Fhoenix saddles!

cblover

cblover

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Hi there, I'm considering buying myself a fhoenix saddle. I've always fancied a treeless and have joined enlightened equitation to learn more.

Anyone got a Fhoenix? Tell me everything you know!
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The idea is to use it on both Kinzzy and Luna (when she is old enough to be backed), I'm in no rush but thought i'd trial them next spring.

I've already bought some leathers to use on a treeless and I'm after a hi-withered pad, plus I think I already have a dressage girth. Just need the saddle now! Thats the expensive part. Can't help thinking I'm being too over indulgent.
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My plan with Luna is to educate her the classical way from the very beginning - I have a great instructor near by called Omar Rabia and I'll have lessons with him from day one!

Cheers peeps!
 
My horse and I love treeless saddles, but it might be worth getting one on loan for a couple of weeks to see how you get on with it. Treeless seem to be a bit like Marmite, you either love them or hate them. You will also need a qualified treeless fitter to fit it for you at first because you do need to leard about the pads and correct fit.

Best of luck!
 
Don't buy a pad yet, you need to get your Fhoenix fitted by one of Heather's trained people, and they will sort out what pad and numnah you need.
IMHO these are absolutely lovely saddles, the real Rolls Royce of treeless saddles. I was even an agent myself for a little while. If you like a more traditional feel you might prefer a Fhoenix Vogue, as it has more of a twist, so feels narrower. People who are used to treeless often don't find any problems with either style though.
They do need to be fitted though. Looking back on some of the problems people have mentioned in the past with these saddles, I think in the main they were down to the saddle not being fitted correctly. Personally, I also don't recommend them for heavier riders, but maybe you could check with the Fhoenix people about that.
Try before you buy, maybe even hire one, the cost will be taken off the price if you go ahead and buy a new one. I warn you though, once sat on they are very hard to part with.
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I don't think you need a treeless EE badged saddle in order to be classical. I have lessons from a classical instructor, I prefer their way of working and teaching, and I prefer how my horse goes in that "school" but I ride him in a Harry Dabbs dressage saddle and have just purchased a jumping saddle! I do think you have to be careful that, like with Parelli, you don't get sucked in to buying things just because they are EE badged.

Your post does seem to imply that you can only be truly classical if you have an EE saddle... if you read Philipe Karl's books, it doesn't look to me like he rides in an EE treeless saddle (in fact, his saddle in Twisted Truths looks remarkably like a bog standard dressage saddle) yet he's about as classical as they come.
 
Thanks folks, sorry if it came across that way chestnut cob - certainly never meant to give that impression. I understand that the classical principles can be taught in many forms, I suppose my knowledge lies within the EE and my good friend Omar.

What would you class as a heavier rider? Do the treeless saddles not give enough support? Thanks
 
Don't worry, reading it back I didn't word my post very well so it probably comes across very rude anyway!
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Must admit I've ridden in treeless before (inc an EE one, a while ago) and didn't get on with it at all. I feel much more secure and safer in my dressage saddle. I guess what I'm saying is don't jump straight in for a Fhoenix saddle, do try other saddles on as well. You might like the Wow saddles, they look good. There's nothing wrong with the EE way, I have lessons with an EET so it's all good as far as I'm concerned, but do sit on a few saddles before you make your mind up.
 
Love my Fhoenix. I have had it for 2 years. The only thing I don't like is the dressage girthing system. But that's the same for all the treeless saddles I have seen. Other than that it's heavenly.
Mine is used on my barrel shaped native, who changes shape with the seasons.
 
Heavier rider, maybe 15st plus. But as I say, check that for these saddles because the foam used in their construction distributes weight very efficiently. Good treeless saddles give plenty of support in my opinion, but may not deal with pressure issues relating to a heavier rider. Be careful not to lump all treeless saddles together by the way, some are awful, not stable and don't distribute weight well. I'm just talking about Fhoenix here.
I suppose the advantage in going for a Fhoenix with a young horse would that it would be very likely to continue fitting as your horse gets more mature and changes shape.
I'd do a search for Wow saddles on this forum before considering buying one.
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You're probably right, the SBS is an old model. The Fhoenix range are much nicer. I like them better than the Solution saddles, they seem better quality.
 
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