Opinions on this saddle please!!

[CatStew]

Hi,

Was just wondering if anybody has any knowledge or experience regarding this "self adjusting" saddle I have seen on eBay. I'm looking for a new saddle for my loan horse as I don't really like the one she came with, but I don't want to start spending a fortune on tack!

*hopefully* the link for the saddle is below:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-self-adju...Horse_Wear_Equipment&var=&hash=item9503344c9e

 

[jhoward]

No no no no no no no no

 

[cptrayes]

I bought one with that tree/gullet on trial once to see how it was made. It does not "self adjust" in any meaningful fashion - the width of the gullet is the width of the gullet. The lower half hinges so the saddle LOOKS like it fits better, but meanwhile the pressure is concentrated into two tiny points at the end of the true, short, gullet plate, where it hinges. It is bound to cause excess pressure on either side of the wither.

I sent it back, I would not use one on my horses if I was paid to.


Buy a saddle with interchangeable gullet plates instead, there are plenty around now.

 

[fitzaud2]

Buy a saddle with interchangeable gullet plates instead, there are plenty around now.[/QUOTE]

THe interchangeable ones are great, you really should get one of those!!!

 

[CatStew]

I bought one with that tree/gullet on trial once to see how it was made. It does not "self adjust" in any meaningful fashion - the width of the gullet is the width of the gullet. The lower half hinges so the saddle LOOKS like it fits better, but meanwhile the pressure is concentrated into two tiny points at the end of the true, short, gullet plate, where it hinges. It is bound to cause excess pressure on either side of the wither.

I sent it back, I would not use one on my horses if I was paid to.


Buy a saddle with interchangeable gullet plates instead, there are plenty around now.

Thanks for the advice, I thought they sounded too good to be true! I've been considering wintecs and thorowgoods anyway, but I came across this saddle and just wondered if it would be more suitable... obviously not!!!

 

[Umbongo]

No no no no no no no no

Ditto!! If it was the miracle saddle it sounds like it's claiming to be then it wouldn't be that cheap! Looks like an awful saddle and I wouldn't put it on my horses if someone paid me.

 

[cptrayes]

If you are short of cash look on eBay, synthetics normally go cheap and with the interchangeable plate you should be able to make it fit, as long as you know what size and shape saddle you need for you.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Quite apart from anything else, the girth straps are in a most peculiar position. If you put that saddle on a horse, almost all the saddle will be in front of the girth, so likely to be restricting the shoulders and unbalancing the rider.
I wouldn't bother with it.

 

[Girlracer]

Hi-Lites are possibly the most un-comfortable saddles in the world to!

 

[CatStew]

Quite apart from anything else, the girth straps are in a most peculiar position. If you put that saddle on a horse, almost all the saddle will be in front of the girth, so likely to be restricting the shoulders and unbalancing the rider.
I wouldn't bother with it.

I hadn't actually noticed the girth straps till you said, but yeah, thinking about it, I think there are better saddles about! I'm too easily sold!