Calling all Solution Saddle users

[Horsewitterer]

Hi there,

I'm a bit of a lurker on this forum if I'm honest! I've been on here a bit lately as I've come across quite a few threads regarding Solution saddles over recent months. I've been considering these saddles for some time - in fact 3 years ago I tried a Solution GP, but was concerned as the gullet seemed narrow and the panels were resting on the bony part of my horse's withers at the sides.

However I've been advised that the newer Smart saddles have flexible panels and move more with the horse so may put my mind at ease as regards gullet width and spinal pressure....?

The reason I'm interested in treeless saddles generally is I have a few issues with my horse's treed saddle tipping off to the right at the back and dropping down to the left at the front - kind of ends up on a diagonal. She has some minor atrophy - barely visible compared with the atrophy you see on some horses, but I know it's there. Last summer she also had back pain in the areas where the saddle tips off to.

Physio reckons it's happening because of the way my horse moves (she is sound) but she kind of swings me to the right and causes my right hip to collapse.

I've had advice of an experienced saddle fitter and am using shims to try to correct the saddle movement which has helped a bit. Physio thought her back was much better in January, but I still think I could do better for my horse than her current totally inflexible treed saddle. In terms of treeless brands, the Solution seems to stand out in terms of performance (& price !!).

I find my saddle uncomfortable after longer rides and get pain in my right hip sometimes. My horse is generally grumpy to tack up (although oddly she's being v good at the mo) but I'd struggle to tack her up without the distraction of a haynet!

I've noticed there seem to be a fair few people on here who've purchased Solution saddles relatively recently and I just wondered if people were still happy with their purchase? Would also be interested to hear from anyone who's had issues with the width of the gullets...

Also, if there happens to be anyone in the Worcestershire area who'd be happy to let me have a peek at their Smart saddle, that would be fabulous!

Thanks for reading.

 

[deoni]

Mine caused pressure from the panels on the smart gp and horse now has lovely saddle marks.

 

[Pascal96]

I have the Solution Freestyle and have had no problems with it. I tried the Smart but the horse I tried it on didn't like it but is really happy with the Freestyle. We think it is because the pommel on the Smart is much stiffer to make it look more like a normal saddle and the mare didn't like the feel of it. I use the freestyle on 2 horses 1 much wider than the other and they both go very well in it. You can get the Smart on trial to see if it would suit you and your horse - thats how we found out that my horse didn't like it and I was then able to trial the freestyle which was the answer for her

 

[GinaGeo]

I've said it before, but I love my Solution Saddles. I ride my two horse's in them, and now have a small collection. One horse much prefers the Original GP saddle, the other is starting to show a preference for the Smart Close Contact Dressage saddle. So at some point I'll be adding a Smart Close Contact Jumping saddle to my collection. You do need to have them fitted and they don't seem to suit all horse's. But my experience of the fitters has been very positive, mine certainly had the horse's best interests at heart and spent ages with me, tweaking, adjusting and trying various different set-ups to find the horse's preference.

Big thumbs up from me

 

[ozpoz]

I ride in a Smart Dressage saddle. Both horses and I are very happy.

 

[Hunty91]

I have a smart gp and its fab, both me and my horse are comfy in it. We had a check recently and a couple of adjustments were made and it seems better than ever!

 

[Horsewitterer]

Deoni, that's what bothers me - I just don't get why it's ok for the panels to sit so tight into the sides of the spine. Obviously in your horse's case it wasn't ok!

Did a fitter come and fit it for you?

It's great that other people seem to get on with them so well. Problem is for every good thing I read about them I hear a negative - they seem kind of 50/50 on the feedback front. Although I've read a few negatives about most treeless saddles tbh.

Something with a flexible tree is another option potentially.....

 

[deoni]

Deoni, that's what bothers me - I just don't get why it's ok for the panels to sit so tight into the sides of the spine. Obviously in your horse's case it wasn't ok!

Did a fitter come and fit it for you?

It's great that other people seem to get on with them so well. Problem is for every good thing I read about them I hear a negative - they seem kind of 50/50 on the feedback front. Although I've read a few negatives about most treeless saddles tbh.

Something with a flexible tree is another option potentially.....

Yeah I had a fitter out, got the pads etc! i was really hopeful and excited, but there was always pressure under the panels at the front and on the others wither. One had lumps where it had been sitting and the other got a saddle mark. Was gutted as I thought that was the end to saddle issues!! Might just be me but I had it fitted and this was over a couple of months, only rode in it about 10/15 times. Some other people contacted me about it with similar experiences on facebook, so I think it is 50/50 if it suits or not!

 

[Happytohack]

I love mine! Have ridden in treeless for years. And I have gaited horses so it is very important that the shoulder is not restricted. Bought a new horse last year who is very short coupled. He hated all my saddles so I decided to try a solution on the recommendation of other owners of the breed. My horse loved it from day one. I ride all 3 of mine in it & feel so secure. I felt rather perched in my other saddles. Rachel the saddle fitter in my area was fab. I didn't feel pressurised at all and tried the saddle for the full 2 weeks before buying it.

 

[Kokopelli]

I have a freestyle, doing a bit of reasearch I think the old fashioned freestyler/ energists are better as the new smart ones seem to be trying to hard to be normal saddles so lacking in some areas.

I love my saddle and its worked wonders on my chap

 

[Horsewitterer]

Deoni the saddle was obviously not suitable at all for your horse if it caused that much damage after just 10 - 15 rides. That really is very scary. What sort of horse do you have if you don't mind me asking?

I think your experience and the fact you say others on Facebook have contacted you with the same problem has pretty much put me off these saddles altogether. It's a shame really as they look like they have many beneficial design features - but why on earth do they have such a narrow gullet?!! I emailed the comany about the gullet width and got the impression from the response that it's a lot to do with ensuring lateral stability of the saddle.

I asked if they have ever experienced issues with the gullet width and received the following response:

"The gullet width is not an area we have issues with as the saddle should be supported by the dorsal muscles and not the spine when correctly fitted and the RigidFree gullet will open, flex and move with the horse as it moves."

But people must have contacted them and reported issues such as the one you had (in fact I should imagine you did contact them?). Unless your fitter just wasn't very good & so didn't fot the saddle correctly?

As regards whether the older models are better, I really don't know. As I said, I tried an older style GP and didn't like where the panels sat on my horse at all.

I was really hoping the Smart might be better in that department, but it's sounding like it isn't....

I can see lots of people do have success with these saddles, but I'm not so sure I want to risk finding out if I will or won't be a success story at the risk of causing white hairs to appear on my horse's withers after potentially just 15 rides!!

 

[Horsewitterer]

Is there anyone else with any other feedback?

 

[Rowreach]

I love the original Solution models and have them in Freestyle, Jumper and GP. I had reservations about the Smart saddles from their inception, don't like them to ride in, my horses weren't as happy, and they are very expensive, but having said that, they are improving all the time and I haven't tried any of the very recently developed Smart models.

I've been using them for years, and have several horses that have never had a treed saddle on their backs, ever.

 

[Pascal96]

Like Rowreach I have reservations about the new Smart and as I said before 1 of my horses showed very clearly that she didn't like it. However both go really well in the Freestyle and you can have them on 2 weeks trial to see if they suit.

 

[GinaGeo]

The new smarts are a lot better. The first generation Smart saddles were really bulky and you felt a long way removed from the horse. My friend had one and I schooled her horse for her, eventually she part chopped it for an Original GP and bother her and the horse were much happier.

My Smart's less than a year old, it's one from the close contact, supra-bloc range. I tried a newer Sport saddle at the same time but we both preferred the former. I haven't any complaints and neither has the horse I bought it for. As I said he prefers it to the Original saddles. My other horse has a much stronger preference for the Original. They're all individuals at the end of the day! Certainly worth trialling and I wouldn't consider the old Smart saddles.

 

[Horsewitterer]

Has anyone got any suggestions why Deoni experienced the issues she did, particularly when the saddle was fitted by a fitter?

 

[pootleperkin]

I have a smart native dressage and the horse goes very well in it, plus for the first time ever, I feel like I can fit into the horse and ride her, not just perch on top. I am so much more secure and have now developed the brave pants that I needed to bring my girl on.

It doesn't really fit my boy though, so not endlessly interchangeable between horses as some would say. But, that wasn't the point - it does the job it was bought for very well - it is super comfortable too!

 

[pootleperkin]

Phone trauma - sit into the horse, not fit! Should also say I liked the freestyle more than the smart, bug less experienced OH felt much more secure in the smart.

 

[ShadowFlame]

Where about in Worcs are you?

I trialled a Smart Solution in November last year. We had a trial saddle for 3 weeks, our saddle arrived around a week later. We had 5mths solid (6 day a week) use which included long hacks, schooling, jumping upto 2'9, and I couldn't have been happier with it. Lovely saddle, comfy, Rods went worlds better in it. Fantastic.

It's still sat at home waiting to be used again. It's a Native GP, so the underside panels are very thin - I like how close contact that makes it feel, though

 

[Penny Eater]

I know this isn't what you've asked about, but please take a look at the Heather Moffett saddles, they have memory foam seats so are super comfy to ride in, and a better twist than the Solution saddles so not as tough on the hips. Second hand Fhoenix saddles can be picked up from ebay for around £400, visit the EE website to look for a saddle fitter in your area.

PS I'm not in any way connected with these saddles or the selling of them, just a very happy owner of one!

 

[ShadowFlame]

I know this isn't what you've asked about, but please take a look at the Heather Moffett saddles, they have memory foam seats so are super comfy to ride in, and a better twist than the Solution saddles so not as tough on the hips. Second hand Fhoenix saddles can be picked up from ebay for around £400, visit the EE website to look for a saddle fitter in your area.

PS I'm not in any way connected with these saddles or the selling of them, just a very happy owner of one!

Having owned both, the Smart Solutions have a better twist and are far nicer to ride in

 

[Penny Eater]

Having owned both, the Smart Solutions have a better twist and are far nicer to ride in

Ah, I've only tried the old-style Solution, must have improved things with the Smart saddles.
Saddles are like horses, you might need to try a few before you find the right one and the good thing about the treeless makes is they do trials (the Solution and Heather Moffett ones anyway - don't know about any others)

 

[abracadabra]

I've had a solutions saddle for a few years now and can't say enough good things about it. My horse sounds similar to your horse, he was carrying the (well-fitted) treed saddles oddly, and becoming asymmetrical as a result. Tried a solutions saddle (first treeless I'd ever seen up-close at that point, never mind sat in, lol. I didn't DO treeless at all back then) and the difference was amazing. Still happy with it a few years on. Haven't tried a smart as couldn't afford to buy another I didn't really need.

(not a fan of the HM ones for various reasons, since they'e been mentioned).

 

[deoni]

Deoni the saddle was obviously not suitable at all for your horse if it caused that much damage after just 10 - 15 rides. That really is very scary. What sort of horse do you have if you don't mind me asking?

I think your experience and the fact you say others on Facebook have contacted you with the same problem has pretty much put me off these saddles altogether. It's a shame really as they look like they have many beneficial design features - but why on earth do they have such a narrow gullet?!! I emailed the comany about the gullet width and got the impression from the response that it's a lot to do with ensuring lateral stability of the saddle.

I asked if they have ever experienced issues with the gullet width and received the following response:

"The gullet width is not an area we have issues with as the saddle should be supported by the dorsal muscles and not the spine when correctly fitted and the RigidFree gullet will open, flex and move with the horse as it moves."

But people must have contacted them and reported issues such as the one you had (in fact I should imagine you did contact them?). Unless your fitter just wasn't very good & so didn't fot the saddle correctly?

As regards whether the older models are better, I really don't know. As I said, I tried an older style GP and didn't like where the panels sat on my horse at all.

I was really hoping the Smart might be better in that department, but it's sounding like it isn't....

I can see lots of people do have success with these saddles, but I'm not so sure I want to risk finding out if I will or won't be a success story at the risk of causing white hairs to appear on my horse's withers after potentially just 15 rides!!

A TB and a sec D. was fitted to both with the pads higher up for the tb and lower for the section D. But under the pad seemed to be a lot of pressure. On the sec d I did XC in it, when I got home (hacked) I took the saddle off and there was lumps on my horses wither, they are still there now. I was going to get the pic of the facebook group, but I think it has been deleted I can't find it!

 

[mandwhy]

Ooh I've been toying with the idea of a HM flexee but like the look of the solutions better. I guess I'm going to have to cough up and trial one... I couldn't afford a new solution though. I can't really do dressage saddles as I need shortish stirrups on my horse, I like the sound of the native dressage but could only find info on small native ones I.e. for small rider and small pony, I need the difficult compromise for tall rider and smallish short backed power haff!

Apparently I'm too heavy for a flexee in the right size at the moment, sad times!

 

[Penny Eater]

Mandwhy what is the weight limit for the Flexee, is it different to the weight limit for the Fhoenix/Vogue? I like the look of the Flexee, especially now they've started doing it in brown. Sorry to hijack your thread Horsewitterer!

 

[Horsewitterer]

ShadowFlame I'm in a village called Clifton upon Teme (about 12 miles out of Worcester kind of North West of the city). Are you near ish to me?

Tedmunster, I have tried an HM saddle but just wasn't sure. One of the main reasons I couldn't decide on treeless the last time I considered it was because I cannot mount from the floor. Might sound a bit daft, but when you're on a hack and have to dismount because of a gate that's a bit tricky, how do you get back on if the saddle spins round? The HM saddle has no D rings so can't attach a breast plate (just thought that might help as regards slipping).

However, I much prefer the gullet width on the HM saddles - nice and wide. I did also find it comfy, and Heather obviously gets on well with them and has ridden in them for years and years. I've also read lots of good things about them, so I might re-consider them again.

Lots of you seem to get on very well with the Solutions though, especially the Freestyle it seems - the Freestyle's a dressage model isn't it?

Weird how Deoni had those issues though and I've always worried out the gullet width and it seems her issues were attributable to the more narrow gullet.

One thing for sure is I do want to change my saddle. I did wonder about the FlexEE but I really want a saddle that's been well tried and tested and has been used for a bit of everything. The FlexEE is so new that I'm not sure how well it will stand the test of time, although lots of people seem to like it.

Don't know what to do!! There seems to be good and bad

 

[Amicus]

Only use solution saddles now and I think they're brilliant well worth the investment, in my experience if you get them fitted right you won't go back.

I also met a lady from a SJ dealer who uses them for all there horses as they can get a good fit without having loads of different treed saddles.

Really tried to like the Heather Moffet fhoenix but couldn't get on with it all as a rider. The memory foam unless it was a very hot day stayed pretty hard and high up for entire rides (over an hour). Still horses seem to get on with them fine and in a warmer country maybe but as it was we sold it and bought another solution.

 

[pootleperkin]

I needed something super wide for my mare, so fitter recommended the native smart....for more barrel shaped horses - my mare is actually a rather large 16.2 hh war blood - not v native at all! I would get a fitter out and ask them to bring a few tobtry, the perhaps rent the one you like best.

The free style is straightish cut, but more gp than dressage. Tbh, they are just like a pony pad in a sense - v close contact!

 

[deoni]

Weird how Deoni had those issues though and I've always worried out the gullet width and it seems her issues were attributable to the more narrow gullet.

It wasn't a narrow gullet on my smart, i had to have pads to raise it off the wither which caused pressure under them and also they said it was ok close contact with the withers but it caused lumps on them. I'm not sure to be honest, I wish I was nearer a fitter but it cost to much to get them out as Im in the middle of no where so only got them the once, I just thought it was easier to get rid, as I've never had trouble like this with a treed!