Balance Saddles

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DBrasnett

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12 August 2007
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497
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Gloucestershire
www.brasnett-pratt.co.uk
Someone at the yard is trying to convince me I need a balance saddle. I have a master saddler coming out tomorrow, but she is telling me they don't fit the horse properly, don't allow for expanding rib cage etc.

I am very sceptical and after reading the balance website am questioning some of their science - I my mind muscle won't atrophy from a badly fitting saddle. Restricted movement from a badly fitting saddle might prevent muscle development however! A small difference but that is a big one in my mind!

Anyone had any experience of these saddles or the theory behind them?
 
Hi, I've got a balance saddle had one now for my 7/8th TB horse for 13-14yrs now. Also my NF and ex-racer have used them and actually worked much better in them.

What do you want to know???
 
No had any issues with them slipping except when my flocking needed adjusting. Some of them do show if you do not ride straight and they do not hold you into the saddle. With 'normal' saddles I how feel very restricted. But when I am jumping my horse can do big leaps so it allows me to move with it rather than feeling wedged in. However you need a good seat. This is not the case with all the saddles because they have different cuts.

I got recommended a balance saddle initially by my instructor as we got my 7/8 TB fitted by a very experienced master saddler and within 6 weeks the horse would not even go forwards into trot. Balance came out and tried a saddle which he was completely different in and never looked back. Its great as if he looses muscle across the wither you just put a wither pad in until it builds up again.

NF was in a normal saddle but stopped wanting to go forwards - tried a balance saddle and again was definately happier - that day we tried over 20 different styles of saddle from different manufacturers and there was a dramatic change in the balance. He then after about a year stopped wanting to go forwards as he had muscled up and we changed him into a wider balance again he went much better - more floaty and much better jumping.

The ex-racer I bought a wintecand started off in a medium gullet (I measured his wither using a rubber thing and drew it on some paper), within 4 weeks we were in an extra wide and when rechecking the rubber thing his withers had built up. He is now in his 3rd balance saddle as he keeps muscling up so much but this one has lasted for 6 months and is still allowing him to move forwards. With him we also tried about 15 different manufactures / types and he definately moved freer in the balance.

If I can clafify anything else pls let me know
 
Lynz25 - My pony's problems sound like you are describing. He has just stopped wanting to go forwards. He is much worse on the left rein, it is like he has hit a wall and won't go on.

Do you know if lavinia mitchell is as good as the original balance saddles?
 
Lavinia Mitchell fitted mine years ago when I had a balance!!

I would recommend a WOW though. Same wide gullet, you can change the headplates and air much more easily than flocking and would save you going through 3 different saddles as the other poster.
 
I've had Balance saddles for the past 15 years or so and they are brilliant. I don't think you would end up going through lots of saddle changes, part of the beauty of the system is that it is very adjustable. The only reason I can think of for needing to change saddles is the horse being extemely wasted to begin with.
 
I should clarify the 7/8th TB I am still in the origional. The NF once we were in a balance I used a thinner one I already had until I could find a wider one which he had for over 1yr without a change before be had to be PTS after colic.

The x-racer was a 4 year old but was built more like a 2 year old and changed shape massively. He ended up being diagnosed with Kissing spine and operated on last Nov. Since riding him again he has actually kept in the same saddle. His previous balance does not fit not due to the width but the fact it actually sits on his shoulder so we had to get one with a different cut but its the same width.

Lavinia used to work for balance but now has set up another company who sell saddles on a similar principe but cheaper. She quite often carrys 2nd hand balance ones as well as her own. The saddler I use also carries a range of balance 2nd hand saddles or if you knew which you needed I have 2 for sale and there are some at the moment on ebay.

Generally you should not have to do lots of saddle changes on the whole now I have the correct one for my ex-racer I will just change the thickness of pads as I do with my 7/8th TB.

Never used a WOW so can not comment. Personally I will now use balance as I have had 3 horses who have worked better in them. However all I can recommend is that maybe you try both and listen to the horse - he/she will tell you which they prefer.
 
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