Bates
Caprilli Close Contact Saddle
Close Contact Saddles

Manufacturer: Bates
Model: Caprilli Close Contact Saddle
Category: Close Contact Saddles

Purchase: I found my bates caprilli close contact on ebay for $1495. I had been using synthetic saddles for a while and decided I needed to upgrade. I was actually looking for an all purpose saddle when I saw this one sitting on the saddle rack. I sat in it and it felt very comfortable. So I took it out on trial sort of on a whim, and that was the one I ended up buying. Once I rode in it for the first time, I absolutely fell in love with it.

Likes: I really like the position that this saddle puts you in. It just sits you down on the rather cushy seat very comfortably. It also allows you to to adopt more of a forward position or a more traditional position for flat work. I can do everything in it, from trail riding to showing. The craftsmanship is wonderful; made with the best butter soft, yet grippy leather. The CAIR panels and the changeable gullet system are always such a treat for me and my horse.

Dislikes: Very little to dislike!!!! The leather is awfully soft and scratches very easily and would definitely thrive in a saddle case when not in use. Also the leathers that match this saddle were to short for myself(5'7" nothing out of the ordinary). It seems that the company thinks that anyone who buys this saddle wants to jump but I only wanted to do flat work and therefore i ended up buying the prestige leathers which are very close but offer greater length and they matched very well. There also was no matching bridle. I ended getting an equibette that matched it decently.

Quality: This is a very well constructed saddle. the quality of this saddle is extremely high. I have yet to find any saddle to even start to rival this one in comfort and quality.

Summary: I think for the price that this was a very good saddle with good quality, great craftsmanship and a very comfy seat and i hope to keep it for a long time.

Rating: 5

Author: Jessica

Date: 2007-06-10

Usefulness Rating: 5 out of 5.
5 reader(s) voted.

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