Tony Slatter Saddle Review
Poplar Flats Farm
that it's best not to waste my money: they're cheap.
We're still looking locally, but there isn't much available at all and
I only know a couple of people who ride dressage. Their saddles fit
their large horses (one's a Percheron) -- Brian for sure is not going
to sit on those horses and those saddles aren't going to fit Brian or
his pony.
To make a long story longer ... I found a used Tony Slatter dressage
saddle on Ebay. It looks to be an older model, somewhat large for
Brian, but not incredibly so -- we'll call it "growing room". It's a
few hundred miles away, so trying the saddle isn't really an option.
I quickly (very quickly) checked out Tony Slatter saddles, made by KL
Select in England. Of course the website says the saddles are
terrific, but I've never heard of them, which means nothing except
that I am ignorant of dressage saddles. (I'm sure even the UK has
crappy saddles.)
So, who knows this brand and what's do you think of it?
Thanks in advance!
--Karen Smith, who bid on a Stubben youth saddle with only faint hopes
of success
Hunter Hampton
<poplarf...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>I quickly (very quickly) checked out Tony Slatter saddles, made by KL
>Select in England. Of course the website says the saddles are
>terrific, but I've never heard of them, which means nothing except
>that I am ignorant of dressage saddles. (I'm sure even the UK has
>crappy saddles.)
>
>So, who knows this brand and what's do you think of it?
I have heard of them and I believe they have a very good reputation.
Hunter
Tara
news:0b4f9e6d-59a2-4366...@w30g2000yqw.googlegroups.com...
>
> So, who knows this brand and what's do you think of it?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> --Karen Smith, who bid on a Stubben youth saddle with only faint hopes
> of success
I've heard they're comfortable but don't fit most horses. Why are you
looking at Wintec?
Tara
Ruffian
model for under $500 with free shipping and fittings. You might view
Adams Horse Supply (http://www.adamshorsesupply.com/). Wintec has just
come out with new models so you might find the old style at very good
discounts at a number of online stores.
Usually ebay has used Wintecs at cheap prices. Take a good look around
as they vary as to wear and tear.
I wondered about a brand Thorowgood. They might be just as reliable as
Wintec but not as well known so more reasonably priced. Someone here
suggested it when I was looking.
Mikki
Sue Leopold
> The lack of comment on Thornhill saddles rather confirms my suspicion
> that it's best not to waste my money: they're cheap.
Yeah, not good.
>
> We're still looking locally, but there isn't much available at all and
> I only know a couple of people who ride dressage. Their saddles fit
> their large horses (one's a Percheron) -- Brian for sure is not going
> to sit on those horses and those saddles aren't going to fit Brian or
> his pony.
It can be very hard to find a dressage saddle for a pony and
in a child's size too. That's why I suggested Trumbull Mountain -
they have access to all sorts of used saddles and may know
of something suitable.
>
> To make a long story longer ... I found a used Tony Slatter dressage
> saddle on Ebay. It looks to be an older model, somewhat large for
> Brian, but not incredibly so -- we'll call it "growing room". It's a
> few hundred miles away, so trying the saddle isn't really an option.
The problem with dressage saddles is that the fit for the horse
(or pony) is critical in terms of comfort for the horse. Dressage
saddles have long "points" of the tree - if the tree does not
fit, these can dig into the shoulders and be exceedingly
uncomfortable. Also, because a dressage saddle sits down
and around the horse, the panels have to have the right
shape as well. It's a more exacting "fit" than a jumping
saddle.
Of course, if the saddle doesn't fit, you can probably get just
what you paid for it by putting it back on Ebay.
>
> I quickly (very quickly) checked out Tony Slatter saddles, made by KL
> Select in England. Of course the website says the saddles are
> terrific, but I've never heard of them, which means nothing except
> that I am ignorant of dressage saddles. (I'm sure even the UK has
> crappy saddles.)
I think they were (are) made in Walsall like most UK-made
saddles. IME UK brand saddles, at least those that are
exported, are fairly consistent in quality.
> So, who knows this brand and what's do you think of it?
I've no direct experience with them. But in general, with
older saddles, you tend to find narrower trees and gullets
because, well there weren't as many riding elephants then,
<joke> Also, saddle fit was not as sophisticated then. However,
depending on how the pony is built, it may be just fine.
Tara
ride is available:
http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=7164
--
Tara
Poplar Flats Farm
>
> It can be very hard to find a dressage saddle for a pony and
> in a child's size too. That's why I suggested Trumbull Mountain -
> they have access to all sorts of used saddles and may know
> of something suitable.
Yes, it is. I'm finding a very few saddles that are made to fit both
children and ponies. Most of the saddles I see that are in the small
seat sizes are still made for a big horse rather than a (much) smaller
pony.
Either few children ride ponies or those whose children do ride ponies
aren't selling those hard-to-find saddles. Unfortunately, I just
cannot afford a new saddle.
> The problem with dressage saddles is that the fit for the horse
> (or pony) is critical in terms of comfort for the horse. Dressage
> saddles have long "points" of the tree - if the tree does not
> fit, these can dig into the shoulders and be exceedingly
> uncomfortable. Also, because a dressage saddle sits down
> and around the horse, the panels have to have the right
> shape as well. It's a more exacting "fit" than a jumping
> saddle.
>
> Of course, if the saddle doesn't fit, you can probably get just
> what you paid for it by putting it back on Ebay.
Yeah, that's what I'm banking on by looking for a name brand youth
saddle, like the Stubben I'm bidding on. If it doesn't fit my skinny
boy and his pony, then I can at least get my money back from a resale.
As for Wintecs, which were mentioned earlier ... quite simply, I
prefer leather. I won't turn one down if the practically perfect
Wintec comes our way, but I'd prefer leather.
--Karen Smith
Tara
news:92ed5d5c-2675-460c...@u26g2000yqu.googlegroups.com...
Yeah, that's what I'm banking on by looking for a name brand youth
saddle, like the Stubben I'm bidding on. If it doesn't fit my skinny
boy and his pony, then I can at least get my money back from a resale.
As for Wintecs, which were mentioned earlier ... quite simply, I
prefer leather. I won't turn one down if the practically perfect
Wintec comes our way, but I'd prefer leather.
--Karen Smith
=============================
Be careful with older Stubbens. Every single one I've personally seen or
known of has either been rock hard on the horse's back, rock hard for the
rider to sit on or too narrow. Older Stubbens seem to run narrow across the
board from my observations.
If you want leather why not look for a used Bates with adjustable gullet so
that you can be assured it will fit any horse your son rides? Bates dressage
saddles, all of them, have a reputation for comfort.
--
Tara
Grizzly
>
> --Karen Smith, who bid on a Stubben youth saddle with only faint hopes
> of success
I have a KL select bridle. Its made of the highest quality butter soft
leather you could ever want to handle. If that is any Indicator, I'd say
if the saddle fits and is in good condition it will likely hold up for
many years of use. I also have several english made saddles from Walsall
and they are all high quality workmanship and have lasted me 20 plus
years and did likewise for their previous owners..Above all the
stitching and leather quality are some of the best and are equal to or
better than similar German made tack. I've found that the newer Stubbens
made in Switzerland don't have the same quality leather and attention to
detail that the older German made ones do though.
