice them unless I really needed them. Have you looked on ebay? There are 2 right now. I can't say any negatives about this saddle, and I tried to come up w/ something! Good luck!

[riderboy]

I just bought one for my fairly new TB and I love it. He was a total looney tune in the XC warmup he was so excited about going and the conqest really helped me stay with him. It will need to be reflocked a couple of months or so after you get it and then another few months after that. a good rep is essential IMO.

[Absolut]

I sent you an email.

[Jleegriffith]

I am a fan of county saddles as they fit my body and my variety of horses. I have a county conquest with a stablizer seat so I basically combined the flat seat with the forward flap/knee block. Mine is a high forward flap for my short leg. Love it beyond words and ride in in daily. The balance is perhaps a bit forward for flatwork but I ride mostly greenies so it doesn't bother me. I don't feel like it locks me in but it does give you the support to lock in if you need it and sometimes I do:lol:

I also have a county stablizer xtr that I bought off ebay brand new for way cheap. I needed a narrow tree. I like it but I feel a bit naked in it compared to the flap on the conquest. I had always rode in a flat seat/no knee roll saddle prior to my conquest. Now that I am used to the conquest I feel strange going back to something entirely flat and bare. I don't think it affects my riding just feels odd.

[CJ4ME]

I have a conquest and love it. My friend has a conquest with the buffalo leather and it is amazing secure. I use mine for hacking, trails and XC and it is always comfortable. Definitely my favorite saddle.

[RunForIt]

I understand your feeling of "its so big"...but the saddle itself doesn't ride that way. I had a GORGEOUS black, XTR leather Conquest that my little guy turned up his nose at - sold it on to someone who now rides her lovely gray horse in it - I think I spotted the saddle at a horse trial and was thinking how stunning the saddle looked on the horse when I realized, "HEY, that USED to be mine!" and indeed it was the same horse and owner. :cool: If I ever get one again, I'll do what JLGriffith did and have it made with the Stabilizer seat; my old retired guy has the regular Stabilizer and I swear, its the most comfortable, balanced saddle I have EVER ridden in - have easily jumped BN and N jumps in it and felt VERY secure cause its so balanced...oughta' sell it cause I only ride Buddy on weekends, but I love that saddle ...

[flea]

I am becoming more and more impressed with the County saddles. And thrilled to find two on a resale site that had the short flap option. Has anyone had one with the short flap? (of course it will be hard to find a used with that option but I am looking) I guess the Conquest is more forward than the Eventer?

[Jleegriffith]

Yes, I use the high forward which is basically the short flap and my dressage saddle has a short flap. You can find that option used but it will take longer:D

[flea]

JleeGriffith...which jump saddle do you use?

[April MD]

Thanks for all the input, folks. Looks like I will do the Conquest after all. Funny thing is that I am certainly NOT a short at 5'6" and a 18" knee to hip span, but I am ordering the high forward flap as well. My impression was that the forward flap made it possible for me to get my stirrups short enough for galloping and whatnot.

I was very impressed with all the County saddles I rode in during the fitting. All very balanced, although the balance points varied greatly between the types of saddles. I really thought I would love the Stabilizer since I am so used to the flat saddles but I thought them REALLY uncomfortable. I guess that is because the twist in the Stabilizer is a bit wider than I am used to.

I really liked the other one...what is it called? Innovation! She first put me in the innovation with the "eventing" options (high forward flap, big knee rolls and thigh blocks) and I could not BELIEVE how differently my mare travelled! I asked for the canter and for once it felt like I was riding a Warmblood's canter rather than a TB's!!:yes: (she is TBxHan and only 15.3) She was really using her shoulders for the first time! What an AMAZING difference a saddle can make!:eek:

Did anyone else have a hard time getting used to placing the saddle so far back? It just looked like it should be moved more forward, but after feeling the way she travelled I will NEVER make that mistake again! ;)

Now I just have to figure out how to pay for the darn thing....

[Absolut]

There is a new County Rep in TX, her name is Beth and she is delightful. The original Rep, if you know who I am referring to, was let go and she is such a hard worker and well trained in saddle fitting. Maggie M. around Welfare, TX just bought a Conquest from her and loves it. If you need her contact infor. email me.

[Absolut]

You will never regret it! And, it stays comfortable even when in it for 2 hrs or more schooling xc.

[allisontatman]

Love my Conquest XTR! It was the first "eventing" saddle I owned and it's keeps me feeling safe! The blocks are not a big deal once you ride in it a few times!

[2horseowner]

Yes-I had to get used to having the saddle placed further back. It looked so odd, but you're right, what a difference!

[jessegirl]

I purchases my county conquest xtr leather 6 years ago and absolutely love it... i too was going to purchase the stabilizer but the conquest fit my horse and fit my body position best on the horse. My horse was a very difficult horse to fit and, kendra my county rep, was the best.... finally a saddle that didn't slide forward and let my horse have freedom of movement. I just had to sell my first horse who the conqest fit..... its a wide tree 17.5 and my new horse is narrow medium.... figures as the conquest is in excellent shape and would be awesome to jump in...go with what you feel best in not what you read about..... the stabilizer in their description makes you want the perfect jumping saddle but the conquest has the same benefits as the stabilizer, and you can probably order the smaller knee blocks and thigh blocks if you feel it is neccessary... i would check on that as they keep updating options. good luck you won't be sorry :)

[lwk]

I demo'd a Conquest a couple of years ago and loved it. I will have one someday! I like the low forward flap.

[Samantha37]

I demo'd a Conquest and liked it, but ended up with the Innovation forward flap. My horse and I LOVE it. Lots of security for me, and he moves better than ever in it. I didn't really think it was possible for him to get a bigger, more suspended stride, but he has it now!