Introducing a crossover between Western and English. The El Campo Western. The Fantastic El Campo that fit so many horses crossed with the seat of the Quantum that so many people enjoy.
There were many wants and needs presented to us over the years and this saddle, although unconventional in looks, it checks all the boxes.
Loved features that remain:
- The Gullet/Bars are still the famous DP Saddlery Adjustable system.
- The cantle is broad and supportive along the back side like the El Campo and Quantum.
- There is a soft leg area to make the leg more comfortable and maintain a closer contact feel to the horse.
- The 2 billet girthing system that adds stability of a rear cinch without adding a cinch.
- The WD narrower twist was maintained for rider comfort. It is not excessively narrow, just narrow enough to let your leg hang under your hip easier.
Concern # 1 - The pommel of the El campo rides up into the front of the pelvis. The seat on the new saddle is a WD Quantum seat. This allows for the rider to have a flatter seat in front of their pelvis. There is now a pommel for the gullet to be adjustable.
Concern # 2 - The Quantum short and light is tippy and moves too much. The panels on this saddle are very similar to the El campo. They have much more surface area than the Quantum Western and as much as the El campo that has a lot more stability.
Questions you may have
Does it have a knee block? Yes under the front soft leather there is a knee block. It is the same size as the El campo, other sizes can be ordered. It is positioned a little lower than the el campo because of the shape of the pommel. It's still Velcro so can be removed changed or relocated.
Do you use stirrups or fenders with this saddle? Either. We have a wide stirrup available so you can use a western stirrup or you can attach an English stirrup. Both hang off the standard English stirrup bar located under the flap above the panel. You may also like the look of a traditional fender, we have the quantum fenders that hang off that same stirrup bar.
Does it have to have the Soft Leg Area (SKL)? Yes There is too much change in leather direction in that area to use hard leather. It would take too much time to break in the leather to conform to the tree and saddle. This is very comfortable under the leg and makes it a closer contact feel with the horse .
Will this fit my round horse? Yes this is more ideal than other DP saddles for your round horse. The added panel length down the leg helps wrap the horse more and add to the stability of the saddle. Imagine the Short and Light is like a 4 year old with legs out to the side, while this is more like an 8 year old with longer legs that wrap around. The longer leg will ad more stability to the ride.
Will this fit my narrow horse with tall withers? Yes, The pommel clearance like the short and light and other Quantum saddles is quite high. There are limitations and excessive atrophy in the horses back causing an abnormal shark fin structures that should be addressed by our Top Hat Tack saddle fitters. It can be done, we are here to help. As always DP does not claim that all models fit all horses, but the DP saddle range has the most success with the widest range of horses.
Will this fit my flat back horse? Yes, The curved panels tend to look like a banana on a table, however, once weighted they distribute your weight across the area your weight dictates. This does not have a traditional look and should not be fit by someone that is not familiar with the DP saddles and engineering designs. But we are here, at Top Hat Tack to help you fit your horse. Read more on the panels HERE
Will this saddle fit my short backed horse? Like the El campo the panel system is designed to minimize the length of impact on the horse and maximize the surface area of distribution down the ribs of the horse. The actual impact area of this saddle will depend on your seat size, your weight and how curved your horse's back is. Short is a relative term. We are happy to teach you how to measure your horses weight bearing area to determine the horses maximum saddle capacity.
What size would I need to order? The seat is similar to the Quantum WD so an S1 is a 15.5 in western, an s2 is 16 in western, an s3 is 16.5 in western. At this time there is no S4 available in this saddle however it will be eventually.
Contact us today to get your El Campo Western ordered in the DP colors of your choice.