Shires optimus saddle

McNally

McNally

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24 February 2009
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Has anyone got one? I am interested as they are cheap but leather and look ok (in a cataloge!)
Never seen one in reality though!
If anyone happens to have any experience with one i am especially interested in how they would sit on a TB? (skinny high wither!)
 
I took two home (Jump style/CC one and the GP/VSD model to try (along with a load of other saddles) as saddler seemed keen to sell these and because they were adjustable gave me the wider gullets to try.

Didn't end up trying the saddles because even with the wider gullets they were never going to fit but saddler seemed keen for me to try one.

But I can you a bit about them, very soft thin leather over the seat, the sort of leather that will easily mark or rip if you didn't look after it but nice enough, the leather on the sides of the saddle did seem stiff but then a lot of new saddles do unless your looking at the more expensive makes etc.

Gullet system (and how you change it) very much like the Wintec, as opposed to TG, with the velcro etc and you can see where the leather and been stretch and stapled onto the under side of the pommel.

The pannels (flocking in them or what ever is used in them) seemed nice and soft so providing they don't bed down too much or too soon I think they would offer comfort for the horses back providing that saddle fits correctly.

The GP model has a wider spine, so if you need a good spine clearance on your horse don't bother with the CC model.

I think for the money, considering they adjust so you have that option and providing the the saddle fits, you'd get a few years out of them and for the price is quite reasonable, but don't expect them to last for years.

They won't suite a cobby type or something that requires a wider bearing saddle, yes they adjust at the front but would suit a more TB type with a good topline I'd say.

Worth a look though.
 
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