Strada Saddles (Michela Ling)

[Dizzy1]

I am thinking of buying the St Christopher endurance model for my short backed, wide Polish Arab and would be interested in your comments, good or bad, to help with my decision. He has got a few collagen granulomas on his back, which the vet has said to leave well alone, but thought that the heat sensitive panels may help. Was also told that Flair might help so am also looking at WOW saddles.

 

[Kirstyf]

Hi

I purchased a Strada Dressage Saddle about 18 months ago and won't look back! It is comfortable for both myself and my cob. I am purely a happy hacker, but at the time that I bought the saddle they were not doing a GP version, this I believe is now available.

However, I believe that Willow is a lot happier with this saddle than she was with her original one. I also find that putting it on her as soon as I have groomed her back but before doing any other area is better - I think this might be to do with the "gel" part of warming up with the heat of her body and moulding to her shape.

I can also highly recommend Strada Saddles Director, Ilga Cottle, she is very professional and friendly. If I was looking to change saddles I would certainly go back to Ilga - not sure how my husband would feel about this as these saddles are not cheap!

I hope this helps.

 

[LusoLover]

Don't know about the endurance saddle but I've recently bought a 2nd hand strada dressage saddle. My horse is incredibly sensitive about everything and lets me know if he's the tiniest bit uncomfortable. With this new saddle, he's the most relaxed I have ever known him to be. My previous sadddle had a very deap seat whereas the Strada is quite shallow, so it's taken a bit of getting used to, but my position has improved so much because of it. I no longer hunch over, but sit upright at long last!
You're supposed to give them about 5 mins on the horses back before doing the girth up properly and gettng on. They're rock solid when cold but do mould when warm . Can't recommend them enough! Ilga too is lovely and really helpful. I was lucky and found a 2nd hand one so didn't actually buy one direct from them, but Ilga was still full of advice.

 

[alfin2000]

Hola Pocket Rocket!
So would that be a vote in favour for Strada then?They still have a tree don't they?AF has been objecting to being girthed and I 'm thinking it's not JUST my riding.(BTW I'm not stalking you-hehehe!)Gingerhombre

 

[RachelB]

My share horse has a Strada dressage saddle. His owner likes it (apart from the fact that it's a dressage and she wanted a GP but they didn't do them back when she bought it) and she had had loads of saddle troubles with her horse (Anglo Arab, very sensitive chap). He's fine in the saddle. I personally don't like it, it's hard and quite difficult to sit on and the leather is so smooth that I slip around loads! His owner has tried a Wow on him and is thinking of getting one of those instead (I love my other ride's Wow saddle) and Wows are cheaper as well. Plus in cold weather you have to leave the Strada on for aaaaages before getting on to let it warm up, I got on too soon once and Berlin's back came up and he wasn't happy (it's like concrete when it's cold!). My instructor had a prototype Strada years ago, she said she always had to stick it in the airing cupboard for a few hours before using it to warm the panels up, or the horse wouldn't like being girthed up.
Personally I wouldn't get one unless I found I had a horse who liked them and nothing else.