Balance Saddles... Anyone use one?

[Geminismum]

I have a Friesisn x lightweight cob so she's quite round. Shes a bit of a funny shape at the moment (fairly croup high - she's only 4) and is currently being ridden in a Thorowgood T4 cob with shims in various places on the advice of my saddle fitter. I had the saddle fitter out this week after I began to notice my saddle slipping to the right (about an inch) but it's still not right and I find it pretty uncomfortable to ride in. Someone on my yard suggested looking at balance saddles so I was just looking for some information, experiences etc..

Thank you !

 

[Tiddlypom]

I tried a Balance saddle on my cob. Not impressed. In my opinion, the general idea seems to be to sell you a saddle with a tree that is too wide for your horse, and then insist that you have to shim it up with dedicated pads and shims.

 

[Annie B.]

I have a Balance saddle on my old mare. She was in a GFS event that was professionally fitted which later showed to be causing damage to her back. After time off and physiotherapy I purchased a Balance saddle as it was recommended by my physio. My mare was 17 when she returned to work and is now 25 and hacked out 5 days a week. The saddles are based on just a half tree and are fitted to your horse using pads and shims I am actually an Albion fan and use those on my other horses but this Balance saddle has given me a very happy horse. I do find people have strong opinions without having ever tried one but I know it works for me. My mare is a 16.2 Weilkopolski with a high wither and is very comfy in her saddle and now moves beautifully through her shoulders and is still up in her back .

 

[mandwhy]

My friend uses them and is a fan, I went to the last fitting and it was really really interesting. The lady taught me loads about horse anatomy etc and how to tell if the horse liked the saddle by his movement etc. Certainly never had that from an ordinary fitter! Yes they do want you to get your horse muscled up under a saddle that is wide and that does involve shims, but trying to muscle up under something unforgiving and rigid is pretty difficult so I can see the logic. Seems to work from what I've seen but probably not for everyone. The difference in musculature is pretty spectacular for some.

Also she did not sell my friend a saddle as she already had an old saddle from them, she tried several but the horse liked that one, job done.

 

[elijahasgal]

Yes x I have a matrix saddle for my old boy, he is an ID x TB. Had always had saddles fitted to him, but he was changing so much as a youngster that if I went 6 months without having to change I was doing well. There were always things that I wondered about, like he is slightly croup high, and I was being told to raise the rear of the saddle......
Then he hurt himself. was off work for months. I realised how much his back had changed. Started looking for new soloutions (I had previously used a flair air pad, and had started seeing differences and seeing how his work changed)
I looked about, a friend had a balance fitter out, so I asked her to bring some for him. She tried the first one and he didnt like it. I was really negative at that point. Then the next, the matrix, which does not have points. it was like having a different horse under me, he GREW, and used himself. so playing I touched the extension buttons, hoping for a little, as he had always struggled, and well......GP extension it felt like!!!!!
Needless to say, saddle sold!!! I never had to buy another again, thats now 10 years ago or so!!!
I have found it fantastically useful on other horses as well!
I did a recommendation on a friend, she has a driving horse, but he was also ridden. he was in a wintec adjustable. He was always a stressy nut, always tense. Now he is lovely to ride. And as for a hard sell?!!! They looked at the wintec to see if it could work out for him. She told her the model and size, and we found one on e-bay.
The horse is a totally different horse now, muscled up and calm and will stand patiently, and walk and trot out relaxed.
There are many new models, one I have tried on my now mare, I really didnt suit it, but she went fine. Know another will be better for us, but at mo, cannot afford it!

 

[merlin12]

I have a balance saddle for my xwide gypsy cob. It fits him very well . I need no shims or padding .I use a normal numnah .He is very happy in it . It is an older model ,I bought from a friend . I fitted it myself. Lovely quality saddle ,my cob is very happy in it. I find it very comfortable.