Fit to Ride Saddles

28/08/2024

Just going to say this again, so that there is no confusion. I’ll keep it simple.
I’m getting a lot of messages from people who want me to find them a saddle.
To be clear, I am not a saddle seeking service, I do not source saddles for individual clients or go saddle hunting on your behalf.
Sometimes I have saddles available that will suit your needs, but that is not guaranteed. If you are looking for a saddle, I will advise you on what saddle makes and models will be suitable within your budget, and where you might find them.
Thanks!

24/08/2024

Right here, this is what I don’t have time for with etransfers. The owner wasn’t present for the fitting and didn’t leave cash, so I had no option but to request the payment by etransfer. Still hasn’t paid and we are now at 6 days. Square and all the other ideas that people have suggested wouldn’t have helped me with this one, either. So from now on, if you’re not going to be there to pay at the time, you must pay ahead of time when you book your slot, or leave cash with the person who will be there. If that doesn’t work for you, then I won’t fit your horse. And if you do this, you’re off my list. I have plenty of clients who understand that my time and experience is actually worth paying for.

17/08/2024

Currently available:
Jump
17.5” Black Country Solare, dark brown, lightly used $3000
17.5” Black Country Quantum, new, wide hoop tree $4800
17.5” Chunky Monkey monoflap, black, XW hoop tree, new $3500

Dressage
17.5” Amerigo Classic, MW, $1800 OUT ON TRIAL
17” AH Heathland, wide hoop tree, on pony panels, new, $4400
18” Equipe Emporio, wide, demo condition $3200
17.5” (seat size 2) WOW Competitor, wool panels, can change gullet to suit, $1800
18” Ikonic, changeable gullets, price tba
17.5” Regal, wool, adjustable, currently M-MW $2200
18.5” Bruno Del Grange Syracuse, XW, demo condition, $4500
17.5” Passier Compact, new, adjustable, $4000 OUT ON TRIAL
18” Prestige Passion K Monoflap 36 width (XW) $2500
17.5” Barnsby Kanter Dressage, wide $1600
All purpose
17” Kent & Masters S series low wither GP, as new, changeable gullet $1800

15/08/2024

This is a photo of the back of Dalera, the German individual dressage gold medallist. Apparently taken at the Olympics and doing the rounds in social media. What say you all about this topline?

15/08/2024

Sorry folks, no more e-transfers. If you can’t for some crazy reason do cash, you will need to send the payment right there at the time. Tired of chasing people.

05/08/2024

Pahahaha!

I couldn’t resist 🤣

31/07/2024

I think things have actually slowed down a bit! I have some space in the west end and south of Ottawa for Sunday August 18th if anyone needs a fitting. Send me a message!

22/07/2024

17.5” Black Country Solare jump saddle, 2019, dark brown, close contact classic tree, wide. Close contact wool panels. Tree profile is quite curvy front to back. Width is adjustable +/-2cm. Vintage leather flaps and skirt, reverse doe seat and knee pads. Very good condition, generous seat size, suit longer legged rider.
Trials available within Canada if not sold locally, with full payment and a signed trial agreement.
Asking $3000

22/07/2024

18.5” (measures 19.5”) 2019 Bruno Delgrange Syracuse dressage saddle, never ridden in, like new condition!
Wide tree, 17” flap, foam panels. Absolutely gorgeous saddle and rare in this seat size and width!
Trials available within Canada if not sold locally., with full payment and a signed trial agreement.
Asking $4900 - it’s a steal at this price, I promise!

22/07/2024

Lovely 2005 17.5” Regal monoflap dressage saddle. Adjustable tree (same as Schleese), currently M-MW fit. Open seat with more of a square cantle, Velcro under-flap blocks. Moulded flaps. This saddle has more of a close contact feel than many of the deeper seated saddles, so if that’s what you like, this saddle might be for you. Super wide 4” channel for the broader spine. The panels are wool flocked, not Flair like so many Regal saddles . Standard 16” flaps. Very well made saddle.
Trials available (if not sold locally) within Canada with full payment and a signed trial agreement. Asking $2200.

22/07/2024

Which comes first? Your wants or your horse’s needs?
I know this doesn’t apply to most of my clients but once in a while I run into someone who is determined to ride in their saddle that doesn’t fit because of it’s brand, at the expense of their horse. Please do not ask me if it’s okay to do this, because you think your horse “goes fine” in it. Even if it’s only temporarily.
This much I can tell you - it will be okay until the horse decides it’s not okay. That could be tomorrow, or it could be six months from now. All this, aside from the sometimes irreparable damage you are doing to the horse.
At some point, your horse will say, no thank you. And that may take the form of an uncharacteristic explosive outburst, and you will be surprised and you may get badly hurt. I have seen this more than once. So my answer will always be, no. It’s not okay.

21/07/2024

I have been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to post some of the beautiful saddles I currently have available. Just a brief overview, and I will post details of all the saddles early in the week.
Jump
17.5” Black Country Solare, dark brown, lightly used $3000
17.5” Black Country Quantum, new, wide hoop tree $4800
17.5” Chunky Monkey monoflap, black, XW hoop tree, new $3500

Dressage
17.5” Amerigo Classic, MW, $1800
17” AH Heathland, wide hoop tree, on pony panels, new, $4400
18” Equipe Emporio, wide, demo condition $3200
17.5” (seat size 2) WOW Competitor, wool panels, can change gullet to suit, $1800
18” Ikonic, changeable gullets, price tba
17.5” Regal, wool, adjustable, currently W-XW $2200
18.5” Bruno Del Grange Syracuse, XW, demo condition, $4500
17.5” Passier Compact, new, adjustable, $4000

Hopefully, I didn’t forget any! More details to come.

30/06/2024

If I haven’t already seen you, and I haven’t contacted you within the last few weeks and you’d like to be on my list, please shoot me a message and I’ll add you. Thanks!

27/06/2024

Anyone know who is qualified to do Rider Level testing to Level 4 Western in the Ottawa/Ottawa Valley area? Thanks!

26/06/2024

17.5” Chunky Monkey Monoflap jump saddle in black. XW hoop tree with small teardrop gussets and wide flat rear panels, soft hide covered flaps, knee and calf blocks. Wool flocked. Suitable for a very round flat backed horse with little or no withers. The flaps are long and forward for the taller rider. This is a brand new saddle that has been tried on a horse once and didn’t suit. These saddles are extremely hard to find here!
Trials available within Canada with full payment and a signed trial agreement.
Asking $3500

16/06/2024

Pretty pleased with this one - this gal is one of the widest I’ve seen in a while! We found a used Jeffries hoop tree Working Hunter saddle that fits the bill, and it doesn’t move an inch when she’s riding. Happy owner, happy horse.

16/06/2024

Everyone should have one of these! WOW saddle measuring gauge, meant for measuring up for your WOW saddle of course, but what a wealth of information it gives you, which would be useful for any saddle fitting situation.
I’ll be playing around with this on my own horses this week and will post the results!

16/06/2024

New with tags Size 2 (17-17.5”) Passier Compact Comfort black dressage saddle. Tree size is currently 28 which is a Medium but looks generous to me. Can be adjusted as it’s built on the PS tree. 16”standard flaps, medium deep seat and larger blocks for a secure ride. Wide 4 finger channel. I think Passier have really upped their game with this saddle. Perfect for shorter backs and a huge improvement on rider comfort. This is what Passier say about this saddle:
The Compact Comfort offers ultimate comfort for the rider – not only on horses with a short back! The Compact Comfort is the next generation of the Compact Dressage Saddle. Its short contact surface makes sure the saddle does not extend past the 18th rib. At the same time the seat is significantly larger and more comfortable for the rider! Essential but invisible to the eye: the Queen Special Feature is a cut out at the front of the saddle tree, right in the p***c area. You will love this inner value, because it reduces pressure and makes the saddle extra-comfy and super soft! The narrow, high thigh supports keep the legs in place and the thighs in the optimum position. Of course the saddle is especially horse-friendly: the freedom panels provide greater freedom for the withers and the W-girth arrangement keeps the saddle firmly in place.
This saddle sells new for just under $6000 and this one is available for $4400.
Trials available within Canada with full payment and a signed trial agreement .

14/06/2024

New 17” AH (Andrea Hicks) Heathland dressage saddle. Hoop tree (but not as quite as “hoopy” as the Black Country Freedom tree), XW fit. Built on a Sport Pony tree so the short panels make it ideal for short backs. Top grain leather flaps and soft hide seat and knee pads. Medium open seat, smaller Velcro blocks, close contact flocked panels. Front gussets. Standard 16” flaps. Point billet and balance straps give you lots of girthing options. This is a really nice saddle in new condition.
Trials available (if not sold locally) within Canada with full payment and a signed trial agreement. Asking $4400.

14/06/2024

New/demo condition 17.5” Black Country Quantum X jump/close contact saddle on the Freedom tree, dark brown, Wide fit (remember there is some adjustment in the tree, +/- 2cm) . Upgraded vintage leather flaps, calf seat and soft textured hide knee flaps, Velcro knee and calf blocks, point billets, extended front gussets, serge panels, 4 finger channel, widens towards pommel. Flaps are standard length and forwardness for Black Country - 13.5” long and 13.5” front to back. There are a few white hairs on the serge panels from trying on the horse, otherwise this saddle is basically new.
If not sold locally trials are available within Canada with full payment and a signed trial agreement. Asking $4800.

14/06/2024

Just another little thing to pique your interest….
Who has heard of WOW saddles? They’ve been around for a while and they’ve come a long way since the early models.
WOW are modular saddles with a multitude of different seat, flap and gullet options.
I have two of these in stock - a jump saddle and a dressage saddle. I’ll post them soon and explain all the options available - I do have lots of gullet bars and panels. These are wool flocked, not Flair as they all used to be.
Anyway, take a look at their website. They’ve been around for long enough not to be a fad. I quite like them!

Welcome to the world of WOW! Discover all of our amazing products, the endless possibilities we offer & the science behind them

13/06/2024

Just a bit more info coming on the hoop tree saddles. I’m still working on pricing these with the consignor but they’re essentially new saddles (ordered, sat on the horse and maybe ridden in one time) and they’ll be quite a bit less than ordering a brand new one and waiting weeks for it. Once pricing is agreed I will post photos of these lovely saddles.
For now, this is what we have:

New/demo condition 17.5” Black Country Quantum X jump/close contact saddle on the Freedom tree, Wide fit (remember there is some adjustment in the tree, +/- 2cm) . Dark brown, vintage leather flaps, calf seat and soft textured hide knee flaps, Velcro knee and calf blocks, point billets, extended front gussets, serge panels, 4 finger channel, widens towards pommel.

New/demo condition 17.5” Black Country Eloquence X dressage saddle on the Freedom tree, Wide, black, optional point billets, extended front gussets, vintage leather flaps, reverse doe seat, soft hide knee pads, serge panels, 4 finger channel, widens towards pommel.

New 17” AH (Andrea Hicks) Heathland dressage saddle. Hoop tree (but not as quite as “hoopy” as the Black Country Freedom tree), XW fit. Built on a Sport Pony tree so the short panels make it ideal for short backs. Top grain leather flaps and soft hide seat and knee pads. Medium open seat, smaller Velcro blocks, close contact flocked panels. Front gussets. Point billet and balance straps give you lots of girthing options.

New Chunky Monkey 17.5” hoop tree monoflap jump/close contact saddle, black, XW, with flat wide rear panels for a wide backed horse, knee and calf blocks, grippy soft hide overlay. Long billets on this saddle remove buckle bulk from under the lower leg. This saddle has been built for the taller rider with a long femur who rides a short-backed, round horse. If that is you, you may want to snap this one up. You don’t see many Chunky Monkey Saddles over here.

Photos and pricing to come very soon.

13/06/2024

Stunning 2017 18” Equipe Emporio monoflap dressage saddle in perfect condition. This saddle is barely used and is in demo condition! Absolutely gorgeous saddle, beautiful Italian leather, on a Medium tree with standard 16” flaps. The seat is very generous too. Foam panels, four finger channel.
Trials available with full payment and a signed trial agreement within Canada.
Asking $3500

13/06/2024

Very nice 17.5” Amerigo Classic Dressage saddle. Handmade in Italy, featuring a beechwood spring tree, supple European leather and wool flocked panels. The seat is generous measuring 18”, standard flap length of 15.5” and the saddle was manufactured in 2007.
Amerigo saddles come with different panel volumes, from 1 to 6 (thin to thick) and this saddle is a 4. It is stamped +1/2 so approximates a M-MW. Three finger channel at the rear opening up to four fingers at the pommel end.
The Classic tree is suited for horses with higher withers dropping sharply to the deepest point of the back, and the topline remaining straight (see photo).
This saddle has minor signs of wear from stirrup leathers and some scratches on the pommel as seen in the photos. There some minor fading behind the cantle but overall it’s in very nice condition for its age. Comes with Amerigo cover.
Trials can be arranged within Canada with full payment and a signed trial agreement. Asking $2100

12/06/2024

I have several hoop tree saddles in stock, including Black Country jump and dressage models on the freedom tree, Chunky Monkey jump, Andrea Hicks AH dressage. All new/demo condition. Other saddles in stock include a new Passier Compact dressage, Albion SLK on the adjusta-tree, two used Amerigo dressage - one is a Cortina and the other a Classic. Other used close contacts include a Vision with wool flocking, an Amerigo, and a foam panelled Antares. Dressage models with foam panels include an Equipe, a Butet, and a Devoucoux Makila. Seat sizes are primarily 17.5” with a couple of 17”. Full details and prices to be published soon!

01/06/2024

I’ve seen a few dressage horses put together like this. It seems to be a popular trend. Extreme uphill build (and that’s before they get moving) and very short in the back. They are difficult to fit!

31/05/2024

Healthy discussion about saddles and saddle fitting is encouraged on this page but please keep your comments respectful. Thank you.

30/05/2024

Found this one today. The horse has been refusing to pick up a canter. This is a 2005 Schleese dressage saddle. This saddle was adjusted in a press 2 years ago and a loud cracking sound was heard at the time. The fitter (not a Schleese rep) checked the saddle over externally and said it was fine. The owner has been riding in it ever since. My suspicion (and it’s only that) is that the headplate cracked through at that time but didn’t become displaced until recently. Even Schleese headplates are vulnerable to damage when being adjusted, and care must be taken. This could have caused some serious damage to the horse, and potentially the rider too.

27/05/2024

Just in case there’s any doubt here, it’s easy to see when an anatomical offset girth is needed and when it’s not needed. The offset part goes to the front. Honestly I have seen it the other way around.