It's definite, I need a new saddle, the treed one she'd had since 4yo no longer fits despite several re-flocks.
So, the saddle hunt is on! A friend has kindly let me try her Torsion, lovely and comfy for B, felt very odd for daughter, lack of knee roll a concern. Have been looking on the 'net and like the look (but not the cost...) of the enlightened equitation Phoenix.
Opinions please, pros and cons - pm me if you'd rather? I know it's expensive, but I'd rather buy something that works for us all and use it for years, than something that's ok for perhaps 3-4 yrs (like my current saddle) and then need to buy again. Am going to try and book a 'phoenix saddle consultation' and see if I can trial one too.
I don't have any knowledge of that particular saddle, but I have a Sensation G3 and a Freeform, both of which are lovely saddles, look more like a conventional saddle and are jolly comfortable.
Have not tried Phoenix But loved the Sbs saddle before that your bum just moalded into saddle.For what I have been told the phoenix is a lot better
But does cost a lot more than most treeless saddles............
I've not tried the standard Fhoenix saddle, but I did ride in one of her Vogues yesterday, and I'm definately getting one (of each is the intention, we need a show saddle too), it was fabby. I'm pretty sure you can arrange to try one through one of the agents.
I bought one a while back, and altho i know alot of ppl love them i hated mine, i bought the suberpad one (has the cork padded thing underneath it) and i absolutely hated it with a vengence and so did my horse
I felt extreemly perch, and altho they say that it does bed down after a while and you should wet it first (tried that !) i still felt like i was a mile above my horse and couldnt feel her at all underneath me.
Guess its like marmite you either love it or hate it !!
I've now got a treeless flexion saddle made by katie eaton in essex and love it
Have got an SBS (forerunner to the Fhoenix) and have ridden in the Fhoenix and have sat on the new Vogue on the equisimulator.
I love the saddles but they're really something that you need to try out. They do feel different but I actually feel as though I'm sat 'in' the saddle rather than 'on' it. I'm not a fan of the suber pad under my SBS (although Saff was ok with it) but I would like to try a suberpanel. If I was buying today I'd definitely pay a bit more and go for the Vogue which is more 'normal' looking than the SBS & Fhoenix and has a narrower twist too. The people who've ridden in it say that they feel even more secure than they did in the Fhoenix.
It's certainly worth getting a trial and see what you think. Not all saddles, treed or treeless, will suit every horse and every rider. I've not had an ounce of trouble and Saff has a fabby back with not a hint of atrophy
I've read some less than positive comments on the suber pad too, many riders saying they felt 'perched' - but then as with all such things it seems a personal choice. Have asked to trial the vogue gp, there are certainly some rave reviews from those who've ridden it, equally for the sbs fhoenix and the freeform.
But the prices! And there's one - the mondial holistic supreme - that retails for £1880.00!! My lord, thats about the same as an Albion dressage?!
Trial one first and don't assume they'll fit every horse just because they're treeless.
I have an SBS and like it apart from that it slips, I've just gone back to a treed saddle because I've had enough of it slipping when pony does an unexpected idiot manouver and I have to put more weight in one stirrup. Pony actually seems a bit happier in her treed saddle. I had a Fhoenix for a while and originally got a wonky one which was replaced (just can't resist mentioning that after the number of comments I've seen about treed saddles being wonky on EE!). I liked it but I think my pony was proof of 'it doesn't fit every horse'
melanieD - my friend with a SBS uses a non-slip geleze thin pad underneath his saddle which stops is slipping on his extremely flat backed rolly polly cob.
i just bought a torsion deluxe which has the kneerolls on it and it is extrememly comfy for both me and my horses- both go really well in it so would def recommend them.
Definitely try one before you think about buying. I had one and hated it - felt uncomfortable and unstable. Sold it to someone who thought it was the most fantastic thing ever. They really are marmite saddles, for both horse and rider.
Definitely try one before you think about buying. I had one and hated it - felt uncomfortable and unstable. Sold it to someone who thought it was the most fantastic thing ever. They really are marmite saddles, for both horse and rider.
i defo agree, i sat in my friends one, and i found it quite uncomfy! my barefoot was sooo much comfier! I think I felt quite perched on it
i have one and i love it ---its extremely comfortable for me (heavy, short person) and my son thought it was brill too (light, tall -verrrry tall---person)
i did have a slippage prob at xmas--ted doesna like neoprene on his skin so i wasn't using the prochoice girth just an ordinary dressage girth-- but i now have it sussed with a barnsby comfort dressage girth and barnsby grip pad
(i rode in ithe saddle for the first 3 weeks with no prob--then rode in the ring at xmas and it slipped --i fell and fractured my spine!,,,naturally i lost confidence and have got back to riding only slowly since then -- am now going out on hacks again and cantering in it no bother))
i tried again with it cos ted--my wide large shouldered -round as a barrel cob-- absolutely goes better in it -- his movements are much free-er and he just seems so much happier under saddle
def have a trial - you can normally get long enough to cover two weekends so you get the chance to actually ride in it
nurseys organise that for you -- delivery etc -- and can organise collection if you decide not to buy the trial one--(you get money off a new one to cover some of cost of trial)
the staff at nurseys are verrrrry helpful, heather and jill and agents were the same -- i'd recommend you get an agent out to check fit and give advice--that cost me 30--well worth it
mine is the fhoenix dressage in the plus size (bout 19") cos-like i said - i'm a short round heavy person--and i wouldna swap it now -- except maybe for a vogue
it may have slipped that one for me with very unfortunate results -- but i have to say my sons girlfriend who is lighter than me has ridden in it from the very beginning and had no probs whatsoever--it has never ever moved for her
also -- on the day it slipped i got sidetracked when tacking up and was in a hurry-- i don't remember if i had his girth tight enough -- i usually walk round and round and do it up slowly (he's a bit girthy) and my pal came and told me to hurry so we could get a ride in before it rained and i got flustered -- i really don't remember --....the rest is history...
give treeless a try -- i can only speak for the hm saddle cos it's the only treeless i've sat on -- but i like it
I have been lucky enough to try a few - my NH instructor is an agent. Whilst they are lovely saddles, unfortunately they all flew up my lads neck no matter what padding she tried. When we found one that stayed put, he tried to nip when girthed which told me he didnt like that either. (thankfully as I couldnt afford one anyway lol) So as already mentioned, try before you buy.
Good luck
I have never had a treeless so cant comment on them sadly. However I just wanted to say that I dont feel perched on my treed saddle with a suber underneath.
) of the enlightened equitation Phoenix. 
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