Anyone used a semi flexi tree on a barry swain or nic doleman saddle ?

G

Gryfiss

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 August 2012
Messages
254
Visit site
Hi, just wondering on what your thoughts are on barry swain or nic doleman semi flexi tree saddles i'm due to try one tomorrow but can't seem to find anything on how they work.

currently i ride my mare in a stubben cs jump saddle which is brilliant for me jumping but it moves a bit laterally on the mare .

My mare is very sensitive and is a bit cold backed, I recently brought a sue carson dr saddle had it fitted and she absolutley hated it her back went straight up as soon as I got on not a nice feeling.

Any reviews of the saddle would be great thanks in advance. xx
 
I love my Barry swains., have 8 of them, in total. Never had a back problem on a horse with a Barry Saddle. I have half panels in each of mine so loads of freedom through the shoulder. Fantastic saddles
 
I have one and love it. The half panels really suit him as he has massive shoulder movement. I have a dressage semiflex. Very comfy ride and I even hack in it. Beware there not all Barrie Swain/ nick dolman saddles are the same. Only the BS semiflex which has flexible points and tree has the gold badge on the back. It will also be stamped with a number that u can call Barrie and verify its history. They can be like gold dust. I think its the nick dolman enigma that is the flexible tree. So u need to know what you're buying. Can't comment on what the dolman saddle is like.
 
I have Lauriches many of which were built on a Barrie Swaine tree - wouldn't use anything else. My latest Lauriche is currently been restored by a saddler who was trained by Barrie and made Lauriches.
 
I have a BS semiflex on my youngster (the saddle used to belong to the youngsters mother) and a ND semi flex on our other horse. They are both fantastic.

Only slight problem is the the ND working hunter style was made to fit the horse and my husband, so i find when i ride my knee is very close to, or off, the front of the panel, but that is only because i have very long thighs!

bye!
 
Hi
Sorry for late reply...I have Barrie Swain Semi-flex dressage saddle and both me and my horse love it. Before buying it I tried everything on the market and the mare hated all of them! Wouldn't ride in anything else.
In terms of how it works, it just gives a little with horses movement and my horse likes that. You can feel the horse moving more underneath you and so use your seat more as it more close contact. Had mine 18 months now and my horse just goes better and better.
 
Can any of you who have the Semi flex tell me how it differs from the Holistic freedom flexi tree - I have phone Barries workshop today and got the gist of it but struggle with the brummy accent and didn't want to appear rude and ask the very nice chap to repeat himself....hangs head in shame.....

From what I can gather the semi moves with the shoulders more and the flexitree just moves with the back or did I really not get his accent :( ???? HELP
 
I love the semi flex, have two. Had terrible problems with my horses back, the semi flex made a huge difference, as did Kay Humphries.
 
I have a saddle made by Kay that was built for my prev horse 11 or so years ago but can't remember what tree was used. A humphries and swain flexitree holistic saddle again from Kay built for our horse and a Xenophon / Humphries and Swain dressage saddle but again Mum can't remember which tree we had. So as I now need a smaller version for the 13.2 NF I was thinking I may try a semi flex but wondered if I could tell the diff in the comfort to both horse and rider or if I should just stick with a holistic flexitree which are cheaper and easier to pick up secondhand.

I have already put my name down for a visit from Barrie Swains workshop chaps to come and check all my saddles and wanted to get the pony's one here for when they come hence my urgency to find him the correct saddle and asap.
 
Last edited:
I am desperately looking for a 17 1/2" semiflex dressage saddle. I have a Mondial Freedom dressage saddle, same size and would like to swop or p/x. Would anyone be interested?? Many thanks:)
 
martiwhicker said:
I am desperately looking for a 17 1/2" semiflex dressage saddle. I have a Mondial Freedom dressage saddle, same size and would like to swop or p/x. Would anyone be interested?? Many thanks:)
Click to expand...

No swapsies as theyre like gold dust however. There's a 17.5 semiflex dressage saddle on ebay at a good price :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top