From: Mary
I have 'found' a new Courbette Trenck-D 17" saddle for sale. It is new (the owner inherited it with her tack shop purchase) and is priced at $750. Before having it shipped to me on trial, I would like to know if it has a possiblility of fitting my rather egg-shaped girl with the big shoulders. How can you tell what the tree width is? I know it is often given in centimeters...what is measured?
Secondly, what is your opinion of this particular Courbette model? I have trouble keeping my leg back under my shoulder/hip line in my current saddle (a County Drespri).
Thanks!
Mary (hoping this is a bargain) Amber (hoping she will quit complaining!
Saddle trees are measured in centimeters, with (usually) these sizes:
27-29 cm for very high-withered horses 29.5-31 cm for horses with average or slightly above-average withers 31.5-32.5 cm for horses with round backs and/or low withers 32 -? cm these are extra-wide tree widths, but most large saddlers will special-order them for you. Courbette and Steubben definitely will.
The reason you can't estimate tree width once the saddle has been made is that the measurement is taken in the front of the saddle tree, from inside point to inside point, before the panels are ever attached!
The Trenck-D is a Courbette saddle made at their German factory. It's made on the "Federbaum" tree, has a narrow twist, recessed stirrup bars, and -- special feature -- the bars are extra-long so that you will have NO trouble getting your leg under yourself where it belongs, and having your stirrup leathers vertical! The flaps are long and straight, the seat is not too deep, the panels are wool-stuffed, and the leather is vegetable-tanned and aniline-dyed... this is a GOOD saddle!
If you can get it on trial, go for it! If it's a new saddle, it should have the tree width marked somewhere on the card that comes with the saddle -- failing that, the shop owner should be able to check the paperwork that came with it. Failing THAT, she can call Courbette and ask them to check THEIR records!
Now, as to whether it will fit Amber -- try it and see. Be sure to position it correctly -- I spend a lot of time at clinics getting people to move their saddles back, because they put them too far forward and then wonder why their horses don't want to move out enthusiastically... slide it back behind the withers until it settles, then look at it from the side and see whether the lowest point is right in the middle. If it's a tiny bit back, don't worry -- a NEW Courbette may have the pommel almost level with the cantle. Once it's been broken in, the pommel will be an inch and a half lower than the cantle.
Good luck, let me know how it goes, and if the saddle doesn't fit Amber, or if YOU don't want to buy it, I'll bet I can find someone who does!
- Jessica
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