Sorry, saddle advice needed

[EventFan]

:) First, I apologize to those of you who are simply tired of saddle advice threads. I have read many, but need input.

My daughter had a Crosby PDN that was the old, pancake flat style. She loved it! But outgrew it, and we purchased a HDR close contact that fit her long thigh bone and the horse as well.

She doesn't like the saddle. She's had about 5 months to use it and just cannot stand the "poofy" feel. She says she can't feel her horse the way she could in her PDN. But we did investigate the PDN, and found the flap to be too short.

So, we may be on a saddle hunt again. Advice? She rarely shows, and if at all it is local. She does ride several times per week, and we really don't want to invest too much money in a saddle she may still outgrow in a year. (she is 14 btw but still growing).

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Did her old saddle have plain flaps or padded flaps? Knee rolls, thigh blocks etc.. or flat all around? If it was plain flap and all she might like the Crosby Prix des Nations or a Crump Prix des Saute. Both can be found in nice used condition in many tack shops. My favorite tack shop for good used saddles is Middleburg Tack Exchange www.middleburgtack.com. They have a wide selection of older style saddles.

[EventFan]

It was the plain flap older Prix de Nation; but when we tried to go up a size the flap was still too short. Is there a similar flat saddle with a longer flap....anyone? Forgot to add, A. no saddle fitters in my area and B. only one tack store...sigh.

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Duh sorry, I didn't connect the dots PDN=Prix des Nations. LOL. Anyway, how about the Crosby Sovereign. It has longer flaps but is still a true flat saddle.

Picture: http://middleburgtack.com/inventory_detail.cfm?ourClientsID=7F49AC05-F1F6-4983-678AFF7197802C16

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

The Crosby XL-E also has longer flaps. Then there is also the Stubben Siegfried CS

[SarahandSam]

I have an older model Crosby, no idea what the model is, that has the longer flaps. I like it because I loved my old PDN but it was too narrow for my horse... this is a slightly wider tree.

[JB]

What size seat does she need? I just saw a 15" M Toulouse (don't rememeber the model) on Ebay for (currently) $250.

But, investigate those saddles. Most of them are pretty nice for the $$, and just about all the CC models can be had, new, for under $1k.

[dbtoo]

I agree with JB. Check out the Toulouse saddles. I JUST bought an Annice and I like it very much. It is comfortable but there is not much "poof" at all. You really can feel the horse under you. The Annice comes in a long flap and has a little wider tree and a little deeper seat than some of the models. The Padjette also comes in a long flap but it is shallower and has a narrower tree. The differences are very slight. The Annice has velcro knee and thigh blocks that you can move around or remove if you want to. I think the Padjette has the blocks as well.

I know this is heresy but I've ridden in several very high end saddles and I like riding in this one as much if not more.

[paintlady]

Duh sorry, I didn't connect the dots PDN=Prix des Nations. LOL. Anyway, how about the Crosby Sovereign. It has longer flaps but is still a true flat saddle.

Picture: http://middleburgtack.com/inventory_detail.cfm?ourClientsID=7F49AC05-F1F6-4983-678AFF7197802C16

I had a 17" Crosby Sovereign. I'm 5'8" with long legs and it fit me just fine. I absolutely loved that saddle, but the wide wasn't wide enough for my mare. I got mine in excellent condition for $400 off eBay - sold it a year later for the same price to a friend.

[LetsRide]

Since the saddle sounds like it fits otherwise I suggest having the knee and thigh blocks removed from beneath the saddle flaps. This will allow a much closer contact feel for her. The HDR blocks are very big. They can be annoying. Good luck. :)

[EventFan]

Thanks for the ideas! I will see if I can get my hands on a Crosby Sovereign (from barn friends etc) and try it on her. Do you know how the width of the Sovereign compares to the PDN? The mare she is bringing along is a air fern Halflinger and is a wee bit on the wide side.

I know her trainer really liked hearing "I like the flat saddle better so I can feel my horse" lol! But I just dread the whole saddle shopping fitting again. :yes:

[EventFan]

Since the saddle sounds like it fits otherwise I suggest having the knee and thigh blocks removed from beneath the saddle flaps. This will allow a much closer contact feel for her. The HDR blocks are very big. They can be annoying. Good luck. :)

Thanks, already taken care of. :D

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Paintlady:

I love the flat saddles and Crosby seems to be the only one who still has a large number of decent used saddles around. I rode in my friend's Crosby and it was very comfy. I have a Eldonian which is a very nice saddle but not well known in the US. It is a VERY flat saddle and works nice on my narrow uphill thoroughbred. It's not so great on my front heavy WB/TB mare though. I'd like to find a nice flat Crosby for her.

[EventFan]

I agree with JB. Check out the Toulouse saddles. I JUST bought an Annice and I like it very much. It is comfortable but there is not much "poof" at all. You really can feel the horse under you. The Annice comes in a long flap and has a little wider tree and a little deeper seat than some of the models. The Padjette also comes in a long flap but it is shallower and has a narrower tree. The differences are very slight. The Annice has velcro knee and thigh blocks that you can move around or remove if you want to. I think the Padjette has the blocks as well.

I know this is heresy but I've ridden in several very high end saddles and I like riding in this one as much if not more.


...and I will look into Toulouse also!

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

I just dread the whole saddle shopping fitting again. :yes:

I hear you!!! I found a saddle that was perfect for me. It was a flat old style E. Jefferies. They don't even make them anymore. Got it for $250 at a tack shop that was closing. It didn't fit any of my three horses! I was so sad. Had to take it to the tack exchange and there it sits waiting for someone to try it.

[Across Sicily]

I know money is a concern but.....

I grew up showing/riding in a PDN. In fact I rode in it until May this year and have owned it since I was 11. (How I fit in that saddle back then and also now is a bit of a mystery to me..) Anyway, I LOVED the flat seat, the few frills, and hate FEELING the saddle in between me and my horse. (Rode in a Pessoa whilst waiting for my new saddle to show up - ugh, no thank you!) I tried a lot of things out there on the Great Hunt For A New Saddle (ye olde PDN was not particularly amusing my horse all that much anymore) - from the cheapy end (the M.Toulouses, lower end Bevals, Dover Circuit) to the high end (Antares, CWD, Schleese, etc). My favorite turned out to be a County Stabilizer. It's flat, but slightly poufier where it needs to be (in the panels, for example - this saddle has to be about a million times more comfortable for the horse) and is like 500000x more comfy than the PDN without sacrificing the contact I have with my horse. Plus I got the benefit of feeling like I am twice the rider in the Stabilizer. (Beats me why - it's just a good saddle for me I guess!)

You can find the older style Stabilizers (the ones without knee pads) for less than the newer style ones, and you can find used ones for, if not cheap, then less cost prohibitive than ordering a new one. There are some floating around eBay at the moment, child sized I do believe, and I think I saw another on Allthebestusedsaddles.com. I would really look into that. They do have excellent resale value, and I have heard numerous stories of people re-selling for more than they purchased the saddle for (provided they bought it used). I just had to share that, since I totally know what it's like going from the PDN to something new and modern, and the TERRIBLE time I had finding something that was right for me (and my horse, of course!). My trainer thinks the Stabilizer looks like the "updated" version of the PDN.

[EventFan]

UGH! I wish we had more choices in my area for tack shopping. I have paid for shipping WAY too many times when purchasing online; only to have to return the item and pay shipping a second time. grrr!

hmmm I may need to go on a saddle shopping road trip :yes:

[EventFan]

I know money is a concern but.....

I grew up showing/riding in a PDN. In fact I rode in it until May this year and have owned it since I was 11. (How I fit in that saddle back then and also now is a bit of a mystery to me..) Anyway, I LOVED the flat seat, the few frills, and hate FEELING the saddle in between me and my horse. (Rode in a Pessoa whilst waiting for my new saddle to show up - ugh, no thank you!) I tried a lot of things out there on the Great Hunt For A New Saddle (ye olde PDN was not particularly amusing my horse all that much anymore) - from the cheapy end (the M.Toulouses, lower end Bevals, Dover Circuit) to the high end (Antares, CWD, Schleese, etc). My favorite turned out to be a County Stabilizer. It's flat, but slightly poufier where it needs to be (in the panels, for example - this saddle has to be about a million times more comfortable for the horse) and is like 500000x more comfy than the PDN without sacrificing the contact I have with my horse. Plus I got the benefit of feeling like I am twice the rider in the Stabilizer. (Beats me why - it's just a good saddle for me I guess!)

You can find the older style Stabilizers (the ones without knee pads) for less than the newer style ones, and you can find used ones for, if not cheap, then less cost prohibitive than ordering a new one. There are some floating around eBay at the moment, child sized I do believe, and I think I saw another on Allthebestusedsaddles.com. I would really look into that. They do have excellent resale value, and I have heard numerous stories of people re-selling for more than they purchased the saddle for (provided they bought it used). I just had to share that, since I totally know what it's like going from the PDN to something new and modern, and the TERRIBLE time I had finding something that was right for me (and my horse, of course!). My trainer thinks the Stabilizer looks like the "updated" version of the PDN.


Really? hmmm what price range are you talking (okay I won't be lazy and will check ebay myself lol!) She wouldn't be in a child size though; she's 5'4 and 110 pounds and I think about 5 feet of that length is leg! just kidding.

[KateKat]

There is a 17M Stabilizer on ebay right now. Plain flap. Woe is me that a 17 is too small for me! Check out the County Profits, they are the precursor to the Stabilizer. Those are definitely a plain flap saddle, no frills.

[paintlady]

Paintlady:

I love the flat saddles and Crosby seems to be the only one who still has a large number of decent used saddles around. I rode in my friend's Crosby and it was very comfy. I have a Eldonian which is a very nice saddle but not well known in the US. It is a VERY flat saddle and works nice on my narrow uphill thoroughbred. It's not so great on my front heavy WB/TB mare though. I'd like to find a nice flat Crosby for her.

I sold mine last year to a friend, so I no longer have it. As much as I loved my Crosby Sovereign, the wide wasn't wide enough for my mutton withered broad backed mare. After so many trial and errors, I broke down and bought a custom Albion Ultima GP. It's much deeper than the Crosby, obviously, but I wanted a saddle I could use for both dressage and hunters.

[katie16]

You might try Bevals as well. They have some of their older "flatter" saddles for sale. I find that many have a longer flap than other saddles. Give them a call, they have excellent and knowledgeable customer service.

[see u at x]

I know money is a concern but.....

I grew up showing/riding in a PDN. In fact I rode in it until May this year and have owned it since I was 11. (How I fit in that saddle back then and also now is a bit of a mystery to me..) Anyway, I LOVED the flat seat, the few frills, and hate FEELING the saddle in between me and my horse. (Rode in a Pessoa whilst waiting for my new saddle to show up - ugh, no thank you!) I tried a lot of things out there on the Great Hunt For A New Saddle (ye olde PDN was not particularly amusing my horse all that much anymore) - from the cheapy end (the M.Toulouses, lower end Bevals, Dover Circuit) to the high end (Antares, CWD, Schleese, etc). My favorite turned out to be a County Stabilizer. It's flat, but slightly poufier where it needs to be (in the panels, for example - this saddle has to be about a million times more comfortable for the horse) and is like 500000x more comfy than the PDN without sacrificing the contact I have with my horse. Plus I got the benefit of feeling like I am twice the rider in the Stabilizer. (Beats me why - it's just a good saddle for me I guess!)

You can find the older style Stabilizers (the ones without knee pads) for less than the newer style ones, and you can find used ones for, if not cheap, then less cost prohibitive than ordering a new one. There are some floating around eBay at the moment, child sized I do believe, and I think I saw another on Allthebestusedsaddles.com. I would really look into that. They do have excellent resale value, and I have heard numerous stories of people re-selling for more than they purchased the saddle for (provided they bought it used). I just had to share that, since I totally know what it's like going from the PDN to something new and modern, and the TERRIBLE time I had finding something that was right for me (and my horse, of course!). My trainer thinks the Stabilizer looks like the "updated" version of the PDN.

This is so helpful! I, too, have been riding in a Crosby PDN but my saddle fitter told me on Saturday that I shouldn't use it anymore because it just doesn't fit my mares as well as it used to. Although he thinks that he can work with my Stubben Lohengrin CS to make it fit my QH relatively well and possibly even my TB, but #1, I'd really like to find a new saddle that fits both of them better than "acceptable," and #2, now that I'm used to the PDN, I don't like all that extra saddle between me and the horse. :) Your experience is helpful because it gives me an idea of what to look for regarding what *I* like. Of course, the primary factor will be my horses, so my fingers are crossed that I can find one to check out before I buy.

Thanks! :)

[Across Sicily]

If nothing else, See U At X, you can have your regional County rep out to try out the different saddles they offer. You will probably have to pay to trial them, but it could be well worth it. They have a rather extensive network of saddles out there, so if you're looking for a used one they can generally be of very helpful service! There are usually 1 or 2 on UsedSaddles.com or TackTrader or eBay... though the pickins' are pretty slim. I still haven't found an 18" even though I started browsing a few times a week when I decided to get mine. (Beside the point now, since my 18" is sitting all of 5 feet away, but for the purpose of interest, you see.) Lots of 17" and 17.5" though, so if you're looking for that, you should do well.

Hope that was helpful! I'm glad my story is helping some - it was quite a journey to find the right saddle. Now I have it I don't think I'll ever let it go!!

[see u at x]

Hope that was helpful! I'm glad my story is helping some - it was quite a journey to find the right saddle. Now I have it I don't think I'll ever let it go!!

Definitely helpful...thanks again! :) I'm going to keep my eyes open for a used one in my size (and my horses' size), but if I can't find one, then I may have figured out what I'll do with my holiday bonus this year!

OP, per Across Sicily's advise, I'm looking on tacktrader.com right now...there are several County saddles listed and a few Stabilizers. Not sure how many are still available, but it might not hurt to inquire.

[equest]

I would check Ebay for a Crump PDS. That's what I had before I bought my "poufy" Childeric (yes, I'm getting older and I like the security) :) LOL. You can find them in good condition for a steal - $400 or less. I rode a huge variety of horses, everything from ponies to TBs to WBs while I owned it, and it worked well enough for all of them. If you are concerned that she will outgrow it, that would be a frugal option.