the perfect saddle...

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lizstuguinness

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Im currently starting to break my two girls. Just using a wintec at present, however Im thinking of getting a saddle made with interchangable gullet to accomodate changes in shape. For the time being it will also have to fit both of them.

If im going to spend silly money i may as well do it properly, however there seems to be lots of different ways to do this - eg different materials for the tree.

I know i want a close contact mono flap jumping saddle, and thinking that flair pannels will be lighter and better if needing to fit both horses, however can anyone enlighten me on features they love in saddle? materials, seat, even just the look of a saddle? Even the tiny little things are important ...

let the wish lists commmence .... :)

ps anyone know a saddler in midlands/leics that could make the dream saddle?
 
I have had 'dream' saddles made for my two and my OH has the same type for his cob. They were made by Claire from All Saddle Solutions - you can have traditional flocking or Flair (but she strongly encourages Flair). We have GPs but she makes all types, including monoflap; my friend hunts in one and says it is fantastic.

They are absolutely beautiful saddles and I can't begin to tell you the difference they have made to they way my lads go. Infact, when I bought A.J. in December, I factored in the cost of one of these saddles - he is only just coming up to 5 and I'm sure he'll change shape, so I think in the long run I'll actually save money by having the Flair saddle.
Claire comes to adjust them every so often by putting air in or taking it out. She is based in Halifax but I know she covers the country. Can't recommend them highly enough.
 
If money was no object I'd have a handmade saddle from Patrick Saddlery in Walsall. I have a stunning jump saddle by them and it is beautifully made with top quality leather. Top priorities for me are a flat broad seat, decent panel surface and quality workmanship and leather. They've just launched a range with interchangable gullets. Me wants. Badly.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Patrick-Saddlery/353214898064095
 
The companies that make the adustable gullet trees tend not to let bench made saddlers get their hands on them, you have to take what they make. Why not get something off the peg, that will fit well, that can be adjusted a handful of times? In my personal fitting experience that can work very well long term.

Not all horses or riders get on with Flair.

I'd again recommend off the peg, then you can try the exact saddle that you will buy, or at least try a wide range that you can then put a slightly different spec on if needed.
 
sbloom said:
The companies that make the adustable gullet trees tend not to let bench made saddlers get their hands on them, you have to take what they make. Why not get something off the peg, that will fit well, that can be adjusted a handful of times? In my personal fitting experience that can work very well long term.

Not all horses or riders get on with Flair.

I'd again recommend off the peg, then you can try the exact saddle that you will buy, or at least try a wide range that you can then put a slightly different spec on if needed.
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Is there a saddle you would reccomend that would do this keeping in mind the type of sadddle I want?

what are the cons of flair? is there an alternative? I ask as im thinking that traditional flocking would mould to the individual horse so would this pose an issue with two horses sharing? I would also be interested in your knowledge on materials for trees?
 
Im a very lucky girl - i just got my dream saddle a couple of days ago. It was M2M for my mare by Black Country and is a mix of doeskin and vintage leather in dark havanna. I love it sooooo much:D
 
lizstuguinness said:
Is there a saddle you would reccomend that would do this keeping in mind the type of sadddle I want?

what are the cons of flair? is there an alternative? I ask as im thinking that traditional flocking would mould to the individual horse so would this pose an issue with two horses sharing? I would also be interested in your knowledge on materials for trees?
Click to expand...

I think you need to look into monoflap saddles and who makes them (the company I work for don't). I would want to try saddles in stock, then you can simply add things like the type of leather you'd like - it is still the very safest option to buy from stock as even "identical" saddles can vary a tiny bit, they are after all hand made from natural materials, but this route at least offers you a ride in the same saddle design that you would end up buying. Pure custom is much mroe a leap of faith and you are not protected financially/legally.

For a jump saddle I'd probably recommend foam, and then working with shims, though flocking, if used with sheepskin pads and shims for more than one horse, will not mould as much as it would with just a thin numnah. Most yards that are using saddles on more than one horse will use a foam close contact jump saddle and work with shims.

I don't work with Flair so can't help you on the detail - I do know that physics says that once you are sat on the saddle the air is under reasonably high pressure, no matter how low that pressure is to begin with, and that air under high pressure will bounce. Some horses and riders are fine with that, some are not. Flair is definitely nice than Cair in my opinion but I still personally prefer flock.

As for trees - wooden trees are proven over decades in their current form, can be adjusted a handful of times, or in extremis can have the headplate or whole tree replaces. Synthetic trees I'm sure have their advantages over simply having an adjustable headplate (they're lighter I guess) but I'm not a great fan. They are NOT always symmetrical despite what the makers say, they can very occasionaly spread, and are not as intrinsically stable as a traditional wooden tree.

Carbon fibre is a more recent development so not AS proven, but has been used in some designs for a few years. Very strong, rather rigid so must be used in the right way - on paper the principal looks good, but I have no idea as to the pluses and minuses in the real world on a horse :)
 
sbloom said:
I think you need to look into monoflap saddles and who makes them (the company I work for don't). I would want to try saddles in stock, then you can simply add things like the type of leather you'd like - it is still the very safest option to buy from stock as even "identical" saddles can vary a tiny bit, they are after all hand made from natural materials, but this route at least offers you a ride in the same saddle design that you would end up buying. Pure custom is much mroe a leap of faith and you are not protected financially/legally.

For a jump saddle I'd probably recommend foam, and then working with shims, though flocking, if used with sheepskin pads and shims for more than one horse, will not mould as much as it would with just a thin numnah. Most yards that are using saddles on more than one horse will use a foam close contact jump saddle and work with shims.

I don't work with Flair so can't help you on the detail - I do know that physics says that once you are sat on the saddle the air is under reasonably high pressure, no matter how low that pressure is to begin with, and that air under high pressure will bounce. Some horses and riders are fine with that, some are not. Flair is definitely nice than Cair in my opinion but I still personally prefer flock.

As for trees - wooden trees are proven over decades in their current form, can be adjusted a handful of times, or in extremis can have the headplate or whole tree replaces. Synthetic trees I'm sure have their advantages over simply having an adjustable headplate (they're lighter I guess) but I'm not a great fan. They are NOT always symmetrical despite what the makers say, they can very occasionaly spread, and are not as intrinsically stable as a traditional wooden tree.

Carbon fibre is a more recent development so not AS proven, but has been used in some designs for a few years. Very strong, rather rigid so must be used in the right way - on paper the principal looks good, but I have no idea as to the pluses and minuses in the real world on a horse :)
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Thanks for this i was under the impression that some of the advances in thechnology would be benifical however i never thought about "bouncy" panels! Do you have any other recomendations for what to look for in design?
 
lizstuguinness said:
Thanks for this i was under the impression that some of the advances in thechnology would be benifical however i never thought about "bouncy" panels! Do you have any other recomendations for what to look for in design?
Click to expand...

I fit saddles in a very traditional mould so have no problem with a very ordinary saddle if it fits well. I do remedial fits with these saddles, but that's not to say I don't like or "approve" of some of the new developments. I do think it's about finding something that makes sense to you, do as much reading as you can to get opinions on specific brands and technologies, but also be sure it is a system that you can buy into, and a fitter you can trust. The fitter is SO much of it.

The mechanism/technology in the Laser has its detractors as much as any other, and not common in this country. UK made but mostly sold in the US.

http://saddlefitter.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/from-tree-up-sub-topic-adjustable-trees.html#more
 
Personally I LOVE the balance saddles and because she is relativly near to me, would always recommend Judy http://judyfryandbalancesaddles.co.uk/ Who will give you brilliant advice, and put no pressure on selling.
The saddles are brilliant, and very versatile between horses, the pad system helps with that.

And she would also be happy to advise on the best way of making your own saddle as suitable as possible for your horses.
 
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FlexEE GP would seem to suit the job nicely - leather treed so will accommodate growing muscle groups and go between two horses :)
 
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