fheonix trial 15/2- surrey

[Giveitago]

Guys,

Just in case you were interested...

Helen Newey, the local EE rep is coming to the yard ( west Horsley/ockham)on 15th Feb to show me the new fheonix saddles for my Dales mare Star. Obviously, I am paying for the pleasure. (Yes there's a new version of the fheonix out now, two different prices too- one at around £850 the other over £1000)

I wondered if there was anyone who might like to come and see this demo who perhaps hadnt got round to booking or had limited funds but would still like to see the saddle without the pressure of being sold to.

Obviously , The YO wont be too chuffed if the whole of Surrey turns up at her yard but if there's one or two of you who would like to come and be nosy I'm sure she wont mind.

Please let me know. No charge

[Bay Mare]

Good luck, it will be interesting to see how you get on with it :D

The more expensive saddle will be the Vogue which is a different shape to the Fhoenix with a narrower twist and very beautiful. I haven't ridden in one but I have sat in one and they're lush! Will you be looking at both or just the Fhoenix?

I'm glad that Heather has brought the slightly cheaper Fhoenix out as it's an excellent saddle and it makes it slightly more affordable :)

[molly34]

I'd love to have a nose, but I'm guessing you'll be doing it in daylight while I'm stuck at work :(
I hope it goes well - pictures are essential!

[Giveitago]

10.30am start on Friday.

I'll post some piccys if you like.

[Giveitago]

oh, it was excellent:D, very chilly but we all had a good look and ride in the two different types.

Two great saddles, both with changes to the Fheonix I already have.

I have one piccy which shows the slight difference in dimensions which i will put up next week(photoshop permitting).

I found the £850 saddle to be slightly less wide than my original fheonix. Very good leg position. Gives a really strong and secure feel whilst retaining all the 'feel' you need, especially noticed when asking for the first halt. It has a higher wither clearance and a smaller cantle left to right but higher than before giving a deeper seat. I think the deeper seat will be excellent for my daughter as it gives a great deal of support and comfort.

I wasnt as keen on the more expensive, dressage type model.(vogue?) Just a gut feel thing really as to be honest I couldnt fault the saddle, styling or anything. However, I could see that the small differences would be a benefit if you were a dressage rider. Personally, I think I would wait for the GP option if I really wanted a great 'technically able' saddle. It actually looked a bit odd on my native pony with the high pommel and cantle and long, dressage cut flaps.

Both saddles now come with the internal padding slightly different- offering more of a wedge shape in the prolite padding that helps the saddle to fit evenly across the cantle/horses back. I have ordered a set for my existing Fheonix for my Tb boy as his saddle has been going up hill a bit lately (larger belly/less back muscle).

More importantly, my girly went really well, even in the school when she absolutely hates schooling. We didnt do much technically just the usual halt, walk, trot and canter, all with great ease and comfort.

As it stands, I will sell my Balance soft option and the pads and see how much that generates and then pleeeeeeed with hubby to make up the difference. Helen expects delivery to be around 5/6 weeks. I just have to decide which leather/suede options I would prefer.

Helen had a good day as it seems both of my visitors will also be ordering the new £850 once they have also sold their old stuff and pleeded with their hubbys too.

Please PM me if you would like Helens details- she is based in Farnham, Surrey, is a really good, down to earth lady who doesnt seem to ever try and sell you anything. I suppose the saddle sells itself.

Well done HM.

[monique]

This is really interesting and I will await the photos with great interest as I am hoping to trial these in the not too distant future. Can I ask what type/build they were tried on as I really liked the look of the vogue but have very rotund native cob types and did wonder what they would look like on fatties:o plus the extra cost of the Vogue does make me wobble abit as we do not compete or anything just hack and a play at the local shows. Did you find them laterally stable ie could you mount from the ground and was there much difference in feel between the old style and the new Fhoenix any info you can give me as a impartial source would be great as there are no local fitters in the south west so would be going it alone so as too speak. Bit of a random question do you think they would be ok for a child of 12 ie stable enough don't worry if you can't answer that :D

[Giveitago]

Demo was with a 14.2 Dales mare, medium build with a bit of wither and not too round. However, another lady trying the saddle today has a completely flat backed cob type who didnt look odd at all with either of the saddles.

I had no feeling at any point of the saddle being unstable in any way, no need to tighten girths, or shift weight in any direction. As with the existing Fheonix, very stable, almost glued to your neddy and my bum all lovely and comfy in the great memory foam seat.

Unfortunately, I did not mount from the ground. To be honest I hardly ever do unless I have to dismout for some reason whilst hacking and thats only when I cant find a suitable block or tree to mount from.

The main difference in feel... i noticed that my stirrup leathers seemed a bit long and asked if it looked like I was riding too long. All agreed and I therefore took them up by a hole. This correlated with the feeling of a reduction in bulkiness between my upper inside thigh. Helen confirmed that the saddle was a bit narrower/less padded where the seat meets the saddle flap towards the back.

I forgot to mention that the new Fheonix still retains the great quality in leather and stitching, is very light and easy to handle. Still with dressage leathers and great stirrup position. I am unaware if there is still a need for back-saver or prolite padding as I didnt ask and I didnt need it with this horse.

Lastly, I too, have a 12 year old and see no reason why it would not be suitable. If anything, I find the new Fheonix with the extra Pommel and cantle height will just give that little extra support to help her keep in the saddle should anything ever get a bit ott.

In short, a damn good saddle, both types, but same as you, I really didnt need the fancy leather or the dressage cut and couldn't see a basis for spending the extra money.

My existing 18 month old Fheonix is great for both my horses, the other being a flightly TBX, I just take the back saver out when riding the Dales. With the new one there is no loss of feeling, comfort or convenience.

I hope this is of help.

Perhaps someone nearer you could let you know if they are arranging a demo so you could share the cost of the visit?

[monique]

Thanks for that it was really helpful, I already ride treeless but have wanted a Fhoenix for a while but in a way I am glad I hadn't been able to afford one as I do like the sound of the deeper seat, my youngest daughter also rides treeless and hates riding in a treed saddle but I sometimes worry that if as you say things get a bit ott and her balance is not quite there that she may need a bit more support from the saddle if you understand what I mean. Even if there is no-one else down this way having or wanting a demo I am definitely going to trial one I have already been in touch with Heather and I have just got to get some back photos done, anyway thanks once again ohh I'm getting all excited now:D

[Giveitago]

There's an 18 inch previous style on ebay today for £650 if anyones intersted.

[Giveitago]

I've ordered mine!

yipeeee.

Here's some photos for you.

The first is showing the new Fhoenix GP £875 on the right. And the saddle to the left is the new Vogue, dressage cut. Sorry it's not a better piccy of the vogue but I was interested in the cheaper one. I understand that the Gp version of the vogue is also being manufactured.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/giveitago/xmasish07206.jpg

This second image shows the new Fhoenix (black) next to my Fhoenix (brown). Notice the slightly higher pommel and cantle. (mines a 17" and the new one is an 18" in this picture)


http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/giveitago/xmasish07208.jpg

And, both Fhoenix from behind. Again notice the higher cantle on the new version as opposed to the squarer, shorter cantle on my brown one. Also note the change in shape of the prolite panels- more of a wedge shape which fits much better to the horses back. I have ordered a set of these panels for my brown saddle.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/giveitago/xmasish07210.jpg

And lastly, here's the lucky girl(s) who are getting the new saddle. (This is also the pony having the Detomax injections on another thread).

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/giveitago/CIMG2106.jpg

[Gill]

Really interesting thank you. Your pony is lovely too.
Heathers saddles are a godsend for Native ponies aren't they? I've got the original SBS which I love. It goes on my Welsh D as well as my barrel shaped Highland.
I've had a ride in the Fhoenix but didn't like it as much as the SBS as it wasn't as roomy...hem that says something about me I think!

[No_Angel]

The new fhoenix is a lot higher in the cantle isn't it?!

I actually found that my fhoenix was/is better on my tb than my natives, i still have my fhoenix but don't use it anymore.

[monique]

Thanks for posting the pictures that has really helped me make up my mind. I love the new Vogue and may stretch to one for the baby (five this year:o but still my baby) later on but am defo going with the new Fhoenix for the welshie and our little tubby cob, thats if they like it of course. I have seen pictures of the Vogue GP and I really don't like the look although it maybe lovely to ride:o.

[Giveitago]

Monique,

Where have you seen the pictures of the GP Vogue?

[monique]

Don't know if this will work but I will try and post a link, if it doesn't work it is on the EE forum apparently Heather is now doing two styles of GP Vogue the one in the link and one with the same flap as the standard Fhoenix as a few people have said they are not keen on the look of the GP but it was designed for the longer leg, so that anyone wanting to jump has room for their knees.

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?topic=26816.0

[Giveitago]

Saddle was delivered today...that was quick.

Comes with knee rolls, wedge pads, wax..lovely packaging actually.

And a leaflet about a kids pony saddle called the Inky dinky which looks fab too.

Will test it out tomorrow and get back to you all.