Has anyone had problems with Semiflex saddle?

M

melle

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 September 2004
Messages
293
Location
east anglia
Visit site
I'm trialling one tomorrow. . But a couple of friends have said they found they moved too much and rubbed horse. Another saddler said they don't distribute the weight evenly because of the flexi tree. Has anyone had a horse that hates a semiflex or had problems over time?
 
I have used a Barrie Swain semiflex dressage for a number of years on two of my horses. I have never had a problem and both of them go so much better in it than in other saddles.
 
Thanks, that's good to know. I had only heard good things but as soon as you start seriously looking people start putting doubt in your mind!
 
My horse would work in a semi flex but he didn't work properly til i got him a different saddle. The semi flex wasn't fitted to him specifically but it did fit he just didn't like it and it didn't help the sore bit on his back caused by a previous saddle before i bought him. Could have got one fitted for him but he liked a cheaper saddle so i ain't going to complain. :P
 
Do you recommend a specific fitter? My saddler is an agent but just plonked it on as it was and didn't seem to think it needed adjusting. I struggled to get hold of the official semi flex saddlers though. Horse appeared to like it and moved completely differently in it. Just don't want to cause long term problems!
 
Semi flexes/Barrie Swain saddles need to be fitted absolutely properly by someone who understands them - not just plonked on, or fitted by other saddle fitters. Fitted by someone who is qualified to fit them, they are excellent saddles, fitted by normal saddlers or if the horse has soreness issues - not good.
 
You need to get someone from Barrie swain out to fit it. I have a Barrie swain with holistic tree which is the older style to the semi flex and I adore it, as does horse. Wouldn't let anyone apart from their fitter near it though.
 
sjp1 said:
Semi flexes/Barrie Swain saddles need to be fitted absolutely properly by someone who understands them - not just plonked on, or fitted by other saddle fitters. Fitted by someone who is qualified to fit them, they are excellent saddles, fitted by normal saddlers or if the horse has soreness issues - not good.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
Why not horses with sore backs? And from emailing about 5 different people/saddlers people seemed to imply they would just work from a wither template to fit. And have also struggled to get hold of semi flex people with messages ignored and calls not returned. I worry its because I am trying to find one secondhand and not buying new?
 
I had one that when my saddler unstitched it to fully reflock it, it was so poorly made that he condemned it. I was so shocked with what I saw as Barrue Swain has such a good reputation. You just never know.....
 
In my experience they work for some horses but not others - we bought one new about a year and a half ago from a fitter after being recommended them from a friend who has many and really liked the idea of the tree being able to flex with the movement of the horse.

High withered beastie went nicely in it at first but was constantly having it refitted as it kept dropping at the front. Recently had it refitted again and a couple of weeks after horse started really protesting whilst ridden. After investigation it turned out that the tree had flexed so much in the middle that it was sitting on his spine right where the rider was sitting and was naturally making him very sore. I imagine this probably doesn't happen on lower withered more barrel shaped horses but for our beastie I don't think it was ever going to be suitable.

Worth bearing in mind that we l also found that the SMS fitters in the area wouldn't touch it to refit it, nor could we get anyone to take it as a PX for a different saddle.

Personally wouldn't touch one again for these reasons. We were very disappointed as so many people seem to rate them!
 
Thank you - that's very interesting to know. What a shame. Would they not take it back (SemiFlex) to rectify the problem if it was the saddle causing an issue. Maybe the flatter backed horses suit them better as I know the tree in them is much flatter.
 
No problem melle, I wish it was something we had heard about before purchasing as we've spent a small fortune on saddle at close to 2k plus £120 a pop to get it refitted by a Semiflex fitter every three months.

It has just sat at home since and we haven't tried to do anything with it yet! Will probably get in touch with Semiflex directly to see if they can do anything but I think the flexible tree is just not compatible with the shape of our boy unfortunately.
 
I'd go back to them and complain! But if you need to sell contact one of the specialist saddle companies and sell through them. Is it a dressage or jump?
 
I think it's like any saddle, they work for some and not for others. I've seen them fitted by the official professionals, and by others, and still some work and some don't. I personally don't see how you would want a tree to effectively compress/flex in the middle when you sit, it becomes like a trampoline whereas on the wide flat backs I specialise in you feel you want the tree to be more "rigid" and NOT change when the rider sits and rises. The trees are fairly flat, the seats are usually flat, but not super flat, and they are very wide in the seat so they sometimes come off the back at the outside rear panel and a narrower seat may be better.
 
sbloom said:
and they are very wide in the seat so they sometimes come off the back at the outside rear panel and a narrower seat may be better.
Click to expand...

Also found this! My sister is very small and she described it like "sitting on a crate of beer". Whilst it was okay for me (I'm much taller) her legs barely went past the saddle flaps and she tended to slide around in it a lot. Fitter provided us with big knee blocks to "hold" her in but she just slid around over those, too. Not a nice feeling over jumps :eek:
 
Mine is the older holistic saddle - the Humphries and Swain. I am not sure I would go the semi flex route as our saddle suits us - it flexes but not as much as the semi flex.

Mine is amazingly comfortable - the most comfortable saddle I have ever sat on, and never moves off the back - this was an issue we had with curved treed saddles - lots of rubbing out at the back.

BUT if you want a saddle to hold you in, this isn't it - it encourages you to find the right position naturally rather than imposing one. And I have to say, mine has thrown in some major spooks and I don't move, so very secure as you sit where you are meant to - not right over the wither which some saddles seem to end up fitted to.
 
I think this is the issue that is going to make them not right for my horse. Two wide in the seat and panels at the back. Plus lack of reliable fitters. Lots of people willing to fit to a wither and back template only.
 
I actually don't mind the one I trialled but I totally get your comments. And the one I tried is a huge 18" seat so lots of wiggle room for me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top