Swain holistic saddle for wide native pony?

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pickwickayr

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Hello
I am looking for some advice on the Barry Swain holisitic saddles, particularly anyone who has one of these on a flat backed native!

my 13.2hh pony is very flat backed, croup high, short coupled, and is also assymetrical being more developed on the left side than right. Currently using a native pony saddle company saddle but have had no end of problems with it slipping forwards and to the right and generaly moving about, have spent a lot on flocking and fittings and am relucatant to spend more on getting tree altered when my pony seems to change shape on a weekly basis! have also tried numerous combinations of sheepskin pads, gel pads etc to know avail so think its time to sell up and move on :)

have come across the barry swain saddles, the flexi tree sounds perfect for my pony, but way out of my price range unfrontunatly, but I have seen a 2nd hand Barry Swain holisitic for sale online that looks interesting! it was used on a highland pony so is very wide. Are the holisitic saddles good for natives? and does anyone have any experience of using them on assymetrical horses?

any experiences good or bad, or suggestions of saddles that may suit would be greatfully received!

thank you so much
 
A lot of people love them, but I tried a Humphries and Swain and did not like it personally...

My mare has an ideal mono flap impala, she now has this adjusted. I wanted a GP but no second hands suit her and the swain was a no goer. I didn’t enjoy riding in it either!

You can pick one up second hand, get a saddle fitter to check, do a template, send off to Barry and change the tree, get it back and checked again... But it works out expensive. If you're in his area, he can get people to come out and do it, but the adjustments should not be made by your regular saddler, as Barry adjusts them differently.

I am surprised you've had trouble with the native pony saddle company, only ever heard great things about them. Have you thought about looking at the Kent and Masters cob saddles? Only the front is adjustable though... SO you must get a fitter to make sure the actual tree of the saddle fits first. I've heard good reviews on their GP and dressage, but mixed on jump saddles.

(I believe Kent and Masters is the exact same as their thorowgood, but obviously higher in price and leather).

You might be better ringing as many saddlers as you can, see who seems most willing and experienced in fitting your horse and go with that.
 
I have a semi flex and looooove it! I bought it second hand in good condition for £360 (dont think they knew what it was ;) ).
However my sister has just got the model before the semi flex for a wide, no withered 13.2 on his tippy toes NF who is croup high and a nightmare to fit! It works for him :)
 
thank you imogen thats really helpful. unfortunately the Kent and masters pony saddle is too forward cut for my ponies shoulder :-(
my native pony fitter has been fantastic but I bought the saddle when pony was 5 and she is now 6 and changed shape considerably. thanks again :-)
 
I only get to see them when they're not working and the owner needs a new saddle, and the ones I've seen have been too curved from front to back and tend to rock. I'm a fitter for NP and am always concerned to hear of any issues, have pmed you.
 
Hello,

I have a full connemara- wide flat backed etc! I have a nick dolman holistic saddle, he trained with barrie swain and his saddles are really good. Mine is a half panel, I have had it over a year, and it is the perfect solution for my pony! If he puts on a little weight or loses a bit- because of the way it is, seems to adjust with him better. It does not slip, he loves it and I could not recommend one of these saddles more highly! I got mine second hand and now will not go back to an off the peg big branded saddle!
 
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