Total contact saddle

Just tacking this on the end of the thread. Some pressure testing done by WOW Saddles - I have no idea why they used the tcs and not one of their own, possibly they were looking for what they consider the worst option .

https://www.facebook.com/100063561462033/posts/1086680953460610


TL;DR pressure distribution seemed good, weight is spread across all areas of the rider that touch the horse, the more 'padded' the rider the better.

Not scientific and they didn't pad the saddle as well as most people would, it sounds like they didn't expect the saddle to perform well so good on them for posting it.
https://www.facebook.com/100063561462033/posts/1086680953460610
 
I saw that. Quite interesting

Im still unsure what the best thing to use under the TCS is or if it is very individual and how you’d know if what you’ve got is ok.
 
I have used one for over a year now.
I had a physio out a couple weeks ago - happy with pony. No sore/pressure points near saddle.

I use a posh pony pad under mine. My pony has gone to a lovely forward trot stretching her legs out instead of short strides.
She's 22 and feels relaxed and free beneath me. We go up and down steep sand dunes, jumping logs in the woods and galloping in the woods.
I asked her to jump a log the other week but wasn't fully committed- she went sideways around it, nearly getting me out the side door.
I was also riding in it when we were attacked by the dogs. It didn't move despite her spinning in circles.

I tried my saddle that was fitted to her and she immediately was stiff and was reluctant to go forward.

Like anything, it likely won't work for every horse but my horse has shown her preference for it and I'm constantly checking for pressure points etc in case.

Peglo - I tried a normal numnah at first but felt it pulled down on the withers. I bought a posh pony pad so I had spinal clearance. While it was being washed I found a prolite half pad and thin numnah worked well.
I had to buy new leathers as mine were too short but I'd wanted T bars for a while anyway.
I have the older style seat but ride without it as I got it initially as I felt wobbly but the longer I've ridden in it, the more secure I've felt.
 
This has really got me thinking...
My coblet has had a made-to-measure saddle with Flair for about 10 years now. It's a really comfortable saddle from my point of view but he changes shape - sometimes quite radically - at different stages of the year. When we lived in Lancs it wasn't really an issue as we could always get the saddler to come and make the necessary adjustments. All good.

Now we live in the Highlands it's just not so easy to get a saddler out and I do worry about his saddle fit as he changes shape So something like the TCS does seem like it's worth considering.
He's a sensitive soul - likes his Micklem bridle and shows a massive preference for sheepskin next to his skin.
Does the TCS use a normal girth? I assume it's possible to use a breastplate with them...also, would my Freejump stirrups & leathers be OK?
 
Nancykitt said:
This has really got me thinking...
My coblet has had a made-to-measure saddle with Flair for about 10 years now. It's a really comfortable saddle from my point of view but he changes shape - sometimes quite radically - at different stages of the year. When we lived in Lancs it wasn't really an issue as we could always get the saddler to come and make the necessary adjustments. All good.

Now we live in the Highlands it's just not so easy to get a saddler out and I do worry about his saddle fit as he changes shape So something like the TCS does seem like it's worth considering.
He's a sensitive soul - likes his Micklem bridle and shows a massive preference for sheepskin next to his skin.
Does the TCS use a normal girth? I assume it's possible to use a breastplate with them...also, would my Freejump stirrups & leathers be OK?
Click to expand...
If you use a dressage girth normally you would get one with long billets. I use the same girth I had on my GP saddle.
You'd be able to use your stirrups.
The bar for the stirrups is lower than a tree saddle so you'd likely find you need different leathers. I got T Bars as I found normal leathers had a lot of bulk under my leg.
Some people do use breast plates with theirs.
 
I do long distance, endurance, hunting, the lot in tcs on all my three horses in varying shapes n sizes.

Don’t use stirrups with a bareback pad. the band that goes round the christ lammfelle and other bareback pads is too thin and goes right round and over the spine.

Whereas the tcs has the stirrup bars lower down and a wide weight distribution area. And no band going over the spine.

I’ve tested both a christ pad with stirrups and the tcs on too of the christ pad.

Christ = 👎

Tcs = 👍

Its like the difference between a stilleto and a wedge.

The difference between a tcs and a bareback pad is the bareback pad has a thin web surcingle that goes all the way round the top of the pad and the stirrups attach to it so there is pressure right on the spine.

The tcs has the stirrup bars attached lower down and not over the back. The weight distribution area is much wider. Think of the difference between the a stiletto and a wedge. I tested both. Bareback pad caused pain and tcs did not. I have used Barefoot saddles & Ghost saddles and treed saddles. Tcs is hands down my best tack room purchase yes.

You can ride a bareback pad without stirrups but not with.

You can cut off the girth straps on the bareback pad and put the tcs on top as an option.

We are taught Spinal clearance, spinal clearance, spinal clearance…

The stirrup bar placement, and the width of tcs that distributes rider weight, results in no issues.

Put your tcs over your pad and add or take away shimms as you please or use the tcs seat if you like a pommel.

Less padding for a meaty flat backed type and extra for a spiner horse.

My horse doesn’t buck now she’s got a tcs.

Tried her old treed one back on and she bucked like mad.

And yes, you can sit a buck, a spin, a spook, jumping, the lot in a tcs. And your balance and core and your horses back will thank you for it.

I love them so much I became an ambassador for them.
Use Natasha10 for a discount.
 
After reading this thread, I took the plunge and got a TCS in October. I liked it so much my OH ended up with one as a birthday present for his cob.
I have the synthetic TCS seat and OH has the leather seat. We love our saddles! Both horses are really happy with them.
As we have the seats, an ordinary sheepskin Le Mieux pad (which we had anyway) works really well.
I'm a convert!
 
The young 'un is learning with it. This was his first time with a saddle and "working" in it. We walked over poles and around the arena.
He stood at the mounting block while I leaned over him.

This is what Tilly wears - we go up and down steep hills (a friend nearly went backwards off her horse in a traditional saddle going up one of the hills), I've nearly gone out the side door when she sidestepped a jump but managed to stay on, jump logs and ditches. This is also the set up i had during the dog attack in summer.
I feel secure and comfortable and Tilly strides out in trot and canter. (I took her to a showjumping competition in a saddle fitted to her and she refused to go over a 20cm cross pole).

Will it be what Tal is happy in? I don't yet know but if he decides it's not for him he'll get a saddler to give him a saddle that fits.

Screenshot_20241228_211836_Photos.jpg
 
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I’ve just come across these from a Facebook post from someone I follow. She is using one on her youngster who loves it! My rising 5 year old was backed last Spring in a racing saddle and was perfect but then had a couple of extreme bucking episodes after a few months of using a thorrowgood adjustable saddle!
 
Hey

Just looking for some advice from those with a TCS.

I have a shim-able lambs wool Lemieux pad. It came with a thicker and thinner shim option so my question is would you put all 8 shims in or would one layer (4 shims) be ok?

Would you also put a thicker pad under the sheepskin or would a thin one be enough?
 
Peglo said:
Hey

Just looking for some advice from those with a TCS.

I have a shim-able lambs wool Lemieux pad. It came with a thicker and thinner shim option so my question is would you put all 8 shims in or would one layer (4 shims) be ok?

Would you also put a thicker pad under the sheepskin or would a thin one be enough?
Click to expand...
It all depends on you and your horse.

In general I'd shim so that's its level, that might mean double shims at the back and single at the front of your horse goes down on the back.

I don't like huge amounts of padding, it's like sitting on a moving mattress and harder to balance. I use a gel out seat saver on top of a half lined sheepskin numnah with a felt shim. It's stable, comfortable for me and him and I like the grippiness of the gel.

Been using for about 5 years on 2 horses now, tried lots of set ups but this is what I keep coming back to.
 
Jambarissa said:
It all depends on you and your horse.

In general I'd shim so that's its level, that might mean double shims at the back and single at the front of your horse goes down on the back.

I don't like huge amounts of padding, it's like sitting on a moving mattress and harder to balance. I use a gel out seat saver on top of a half lined sheepskin numnah with a felt shim. It's stable, comfortable for me and him and I like the grippiness of the gel.

Been using for about 5 years on 2 horses now, tried lots of set ups but this is what I keep coming back to.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply. I will try 1 shim in each pocket to start and see how we both feel.
 
I've just bought one for my young cob, I would recommend the course affiliated with TCS that explains padding options. I've ordered a few bits, but I'm too early in the backing process to do a proper report. I'm starting with a shimmable Edix sheepskin numnah and splurged on the mesh inserts. Currently looking at half pad options for the top - I'm dealing with a short back and need to be careful not to swamp him. Lots of half pads are available in full size only, which I hadn't realized!
 
Foxford said:
I've just bought one for my young cob, I would recommend the course affiliated with TCS that explains padding options. I've ordered a few bits, but I'm too early in the backing process to do a proper report. I'm starting with a shimmable Edix sheepskin numnah and splurged on the mesh inserts. Currently looking at half pad options for the top - I'm dealing with a short back and need to be careful not to swamp him. Lots of half pads are available in full size only, which I hadn't realized!
Click to expand...
This course is new, can you sum up what you learned?

TCS has recently been sold, I'd forgotten until you posted. I do think they were in need of offering some help on the padding side. The Facebook site had gone crazy with people basically reconstructing a saddle around a TCS - just buy a saddle!
 
Foxford said:
I've just bought one for my young cob, I would recommend the course affiliated with TCS that explains padding options. I've ordered a few bits, but I'm too early in the backing process to do a proper report. I'm starting with a shimmable Edix sheepskin numnah and splurged on the mesh inserts. Currently looking at half pad options for the top - I'm dealing with a short back and need to be careful not to swamp him. Lots of half pads are available in full size only, which I hadn't realized!
Click to expand...
I cut a sheepskin baby buggy liner to size to form a half pad, that wasn't bad.

Also I highly recommend carpet tape to stick everything together rather than trying to line your pads up each time.
 
I think the recent take over and the course are linked. If you go on their website they are now offering the course half-price if you purchase a saddle.

The course is run by Saoirse Equine Physiology and lasts about 5 hours. It covers a lot, and the typical padding options for three main back shapes are discussed. Then we looked at photos and figured out what to try, considering both the horse and rider's needs. I think the lady who runs it has had some health issues and the courses may run sporadically, but I really would recommend it. We had a great cohort and some really interesting discussions that were very holistic about horse care in general.

I believe they may be doing some pressure testing imminently. I'm looking forward to seeing that, as I think in an ideal world you should get some starter kit options based on what you have in front of you at that time. I suspect if they were able to issue that with evidence - then more people would have success with it.
 
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