Choosing among equestrian saddles & pads often means balancing a focused riding discipline against a package that includes more of the setup. A 16-inch Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle and an 18-inch Crosby Mark VI Spring Seat English Saddle Package point to different shopping priorities: one centers on jumping, while the other combines an all-purpose saddle with fittings and a pad. The useful question is which arrangement matches your riding plans and how much equipment you want handled in one purchase.
Quick verdict
Butet is the focused saddle choice; Crosby is the complete setup choice. Pick Butet when jumping and close-contact riding are the main goals. Pick Crosby when everyday riding, school masters, lower-level jumping, and named package equipment are more important. The decision comes from the stated use, size, and included pieces rather than the shared brown, used description.
Price snapshot
| Comparison | Butet Close Contact | Crosby Mark VI package |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 1,000.00 | USD 350.00 |
| Absolute price difference | USD 650 higher | USD 650 lower |
Where each wins
Butet Close Contact
Butet wins on the saddle-specific condition details. Its leather is described as supple and well cared for, the knee rolls and panels are described as well flocked, and the description mentions reflocked knee rolls plus a Butet cover. Those are concrete reasons to favor it when the described leather and panel details matter more than receiving a group of fittings together.
Crosby Mark VI
Crosby wins on a defined horse-shape use case. Its cutback design is described as working well for horses with prominent or higher withers. That distinction sits alongside its all-purpose type and makes Crosby worth considering for a buyer whose priority is the cutback format, not a close-contact jump label.
Product notes
Butet Close Contact Jump Saddle, 16-inch Seat, Standard Tree
The Butet is a sensible pick for a shopper who specifically wants the Butet Close Contact model and its French origin, rather than shopping primarily for extra fittings. The description also names a Butet cover, giving the saddle a concrete accessory detail. The limitation is the stated 16-inch seat: that is a different rider-facing size from Crosby's 18-inch seat, so seat dimensions deserve priority in the decision. Choose Butet when the model's close-contact jumping designation, cover, and French origin are the reasons you are shopping, and when receiving fittings and a pad together is not the main goal.
Crosby Mark VI Spring Seat English Saddle Package
Crosby earns its place as the setup-oriented choice because the package names the equipment that accompanies the saddle: 56-inch stirrup leathers, 4 3/4-inch Centaur stainless steel stirrup irons with pads, and a Toklat Medallion shaped fleece pad. The description also positions the Mark VI for everyday riding, school masters, and lower-level jumping. Its limitation is the listed Narrow/Medium-Narrow tree/gullet description, with approximately 4-inch direct-panel and 4.5-inch dot-to-dot measurements; those raw dimensions are details to weigh alongside the rest of the choice. The 18-inch seat is another concrete distinction from Butet's 16-inch seat. Choose Crosby when having the named fittings and pad together matters more than selecting a saddle explicitly labeled Jumping/Close Contact.
Final choice by use case
- For dedicated jumping and close-contact riding: Butet, because its saddle type is explicitly Jumping/Close Contact.
- For everyday riding, school masters, or lower-level jumping: Crosby, because those uses are named in the description.
- For a bundled setup with stirrup leathers, irons, and a pad: Crosby, because those pieces are named in the package.
- For the lower listed price: Crosby at USD 350.00 rather than Butet at USD 1,000.00. That is a USD 650 difference.
- For the described leather, knee-roll, and panel details: Butet.
The final call is straightforward: choose Butet for the focused jumping format and its saddle-specific details, or choose Crosby when included equipment, cutback design, and broader everyday use matter more.
