Kieffer Saddles - Adjustable Trees

[RachelEvent]

A friend of mine has offered I try her Kieffer dressage saddle - she is selling it for a very fair amount of money, and it's a beautiful saddle. I believe it is the Jerez dressage model - it has no skirt flaps, and is therefore smooth all the way across the side of the saddle - but with big knee blocks.

I have heard that some Kieffer saddles have adjustable trees - do you know how hard it is to find someone qualified to adjust them (they need to be heated up...)? And just how adjustable they are?

Has anyone ridden in this saddle - any thoughts on it?

 

[coss]

i have a keiffer but not the model you've said.

if the saddle has no skirt flaps... what is the attachment for the stirrups like?

 

[Ms Kitty]

I emailed Kieffer UK and asked them which would be the closest fitter to where I am based who can do the heating/molding thing. Never seen it done/heard experiences of how well it works, so would be interesting to know, as I just bought myself a Kieffer off Ebay (just couldn't resist ) and I might need to get the tree re-adjusted..

Nina x

 

[Tasel]

I have a Kieffer saddle I bought from Frogpool (Kent), and I live in Oxfordshire. David from Frogpool actually came over, but realised the saddle didn't need changing at all .

Anyway, he figured out someone working for him actually lives nearby, and can do it next time round.

Kieffer is very popular in Germany (which is where I grew up), but not so much here. I actually called the German office quite often for assistance (and got put through to the manager most of the time!) until I ended up buying it.

If you are in Hampshire, TDS Saddler does Kieffer, too!!

 

[connieD]

i used to have one and my local saddler did it - it was really easy to change, they took a template then it goes on the machine for 24hrs and voila - done!!

i loved mine but sadly my youngster grew just too much for it and it had to be changed, they are however quite adaptable as long as you have the right type of width to start with

 

[Tasel]

Btw - I forgot to mention... if you get an "Exklusiv" model (which is their new version), this no longer needs the heating up via infrared...

They use a different type of tree that can be adjusted quicker! Also, they have another even newer one that can be adjusted by the oener themselves with the help of some type of key...

 

[Ms Kitty]

they are however quite adaptable as long as you have the right type of width to start with

What do you mean by this? I thought the adjustability of the tree is about changing the width..? Or have I just completely misunderstood the whole thing..??

Mine is a narrow one and I need it adjusted to medium, will that be possible? I have emailed TDS Saddlery to see if they can come see it but haven't gotten a reply yet.

Nina x

 

[Tasel]

Well, you can adjust the width from 28cm to 40cm I think... Mine is a medium - I think that's how the standard size that normally gets delivered.

If you buy it new, it's just the standard size that's available and the saddler fits them. It should fit most horses unless you go above the size limit.

Just give TDS saddler a ring - much better than waiting for an email...

 

[Ms Kitty]

I don't do phones.. Partly because I am not a native English speaker and struggle to understand if they happen to have a strong accent and I can't lipread, but also because I just hate hate speaking on the phone, and do it only if I really don't have a choice.. Besides, I am not in any particular rush and only sent the email on Saturday.

My saddle is couple of years old, I just bought it recently as used, and it is definitely a narrow fit. And as such, way too narrow for my horse. The problem is not so much the front part of the gullet (i.e. under the pommel), it is the actual gullet going towards the back of the saddle that is too narrow. What measure is that 28cm to 40cm, what part of the saddle? Do you know if the actual gullet can be adjusted too? Or should I just put the saddle on sale? As the way it is at the moment it does not fit her, and never will.

Nina x

 

[Tasel]

Don't worry - a Kieffer saddle following adjustment will suit most throughbreds/warmbloods. I have seen it used on riding school horses very often - switching from horse to horse who share the same tree width on the same day!

I think yours will fit your horse, too... just wait for TDS to reply back!!! I am not a native English language speaker either, so I know what you mean, but I have been here for a decade now, so with time you will start getting used to it, and use the phone all the time .

 

[Ms Kitty]

I hope you are right, just that for some reason I can't imagine how they are able to widen the gullet and it definitely need to be widened in order to fit my horse. Not that selling the saddle on and buying another will be a proble, would just like to avoid all the hassle.

I am not a native English language speaker either, so I know what you mean, but I have been here for a decade now, so with time you will start getting used to it, and use the phone all the time .

Lol, I am old enough to know I will never change on my phone habits as it is not just language thing , but hopefully my English hearing skills will improve after some time, I have only been here for four years..

Nina x

 

[Ms Kitty]

Got a reply from TDS Saddlery.. Tree is only adjustable at the front, will easily go from narrow to wide.

Unfortunately the gullet width at the back is the problem with mine (not so much the front) so looks like I am going to have to sell mine..

Nina x

 

[Tasel]

To Ms Kitty:

This is how my saddle looks like from the back.

The red line - it was the easiest to measure as there are two specific points - measures 7cm. You can see relative to that how the other measurements would be like.

 

[Ms Kitty]

Okay, quick measuring on the screen and some calculations.. The red line on my screen is 3cm long, gullet is half of that, 1.5cm. So if the red line is 7cm in real life, that would make the gullet 3.5cm in real life, right? I have had a massive headache most of the day and my brain still feels mushy enough to make all this calculating a hard task tonight!

Thanks Tasel!

Nina x

 

[Mareish]

We have the adjustable tree on our TB, fits like a glove.

Jeff Charlie from Townfields saddlery in Coventry supplied and fitted ours and we are so pleased with it as she has been very awkward to fit