Fhoenix vs Freeform Liberty

[shelby]

Which one would you choose and why?

[Showjumper]

The one that best fitted my horse and that I and the horse found most comfortable.

[shelby]

Unfortunately we dont have that luxury here in NZ as we have to buy the the Freeform from Australia so cant try it out (unless we know someone who already has one) :(

[No_Angel]

Ive had a freeform (the standard SB) and have a Fhoenix (which is going on saturday) and they are very different.

What is it that you want to do with your horse?
What shape is your horse?

[MelanieD]

I've had a Freeform and Fhoenix. The Fhoenix feels much more like a normal saddle to ride in and I really liked it to ride in, but pony hated it and got on much better with the Freeform. Freeform is very nice but you know you're in a treeless saddle. It feels wider, the pommel is quite high and can be annoying until you get used to it, but it is nice and soft and comfortable.

[Skippys Mum]

After months of "which one" I think its the Freeform for me (although the bloody agent has just packed it in so I cant get to see or try one before I buy) - back to finish selling the contents of my house on ebay!

[Bay Mare]

Apart from the 'whatever suited my horse' answer I'd go for the Fhoenix (or, actually, the new Vogue which is LUSH). I love my SBS and it suits the Saffster so the Fhoenix/Vogue it would have to be. I've got my eye on the new Vogue GPT which is more forward cut than the Fhoenix and very lovely.

[shelby]

Thanks for your replies. My pony is very short backed. I follpw the Parelli programme and just hack about since a horrendous knee injury stopped anything more enthusiastic than that.

She is barefoot and bitless (and coverless and grassless, living on a track with hay) I was brought up in the UK and rode very traditionally for 20 years. When I came to NZ, lots of people rode in western saddles. I liked this and when I went to treeless, got a Barefoot Navada. This had no twist at all and was just like bareback. However, as time passed, I went off the idea as being somewhat unathletic due to my knee, I disembowelled myself a number of times on the horn. It was also too long for my pony.

I prefer the position of a dressage type saddle. Many GP's are also too long for my pony. I like the Fhoenix (esp the Vogue) because of the twist and Heathers stirrup position, and that it comes with suede options, the Suberpad, etc. I like the Freeform Liberty because of the adjustability and the Y girthing system. Both seem very straight cut and have big knee blocks which I like.

A lot of posts seem to suggest horses dont like the Fhoenix - why is this?

[shelby]

heather also appears to be producing a hip msaver for the Freeform - this would help with the 'no twist, feels like a treeless' I imagine?

Its also somewhat cheaper than the Vogue.....I really cant add anything more on to our mortgage, its already too big and we will never pay it off:rolleyes:!

[No_Angel]

if you like traditional saddles with twist have you looked into the startrekk saddles?
I have the western, and had the dressage and the dressage has loads of twist.

I also had a hipsaver and didn't feel it made the saddle any narrower, it actually felt wider.

[MelanieD]

My horse that didn't like the Fhoenix is croup high, and I'm far from the only person with that shape horse that's had problems. A lot of other horses do get on great with them.