What do you know about these saddle brands?

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Duett has been recommended on here a number of times, but I don't think I've heard of these other brands:

http://shop.abitofbling.com/category.sc?categoryId=287
Laser
Exselle
Thornhill

http://shop.abitofbling.com/category.sc?categoryId=288
Thornhill
Exselle
Intrepid
St. Lourdes


Just curious (and bored ;-)

[JB]

I think mvp has chimed in on the Exselle brand in one of your threads, but if not one of those, I am SURE it was on a thread over on the H/J forum.

St Lourdes are lower end, but from what I have gathered (because I've been eyeballing one on the Horseloverz site) they are not bad at all - great quality *for the price*.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Thanks.

I had never heard of Black Country or Duett before I started whining about Mr. Blondie's dry spots - never know what gems might be out there ;-)

[mvp]

Yup, I'm all about their quality for the price. These are made by the venerable Walsall Riding Saddle Company who made Crosby saddles in the Miller's era. They are among the most beautifully leather-ed, beautifully made saddles in the 2.5K range.

They are rumored to make trees to templates. They do offer wool and foam-flocked versions of their off-the-rack saddles. Their trees are well-designed and fit many horses.

But it will be harder to get the detailed customer service and demos you might need to actually get the right Exselle than it would a Black Country. That finally took them off my short list. It was a black day... and one that came after much effort and money was applied to finding Exselle candidates and shipping them hither and yon. I'm still verklempt.

[jn4jenny]

Forgive me, but you really should do a search. These have all been talked to death. Especially on the dressage forum.

Try using the "Show posts" option rather than "Show threads" to zone in on the really relevant stuff.

They're all potentially good brands for a wider horse. I suspect that's why you're looking into them for Mr. Blondie. ;)

[mvp]

Yeah but dressage saddles and cc ones are apples and oranges when it comes to design for fitting horses. The typical tree and panel configuration is just so different on the same saddler's dressage thing vs. its h/j thing.

I did do similar searches that included posts about dressage saddles, and I have looked at pics of dressage saddles made by the far-way companies I liked. This was out of desperation and "I will not be denied, but I should get out more" obsession, and it wasn't that helpful.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Forgive me, but you really should do a search. These have all been talked to death. Especially on the dressage forum.

Try using the "Show posts" option rather than "Show threads" to zone in on the really relevant stuff.

They're all potentially good brands for a wider horse. I suspect that's why you're looking into them for Mr. Blondie. ;)You're right, jn4jenny - I wasn't thinking clearly.

Can I blame it on the 105 degree heat?

I got a Facebook friend request from someone I don't know - it was basically an ad for that web site. As she's located in Scottsdale (just next door), I was interested enough to check out her web site. And saw a bunch of saddles I hadn't heard of.

[Coreene]

Call me tomorrow and I will tell you, in great detail, about Thornhills. Love my two. The seat of mine would be too big for you, but both have wide trees and fit Oliver perfectly, and I could always send over the jumping one for you to try for tree fit. Just tell Blondie he has to send it back when he's done trying it out. ;)

[Dazednconfused]

A friend of mine had a St. Lourdes that fit her arabian mare absolutely beautifully. The saddle was nice quality. IIRC the mare was kind of slab-sided but still pretty wide.

Actually, it was one of the first saddles I ever saw that truly FIT, that locked onto exactly where it was supposed to be...

[JB]

To jenny's point though, if you're just looking at some quality information, that doesn't tend to waiver (much) from dressage to CC saddles :)

But also to mvp's point, when it comes to fit for the horse and rider, those can vary a LOT within a brand's CC and dressage models :)

[mvp]

If you have gotten to first base with one of these saddles, will you post about the in-the-flesh quality of these saddles? Coreene?

In our air-brushing-photoshopping era, models in pictures are almost not what they look like in reality. I think the same is true for saddles (though their pictures are more honest).

In terms of leather, finishing and basic fittability for horses, can you think of a larger brand you'd campare to a Thornhill?

TIA.

[Coreene]

I am not at a computer, typing thru phone, so PM me your number or email. Would be happy to call you today or email you tomorow or Tuesday. I have the Berlin and the Vienna, love both, very comfortable for both of us.

[buck22]

I had a Thornhill Lemond, and a Jorge Canaves Berlin. I regret having sold them both. Both were too wide for my horse at the time, but would work well now. Especially the Lemond and its curvy profile. Very wide friendly. Nice saddle for the price point. Leather on both saddles was not top of the line, but did its job well, were easy to care for, easy on the eyes and pleasant to the touch. Very nice riding saddles, very nice fit. Thornhill is one of the better kept secrets in saddlerly imho.

Thornhill Lemond
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/buck1173/saddles%20for%20sale/IMG_2043.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/buck1173/saddles%20for%20sale/IMG_2053.jpg

Jorge Canaves Berlin
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c54/buck1173/saddles%20for%20sale/IMG_2081.jpg

[spotmenow]

After over a year of searching for my draft cross, I bought a Black Country. Cost some $$$, but the quality is well worth it.

Duett fit well and I liked the feel, but the quality is crap. One of my boarders bought one last year and the leather is already cracking and peeling. Someone on here posted once that they had heard they are stuffed not with wool flocking, but with yarn! I'd believe it. I struggled with it for quite some time...I liked the model; fit both me and my horse, but for $1200 it wasn't going to last.

Thornhill is also supposed to be a decent saddle for the money. Bottom line: you get what you pay for.

[Camp Girl]

But also to mvp's point, when it comes to fit for the horse and rider, those can vary a LOT within a brand's CC and dressage models :)

I totally agree with that statement! Best to narrow it down and take a few out to try. Trumbull is a great place to work with for Black Countrys and Duetts.

[Camp Girl]

Someone on here posted once that they had heard they are stuffed not with wool flocking, but with yarn! I'd believe it.

I have two Duetts and can tell you that they are not stuffed with yarn. My fitter, who works with many of them would tell you the same thing. If the saddle in question was not new direct from Duett, there is always the chance someone had work done on it by someone who was not skilled or that used quality materials (or may have even tried to stuff at home with what they had on hand)… but they don't come from Duett like that. Sorry that you did not like yours, and while your opinion is valid, it is also fair to say that there are a lot of folks out here that are perfectly happy with them and have no issues.