Freemax Avacallo Dressage Saddle

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ecrozier

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Anyone know anything about these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220490934329&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Been looking at treeless dressage saddles as an option to buy one saddle to use on both horses....I'm not particularly tall/heavy, especially on the 16.2hh youngster, but am as yet undecided whether to go with getting my older boy a conventional treed dressage saddle (to replace his current one which isnt a great fit!) for say £800 (second hand!!) and then just riding youngster in the saddle he has now and replacing that as necessary with GP styles for next couple of years.....or to go the treeless route.
Any experiences or opinions welcomed!
 
Sorry but don't know anything on the Freemax dressage but I have just bought a Barefoot London dressage saddle which I can recommend and my boy goes in it really well.

Its the first time I have tried treeless and the London looks more like a conventional english saddle than most I have seen.
 
Hi CarmaandFin - will look that one up thanks. I am looking at the treeless as an option to be able to use on more than one horse (obv realise might need different padding etc). Do you know if thats an option with yours?
 
Hi EmmaC

There are 3 saddle seat sizes and the pommel of the saddle has 3 widths - Narrow, standard (which it comes with), and wide. There is also the option to buy a soft pommel for horses that are extremely wide or sensitive in the wither.

I opted for the size 1 seat. Have a look at Horse & Harmony website as they give all details on there for accessories etc. I purchased mine as a full package with pad, girth, stirrups etc from preloved and they come up on ebay too. Horse & Harmony I think they also offer a trial too.

Dream Team saddles were also doing an offer for a treeless at £349 and that was like an english style saddle.

Good luck in your search!
 
Friend bought a barefoot london saddle to replace her too-big fhoenix. Horrible saddle. Poor quality for the price and basically just a golorified soft and floppy bareback pad with pommel and cantle stuck on it. But them all the barefoot saddles are similar - they're everything I dislike about treeless' - they provide no support for spreading the riders weight.

The freemaxes are similar to the freeforms (which I have). Unlike the barefoot and copies, the base is solid and supports weight well, but flexible enough not to restrict.

I bought a GP/jump freemax version and it was ok for the price. The leather wasn't nearly as nice as the freeform but ok. Finish was good but cheaper material. However I sent it back because the flaps were TINY! I had to go for a 16" version (the base is really long for the seat size and my horse is short backed - you can't put a too-long base on a horse despite what they say, esp as this base was fairly stiff) and the flaps literally didn't come past my knees once on. Shame, as I suspect my horse would have liked it. The seller however is very good and took it back.

However, if you're going to get a treeless and have a little more to spend, go for a Heather Moffet. You can pick a fhoenix for £500-£600 on ebay. There are a couple of different panel types so you need the type that will suit, but appart from that one size fits most.

My friend has one and it's a lovely saddle. Very good quality leather and well finished. They have proper panels and the design and thickness means they spread weight well and don't need a special pad. They also look very traditional. Some have the strirrups too far set-back but it seems to depend on the age (older ones are further back I think). You could no doubt get a saddler to change it easily enough though.

If I was going to slapsh out on a treeless dressage I'd def got for HM saddle over any other.
 
Kallibear thanks for that , very interesting. Might PM you actually if thats ok? Had a look at the barefoot london and isn't nearly traditional looking enough for me I'm afraid! So will go and have a look at the Heather Moffat ones now!
 
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