Thornhill
#12100 Jorge Canaves Berlin
All Purpose Saddles
Manufacturer: Thornhill
Model: #12100 Jorge Canaves Berlin
Category: All Purpose Saddles
Purchase: I purchased this saddle on the internet in 2003 for $850.00, after considerable research. I am very small, my quarter mare is very large and barrel backed. I wanted a dressage saddle but could find nothing to fit me and my horse. After serious research, Thornhill seemed the only company that sold extra wide trees. They put me in touch with a dealer, that person recommended this saddle as it is all purpose with a "dressage" slant. I measured her withers, did a tracing and she required the 36 cm. Xwide tree. My seat required a 16 inch, so I ordered this saddle since the Thorhill dealer informed me nothing was available in dressage for my size and this was dressage based.
Likes: The extra wide tree fits "porky". The seat is soft.
Dislikes: The twist is as wide as the tree and very uncomfortable for a rider my size. If it is dressage based, I am confused because my legs are nowhere near a block. The seat leather is very slick, so with a wide twist and slick seat, full seat breeches are needed. I feel I am on a slick barrel and if my mare ever bucked I would most definitely be a "goner". There is just nothing for a shorter rider to really grip. I don't say this lightly since I've been riding 40 years.
Quality: It looks to me like a medium quality saddle at best. It does have a 5 year warranty but since I don't like it and rarely ride it, the saddle will definitely outlast me.... I thought the "tobacco" color was terrible, it really looked cheap, but a good soaking of neatsfoot oil made it look darker and better.
Summary: I certainly wasted my $850.00. I'm looking again and found Thornhill makes a child dressage (Shannon) in the extra wide but the dealer never informed me of this. At the time of purchase, I explained to the dealer that I was child sized and currently owned a Stubben Rex (child saddle), loved it, won in it but it did not fit my horse. I think the Thornhill dealer led me in the wrong direction. There are more saddles now in WIDE, so maybe not a Thornhill saddle at ALL, I'm using this site for research for my next saddle. AND I will definitely find out about the twist before purchase. Thanks for this informative website!!
Rating: 1
Author: still looking
Date: 2005-11-12
Usefulness Rating: 3.325 out of 5.
80 reader(s) voted.
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