Anyone used this new self adjusting saddles

[mbsports]

Need a saddle for hacking out and as I have 4 horses all different just wondered if anyone has brought one of these new self adjusting synethtic saddles. Not sure wether to buy this one new or obtain a cheapish leather second hand saddle. Opinions please good or bad

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ummm, personally I'd question the wisdom of having "one saddle fits all" - tho' you probably won't like me for saying it!! Possibly a treeless saddle might be your best bet as (or so I understand) they'll mould to fit different horses, but you still might get problems if its moulded to fit one particular horse.

I don't know the synthetic saddle you mention, but having had two horses in succession who've both had sore backs (plus issues connected i.e. bucking) from using sythetic saddles, I'd err on the side of caution.

It might cost a bit more, but I'd be inclined to go perhaps for a cheapish 2nd hand saddle (correctly fitted) for each horse rather than attempt the one-saddle-fits-all.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I don't know the saddle you mean but I had a conversation with my vet while my mare was having treatment for a bad back. He said that he sees about the same number of back problems from treed and treeless saddles. He didn't think much to 'adjustable' saddles and said that the most important thing was to have the saddle fitted to the horse, preferably by a qualified saddler rather than a 'saddle-fitter'. He said that the material the saddle is made from doesn't really matter, as long as the saddle fits properly.

 

[flowerlady]

Need a saddle for hacking out and as I have 4 horses all different just wondered if anyone has brought one of these new self adjusting synethtic saddles. Not sure wether to buy this one new or obtain a cheapish leather second hand saddle. Opinions please good or bad

Although it's not new do you mean 'Flair Ride on Air' Saddle or the things you can buy and put the air in and fit to any saddle??

What make is this self adjusting synthetic saddle do you have a link so we can see one??

 

[FleabittenT]

Funny, my (master) saddler mentioned a new adjustable range of saddles when he came out for me recently, as my mare is constantly changing shape as she's getting fitter.

I think he was talking about a saddle with a flexible adjustable tree, rather than just the interchangable gullets? Not sure what they're called though, sorry.

He spoke fairly highly of them, but we didn't go into too much detail, as they're out of my budget at the mo, at around £700 new, he said.

Maybe give your saddler a call?

 

[posie_honey]

Funny, my (master) saddler mentioned a new adjustable range of saddles when he came out for me recently, as my mare is constantly changing shape as she's getting fitter.

I think he was talking about a saddle with a flexible adjustable tree, rather than just the interchangable gullets? Not sure what they're called though, sorry.

He spoke fairly highly of them, but we didn't go into too much detail, as they're out of my budget at the mo, at around £700 new, he said.

Maybe give your saddler a call?

maybe the kent and masters or the fairfax saddles - both leather adjustable saddles - both made by thorowgood

 

[Kallibear]

Presumably you mean the Shires version with the 'hinged' gullet? I don't think there's anyone else stupid enough to make them.

a) the workmanship is rubbish as they're cheap Indian-made ****. Might as well buy a Gallop or Rhinegold saddle

b) althougth the outside 'points' are flexible, the head of the tree is fixed and will always be the same angle - if that doesn't fit the horse's back shape then there will be pressure points. That's why they have a couple of differnt 'width' versions.

c) just because the width may be right doesn't mean the rest of the saddle will fit. The tree curvature needs to be correct for the back. The panel shape and depth needs to suit. The gullet channel width, esp at the front, needs to be right. The cambre of the panels at the the back needs to suit the back. All issues badly designed 'adjustable' saddles (changeable gullets ones too) have, such as the wintecs.


If you have 4 horses that you ride regularly then the only real option is a treeless. Things like WOW saddles, Thorowgoods and Wintecs will be too much hassle to change before each ride. Plus on tree type and panels is very unlikely to suit all 4 back unless they are very similar. And the flocking will bed down incorrectly for all them.

Get a decent treeless. A good quality one with a gullet channel should fit them all, with a quick change of pad per horse. A heather moffet would be worth looking at.