saddle suggestions required treed or treeless

H

hackedoff

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 August 2009
Messages
408
Visit site
having come to the conclusion that my beloved fylde saddle doesn't spread weight enough as designed really for showing I am looking for a good saddle make that will spread weight, not cause pressure points and not rotate around the pony or over her head! I have tried and know not to try the following:

1. libra trec (straight under tummy)
2. Heather moffet pre changeable gullet flexee - migrated over withers
3. bates vsd - slipped to one side and caused white hairs
4. Free and Easy - migrated other withers down neck leading to me being bucked of

I have been thinking something like a barefoot or a treefree saddle or maybe a farringtons working hunter. Yard and instructor think I am mad but I know that pony isn't happy with current saddle even though she goes well in it ( the transformation to velocoraptor when girthing up and chewing on wood cos she is too nice to bite are clues).
 
hackedoff said:
having come to the conclusion that my beloved fylde saddle doesn't spread weight enough as designed really for showing I am looking for a good saddle make that will spread weight, not cause pressure points and not rotate around the pony or over her head! I have tried and know not to try the following:

1. libra trec (straight under tummy)
2. Heather moffet pre changeable gullet flexee - migrated over withers
3. bates vsd - slipped to one side and caused white hairs
4. Free and Easy - migrated other withers down neck leading to me being bucked of

I have been thinking something like a barefoot or a treefree saddle or maybe a farringtons working hunter. Yard and instructor think I am mad but I know that pony isn't happy with current saddle even though she goes well in it ( the transformation to velocoraptor when girthing up and chewing on wood cos she is too nice to bite are clues).
Click to expand...

I was lucky to find a second hand mondial holistic freedom saddle. Everything is ridden in it, and all go well in it. I've never had a pressure problem either. it looks just like a treed saddle, and is very nice quality. They are out there.
 
I would recommend Solution Saddles, ours fit all our horses and stay put well. Their service is excellent and they asked to see pictures of our horses backs and wanted our heights and sizes before they recommended the types and sizes (we bought one for me and one for Sis). I do get off with a " military dismount" because the cantle is high and they don't move at all during the process!
 
My Westphalian Draft mare, who has huge shoulders used to do the wood grabbing Hong when girthing up too. I had 4 different saddles in 5 years then I got Solution saddle and she thinks it is wonderful.
 
We have solutions and barefoot - the horses go much better in the solutions.

The only thing I would say negative about solution saddles is yes they are very helpful when you are buying but I have found it a nightmare trying to arrange follow up visits to check fit and we have 7 saddles from them so you would think we'd be treated quite well!
 
I have a Treefree saddle, two in fact. One is an Exmoor saddle, the other is their new "Tor" prototype saddle which they've only recently brought out.

The Exmoor saddle has knee rolls, the Dartmoor does not. You need to be aware that with the older Treefree saddles, the stirrup bars are set back quite a bit, and I find they are too far back as my hips are then forced into too much of an outward rotation, which isn't where I want to be, especially on a longer ride. The newer/more recent versions of their saddles give you a choice, either "forward" or "normal" stirrup positions, I believe also they will make them for you with a forward or normal girth groove.

I tried out their prototype "Tor" GP saddle for a week, well worth doing, you can also try their other saddles for £50 I paid. I liked the GP Prototype very much, it gives a much narrower twist and it is the only treeless saddle I can ride in for more than an hour. Not cheap though.........

Have tried the HM Pre-Gullet like you did OP. Awful thing! I couldn't ever get the dang thing to fit the same way twice in a row, so e-bayed it. Have also tried the HM Vogue and Phoenix, very uncomfortable both of them even for a 10 mins flip round the block.

Found Libra very flat and unsupportive, ditto Freeform (didn't support my back enough and I got pain after an hours riding).

With Barefoot, their size 1 is perfect for my horse but too small for me; their size 2 is ridiculously huge for both of us.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top