Harry Dabbs
Jaguar XJL
All Purpose Saddles
Manufacturer: Harry Dabbs
Model: Jaguar XJL
Category: All Purpose Saddles
Purchase: Purchased this saddle on ebay and I paid $550 US funds, with shipping and currency exchange (I am in Canada) the total cost was a very reasonable $675 CA funds.
Likes: I purchased this saddle, because from what I have read about the Harry Dabbs line, his saddles seem to offer a great fit for both rider and horse. I can affirm that this statement is true. I have a gelding that is in for training for the 2010 year and he is a horse that has required custom fit saddles. I purchased the Harry Dabbs saddle with the intention that I would use it for training. I did not expect that the saddle would fit this difficult to fit gelding, but much to my surprise this saddle fit as well as the custom fit saddles. My trainer is so thrilled with the saddle that she has now taken to using it exclusively, even though there are much "bigger" name brand saddles available.
Dislikes: The only thing that I found to be a "fault" of the saddle is the seat size. The saddle is a 17.5", but fits as a 17". To be fair, it is my experience that saddles with a deeper dish, such as Dressage, or all purpose do tend to fit a bit smaller than their tag size.
Quality: The construction of this saddle is excellent. The seat allows for a very natural, comfortable, and correct position for the rider. Horses that are cold backed, or tough to fit seem to adjust very well to this saddle. The gullet is wide and stable, the integument of the leather is great and the stitching proves to be of a superior quality.
Summary: I am a dressage enthusiast and have purchased saddles ranging from $2000 - $5000 and am very aware of the importance of an exact saddle fit. I purchased this saddle looking for a reasonable quality saddle that could be used for training. Nothing too expensive, but the saddle has now proven to be the show saddle for the hunt show season for my top gelding. I will definitely purchase from the Harry Dabbs line in the future.
Rating: 5
Author: Jen
Date: 2010-01-08
Usefulness Rating: 3.06522 out of 5.
46 reader(s) voted.
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