query to solution saddle owners

[hackedoff]

Have you bought one, if so new or second hand? did the company fit it for you? how long have you had it or have you sold it?whi did you opt for one?

im looking for any feedback positive or otherwise as my well fitting treed saddle fitted last summer doesn't fit any more!

 

[dulcie_dustyxx]

Wasn't fitted but have a throughgood which my instructor helped me fit and choose after my fourth saddle stopped fitting! Didn't go for wintec as I'd heard some bad reviews. Amazing and have kept all the bars that hjave had to be changed and can therefore change it while she changes throughout the year

 

[FfionWinnie]

I bought one new and had it fitted then sold it and lost a lot. Bought another second hand which was as new condition and saved a fortune on it and fitted it myself.

 

[webble]

Yes I bought a new one and had it fitted and really like it although it's not as comfortable as the Heather moffet I had previously.

As FW says they don't hold their value well second hand.

 

[Willow1306]

You can buy second hand and arrange for a qualified fitter to then fit it for you. Just ensure you know what size and style you need before purchasing.

 

[Rowreach]

Have a look on the Unofficial Solution Saddles page on Facebook. Lots of TAs on there who will give you advice, quite a few saddles for sale, and then arrange for a TA to come and fit it to your horse and to you.

Fitting them isn't really rocket science but a lot of people struggle to change from a treed to a treeless mindset, so getting some help from someone with experience so that you can tweak it yourself as your horse changes shape is well worth it.

I'm in my 11th year of using only Solution saddles and I wouldn't go back to treed.

 

[catembi]

Why wouldn't you go back to treed, Rowreach, just out of interest?

Mine had KS surgery 2 years ago & hasn't come right, & I've been idly wondering whether a treeless would do anything that his WOW doesn't. I've also tried him bareback just to see... Note to self: do NOT ride a TB bareback! What was fine on a plump ISH is NOT fine on a TB. Ouchies!

 

[FfionWinnie]

I wouldn't buy a new one now I'd buy second hand as close as to what I needed and try it out for a while (at least 6 months) before I went for new.

 

[Rowreach]

Why wouldn't you go back to treed, Rowreach, just out of interest?

Mine had KS surgery 2 years ago & hasn't come right, & I've been idly wondering whether a treeless would do anything that his WOW doesn't. I've also tried him bareback just to see... Note to self: do NOT ride a TB bareback! What was fine on a plump ISH is NOT fine on a TB. Ouchies!

Because I can fit my treeless saddles to literally any horse, which was brilliant when I had loads of different horses through the yard and lots of developing youngsters, and also they're much better for me - I find a lot of trees saddles aggravate my back. I do prefer the Originals to the Smart saddles though.

 

[LHIS]

Join the Facebook group someone has named above. Place a wanted ad for a saddle, find your local fitter, and go from there.
I bought an ex-demo saddle, the smart VSD, and one of their fitters fitted it for me.
I love it. And more importantly so does my pony.

 

[ozpoz]

I have had three over the past 12 years. I have found that the tweaks to the design have improved them over the years. I wouldn't ride in a treed saddle again, although I had to when I went for lessons after a lay off. My new horse loves it, he stopped snatching down after one day in his. I have always had a fitter out though, the eye on the ground is really helpful and they alter the fit to suit me better - I can do the horse side myself.
Like Rowreach, I found that other saddles cause my decrepit back and hips real problems which I don't have in a Smart saddle. I was completely unsound after my lessons, fine once I swapped saddle.

 

[BlackRider]

I got an ex demo one, had it professionally fitted, but my horse was really unhappy in it - which was a shame as I really liked the idea of them. Lost money when I sold it on.

Now use the HM Finesse which he seems happy with and was much much cheaper.

 

[Tiddlypom]

When I was looking on the unofficial solutions FB a while ago, there were a surprising number of 'barely used' solution saddles advertised. I guess that depite the hype, they don't suit every horse.

Didn't go as far as trying one for myself, though.

 

[Kokopelli]

I had one and loved it, the older style freestyle. I had it fitted and my boy was very happy with it. However he had KS surgery and I didn't like the small amount of spinal clearance so have bought a k&m dressage instead.
I would 100% recommend a trial before buying but they are fabulous saddles that work wonders on those awkward to fit horses.

 

[junglefairy]

I bought a new one, fitted by one of the Solution saddles fitters. I've ridden a few horses in it and the horses, and I, love it.

I think the design and concept just makes so much sense. Welfare issues caused by treed saddles and poor fit are (in my experience) pervasive, and the solution saddles address a lot of these issues.

My horses live out and are changing shape constantly, with a solution I might have to adjust padding but otherwise the horse is comfortable even as they lose and gain weight and muscle.

As another poster has said, it's also economical to have a saddle that can be used on any horse rather than buying a new saddle each time you get a new horse.

To answer your question I would definitely get a fitter out to help you first time, it's worth getting everything right at the start. Worth trying one and see how you and your horse feel, I think you can get a trial for a couple of weeks too.

 

[Rowreach]

When I was looking on the unofficial solutions FB a while ago, there were a surprising number of 'barely used' solution saddles advertised. I guess that depite the hype, they don't suit every horse.

Didn't go as far as trying one for myself, though.

I think it's more that they don't suit every rider, in that a lot of people struggle with refitting them when they need tweaking - and they do, as the horse changes shape, as the saddle gets more use, or even for different riders on the same horse.

 

[Pascal96]

I have the Solution Freestyle - bought new and fitted to my horses by an official fitter and I wouldn't go back to a treed saddle. Both my horses are far happier and as others have mentioned it is far kinder to my bad back, and I never get stiff no matter how long a break I have between rides.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My Draft horse who changed shape so much after I got her that she had 4 saddles in as many years ( 'cos meanie here put here on a diet!) and was never truly relaxed in any of them, loves our Solution saddle, the young cob wears it too, with different shims, and also appears to be happy with it.

I really like it too, I find it puts the rider into the correct position.