Crosby (WeatherBeeta)
Prix des Nations Soft Ride from 2006/2007
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Crosby (WeatherBeeta)
Model: Prix des Nations Soft Ride from 2006/2007
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: Saddle was new old stock in a local tack shop. It's made in England, has what Crosby calls narrow twist and wide seat. I bought it because it's one of the few close contacts I tried that wasn't too narrow through the twist. The seat is slightly wide for a CC, and softly padded. Bridle leather seat, smooth leather padded flaps, smooth bridle leather saddle in Old Havana. No knee rolls or blocks.
Likes: It's just a great close contact saddle made in the best British tradition. No sloppy workmanship, no cheapening of quality. The combination of wide seat and kind of medium twist is very comfortable for me, and I 've tried many CC saddles that were miserably too narrow in the twist for me. The Prix's seat and flap shape allow you to sit back and ride a longer stirrup for flatwork or lower level dressage. The medium tree is generous, but has a reputation for fitting a variety of horses. It's also available in wide. I have a long thigh, and the flap is forward enough to accommodate that.
Dislikes: I'll probably have a small knee block added. So far, I find the padded flaps a little overstuffed for my tastes but those may flatten over time or they can be restuffed flatter. Crosby should offer a flocked panel option. Some people will no doubt gripe about foam panels, but if they absolutely don't fit, you can spend $300 for a saddler to convert it to wool flocked. So far, I'm okay with foam.
It's not a dislike, but I'll mention this: I normally ride a 16.5" CC, but the deeper seat and the thick foam seem to take up any slack. I didn't have opportunity to try 16.5" in this, and the 17" was heavily discounted. But you might want to try both your usual CC size and also 1/2" larger to see which size Prix fits better.
Quality: I have no complaints. Excellent in every way. Various leather parts are all color matched, stitching is perfect, leather is top quality with no scars, thin spots, etc. The Old Havana color is in a class by itself, though, and Crosby doesn't seem to offer any girth or bridle that exactly matches it, as of 5/25/08.
Summary: The only thing I'd change about this saddle is add small knee rolls or blocks at the front.
Rating: 5
Author: Anonymous ASB Sport
Date: 0000-00-00
Usefulness Rating: 3 out of 5.
20 reader(s) voted.
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