Dover
Circuit Elite II
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Dover
Model: Circuit Elite II
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: I had been living without a real jumping saddle for about a year saving every penny so I could afford a new close contact jumping saddle. I had tried a friends Dover Circuit Trainer (which they no longer make) and it fit my horse well and I liked the feel of it. I searched everywhere for a used Circuit saddle bu no one seemed to be selling theirs. I bought this saddle NEW in Jan 2006 and paid $599 for it. It came with a nice matching bridle. It's built the same as the Circuit Elite except this saddle has grained leather rather than smooth.
Likes: I rode only twice in the saddle before I went to a Clinic with Susan Harris doing some lower fences (2'9"ish) since I hadn't jumped in a year. Normally over fences my position does loose some effectiveness but even over the 3'9"s I stayed put. Susan Harris even said that I had a lovely position over the fences and to KEEP this saddle.
Dislikes: I wish their wide was a bit wider. I bought a 17W because my TB is more European built than the typical backyard Thoroughbred. I hope that one day all saddle widths become a standard size.
Quality: The Saddle is nicely constructed for the price. I've owned it a year and it has held up to the beatings at horse shows, pony club rallies and nationals and even was a fairly good saddle for a polocrosse game I played in. The leather did loose a bit of dye at first but after a few cleanings and oilings the leather has really started to shine. The leather was VERY easy to break in and the stitching has held up really well.
Summary: You now don't have to pay $2,000 for a Close Contact Saddle and still competitive in the show ring!!!
Rating: 5
Author: Dawn Buis
Date: 2007-03-12
Usefulness Rating: 3.125 out of 5.
16 reader(s) voted.
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