Recently I have become saddle obsessed again. I know that I believe it will suddenly alter my riding abilities, as I get the sense that I am unbalanced in my current, Courbette. Being a rather "sensitive to detail" type person, it is my belief that I feel overly responsible for my lack of balance when it's really due to my saddle. I am on a budget and don't currently have my own horse. Both reasons to not buy a hugely expensive saddle. However, I did buy the Courbette Alpina for that reason, and still really like the looks of it. But am not happy with the way it sits on the horses. And I do ride a number of differently shaped horses. The self-adjusting tree, may very well be sitting on their backs after I post in it for awhile.