Conference noted::equitation

    Linda, what level of eventing are you going to be doing?  You
    won't need 2 saddles, one good jumping saddle will get you
    through.  I've had a Courbette jumping saddle for 6 years
    and it is in excellent shape.  It has suede knee rolls to
    keep my knees from slipping, and I've used it for eventing,
    trail riding, fox-hunting, barrel racing etc.  The model
    is the Pony I, a smaller seat version of the Pandur model.
    You might look for a used one, since it would be broken
    in already, and less expensive.  What type of horse are you
    going to event?  Make sure there is enough space between
    his withers and the pommel, because that's where most
    problems occur.  What type of noseband and bit do you
    use on your bridle?  Let me know if I can answer any more
    eventing questions for you.........................Julie

    I know that I don't need 2 saddles but I would like a good saddle
    which would suffice for stadium and cross-country.  I have always
    liked Crosby's and a couple of people have mentioned the Mark VI
    and I am also interested in what other people use.  
    
    I am just going to be doing novice and training next year but I
    do have hopes (doesn't everyone!) of eventually doing prelim (my
    horse isn't the deterrent, it's the cowardly rider).  I have been
    using my Crosby Wembley dressage saddle for everything from trail
    rides to jumping to 20 mile pleasure rides and I can get by with
    it but it definitely has come time to get a decent jumping saddle.
    
    My horse is about 15.3 hands (maybe a touch bigger), 4 year old
    Appaloosa gelding who I have been showing dressage this year and
    have just started over fences but who is showing pretty good smarts
    when it comes to figuring out the relationship between his feet
    and the fences.  
    
    I have heard of the Courbette and I have never ridden in one but
    many people say they are great.  I do have a problem with saddles
    fitting me properly which sometimes eliminates alot of possibilities!
    
    Let me know if you have any more info (suggestions, comments, etc.)
    
    Thanks for the reply!
    
    Linda
    

    Hi
    
    I just bought an all purpose courbette jumping saddle.  To be honest
    I'm not sure what the difference is in a all purpose jumping saddle
    and a regular jumping saddle.
    
    The courbette saddle is GREAT.  
    
    Mary Ann

Funny you should mention it, now - I just finished my "hunt for the
perfect saddle"!

Anyhow, this is what I found -

The Courbette Pandur was highly recommended as an all-purpose saddle,
and I liked it a lot; it was comfortable and had good kneerolls.

The Courbette Rittmeister felt GREAT! Nice big fat padded kneerolls for
jumping, too. This is also an A/P saddle.

I ended up getting a Somer (German) saddle, because I like the untextured
(bridle) leather, it fit my rear-end perfectly, it was a little more
forward than either of the two above, and it, too, had nice big fat
padded kneerolls.

I tried the Crosby, but it just wasn't the right fit. I also tried the
Stubben Sigfried which fit really well, but had textured leather (this
was a personal "idiosyncracy" of mine, not wanting the textured leather).
A friend of mine has a Sigfried which she's had for 2 years and is
*CRAZY* about! She really loves that saddle.

I haven't been anyplace that didn't offer to let me take saddle home and
try it on my horse. They just asked that I use a clean saddlepad - and
do make sure it doesn't rub his withers. Some horses have flat backs, and
some are narrower, so that would have a bearing on whether you got a saddle
with a wide tree or not. Most saddles, the Courbette, especially, from what
I was told, will "mould" to fit your horse as you use it longer.

It's a hard job, I think, shopping for saddles. There is so much out there
to choose from! I spent 6 months, making my choice. I guess it's mainly a
matter of deciding which one feels the best on you, then trying it on your
horse to make sure there's no problem there. Anyhow, I wish you good luck!

-julie

    Thanks for the replies!  I have another question to ask.  Can you
    give me an idea of how expensive the Courbette Pandur and the
    Rittmeister are?  (Please excuse my spelling!)
    
    Thanks again!!!
    
    Linda
    

    Linda, when I bought my saddle 7 years ago the price was $250.00
    I'm sure it's double that now, but you could call a couple of tack
    shops and ask them the price range of the Courbette jumping saddles.
    
    I think the main difference between the jumping and all purpose
    saddles are how 'forward' the flaps are and how much padding is
    under the knee rolls.  Jumping saddles tend to be more forward.
    You probably don't want tons of padding under the knee roll so that
    you can still feel your horse.  Some saddles offer padding behind
    your leg also to keep your calf in the center of the flap.
    
    How high has your horse been jumping and how experienced is he?
    Novice courses are usually 2'11" fences and Training are about
    3'3".  Also, at Training level, you are required to First Level
    dressage test.  What type of dressage showing have you been doing
    with your horse?

The place I found with the best prices (The Gift Horse Tack Shop,
Templeton, Mass) offered the Pandur and Rittmeister for approximately
$350. The Somer was in the same range.

-julie

I have been showing Training Tests 3 and 4 at dressage shows this year
    (almost all with scores about 63%-68%) and am planning on showing
    First Level next year.  I didn't take him to his first dressage
    show until July of this year and his lowest score has been about 59%
    plus.  I am schooling him over 2'6" - 3' right now (not very often,
    he's only 4!).  I don't think that he'll have any problems at Novice
    (the rider might, but not the horse!)  As far as our dressage goes,
    he is a fairly steady horse who learns pretty quickly.  I had thought
    about taking him to Palmer River on October 12th but decided that
    I would wait until next year to do any events.
    
    Hopefully I will recognize-run into-meet fellow DECie eventers or
    dressage people next year!  I would like to be able to put faces
    with the names of people who have been contributing to this NOTES
    file for so long (and with such an assortment of info!)
    
    I had originally planned on just using my horse for dressage but
    then realized that I really enjoy jumping so I figured I would try
    both!
    
    Take care,
    
    Linda
     

    
    
    Speaking as a two saddle owner, I'd have to put my vote on the
    Stubben Sigfried.  I've had mine, for 14 years and I still love
    it!  
    
    My second saddle is a Clinton Northrop Close Contact II.  Its bridle
    leather and is a Crosby Prix de Nations kind of saddle.  I really like
    both saddles.  
    
    The Stubben is great for cross country.  In the long stretch its
    really nice to have the knee rolls and support.  I feel like it's
    hard to fall out of that saddle.  I do however need to ride with
    a pad underneath the back, this may be due to the age of the saddle.
    
    The Clinton Northrop has more padding under the cantel than most
    other jumping saddles, which makes the low point of the seat in the
    middle of the pomel & cantel.  It doesn't have any knee rolls and
    truely is close contact.  I hate trail riding in it though... it's
    not a comfortable saddle if you have your weight on your butt for
    a long period of time.
                        
    Danielle
    

I have a stubben lohengrin all purpose saddle which I have used for
just about everything - hunting, eventing, dressage, show jumping, etc.
I also have a Stubben Parzival dressage saddle.  

I've found no match to the beautiful soft, double sided leather workmanship
in either saddle.  I bought my dressage saddle at State Line for $200
less than any other catalogue price listed.


Check into Stubbens for the finest quality leather!

    Hi,
    
    I'm new to NOTES and this is my first official reply, so be patient.
    
    I event at training and prelim levels here in Ohio. I have a Clinton
    Northrup dressage saddle that I like, but will probably upgragde
    to a Passier shortly.  For cross country and stadium I use a Passier
    Century. This saddle has virtually no knee roll or extraneous padding
    yet is very comfortable for long rides. Personnaly I dislike saddles
    that have more that a minimum of support features because I have
    short legs and the padding, etc just gets in the way. For many years
    I owned a Stubben Seigfreid and thought it was wonderful (till I
    found the Passier and though I'd gone to heaven).
    
    The Passier was expensive (retail used to be about $800 but I have
    seen them for about $700 in catalogs) but it has lasted many years
    and was well worth the investment. The dressage saddle was about
    $350.  
    
    My students who only can afford a single saddle use either the Mark
    VI or Clinton Northrups Combined training saddles. They ride very
    similar with a fairly deep and secure feeling. I like both and wouldn't
    hesitate to recommend either.  The Mark VI is a little higher quality
    and a little more expensive. It is also available locally in standard
    sizes.  The Clinton Northrup is available from Cooper Clark saddlery
    in Hilton Head. It is available in a wide variety of sizes, tree
    widths, flap lengths and leathers. You can pretty much tailor a
    saddle to your specific needs. If you need a saddle quick, they
    usually have a good selection in stock.  Cooper Clark has been very
    good about mail order business, prompt shipping, returns, etc. 
    The saddle prices run from about $350 up.  (Check out their Ridemore
    saddle too - it supposed to be a good deal.)

    Happy hunting,
    
    Maureen
    
    

    I just want to say thanks to everyone who has already replied about
    saddles that people use for eventing (and also to those who will
    be replying).  The suggestions have been great and I will keep
    everyone's comments in mind!
    
    Maureen, I have heard people rave about the Passier Century.  I
    really liked it too (from the looks, unfortunately I have never
    had a chance to ride in the Century but I have ridden in their dressage
    and loved it) but like you said, they do run expensive.  Maybe I'll
    just have to save my pennies and do LOTS of shopping around.  I'd
    rather shop around, spend a little more money if I have too and
    be comfortable (my horse too!) than to get a so-so saddle and have
    a sore fanny for the next few years!
    
    Thanks again for the suggestions!
    
    Linda
    

    I have a 17 1/2 Apollo Hartley Flat Saddle that I would like to
    either sell or trade for an 18" Stubben Siegfried.  If anyone
    knows of a siegfried in need of a new owner I'd appreciate knowing
    about it.
    
    Thanks
    Marianne
    Parsec::Scraggs
    

    I know this is old but thanks to all who suggested different saddles.
    I finally bought a saddle, the Crosby Olympia which I love. I tried
    about 20 (no exxageration!) saddles (rode in them) before deciding
    on this one. I had a tough time because I wanted something that
    would make me feel "safe" over fences but which wouldn't hold me
    in place. 
    
    Now however comes the breaking in process, arrgggghhhhhhh!
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Linda
    

    I know this is an old note, but I figured my question fits here just at
    well as anyplace else.  
    
    I recently bought a used Silver Cup jumping saddle.  I've been trying
    to locate others (new or used) to see how much they sell for.  Being
    new to riding, I took the advice of a friend and trainer when buying
    it.  I"m happy with it, but I've never seen another one like it and am
    curious.  Someone told me that they are no longer made.  Has anyone
    ever heard of Silver Cup, and do you know what price range their
    saddles are in?
    
    Thanks!
    
    

    I'm looking at my first saddle, and what I need right now is something
    to basically practice with.  I may show next year and would possibly
    think about using this saddle if by then I can't afford a new one.
    
    My question is this, the saddle is a jumping saddle (which is what
    I would show for) with suede knee roll, Would judges look unfavorably
    upon this type of knee roll in a show?  Someone once told me they
    view them as a "cheat" in a test.  Is this so?   Might I be better
    off holding off to find an all leather saddle?
    
    Nancy
    

    what kind of showing are you planning on doing?
    
    You don't see much suede (or large knee rolls) on the hunter circuit,
    while the event folks like more padding (in front of and behind
    the knee.  Suede in the event world in a matter of preference. 
    It is harder to keep looking nice and it doesn't seem to last as
    long.
    
    -maureen
    
    

    Has anyone ridden in or owned a Collegiate saddle?  I'm interested in
    the eventing or all purpose model (yes, these are two different
    saddles) but I'd like to hear comments on any Collegiate saddle.
    They seem like good quality saddles for the price. 
    
    If you own one, are you happy with it?  Has it held up well to lots of
    riding?
    
    Thanks,
    --Laura

    I have the all-purpose model. It does not put me in the correct
    position for dressage, but is quite comfortable for hacking and
    jumping. I don't use it much as my dressage needs all the help it can
    get, so I trail ride with my Stalker-Naffy dressage saddle. 
    Sandy
    

    I realize this is old, but I couldn't resist mentioning a saddle
    that no one else has talked about; the Lexington TC.  I have riden
    in a friend's and it was GREAT.  I feel I can really judge it since
    I own and ride in my Crosby Mark VI daily.  The Lexington TC is also
    made by Crosby.  It has small, conceled kneerolls and a VERY deep seat.
    I really felt that I couldn't fall out of that saddle if I tried!  It
    has a long enough flap to make it perfect for all three phases of
    eventing.  
    
    If I were to buy my first saddle agian, it would have been the TC, even
    though I love my Mark VI, the TC puts it to shame.
    
    Marti