Saddles (shires optimus in particular)

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goldenmint

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Ok so have done a search about the shires optimus saddles but can't find much of an answer so I will try a new post :-)

Has anyone got one, used one, what do you think of them? Leather or synthetic. Would they be any good for a table top like fatty cob?
Are they comfy? Ok looking in RL? Likely to fit etc etc.

Or do I not bother :-) any input is grand even just to suggest a different brand for not much more money wise.

Thanks :-)
 
Not heard of them myself but price really didnt ought to be the biggest thing when considering a saddle - think about the amount of vets bills you will likely have and the price suddenly gets more expensive!

Suggest you have a look at Heather Moffetts leather treed saddles very affordable £350 puts the rider in the correct ear hip heel line very comfy and flexible to accommodate back changes.

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/flexee_intro.htm

saddles_range-1.jpg
 
From what I gather they seem to generally be seen, by those in the know, as "bargepole" saddles. I fit cobs day in and day out and can't imagine they would fit from the pictures - they are a very general fit with cut back heads, the trees are curvy, and I doubt they have the four girth straps and the right shaped panels that help with girthing wide horses and ponies. For the very wide and the very flat even the better changeable gullet brands may not work, you may need a wooden tree which gives much better stability. Added to that the truly wide horse needs a wider head to the tree - every single replaceable gullet plate is V shaped, instead of the U that can be needed.

Even on easier to fit horses they still may not be right - there is so much more to saddle fit than the width of the front arch of the tree.

I'm afraid that you should only consider a synthetic saddle at the price they want for leather, you just can't make a good saddle for that money. Or go second hand of course.
 
Thanks for both your replies :-)

I have a nice isabell worth dressage at the moment but ideally it is a bit small on the seat for me, it's ok but I think I would feel better with a bigger seat and horse can defo take it.

Money is obviously not the most important thing, but cannot spend over £600, would rather a lot less TBH.

The explanation about the changeable gullet shapes makes a lot of sense and I hadn't even thought about it before, but can so see the point in how being pointed rather than rounded is not great for a barrel type horse :-)
 
As Iv said on another thread, this is why I prefer HM's saddles. No trees in the traditional sense to worry about, especially with a horse always changing shape. They have a front arch to keep it off the horses withers, and the flexees do come in 2 widths but thats all. The panels wing in and out as needed, which is why theyre so flexible.
 
Do you have a flexee yourself? What is it like to ride in? Would it slip on my very wide cob? I have a treeless but it has started slipping now he is building topline and turning more barrel like. So am a bit wary of treeless again. Can you buy one and send it back if you don't get along with it or is there a trial facility? Sorry for all the questions :-)
 
There brilliant!! They look smart, feel a dream to ride in amd it actually fits my wide backed, no withered hairy cob I really struggled to get a saddle that didnt slip. Btw I have the leather gp version. Think there called york?!
 
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