saddles

[Shelly_D]

Hi Heather, I was wondering if you could recommend any good all-purpose saddles that aren't going to cost me my firstborn and that I can find in the States. I just started riding english a month ago and I LOVE it. I bought your book and it is helping me so much in my lessons. I've done a little jumping which I think could get addictive, and just started learning some dressage moves. I plan on getting a horse next month. My instructor says I would really benefit from riding a horse that isn't being used for lessons 5 times a day. She thinks I am really good and could go very far if I put in the time. Anyway, I'm rambling. But I would appreciate your opinion on a good saddle. Thanks!

[Heather]

HI Shelley,

I hate to say this but I cannpt reccommend a single saddle. this is why I designed my own range. Every last make of saddle that I know, has the stirrup bars too far forward and makes it very difficult indeed to maintain the correct ear/shoulder/hip/heel line of balance. It is a nightmare. Riders are being forced into the wrong position by the very tool that is supposed to be assisting them. It is not just the rider, the horse suffers greatly too, becuase the imbalance of the rider position places stain on the weaker part of his back. My own saddle range of made to measure leather sadldes is not available in the US, and I don't know yet whether the sytnthetic GP I have designed for the saddle company Thorowgood, has been released in the States. It is not wide enough for some horses at the moment, but they are working on a wider tree.

I am at last being listened to by one or two British saddlers, as I want to change the way they make all saddles. Saddles are still being madde to accommodate the hunting seat, ie the chair seat with the feet pushed forward and butt on the cantle, not the correct positionof balance that nearly all riders aspire to today. I get so mad with saddlers who are perpetuating probably 75% odf riding faults. I am very outspoken about it here in the UK, and will be lecturing on the subject to one of our leadding veterinary colleges on the 21st on this month.

Sorry to be so negative, but this is a subject that I feel SOOOOO strongly about!

Heather

[Shelly_D]

Well, thanks for not holding anything back! Ha ha. That is all good to know about saddles though, thank you. So I guess I am in the same dilemma as before.

[Heather]

HI Shelley,

Have a good look at a range of saddles and see try to find one with the stirrup bar as far back as possible- it should be more or less central to the saddle flap if you are to be helped into the correct balance. I have a video out, which shows all of this- you can get it from my agents, who have a depot in Florida- sales number is 1800 462 8982. It also covers allhow to sit, and absorb the movement of the horse correctly, also to post to the trot in balance and shows the right and wrong ways also, so that you can recognise the difference.

All the best, and good luck,


Heather

[Lesl]

Hi Heather
I am a new member of the group.
I live in verwood and in fact am Nick and Mics next door neighbour.( I beleive you met them recently). Mic lent me your book which I have just started. Very interesting so far and I like the approach.
We(my wife Ann and I) have icelandic horses (14.2 and 14 hands) and when we were on holiday recently our tack room was broken into and our saddles stolen.
We had a trapezius saddle which has the stirrup leathers in the correct position and also has independant trees which of coure means that it is very good for icelandic horses because of their extra gate (tolt).
The only problem I had with it was that I seemed always to be adjusting my position and I did not feel comfortable and so I am looking for a different saddle.
Mow to the point of the note!
Mic told me how comfortable you saddle was to sit in and I would like to try or at least get some more info.
Could you advise me how to go about it.
Thanks for your book and I must try the video.
Les

[Wally]

Whato Lesl,

Sorry to hear the tack room theft. It must have been a blow. I don't like trapezius saddles, sorry a lot of Icelandic riders do, I don't. I really and truly am toying with the idea of saving my pennies and getting a Heather dressage saddle from her saddler. I'm sure it would help with the gaits in competition riding. I'd use the Icelandic saddle for longer distance riding but I'm so tempted to get one of Heathers from Swaines. It is not that dissimilar in design to some Icelandic saddles seat wise, no hard seaming or highly stretched seat to bounce you like a drum.

Heather,
If we wanted one of your saddles, (not the Thorrowgood) from where does one order them?

[Lesl]

Wally
thanks for your reply. it looks as though Heather could have 2 sales!
Have you any experience of the "Diddi" saddle? because in photos it looks very similar to heathers.
It is a nightmare with saddles and you begin to wonder if it is " apoor workman who blames his tools" as my mother use to say
Les

[Wally]

Yes a poor workman will blame his tools, but a master craftsman cannot hope to produce his best work with cheap tools that are not up to the job in hand!

I think a lot of problems with the Icelandic world stems from copying exactly what the Icelanders have done for centuries, without questioning it or being brave and bold enough to go out on a limb and try doing things their way.

Magnús larusson is still thought of as somewhat eccentric! because he is doing things differently. An Icelandic saddle is not the be all and end all as some folk will say. They have their uses. But I've found they offer no support when schooling bolshy youngsters.

[Lesl]

Wally
your absolutely right. part of the icelandic world seems to think that "if it aint broke dont fix it" and therefor keeps to everything that is traditional as if it is the only awy to go. But some are trying to think laterally and develop new ideas. magnus is one and some of the new saddlers are others.
as far as new, bolshy and difficult horses are concerned have you tried Pat Parelli. He says that there is no such animal. Only a difficult and bolshy owner!!
Les

[Wally]

Not sure about Pat Pirelli,
I've read the book and the magazine articles. I have trouble taking the man seriously, he's a bit too pleased with himself.

When I refer to bolshy youngsters I use the word flippantly, what I should have said is uneducated, unbalanced green horses. They need all the help they can get from a quiet stable rider that isn't sliding about all over the seat of a huge Icelandic saddle.

I have seen photos of Pat Pirelli dealing with difficult horses. They rear with him, they nap, they do exactly the same with him as they would any handler. It is the outcome that is the important thing. One has to realise that horses will try it on with anyone, Pat Pirelli included. In the end he wins..... So do I!!



[Edited by Wally on 21st Oct 2000 at 06:59 PM]

[Frances]

My horses all have different saddles according to their size, requirements and what fits and suits them best. There are no hard and fast rules and every horse is different.

A horse's back, feet and mouth are his most precious possessions. I look after them. I do not make sweeping statements and judgements but treat each horse individually and see what suits him/her best, is safe and comfortable for most importantly the horse and then the rider.

Keeping an open mind is important - if owning all these horses has taught me something, is that everyone is different and what works for one, certainly doesn't work for another.

Perhaps others should widen their horizons abit and look at the bigger picture.