Who has a solution saddle

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FfionWinnie

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And what do you do in it. Particularly interested in those who compete regularly and how long everyone has been using their saddle for.

Thanks.
 
Me but don't compete, love it, still looks fab I bought it 2nd hand but no marks on it. I use it for schooling only.
 
Me, and I am doing nothing as my horse is off games. (not back or saddle related) : (

I have ridden in Solution saddles for over 10 years now and think they are the bees knees.
 
I have one and know several people that use them. The horses all seem to like them and I like riding in them. Myself and the people I know have/are competing in SJ, eventing and dressage in Solution Saddles.

The science behind them seems very sensible and from what I can see they take R&D very seriously. I can't see any reason to go back to traditional/treed saddles.
 
I use to compete in a Ansur (old solution) thought it was brilliant, evented pre-novice saddle was the only thing that fitted very short backed 14hh arab and my size 12 backside. I still use solutions 8yrs on, don't compete at the moment due to lack or time/funds but think their the best treeless on the market. At the moment just hack 3 times a week but last winter hunted 2-3x a week, was slightly concerned as very long time in saddle but horse didn't seem to have any pressure issues.
 
We only got ours at the end of last year and because of rubbish weather have barely used them and not competing at present :( However both of the older ladies go brilliantly in them. One of the women at our RC has had one for a number of years and hers is still going strong. I can't guarantee the logevity, but do really rate them. :)
 
Thanks folks.

It's not the longevity really more the suitability of using them daily for a lot of riding and competing for the horses sake.

I'm having a test ride anyway to see if they suit the horse in the first instance then will take it from there.

Still keen to hear any more feedback.
 
I can't see why they would cause a problem with daily use, the old worries about treeless causing pressure because of the way the stirrups were attached, is not an issue with the Solution (although I believe it may be with cheap treeless ones still). Have a good look at one and I think you will be impressed by the way they fit on the horse, to avoid pressure problems. I did wonder when I first saw them, as they are a bit wierd until they warm up and fit to the horse, if that makes sense.
 
I have two, the dressage saddle I have had three years and I ride in it daily. I have done novice dressage in it and a few showing classes. I school in it and hack for hours in it, and before I bought a jumping saddle I hunted in it and jumped up to 85cm in it.

My jumping saddle I bought second hand and it is an old model. I use that less regularly but have been hunting in it for five hours today.
 
I do :) I have their VSD model and I rode in it everyday. I have also ridden in their Dressage Freestyle (a few years old now) and GPs. I love them. Happy to answer any Qs you have. My instructor is one of their reps so I have expert knowledge and help at hand which is handy. Buy pony loves it.
My instructor has had them for years and evented up to CIC*** in hers. She only does dressage now competition wise but the saddles are great and horses go well in them.
 
Thanks folks that's really helpful.

I always get on from a mounting block however, is it possible to mount from the ground in an emergency, or not?
 
I don't know, I couldn't even if I wanted to!

In an emergency, anything is possible, with enough motivation. : ) But I think you are advised not to, in these, or any saddle and I recently viewed a biomechanics slow mo clip which showed exactly what happens to the back when you mount from the ground which wasn't pretty.
 
I'm finding this interesting as I'm currently having saddle and saddle fitter issues and this is one of the options I'm considering. I've had a older style gp on my previous horse, used it hacking schooling and jumping up to 75cm (which was all we were schooling at, would have been happier to jump bigger in it).

FW I use a mounting block or try to find something to mount on out hacking but have got on from the ground when necessary with no problems.

The GP I've got is too long for current pony and am thinking of going with a smart native.
 
Thanks GW that's all I needed to know. I have heard the Smart native can give you sore bits! My girl is a very sporty cob so they think she may not suit the native but hoping to have plenty of options to try to give it the best chance to work for us.

I always try and find something so I don't mount from the ground however, I have to vault on (from something!) with the bareback pad and it's not ideal to *never* be able to use the stirrup at all (and you really cannot as it would just slip round).
 
hc123 said:
I recently trialled the Eventer saddle and can confirm it did give me sore bits - I had to send it back for this reason.
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Oh dear. The people who've told me about the SN said the eventer was fine for them. Most painful hack of my life was in a Isabelle werth.

I suppose it will be my luck for it to be the perfect answer for my horse but give me problems. At least I can find out quite cheaply!

What did you think of it from the horse's point of view?
 
Horse seemed to go well in it but I have to admit that I also had worries about the pressure issues when using long term and am now looking at a WOW saddle. Horse in question has prominent shoulders and I'm struggling to get any saddle to fit so hoping a WOW will work. Saddle was fine for me for 30 minutes or so but I went on a 90 minute hack and did end up with a blister on my "lady bits"!
 
FfionWinnie said:
Oh dear. The people who've told me about the SN said the eventer was fine for them. Most painful hack of my life was in a Isabelle werth.

I suppose it will be my luck for it to be the perfect answer for my horse but give me problems. At least I can find out quite cheaply!

What did you think of it from the horse's point of view?
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I haven't enjoyed any wintec! I put my seatsaver on my YO's when I hack out her horse as at least then it raises me up and away from the pommel a bit! I guess the one help is that everyone has different bits!
 
I've ridden daily and been on up to 3 hour hacks in mine and no complaints with comfort from my perspective. I've got one of the GPs but not sure which one.
 
hc123 said:
Horse seemed to go well in it but I have to admit that I also had worries about the pressure issues when using long term and am now looking at a WOW saddle. Horse in question has prominent shoulders and I'm struggling to get any saddle to fit so hoping a WOW will work. Saddle was fine for me for 30 minutes or so but I went on a 90 minute hack and did end up with a blister on my "lady bits"!
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I'm also planning to speak to wow. Was looking at the local fitter's FB page and saw she owns a horse with an amazing (ly bad) back conformation you would say you could never get a saddle on never mind it fit, the horse is 18 and has always had a wow and is a successful dressage horse so it made me think there is a good chance they will be able to help. There is nothing wrong with my horse but like yours has prominent shoulders.

Would be interested to hear how you get on.

Schlees also sound excellent but I'm not sure of the availability in the UK, especially up here.
 
I have never had any pressure issues in over 10 years of use, with a variety of horses and ponies. In fact, every single animal has improved muscle. Seriously, if your "lady bits" are blistering, my commiserations, but could it have anything to do with your position/conformation?
 
I've had a Native GP for a while now and absolutely love it. Used probably 4 - 5 times a week, is wearing well, super comfortable for me and every one who has ridden in it and no concerns about problems for the horse - in fact, quite the opposite; his back has never looked so good and he's going better than ever.

There's only one way to find out if you like them or not!
 
ozpoz said:
I have never had any pressure issues in over 10 years of use, with a variety of horses and ponies. In fact, every single animal has improved muscle. Seriously, if your "lady bits" are blistering, my commiserations, but could it have anything to do with your position/conformation?
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I guess my issue is that the horse is 4 years old and I intend to keep him for life. There are just no long term studies for horses that use treeless constantly from youngster through to old age and I had various vets, physios, saddlers and others recommending against it. Believe me, I wanted to believe but at just under £3000 all in I had to be 100% certain and I wasn't. As regards the rubbing problems, then I've never had that problem in other saddles. I also read of various other people getting the same problem. I could probably have had the fitter back out to try and alter it to fit me as well as him but the saddle just wasn't all that comfortable and I already had other concerns so decided against.

But I have to say he did go very well in the saddle.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'm also planning to speak to wow. Was looking at the local fitter's FB page and saw she owns a horse with an amazing (ly bad) back conformation you would say you could never get a saddle on never mind it fit, the horse is 18 and has always had a wow and is a successful dressage horse so it made me think there is a good chance they will be able to help. There is nothing wrong with my horse but like yours has prominent shoulders.

Would be interested to hear how you get on.

Schlees also sound excellent but I'm not sure of the availability in the UK, especially up here.
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I'll come back and update once I've managed to try a WOW. Horse is young, asymmetrical with prominent shoulders and is very sensitive to any saddle issues. Get it wrong and he doesn't want to move forward and goes round with his head in the air. Get it right and he works beautifully. From all I have read about WOW they look like they should be the answer as they allow for full shoulder movement and will allow for the longer term remediation that is required.

I hope you get on with the Solution Saddles. I tried one of the older models (borrowed a friends) and found it very comfortable but just couldn't get on with the new model Smart Eventer.
 
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