Proud owner of a solution saddle! And WOW what a difference!!!

Chellebean - how are you finding your Smart? Did you try the energist too?

I test rode in both the Energist and the Smart Native Dressage at the weekend. I actually preferred the feel of the Energist, but for a number of reasons, we have rented the Smart - I liked both of them a lot, so there wasn't much in it. Both made me feel like I was balanced on the horse like I haven't ever been on her before.
 
Hey,

I cant remember whether I tried the freestyle originally but can't quite remember (I did it at the time under protest lol) which I found comfy but wasn't 100% sure however the smart gave me so much more.

Here's a little history on why I picked the solution and a bit on my first ride... for those that are interested :D
I have a 6 year coblet, that pretty much has the biggest shoulders i have ever seen. When I got him last year on loan, he hadn't been sat on for over a year since he was broken in. He came with a wintec that fitted him, however, when you mounted him (even slowly) you got a headbutt. This wasn't great as I had/have confidence issues getting on... so we went back to square one!
In december we started hacking out but everything was rushed and not right. I asked a friend if she would hack him out during the week to get over it and when she got on to try him, she landed with a thump and he became a bunny rabbit! So unlike him.
2 weeks later we had a visit from Solution to train my YO in fitting! Sailor was used as the semi flat backed test fit. I refused to sit on any of the 3 saddles they tried on him as my car also blew up that morning as well. However, number 4 i sat on him and god there was a difference.

Anyway over the coming months i tried him in a freemax! And again he was a new horse, until we went on a 5mile hack and pressure points started to show there faces and a nice slide in the field meant he put his back out. So whilst he was off i ummed and ahhed and decided to give a solution a whirl. Roll on September and getting one ready for mid october trial! (if only someone had told us one had to be made to fit my butt).

So, today i finally got to get mine fitted. In all the other saddles I have felt seriously insecure... the feeling like I was going to go out the side door at any point. tonight, once the saddle has been fitted to his rather non-toplined back. And the difference was like *quot;OMG*quot;, he went from throwing his head around and chucking it in your face... to almost instantly working over his back (although weak you could tell it was there). He also became alot softer in the hand as well! I think the major difference for me and it probably wouldn't be for most in CR but it was how secure I felt and safe. I had a nasty fall a few years ago and since then my confidence has been slowly going... however, I can feelit coming back majorly with this saddle
 
cundlegreen said:
I want to test ride in one of these, but so far nobody has come back to me. Rather diasppointing.
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Sadly customer care is not nearly so good as the actual product!! You have a couple of excellent former Solution tech advisors in your area, who may still do fittings. Keep trying the office, the saddles are worth it.
 
Rowreach said:
Sadly customer care is not nearly so good as the actual product!! You have a couple of excellent former Solution tech advisors in your area, who may still do fittings. Keep trying the office, the saddles are worth it.
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Who are they? I've been told that Racheal Brown would contact me, but so far nothing. She's only 20 odd miles from me.
 
Had my saddle fit today :D

I'm so happy, he moved in a way that i've never felt before. We also jumped for the first time in months and it was the best he's ever felt. I really feel like we're going to turn a corner now and my god it's been a long time coming!!
 
I haven't read the whoe thread, but was interested in the research by Hilary Clayton. Our experience with a treeless wasn't good, because as is happening with Andy's saddle, the rider was pushed too far back on the horse, so the horse was developing a sore back.

I think with a lighter rider (without such long legs) it would have been less of an issue, and is obviously due to the horses odd conformation.
We've just had a treed saddle made for the horse which also puts the rider further back than is ideal, but I think his weight will be better spread.
 
Glad everyone is finding they are working after a couple of weeks in mine I'm still very happy. My boys are working 100 times better than they used to and Andy in particular is calming down a lot :)
 
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