Saddle for a Friesian Horse

sundance

sundance

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 July 2006
Messages
149
Location
Warwickshire
Visit site
I am writing this post for a friend who has a Friesian X. She has bought a couple of GP saddles, one is fine, the other brand new one just doesnt suit him as well as she had hoped. It slips around and the back lifts, although she has been assured that it is fine!!
We recently went to a Friesian show and saw the Fryso saddles that we were told were designed for Friesians.
Her main concern was that you took your own pattern plus some photos and sent them off to Holland where the saddle was made and then they sent you the saddle back and that was that. We were told that you could return the saddle if you werent happy with it, but you have to get it back to Holland and would it be that straightforward?
They dont appear to have any presence in the UK (IE fitters or support based here) so how would you know with any level of assurance/conviction if it fitted correctly when it was returned? There is also the potential issue of having it reflocked (esp after the initial bedding in stage), would other saddlers be prepared/able to do this?
Does anybody out there know of saddles that are made and designed for Friesians in this country or have a Fryso saddle?
 
sorry to hijack the post but what bits do you have on your horses as i have paddy in the snaffle but i find him so strong out hacking i am not sure what to do so any ideas would be great :D

thank you and i am sorry :eek:
 
he pretty much does all of that :confused: he gets spooky and he has even been know to jump up like a cat and throw a little buck in just to make sure i am listening to him :(
i just really want to hack him out and honestly im to scared to and i am not sure what to do about it.... sorry :( i am sad for him and me as i love to hack :(
he is in a french link snaffle
 
Um, is there somebody who could hack him out for you until he's confident? Maybe worth addressing feed too. Flash/drop noseband may help? Not sure a bit change will help to be honest :D
 
yeah i was thinking about someone else riding him but im the only person who rides him :rolleyes:
i think its me in the school i have no issues at all, he has spooked and cantered off with me and i was able to stop him :o but he has built up so much muscle not sure if i could now. i don't really want to change his bit i want to enjoy it..... mind over matter hey :o:)
 
sundance said:
I am writing this post for a friend who has a Friesian X. She has bought a couple of GP saddles, one is fine, the other brand new one just doesnt suit him as well as she had hoped. It slips around and the back lifts, although she has been assured that it is fine!!
We recently went to a Friesian show and saw the Fryso saddles that we were told were designed for Friesians.
Her main concern was that you took your own pattern plus some photos and sent them off to Holland where the saddle was made and then they sent you the saddle back and that was that. We were told that you could return the saddle if you werent happy with it, but you have to get it back to Holland and would it be that straightforward?
They dont appear to have any presence in the UK (IE fitters or support based here) so how would you know with any level of assurance/conviction if it fitted correctly when it was returned? There is also the potential issue of having it reflocked (esp after the initial bedding in stage), would other saddlers be prepared/able to do this?
Does anybody out there know of saddles that are made and designed for Friesians in this country or have a Fryso saddle?
Click to expand...

Hi Sundance

The Fryso saddle is actually made in the UK (Walsall). The Fryso brand is owned by Tweespan, who are Dutch-based and run by Elzelien and Sybren, both lovely people who are happy to discuss your requirements without pressurising you. I tried a Fryso on my boy at the gradings last weekend, and rode him in it. Elzelien and Sybren spent a long time discussing my requirements with me, and if I order the saddle, they are more than happy for it to be sent to me straight from the saddler who makes them in Walsall, rather than sending it to Holland and then them sending it on to me. I haven't ordered it yet, as my saddler is coming out on Monday to see if my current saddle (Wintec Isabell) can be tweaked, or if there is anything 2nd hand that he can sell me, as the horse is only 5 years old and will change shape again. However, if we get no joy on Monday, I will be ordering the Fryso, as it fits me and the horse perfectly.

As for having a Fryso adjusted in the uk, they are no different to a saddler altering an Albion, or an Ideal, or a Stubben, etc etc. They are an English made saddle that happens to be designed for the Friesian, and there is no real difference in adjusting / reflocking etc, so not a problem for your own saddler to do. I have several friends with Fryso saddles, all of whom have their saddles adjusted by their own saddler. Simples!

The reassuring thing for me was that if I order the Fryso and it isn't right, I can send it straight back to the Walsall saddler, no bother, no hassle, money returned etc.

I would suggest that your friend rings Elzelien or Sybren and has a chat about what she wants; they are happy to help you.

Hope this helps a bit.
 
I have a Fryso dressage saddle and bought it from the local saddler so they are out there in the local area so to speak. Maiko is correct they are made locally in Walsall and I had no problems getting mine adjusted, re-flocked etc. I love mine but saddly I don't have a horse to fit it any more :( so it sits happily in my dining room....lol :) My OH wants me to get rid of it but..........well you never know when the right horse might come along!!! lolol
 
Thank you so much, will tell friend and reassure her. Sure that she will be in touch with them. Although he is a X, he is far more Friesian than anything else, TBH if you wouldnt know he was a X at all. We found it very interesting to hear that the Fryso saddles have shorter points to allow for the shoulder movement, just need to try and find a second hand GP one ideally!! Having bought a brand new made to measure saddle that doesnt fit at all or even stay in place (any place!!) cash is in short supply!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top