Bates
Caprilli Close Contact with Forward Flap
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Bates
Model: Caprilli Close Contact with Forward Flap
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: I demoed this saddle for 1 week. It was a demo at a retail store in my area. I could use it as if it was my own. It showed no wear at all (brand new condition with tags still on it). The demo price was around $1100.00.
Likes: I like the interchangeable gullet option on this saddle. I own a Bates Isabelle dressage saddle with these gullets for my hard to fit TB with large shoulders and somewhat high withers.
Dislikes: Although the medium gullet in the Bates dressage saddle fits my TB well, I was quite surprised that the close contact model did not fit quite as well on his large shoulders. Is it because the close contact I tried was in the forward flap? The first thing that I noticed was that I felt a bit bouncy at the posting trot. I then tried sitting trot and felt even bouncier. I was not using a bounce pad but felt as though I was. Both models were in size 17 m. I went on into canter and felt like a very novice rider. Are the seats being padded by different foam? My Bates dressage saddle is about 2 years old and I just love it. I am not new to riding in hunter saddles.
Quality: The saddle seems to be made with high enough quality and construction to suit a variety of riders and their horses. I like the velcro knee blocks. The seat in this Caprilli seems flatter than many other close contact saddles.
Summary: I offered a demo ride in this saddle to another rider at my barn to see what she thought of the Bates Caprilli. She also felt that it was more difficult to trot in than another brand that I also demoed. In the end, I returned the Bates Caprilli and purchased a Courbette Aristrokat.
Rating: 3
Author: Sandra G
Date: 0000-00-00
Usefulness Rating: 3.11111 out of 5.
27 reader(s) voted.
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