Bates
Caprilli 16" close contact
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Bates
Model: Caprilli 16" close contact
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: I bought this saddle for a steal on ebay for 900 dollars. I am a lesson student and I needed to have my own saddle (how annoying is sharing a saddle with 20 little kids?) Anyways, I had to purchase my own irons and leathers, but it came to me in pristine condition, so who can complain about that?
Likes: I love, love, love this saddle. It it SO comfortable. The seat is the most deliciously soft leather that you will find (especially in the $1000 price range) The leather is a beautiful color and absolute best quality. The best thing to me about this saddle besides its comfort is its versatility. Because of the "cair" panels and the adjustable gullet, it can be adapted to a wide variety of riders and horses, which is perfect if you ride more than one horse.
Dislikes: I was a little difficult to find a pad that properly fit the shape of the saddle, but I just took it with me to my local tack shop to try them out until I found one that fit. I also wish that Bates made a matching bridle, but the color was not hard to match.
Quality: Fantastic quality and construction. I have been riding in it for a year now, 2-3 days a week, and the wear is minimal. My trainer sat in it for a demonstration and noticed the comfortable position and the nice soft leather. (She rides in a Antares, so thats gotta mean something). The quality is simply unmatched in this price range.
Summary: I tried out a few different saddles before deciding on this one, however after sitting in it I was hooked! It is comfortable for me, gives me security over jumps, and is an all around great saddle. I almost got a pessoa, because of the name brand and the resale value (plus, it is what everyone else in my barn rides in) but 3 of the girls that I ride with bought a pessoa the same time I bought my Bates, and they have already noticed really bad wear on the flaps, and it is impossible to adjust it without lots of pads. One of the girls saddle has a really weird tear were the leather tore away from the stitching along the twist. A thousand dollar bummer. However, my saddle has continued to age very nicely. I highly recommend the Bates caprilli to anyone at any level, especially compared to the other saddles in the same range.
Rating: 5
Author: Megan
Date: 2006-12-01
Usefulness Rating: 5 out of 5.
6 reader(s) voted.
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