Barnsby
Milton Original
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Barnsby
Model: Milton Original
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: The saddle has been acquired from Bridlepath International Ltd. for under 888 GBP, ex. VAT, but the price has been raised by Barnsby just now (04/2007).
Likes: The saddle's contactness is great, thanks to very smart lower (sweat) flap design, free of any stuffing on the rider's side. Smaller knee wedges and calf blocks provide enough support for whole upper leg, but aren't restricting rider in any way. The balance of saddle is perfect, and feel, delivered by combined felt & foam is the same. Also the stirrup bars caught my attention, as they are very correctly placed and of substantial make. And what I like VERY MUCH was beautifully narrow twist of the saddle, this is how the CC saddles (and not only these) have to be made!
Dislikes: Can't say that it did not like it, but what was unpleasant surprise for me, resulting in returning the saddle to the dealer, was the fact, that it was just too wide for my horse, although she's wearing other new saddle from Barnsby of the same gullet size (but the other saddle is built on another tree). If your horse is young and still in development, it is possible that the saddle will fit him too closely. I have to say that my young horse would grow up to the gullet size, but this close-contact saddle is not the best choice for young horse, whose body mass is not yet full-grown (you can't buy narrower tree, as the horse will outgrow the saddle in the close future, and you can't use the proper gullet size, as horse's not able to fit it well).
Quality: Leather and stitching quality corresponds to top-line Barnsby's saddlery. The saddle will last for decades, great work.
Summary: One of the greatest saddles for adult horses ever, but not suitable for younger ones.
Rating: 5
Author: Jaromir A. R. Vich
Date: 2007-04-05
Usefulness Rating: 5 out of 5.
12 reader(s) voted.
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