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Hungarian Midget Woman
  
Location: Midwest | After trying one for a week, and ordering one for myself...
1) I think some people don't like shimming
2) others don't know how to fit them properly and are putting them too far forward (on the shoulder instead of behind the shoulder where they should be)
3) like ANY saddle, they don't fit every horse out there.
4) they are designed to ride behind the shoulder and not many dig that feel
5) many have bought gullets super big thinking they need one that size, or bought gullets too small due to what gullets have fit in other brand saddles
They are a new design. I love riding in one and am so happy I have finally found something that seems to work for me and my horse.
They are free to try out through the test ride program. (You don't even pay for shipping, they pay to and from you). I STRONGLY suggest trying before you buy. I thought I would need at least a 9" or larger for my horse, and I am ending up ordering an 8.5". an 8" fit with a 1/2" pad and shims, but I want to use a thicker pad. And my horse is pretty dang wide, but he has some atrophy.
They are not for everyone, but I love it. Do your homework, and take advantage of the FREE test program Martin/Equibrand is offering. They were extremely helpful with fitting and finding one for me to order. Also watch the Cervi video on fitting and shimming. It is super helpful.
Good luck! Saddle fitting sucks. I have however, learned so much about fitting through this experience. Don't be afraid to call the maker and ask questions. I also talked with Charon Caldwell about her saddles, and she was VERY helpful and nice too. I'm still no expert, but I have learned a lot.
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | My horse definately needed a wider gullet then what we were using. These stocky cow bred horses need more width then what the 'normal' barrel tree has out there. I took my horse to have him fitted by brian and he said he needed a 9. we are still in 2 shims after 1.5 years. I dont mind the shimming. The saddle is made well and comfortable but throws me foward really bad. I took it back to Martin and had them hobble the stirrups up hoping that would help but it didnt. I have gotten to the point I have to use a magic seat to stay in the saddle at the first barrel and when Im running down to the first end pole. Brian told me to call him and we could talk about it so Im hoping there is something that can be done. I cant afford another saddle plus there are not many saddle makers that agree with having wider gullets |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| 3rdtimesacharm - 2014-03-10 9:21 PM
My horse definately needed a wider gullet then what we were using. These stocky cow bred horses need more width then what the 'normal' barrel tree has out there. I took my horse to have him fitted by brian and he said he needed a 9. we are still in 2 shims after 1.5 years. I dont mind the shimming. The saddle is made well and comfortable but throws me foward really bad. I took it back to Martin and had them hobble the stirrups up hoping that would help but it didnt. I have gotten to the point I have to use a magic seat to stay in the saddle at the first barrel and when Im running down to the first end pole. Brian told me to call him and we could talk about it so Im hoping there is something that can be done. I cant afford another saddle plus there are not many saddle makers that agree with having wider gulletsÂ
The Martin racer is now being offered in larger gullets, and will sit you on your pockets, you might ask about retreeing yours with a racer |
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Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | Actually, mine is a racer |
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 Oh excuse me!
Posts: 2473
Location: S. California Beach | I am happy to see some "real" opinions on this...and others see they dont fit...
I am a huge fan of trees that fit (flatter bars with flare and a smaller gullet)...
I think that the Crown C is a huge marketing ploy. Buying a gigantic gullet measurement and being *required* to shim it makes zero sense to me. If a saddle fits, you should NOT have to shim it (with the exception of acute muscle atrophy). The theory of *fitting thw widest part of the horse then shimming it* also makes no sense since this leads that horses are built like 55 gallon drums round/flat which they are not. A saddle thats that big...is big everywhere else!!!
I wear a size 9 boot...so since a 11.5 would fit with 3 pairs of socks I should go ahead and buy that right?
Edited by margoannrodeo 2014-03-11 1:47 AM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | cheryl makofka - 2014-03-10 9:54 PM
3rdtimesacharm - 2014-03-10 9:21 PM
My horse definately needed a wider gullet then what we were using. These stocky cow bred horses need more width then what the 'normal' barrel tree has out there. I took my horse to have him fitted by brian and he said he needed a 9. we are still in 2 shims after 1.5 years. I dont mind the shimming. The saddle is made well and comfortable but throws me foward really bad. I took it back to Martin and had them hobble the stirrups up hoping that would help but it didnt. I have gotten to the point I have to use a magic seat to stay in the saddle at the first barrel and when Im running down to the first end pole. Brian told me to call him and we could talk about it so Im hoping there is something that can be done. I cant afford another saddle plus there are not many saddle makers that agree with having wider gulletsÂ
The Martin racer is now being offered in larger gullets, and will sit you on your pockets, you might ask about retreeing yours with a racer
The gal told me the fx3 is new by Martin. That is another model that puts you on your pockets. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | I have a mare that has a flat back, and I bought an 8" Crown C. After trying every pad and position, and with help from a resident saddle expert, I am admitting that it just isn't fitting her. Which is so frustrating. It is not fitting her behind the shoulders, because where it looks low in these pics, it's actually putting pressure on her behind the shoulder area. Here is a pic of her in a 3/4" Relentless Extreme pad with no shim, and a 1/2" wool pad with a shim with the saddle scooted further back. I love the way the saddle rides, but it's just not fitting her.
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | SoonerLawyer - 2014-03-11 8:16 AM I have a mare that has a flat back, and I bought an 8" Crown C. After trying every pad and position, and with help from a resident saddle expert, I am admitting that it just isn't fitting her. Which is so frustrating. It is not fitting her behind the shoulders, because where it looks low in these pics, it's actually putting pressure on her behind the shoulder area. Here is a pic of her in a 3/4" Relentless Extreme pad with no shim, and a 1/2" wool pad with a shim with the saddle scooted further back. I love the way the saddle rides, but it's just not fitting her.
It looks too big and when they are too big they will dig down in behind the shoulders like yours is doing. Have you tried a 7 inch gullet?
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Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2014-03-11 8:23 AM
SoonerLawyer - 2014-03-11 8:16 AM I have a mare that has a flat back, and I bought an 8" Crown C. After trying every pad and position, and with help from a resident saddle expert, I am admitting that it just isn't fitting her. Which is so frustrating. It is not fitting her behind the shoulders, because where it looks low in these pics, it's actually putting pressure on her behind the shoulder area. Here is a pic of her in a 3/4" Relentless Extreme pad with no shim, and a 1/2" wool pad with a shim with the saddle scooted further back. I love the way the saddle rides, but it's just not fitting her.
It looks too big and when they are too big they will dig down in behind the shoulders like yours is doing. Have you tried a 7 inch gullet?Â
Not in the Crown C. I have a Martin Sherry Cervi that is a 7" (it may actually be 6 3/4". . I'll have recheck it) and it is putting pressure over the same area, which is why I went to the 8" Crown C. But as you can see, it's not working either. She is so stinking hard to fit! I actually think she needs flatter bars than what either of my saddles have. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | SoonerLawyer - 2014-03-11 8:33 AM WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2014-03-11 8:23 AM SoonerLawyer - 2014-03-11 8:16 AM I have a mare that has a flat back, and I bought an 8" Crown C. After trying every pad and position, and with help from a resident saddle expert, I am admitting that it just isn't fitting her. Which is so frustrating. It is not fitting her behind the shoulders, because where it looks low in these pics, it's actually putting pressure on her behind the shoulder area. Here is a pic of her in a 3/4" Relentless Extreme pad with no shim, and a 1/2" wool pad with a shim with the saddle scooted further back. I love the way the saddle rides, but it's just not fitting her. It looks too big and when they are too big they will dig down in behind the shoulders like yours is doing. Have you tried a 7 inch gullet?
Not in the Crown C. I have a Martin Sherry Cervi that is a 7" (it may actually be 6 3/4". . I'll have recheck it ) and it is putting pressure over the same area, which is why I went to the 8" Crown C. But as you can see, it's not working either. She is so stinking hard to fit! I actually think she needs flatter bars than what either of my saddles have.
The horses I've had that have the problem with saddles digging in behind the shoulders do much better in a tree that has a lot of twist and shoulder flare. The crown c is not going to fit those horses correctly. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| SoonerLawyer - 2014-03-11 8:16 AM
I have a mare that has a flat back, and I bought an 8" Crown C. After trying every pad and position, and with help from a resident saddle expert, I am admitting that it just isn't fitting her. Which is so frustrating. It is not fitting her behind the shoulders, because where it looks low in these pics, it's actually putting pressure on her behind the shoulder area. Here is a pic of her in a 3/4" Relentless Extreme pad with no shim, and a 1/2" wool pad with a shim with the saddle scooted further back. I love the way the saddle rides, but it's just not fitting her.
The regular crown c tree will not fit a flat backed horse, you would need to go to flat bars, as the pressure point you are experiencing is where their saddle has the rock in the tree.
I have a horse similar to yours and even a 10 regular puts pressure on there. The 11 flat I have that I shim fits her perfectly.
The other saddle I have had luck with is the Lisa Lockhart wide tree you may want to try one of those |
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  Crazy Chicken Chick
Posts: 36132
| Â the Clinton Anderson saddles are very flat. I have one I'm going to have to sell because it's too flat for my mare.
Edited by luvinrunnin 2014-03-11 9:05 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | cheryl makofka - 2014-03-11 9:02 AM
SoonerLawyer - 2014-03-11 8:16 AM
I have a mare that has a flat back, and I bought an 8" Crown C. After trying every pad and position, and with help from a resident saddle expert, I am admitting that it just isn't fitting her. Which is so frustrating. It is not fitting her behind the shoulders, because where it looks low in these pics, it's actually putting pressure on her behind the shoulder area. Here is a pic of her in a 3/4" Relentless Extreme pad with no shim, and a 1/2" wool pad with a shim with the saddle scooted further back. I love the way the saddle rides, but it's just not fitting her.
The regular crown c tree will not fit a flat backed horse, you would need to go to flat bars, as the pressure point you are experiencing is where their saddle has the rock in the tree.
I have a horse similar to yours and even a 10 regular puts pressure on there. The 11 flat I have that I shim fits her perfectly.
The other saddle I have had luck with is the Lisa Lockhart wide tree you may want to try one of those
Thanks! I will look into those.
Edit to add: Sorry OP I'm not trying to jack your thread, I hope this helps you too!! I am finding the Crown C frustating so my advice would be to try it before you buy it.
Edited by SoonerLawyer 2014-03-11 9:16 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
| I see too many Crown C saddles that pop up in the back. It seems like 85% of the ones I see do not fit in the back. I would buy one but Ive seen too many popped up in the back and don't fit. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I just tried a 7" Martin Crown C on my gelding and it did NOT fit him at all.
Not that it's a bad saddle. It just didn't fit him. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | I absolutely love my Crown C. and it was an impulse buy for a very good deal. My mare loves it also. I'm finally able to ride with my wool pad and not a CorrecTor pad. I would buy another in a heart beat, if I had the money (they are a bit pricey but seem to hold their value). |
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 More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | IMO a Cactus CJ is very flat. Since she's no longer with Cactus I wonder if she's using the same type tree at Reinsman. |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | margoannrodeo - 2014-03-11 1:41 AM I am happy to see some "real" opinions on this...and others see they dont fit...
I am a huge fan of trees that fit (flatter bars with flare and a smaller gullet)...
I think that the Crown C is a huge marketing ploy. Buying a gigantic gullet measurement and being *required* to shim it makes zero sense to me. If a saddle fits, you should NOT have to shim it (with the exception of acute muscle atrophy). The theory of *fitting thw widest part of the horse then shimming it* also makes no sense since this leads that horses are built like 55 gallon drums round/flat which they are not. A saddle thats that big...is big everywhere else!!!
I wear a size 9 boot...so since a 11.5 would fit with 3 pairs of socks I should go ahead and buy that right?
Well I guess to me it's kind of like buying a pair of jeans off the rack. I need to buy a pair big enough to fit my @$$ and use a belt because will be too big around my waist. People and horses aren't built in one shape, you have to do what you have to do to achieve the best possible fit. It would be great if we could have custom saddles cut for each individual horse but that isn't very practical so I, for one, am extremely grateful Martin has given us an option if we so chose to use. If someone doesn't like the theroy, don't buy it. |
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