I think I found a saddle! Pics, and few questions....

[tpup]

Well today I tried the Stubbens. The Edelweiss felt like too much saddle. And my horse was NOT happy in it. His nose was on the ground practically, continually trying to stretch down. He was stiff and short strided. I think the padding under the knees was too much - didn't conform to his shape and dug into his withers and shoulder area. I also felt the pommel was huge in front of me. It was a 17 only and unless it was marked wrong, it seemed huge on me. I had more than a hand's width behind pommel and same with cantle. You'll see the pics of the Edelweiss last in the album - they are pics 8 through 11.

The saddle I am fairly certain I am keeping is the Stubben Camelot (pics 1 through 7). Close contact - who would've thought!? Happy moving horse - nice head/neck placement, ears forward, zippy. (this is a 20 yr old horse, so all of that is esp. good for us!) ;) And I LOVED LOVED the close contact feeling. I held my position cantering SO well. It felt like I was cantering without stirrups (which I love). I was able to feel my horse. And can I tell you how happy I am to actually ride in a saddle without the Mattes correction pad underneath?! I also felt upright, posted easily without having to get myself up and too far out of the saddle. It just felt fab - my legs were underneath me, I felt secure and even my hands, arms and elbows felt more natural. Pics are below at this link.....

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9QZs2zdm0ZO8


Here's my quandry. I don't like the color. I really, really wanted Havana. But I worry that if I look for one in Havana, it might not be flocked or fit exactly as this one. The panels on this one are super soft, fit his shape and he was so happy in it. The flaps near the knees completely conform to his shape. I actually feel I could buy this saddle without needing the saddle fitter to come back out. My horse is a grey appy with roan and dark chestnut spots (havana spots basically) - I feel this is too light on him but I might be wrong? We don't show yet but may do a beginner hunter show or schooling show in the spring.

Would love opinions on the fit of the Camelot and the color. I am so happy I think I finally found "the one". Thanks :)

[steelerino]

If it fits & feels right BUY IT :winkgrin:

[mojo7777]

I've had great results with Hydrophane Leather Darkening Oil. Can you darken it? If it fits, that is the main thing!

[Skip's Rider]

Color is so much less important than fit and function. If your horse is happy in this saddle, and it feels that good to you, then buy it! The saddle looks to be in great condition, and personally, I like the color. It'll be fine on your light-colored horse. IMO, people obsess too much about color and what goes with what. Do you think the great pros out there are worried that their saddle won't match the horse they're riding today? Believe me, no one but you will pay any attention to your saddle color (unless it's gaudy orange or black).

[kashmere]

I'm in the "if it fits, it's the right colour" camp; however, I also happen to think that particular colour looks just fine on your horse. As mojo said, you can always try the hydrophane oil-- it generally works quite well.

[tpup]

Thanks everyone! I guess I'm not used to it and I can try to darken it some. We had black tack for over 2 years. The saddle I've been using for a month or two is darker brown. He does have alot of light chestnut in his tail which matches the saddle exactly, but his spots are more of a varnish (which I guess no saddle would match!) It is so comfy and fits so well I can't imagine risking it for a different color one. It may have been reflocked to the current condition...not worth the risk.

[jen-s]

If it fits & feels right BUY IT :winkgrin:

Agreed! The fit looks FABULOUS and the color looks better than I think you're giving it credit for. As someone who's currently saddle shopping (Ugh!), my vote is that if it fits you and your horse (and it sounds like it does), then go for it!

[spmoonie]

A good saddle is never the wrong color! ;) At least, most of time......

[tpup]

Thanks! I was perusing the Dover catalog last night (for matching bridles) and almost all of the greys in their photos are in the same color :) I think I'm just not used to it yet.

[llsc]

I'd just darken it with some Olive Oil. I bought a Pessoa GenX once, brand new, for pennies, becase it was this awful orange color. I used Olive Oil on it until it was super dark brown, and rode in it for a year. When I sold the horse, I sold the saddle on Tack Trader for more than I bought it for because it was now a lovely color.

[MissBri]

The color looks just fine....

obsess over fit and condition, not color

[jn4jenny]

I hate to be the voice of dissent...but while the saddle fits your horse great, look at where the balance point is between pommel and cantle. Put a pen or pencil on the surface of that seat and let it roll to a stop; I almost guarantee it'll stop behind the saddle's natural balance point. Which would in turn cause you to lean forward and pull your leg back to stay in position. Which, in turn, might make you feel like you had a "great canter" since you were functionally in jumping position while doing it.

But as others have said, feel is more important than anything else. If you're confident that the "feel" was coming from all the right places, buy it buy it buy it! Slap on some Hydrophane Darkening Oil and live happily ever after.

[JB]

The saddle doesn't fit ;)

It's at least 1 width too narrow, which is causing the tipped-back look jenny mentioned.

Besides that, unless there's something really wonky iwth how you took picture #2 in the album, the panels are not evenly stuffed.

This saddle needs to be a wide if it's a regular, and if it's a wide already, then you need to keep looking (as I don't believe this saddle comes any wider).

But the overall shape of it appears to be good, so that's very useful information :)

[tpup]

Thanks everyone. Picture 1 is the correct position of the saddle, which I think is pretty balanced. Pic. 2 he wasn't standing square, but I took the pic more so I could see spine clearance. Saddle fitter felt my current saddle was too wide (it's a wide) and recommended med. tree which this is - when I get to the barn I'll measure distance between both trees. I am going to ride in it one more time today before I commit to it. I think that in the pics of the saddle with the white pad, it was placed too far forward and I have a habit of pulling the front of the pad up to make a "tent" which is what I had to do with my old dressage saddle. I did not feel at all that it tipped backwards. I'll try to have my son video tape me/take photos of me in it today.

It's all so interesting to me as he was SO happy in this as was I. The panels are very soft and cushy so perhaps that's why and I also think that the close contact-ness of it distributed my weight evenly over his body vs. "bang bang" on the panels if that makes sense. He doesn't do well in a hard-panelled saddle.

Will update later....!

[Come Shine]

It's at least 1 width too narrow, which is causing the tipped-back look jenny mentioned.

Besides that, unless there's something really wonky iwth how you took picture #2 in the album, the panels are not evenly stuffed.

Saddle shopping is awful. You'll get used to the colour. I almost have after two years. :)

It does look like the saddle sits up pommel high though. The last photo does look like the saddle is a bit on the narrow side for this horse.

Ditto about the stuffing in picture #2.

Good luck with it!