[idlewild]

So I'm on the hunt for a new jumping saddle. A real jumping saddle, I've about outgrown my AP saddle.

So, my first choice was a Bates CC saddle. I have a Bates isabell dressage saddle and love it, I like the changeable gullet the most. So having that in my future jumping saddle sounded very promising. I've also had good results with the CAIR pannels.

Then, recently when I went to champs in KY I saw my friend's saddles, both of which are Prestige saddles. I really liked the look of them. Then my trainer recently got a new Prestige dressage saddle that is beautiful. I then learned that all prestige saddles have a customizable tree that can be modified to fit your horse by a saddle fitter. That piqued my interest. I really want a saddle that I can have for years that I can modify as I choose to fit different horses.

So far these are the two brands of saddles I'm looking at. I'm leaning towards the prestige as it is a better made brand, while it will cost more and also cost to fit/adjust from time to time vs. a quick gullet change and the CAIR pannels in the Bates, I think it may be worth the money.

Any thoughts? I am willing to wait a year or so to save up the money to buy a nice saddle, and I want to make sure I'm buying something that will work for me for a long time.