Bates
Isabell
Dressage Saddles
Manufacturer: Bates
Model: Isabell
Category: Dressage Saddles
Purchase: I bought it used from a person I knew who couldn't get it to fit her horse. She had bought it used when she acquired it as well.
Likes: EVERYTHING! It is wool flocked, which personally I prefer to the care system as I can just get it reflocked if it starts getting lumpy or flat. It fits my two standardbreds which are very very hard to fit. Ir also seems to fit every horse I ride w/ out a gullet change which is nice. It is comfortable too. I never feel insecure in it. One time my gelding jumped one of the dressage letters w/ out warning and I never felt like I was going to loose balance. It puts me in a great position.
Dislikes: I do wish the space down the middle of the saddle gave more width all the way down the back. It seems to tapper off towards the back in a V shape.
Quality: It has a few nicks as it is several years old. One of the flaps faded a bit, but I just put a leather die on it which worked like a charm. The leather hasn't dried or worn. some of the seat grip has worn away, but it hasn't lost security. I have had the billets replaced once and the flock replaced one, these weren't in bad shape, but just a maintenance thing.
Summary: This saddle is great. I can see though that on a wider backed horse it might be a bit too constricting through the space in the middle down the back. Everyone who sits in it loves it. Every horse loves it. I love it, most important of all :) The only saddle I would ever think of getting besides another Isabell is anything by Kieffer and from me that really is a complement :)
Rating: 5
Author: Bevin Allison
Date: 2006-07-14
Usefulness Rating: 4.7 out of 5.
10 reader(s) voted.
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