Who has a solution saddle

I have two solutions. One Smart dressage and an older GP model. Use them on two very different horses successfully. Although I do jump one in a traditional treed saddle these days, only because I wanted him in a proper jump saddle as opposed to a GP and he was perfectly happy in it. The other is far more opinionated and only likes his Solution �� I've had the GP for five years and the dressage for three. The dressage saddle has been in storage for the last six months due to sicknote ponies, but was used several times a week prior to that. The GP has had daily use.

Neither have worn as well as I'd expect a traditional saddle of that value, in fact my thirteen year old Butet that's had a far harder life looks better. But both are still perfectly functional and haven't had problems with either of them. Find the older GP like an armchair for hacking, it's very comfortable. The dressage not so much, but I don't like hacking in dressage saddles regardless of them having a tree or not ��
 
hc123 said:
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.
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The whole thing is a mine field isn't it.

I get the whole pressure thing but I do wonder if it's any less dangerous to long term soundness than the points of the tree sticking directly in their shoulders, for instance.

As my horse has a small but not prominent wither, and very even and well muscled back, I wonder if she is likely to be ok in a treeless. I've been riding daily in a very basic CL bareback pad for around 4/5 months now and she continues to go brilliantly in it and shows no dislike to it (and she would soon say!). She has also developed muscle over her withers which was lacking previously I think due to poor fitting at some stage. Physio very happy with her too.

The main attraction to solution for me is their excellent trial facilities. Apparently they will spend 2 hours at the initial consultation and I can rent exactly what I would be buying even if they have to make it for me. I'm not sure many companies offer this service.
 
FfionWinnie said:
The whole thing is a mine field isn't it.

I get the whole pressure thing but I do wonder if it's any less dangerous to long term soundness than the points of the tree sticking directly in their shoulders, for instance.

As my horse has a small but not prominent wither, and very even and well muscled back, I wonder if she is likely to be ok in a treeless. I've been riding daily in a very basic CL bareback pad for around 4/5 months now and she continues to go brilliantly in it and shows no dislike to it (and she would soon say!). She has also developed muscle over her withers which was lacking previously I think due to poor fitting at some stage. Physio very happy with her too.

The main attraction to solution for me is their excellent trial facilities. Apparently they will spend 2 hours at the initial consultation and I can rent exactly what I would be buying even if they have to make it for me. I'm not sure many companies offer this service.
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Just be aware, that they don't have a great deal of stock, so you can end up waiting 6 weeks for the saddle, whilst renting, and then you have to return the original saddle to them at your cost. I think that the initial consultation is only free if you buy the saddle too.
 
Apache Warlord said:
Just be aware, that they don't have a great deal of stock, so you can end up waiting 6 weeks for the saddle, whilst renting, and then you have to return the original saddle to them at your cost. I think that the initial consultation is only free if you buy the saddle too.
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Thanks will check that out. The fitter is at a yard I frequent so I assume I can just give it back to her but will make sure I find that out.

It's £35 as I am going to her yard for the consultation (as the arena has a roof, and well a floor, surface and walls and things where as I have a very wet field currently!). If I bought one I would get that back which I think is fine. £50 a week to rent. I should know in the first hour if it's not going to work. Renting it will be if I am sure it's going to work and plan to buy, to further make sure!

Just think the BB pad is so good for her that I have to give them a shot or I will always wonder.
 
I used the old model SS for a very high withered horse - he loved it and it was the only saddle he would put up with (without having a problem that we could identify!). I rode in it 4-6 times a week, competed to medium dressage and schooled to flying changes without ever feeling insecure in it. It was possible to mount from the ground but you had to be a bit athletic and hop on rather than putting all your weight on the stirrup and pulling up. I used it for about 6 years with no problems. My other horse hates it and will bronk as soon as it is on but that's horses for you!
 
I've got the dressage and the jump saddle for my Thoroughbred and I ride him every day in one or the other of them. I also compete at least twice a month and go for lessons/clinics. I have had my dressage saddle for about three years and despite nearly daily use it still looks as new. I have had my jump saddle for about 18 months and haven't used it quite as often but it still looks in good nick despite it being an ex-demonstrator. Before I bought my dressage saddle I had an original Solution GP so in total I think I've been using Solution saddles for about 7-8 years and in all honesty I wouldn't go back to a treed saddle and I definitely haven't had problems with sore "bits". My TB has been ridden in them since the age of four and now nine he is evenly muscled without atrophy behind the shoulders and I honestly think I have saved myself a fortune. In fact I have been so impressed with the saddles I decided to become an advisor so I can vouch for the excellent research and development that goes into the design.

P.S. I'm toying with selling my jump saddle to fund the purchase of a new design jump if you're interested?! :)
 
Thanks Booboos, she's only 14.2 so I can usually find something to stand on to aid me being a bit athletic lol.

That's all really interesting street skill. It's going to be a case of try it and see I think! PM me about your jump please! Mine is a cob but built like a sports horse (she prefers the term sports cob herself lol).

Thanks to everyone who is commenting. All useful information and very much appreciated.
 
Regarding rider fit of saddles, generally. I trialled a treeless (not Solution) which the fitter insisted was the right size for me and horse, but nieither of us got on with it, I felt pushed right to the back of the saddle, it was very uncomfortable, although I don't have a big backside and it looked the right size. The fitter said I must be riding incorrectly and advised having lessons. Moved on to another fitter and another saddle (not treeless) who said I have very long thigh bones, and I ended up with the same saddle that her husband uses to accommodate my legs! So it isn't just the horse that has to be fitted, it is the rider too.
 
Orangehorse said:
Regarding rider fit of saddles, generally. I trialled a treeless (not Solution) which the fitter insisted was the right size for me and horse, but nieither of us got on with it, I felt pushed right to the back of the saddle, it was very uncomfortable, although I don't have a big backside and it looked the right size. The fitter said I must be riding incorrectly and advised having lessons. Moved on to another fitter and another saddle (not treeless) who said I have very long thigh bones, and I ended up with the same saddle that her husband uses to accommodate my legs! So it isn't just the horse that has to be fitted, it is the rider too.
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That is one of the big benefits of the solution, my short backed Appy and I have had a problem with her short back versus my long legs, the Solution has sorted this out :)
 
'Sore bits' isn't something I'd even thought about! It's certainly something to bear in mind. I'd be very interested how you get on with your trial FW as I think my cob sounds a similar shape to your girl. It's only since he's become fit and carrying no extra weight that we've had saddle issues. Whilst he's obviously changed shape to a degree everything is slipping back on him including saddles that apparently fit (according to saddle fitters!)
 
Just as a quick update, I had a second hand WOW saddle fitted today and so far so good. Horse who would normally show his dislike of a saddle by being reluctant to go forward and go round like a giraffe seemed to instantly relax in it, was forward going, using his back and lowering his head. I also found the saddle very comfortable. Early days yet but this is the most optimistic I have felt about a saddle in the last 6 months of trying to find one so fingers crossed it will work.
 
I've got saddler coming out on Sunday to trial one so v excited ekk! Have heard in past re treeless saddles you have to watch for pressure points around stirrup bars, anyone experience any negative effects or signs with these saddles?
 
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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My Draftmare has enormous shoulders and she a absolutely loves the Solution saddle (native eventer), she goes better in it than in any of the other 4 saddles she has had in the last 5 yrs because it frees up her shoulders
 
I'd be interested in your saddle, do you have any pics and price please?

Street_Skill said:
I've got the dressage and the jump saddle for my Thoroughbred and I ride him every day in one or the other of them. I also compete at least twice a month and go for lessons/clinics. I have had my dressage saddle for about three years and despite nearly daily use it still looks as new. I have had my jump saddle for about 18 months and haven't used it quite as often but it still looks in good nick despite it being an ex-demonstrator. Before I bought my dressage saddle I had an original Solution GP so in total I think I've been using Solution saddles for about 7-8 years and in all honesty I wouldn't go back to a treed saddle and I definitely haven't had problems with sore "bits". My TB has been ridden in them since the age of four and now nine he is evenly muscled without atrophy behind the shoulders and I honestly think I have saved myself a fortune. In fact I have been so impressed with the saddles I decided to become an advisor so I can vouch for the excellent research and development that goes into the design.

P.S. I'm toying with selling my jump saddle to fund the purchase of a new design jump if you're interested?! :)
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Thought I would do a little update about this.

I've had the solution saddle pro eventer on rental for a week tomorrow.

I've jumped in it a lot and hacked in it.

The terms are a £500 deposit and £50 per week to rent it. If I buy a saddle I get 2 weeks rental free.

Included in the rental are all the accessories I needed, inc girth and leathers. All of those were brand new as was the trial saddle.

This is a vid of me jumping her on day 2 of the trial. She hasn't been jumping consistently for months now due to having no saddle so they are just small jumps. Have two jump lessons next week so should get a chance to try it over some bigger fences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3-xPyCJh4Q

My first impressions are their rental / trial facilities are superb. Fitter very nice and can't do enough to help/offer options.

I've got a size 4 which is a bit small for my length of thigh, I'm hoping to get a size 5 to try asap.

We tried about 6 saddles of various combinations of base and seat type.

I thought I wanted the pro jump and they had thought the pro eventer would be the best one for my horse from looking at pics.

It turned out they were right, I didn't like the jump at all. Found it really narrow and too close contact - while I want a jump saddle I do need to ride in it daily.

I don't have any worries about pressure from the girth or stirrup bars. While there is no tree, the saddle is still a solid object. There is no way I would have known it was treeless. It has a gullet and looks and feels like a normal saddle.

I do find it a bit hard for my princess and the pea backside but the horse is going well in it.
 
GoldenWillow said:
Thank you for the update FW sounds positive. Did you find you had to have much in the way of shimming or pads to get the fit right?
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Just to interject - the saddles come with a vast array of pads to get the right fit, which will be individual to each horse. For example, FW may have used a combination of a couple of pads to get the right fit, whereas I only needed two small pads on either side to get the right fit.
 
GoldenWillow said:
Thank you for the update FW sounds positive. Did you find you had to have much in the way of shimming or pads to get the fit right?
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No, literally the saddle and their griffin nuumed wool lined saddle cloth. It has a few extra bits of Velcro. I don't think I need it either to be honest, my own pads and Eskadron lamb skin should be the same effect but I haven't tried that yet.


580B6844-2D43-4F26-932E-E813A035A38B_zpsxiz10g9z.jpg


I have the shims to try if I want to or could just use my nuumed shim pad. Also one base the shims go inside the saddle (not the one I've got)
 
I'm really happy to hear that you've finally got the saddle issues sorted, hopefully you can crack on now and have an eventing pair of cobs! :D

The solution saddles do look very smart, they've not got the styling that most treeless ones usually do. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it long term. An Acavallo gel seat saver should help with the seat hardness - it was a lifesaver for me with my Albion K2.
 
Is that the eventer gp?

FfionWinnie said:
No, literally the saddle and their griffin nuumed wool lined saddle cloth. It has a few extra bits of Velcro. I don't think I need it either to be honest, my own pads and Eskadron lamb skin should be the same effect but I haven't tried that yet.


580B6844-2D43-4F26-932E-E813A035A38B_zpsxiz10g9z.jpg


I have the shims to try if I want to or could just use my nuumed shim pad. Also one base the shims go inside the saddle (not the one I've got)
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DirectorFury said:
I'm really happy to hear that you've finally got the saddle issues sorted, hopefully you can crack on now and have an eventing pair of cobs! :D

The solution saddles do look very smart, they've not got the styling that most treeless ones usually do. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with it long term. An Acavallo gel seat saver should help with the seat hardness - it was a lifesaver for me with my Albion K2.
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Well not sorted totally but certainly plenty of options. I actually was using my acavallo but I haven't used it for a while and it gives me another issue with chaffing :o. It may be ok once I'm used to it again (I found this unpleasant issue out on a 26km endurance ride owie!!). Decided I need to use it without in the short term. They are trying to get the other seat size up for me asap.

GoldenWillow said:
Thank you, that photo shows it really clearly. The thought of having to use lots of pads/shims is something that's put me off.
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To be honest it's pretty simple even if you do:

D126FD5A-1033-4628-9FD0-B15978A8CA65_zpsh9w2uck9.jpg


FE5B9824-992C-4C47-BE26-0C414EC01A29_zpseeapig9j.jpg


They just Velcro on to the pad then it all sticks to the saddle as well.

Cobbychic said:
Is that the eventer gp?
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No I think it's called the pro eventer from memory (but did try loads of saddles!). It has the same base as the pro jump but a different seat. I liked the smart jump but there was only a 4 to try in that and it felt smaller in the seat than this 4. I liked the fact the shims go inside that one tho and the panels are softer. If I don't like the size 5 any better then I will try the smart jump but that's a 6 week wait for them to make me one so means I would be back to being saddleless unless I keep renting one.
 
I'm following this thread with interest.

FW, I thought you were tall, too. Is a size 4 big enough? According to this chart, at 5ft 10 ins tall I'd need the largest size, a 6. Certainly don't fancy paying out all that dosh and getting an uncomfortable saddle, no matter how good the fit on the horse...

Rider height Ladies
DRESS SIZE Gentlemen
WAIST SIZE Solution saddle Tradition saddle
up to 5'2" below 6 below 28 3 17
up to 5'4" 6 to 8 28 to 30 3/4 17/17.5
up to 5'6" 10 to 12 32 to 34 4 17.5
up to 5'8" 14 to 16 36 to 38 5 18
up to 5'10" 18 to 20 40 to 42 6 18.5
 
I was wondering how you got on and I recognise that arena. Your cob is certainly going very sweetly round the jumps. : )

I'd be wary of putting a gel seat saver on a trialled saddle in case it marked it. I wonder if it feel hard because it is new? I love my Solution because it feels so comfortable for my dodgy hips and dodgier base of spine.
 
Sorry started calving today, so short of time now!

I'm getting the size 5 to try next week. Should have it for second lesson of the week (same coach) so that will be a good comparison.

I'm 5ft7 and a bit with long hip to thighs. The size 4 smart jump was definitely too small.

Interestingly fitter suggested adding front shims and this has cured the "hardness" issue by putting me onto my seatbones which is exactly what she said it would do.

Seat saver hasn't marked it at all (or any other saddle I've used it on) but I had permission to try a seat saver on it. I get the impression they absolutely want me to be happy, which is good, because I need to know this is going to work for both of us.

I jumped in it tonight and she is going so much better and is back to her usual happy cobby self.

I don't feel that it's too small for me, other than the hardness feeling which I though was because it was too small but now thinking perhaps it just needed those shims. I want to jump some bigger fences and check out if I smack my backside off anything :o. Need to keep trying it to work it all out. That's been a week so far and I feel really pleased tonight. Hoping the size 5 difference will be obviously good or bad so there isn't any faffing about trying it and it not being right (I'm going to try it or current one for more than the 2 weeks because going xc on it as well)

Fitter is really good and going to look at things again next week and see if there is anything needing balanced now I am getting more used to it.
 
I've got a new VSD and I've put a thick sheepskin seat saver on it and it's like a comfy chair now :D
The fitters are very accommodating and a pleasure to deal with, glad you're having a good experience.
With the 5 the only thing that could be an issue in the increased size and how long your cobs back is? I only say this because I have a cobby type and I tried a 5 on him of the GP and it was too long for him, it would have interfered with places it shouldn't.
 
Thank you again for your pics, I'm finding this massively interesting as I think I may be going down this route. Your fitter sounds very good, sometimes I think it's less about the saddles, whatever make/brand and more about just having a good fitter.
 
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