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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
 
Location: TN | What's the difference between the Shiloh contender and finalist and how do they ride/fit/compare to a Carl Ammerman saddle?
I've briefly ridden in my sister-in-law's Ammerman but have never sat in a Shiloh. The Ammerman was a 14.5 so it felt too big (I'm 5'6" 135 lbs) but it sat me back on my pockets with my feet way out in front which I kind of liked since I'm long waisted and can easily get my short legs behind me LOL. |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
 
Location: NE Texas | The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5.
Edited by Herbie 2016-12-27 12:11 PM
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| Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:10 PM
The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5.Â
I have a Shiloh Contender(love it, love the undercut swells) and tried a friends Ammerman....I experienced everything you mentioned with the ammerman. Getting forward, legs behind me, etc. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Thank you both! That helps! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:10 PM
The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5.Â
Do they fit pretty true to size other than the finalist being a little tighter fit than the contender? I ride a 14 normally. |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | KatieMac88 - 2016-12-27 12:20 PM Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:10 PM The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5. Do they fit pretty true to size other than the finalist being a little tighter fit than the contender? I ride a 14 normally.
Yes, I think so. The Contender is going to feel a little bigger than the Finalist. Some go down a size in the Contender, some don't. Just depends on how tightly you like to be in there. |
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| Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:37 PM
KatieMac88 - 2016-12-27 12:20 PM Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:10 PM The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5. Do they fit pretty true to size other than the finalist being a little tighter fit than the contender? I ride a 14 normally.
I usually ride 14.5, but have a 14 contender. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I needed a half size smaller in the Contender than the other Shiloh saddle I had that has rounded swells. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Â I don't mind a tighter/smaller seat as long as I still have enough room to sit my butt down deep. Guess it would be good for me to find one to sit in to be sure, but it sounds like I might need a half size smaller in a contender.
Edited by KatieMac88 2016-12-27 1:23 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:10 PM The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5.
Herbie, I have seen a few 14.5 used contenders for sale in Facebook groups so you might should check on there. |
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | KatieMac88 - 2016-12-27 3:40 PM Herbie - 2016-12-27 12:10 PM The shiloh contender has undercut swells and a bit more front end in it. The shiloh finalist does not have the undercut swells and to me sits a little tighter. According to Stacy at Shiloh, the bars are the same on the two saddles. An Ammerman IMO has a lower front end and those i've ridden threw me forward really bad when I stood up to get forward and jockey, my feet swung back behind me. The Shilohs ride very balanced and keep your feet where they should be when you stand up to jockey. I love the Contenders and am currently looking for a used 14.5. Herbie, I have seen a few 14.5 used contenders for sale in Facebook groups so you might should check on there.
Yes, thank you. I just bought one through FB. I have a very limited budget this time, so casually shopping. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | I ride in a 14" Contender and a 14.5" Finalist. I have both currently but prefer the Contender so the Finalist will go up for sale. I feel like both ride very balanced and fit horses great I like the swells of the Contender a little better. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | CarrieH77 - 2016-12-27 5:14 PM I ride in a 14" Contender and a 14.5" Finalist. I have both currently but prefer the Contender so the Finalist will go up for sale. I feel like both ride very balanced and fit horses great I like the swells of the Contender a little better.
Thank you! That helps. I'll look for a contender a half size smaller than normal. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | Contender |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | mollibtexan - 2016-12-28 12:37 AM Contender
Thanks that's the one I'll look for! Do you also go down a half to a whole size seat in a contender? |
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Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | The leg opening is larger on my 14" Contender than my 14.5" Finalist. That is what the biggest difference is to me. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | CarrieH77 - 2016-12-28 2:00 PM
The leg opening is larger on my 14" Contender  than my 14.5" Finalist.  That is what the biggest difference is to me. Â
That makes sense. So you need less seat length since you have more leg room in the front. |
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Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | KatieMac88 - 2016-12-28 2:20 PM
CarrieH77 - 2016-12-28 2:00 PM
The leg opening is larger on my 14" Contender  than my 14.5" Finalist.  That is what the biggest difference is to me. Â
That makes sense. So you need less seat length since you have more leg room in the front.
Yes and I have big legs so they fit me better. LOL. |
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