Reactorpanel for youngsters first and only saddle?

[daisydoo]

I have a few years yet but I'd better get saving now! I'm looking at £400-500 for a good quality second hand. I don't want to be replacing my saddle every 6 months so thinking of GP with panels, is this the way to go? Also how much for a saddler to measure and adjust?

 

[Caol Ila]

I have a reactor panel saddle that I bought about 17 years ago for my first horse. It cost an arm and a leg (I bought it new) but I'd been through the usual saddle fitting hell with saddles fitting, horse changing shape, saddles not fitting, horse getting behaviour issues as a result. Ugh. I eventually sold that horse and bought second horse and thought I could go back to a "normal" dressage saddle. Nope. Same old thing. Horse changing, saddle not fitting (sans behaviour problems, though). So after two or so years, I gave up on normal saddles and pulled out the old Orthoflex. That was in 2002. I'm still riding the same the horse in that saddle. The downside is that it does nothing nice for your equitation, but the up side is that the horse has never been uncomfortable in it and doesn't require regular appointments with saddle fitters, reflocking, new saddles, etc. I would say it's worth the money. This horse has (thus far) been ridden in the same saddle with no faffing or adjustments needed from age 9-19. That's good going, I think.

If I ever get a few grand to spare, I would buy a reactor panel saddle that looks like a proper dressage saddle and doesn't put you in the worst chair seat, ever. That thing is pretty much what you could buy in CO in the late 1990s if you wanted a saddle with those panels.

 

[Britestar]

I've a 12yr old who has only ever worn a free n easy since breaking at 4.5yrs.

My 21,20 and 17 yr old have all had f'n'e 's their whole lives too. So in answer to your Q - yes.

 

[sbloom]

ReactorPanel is actually a brand - the type of saddle, to be picky, is a flexi panel saddle. RP and the others, Orthoflex and FreenEasy, are all different. I love the RP saddle design but check out the company and customer service etc before making your mind up. No saddle is for life, truly, well not guaranteeable, but they are highly adjustable.

You are tied in to the one agent for adjustments - you would need to ask them about costs.