Heather's Saddle....the answer????

[Monty]

Tell me someone......Did I read that Heather's Dressage Saddle encorporates the seat saver??? I love my seat saver, we are inseparable!! However, the only thing I do find with it is that I lose a bit of the 'depth' of the saddle.Doris, my instructor, who thinks it's a wonderful creation, says it makes it looks as if the saddle is a bit small for my deriere. But when I take the seatsaver out, it looks fine.I just wondered if Heather's saddle might not be the answer. I simply cannot ride without a seatsaver, and I would not have contemplated putting my hip joint throught a canter or a sitting trot without one!!

[ros]

Hi Monty

Yes, Heather's Barry Swain saddles and the new Easi-Sit range both incorporate the seatbone saver.

If you put a S-S on an ordinary saddle it's a bit like putting a thick numnah under the hore's saddle - it does take up a bit of room. But because you sink into that lovely foam you find you really don't need a traditional deep seat to make you feel secure(anyway, they're usually not very good for the horse because the trees aren't flat enough to spread the weight properly).

I don't think I've ever felt as secure in any other saddle as I do in one of Heather's.

[Silvia]

Don't know about Heather's sadlle for riders like you and me, Monty. I'm sure the seatbone saver seat would be great, but the rest of the design might not be ideal. I have never sat in one of Heather's saddles, but had the chance to try the Wintec Isabell, which also has the stirrup bars further back and a few other features copied from Heather's saddle - and the position it put me in was downright painful for my hip and back. I could not even sit in it, let alone ride.
But then, everybody is different. I'd love to hear what you find!

[Monty]

I get what you mean.I can't comment on whether other people would find the same as me, but I found my Wintec Dressage AWFUL when I first had it.But I've perservered,because I was using one borrowed from a friend and found I was VERY gradually finding it easier.And now,(but it has taken two years) I think nothing of it, and find myself falling heavily into the saddle at trot, when I ride in a GP.This doesn't mean that everyone will adapt though, and it is a very valid warning,before spending any money.I wonder if Heather could comment on the difference in position of the stirrup bar between her own saddle and the Wintec (If there is any of course!).That might help. I like my Wintec though, but am finding it harder since I've lost weight and can feel my seat bones, to manage without a seatsaver.

[Cathy Reynolds]

The new saddles are GORGEOUS. I saw the range down at Eastleigh this week on Sue's last ever back to basics course. They look, and feel, really comfortable and the removable blocks are really good to do an immediate change from, say, dressage to GP.

[Wally]

Try and get a shot on the Saddle Co. made GP. It might be your answer, unless you decide jumping ain't for you and stick to a dressage saddle. He makes the Heather dressage with seat saver built in, very comfy.

[happy hacker]

really would be interested in one of heathers saddles. (love the idea of the stirrup bar further back and the built in seat saver). I TRy to ride "classically" long legs and all that, so i am sure it would help.

questions...

how do you/can you get it made to measure
do they come in leather and synthetic (i favour synthetic)
do they cater for the larger/wider/shire x size variety
how much will one set you back

oh also do they only come in dressage or does she do a, i think its called, a dgp (sort of cross between a dressage and a general purpose (i cant get on with dressage girths)

any other info greatfully appreciated guys and gals

[Heather]

HI Happyhacker,

<questions...

how do you/can you get it made to measure
do they come in leather and synthetic (i favour synthetic)
do they cater for the larger/wider/shire x size variety
how much will one set you back

oh also do they only come in dressage or does she do a, i think its called, a dgp (sort of cross between a dressage and a general purpose (i cant get on with dressage girths)

any other info greatfully appreciated guys and gals<

Yes you can have it made to measure at no extra cost.
They do only come in leather and sytnthetic- the Seatbone Saver top cannot be built in, in synthetic materials.
They can be made as wide as a table top!
They are £525.
You can have short girth straps on the dressage model - girths straps are also leather as the synthetic ones split after a pretty short period in my experience, Ours have top quality leather straps which will last the same as on any full leather saddle. The GP model is not too forward cut anyway- we will be bringing out a more forward cut event model later.

Email me at heather@eclipse.co.uk if you woudl like me to send you pics.

As Wally says, they really are superb- they look like a saddle at twice the price.


Heather

[happy hacker]

you say that you can get them made to measure, how would you go about getting this done ( i am in lincolnshire)

i will be getting my horse probably in the next six months or so and have only shared before (so decisions werent mine) so i am trying to think beforehand about all aspects of what choices i will make.

are the saddles quiet light? i like synthetics because of this.

i use a synthetic humane girth which i like, could this be used instead? (i like it as it absorbs sweat, doesnt seem to rub and has a bit of "give" in it when doing up and undoing)

sounds great that you can have short straps on the dressage model as thats always put me off the dressage saddles because of the long straps and the practicabilities of trying to tighten girth when on board. (but perhaps the gp would be suitable for me anyway)

i think the price aint half bad heather, i was expecting you to come back with a much higher price. i would have expected to pay for a made to measure synthetic saddle without seat saver or girth 350.00 ish (does your price include vat)

what sort of numnah/saddle cloth do you recomment using with it.

p.s wanna try out your equisimulator (just checked your book for spelling) would you think of just doing a session/lesson on that as wel as the 4 day course. could do with help with my canter.

and i will email you for some piccies

thanks ever so..

p. p s heather, if you dont mind me saying so, talking about long legs and all that, you have theeee longest leg position i have ever seen, take away the horse from the picture and you look like you are walking down the high street:D

[ros]

Sorry to digress a bit, but it's funny you should say that - I've often noticed that Heather's legs seem to stretch by about a foot when she's sitting on a horse!

[happy hacker]

ros i know, i am looking at the front cover of her book as i type this, and they are just sooo long, wonder if they are real, and if not can we buy a made to measure pair along with the saddle:D

sorry heather i hope you dont mind us discussing your legs in this way:p

[Heather]

>sigh< if only they were that long!!! I have long thighs but short calves (along with a long back- think I must be totally disproportionate!) Ros has longer legs than me!! And Cathy Reynolds who has just been down this week- has legs up to her armpits, lucky thing!!


Heather

[Monty]

If I may make so bold as to butt into this leggy conversation, I think I had a grouch in another thread about looking like Winnie the Pooh. After all this talk about long legs, I've decided I DEFINITELY look like Winnie the Pooh! And even more so on horse back! I think this is one rider who finds that a horse like Rebel has definite advantages over a cob ! Short legs can be very hazardous if you're a rider!!

[nix]

Hi everyone

I've got Heather's new Easysit saddle and I am so so pleased with it. My instructor and friend, Vicki Dunster, took the wither pattern, so it's made to measure. It's lightweight, with wide serge panels underneath - so very comfy for my Harve, and just soooo comfy to sit in, you just don't want to get off.

Here it is on Harve, my 16.2hh TB. Oh yeah, and that's me too :)

[Heather]

HI Nicki-

And doesn't she look good folks! Harve has had a few health problems lately so I gather so good to see him looking very bright and happy.


Heather

[Lesha]

Originally posted by Cathy Reynolds
The new saddles are GORGEOUS. I saw the range down at Eastleigh this week on Sue's last ever back to basics course.

Well come on Cathy - we want a Course Report please (in a nice new subject thread)! :)