Saddle for jim

[flintfootfilly]

Must add, I couldn't really see the easifit saddle clearly in the first picture, but I'm wondering now whether it is designed like the torsion/barefoot saddles?  Just wondering whether that was a pommel arch that I could just about make out at the front of the saddle?  And if so, then it wouldn't be acceptable under British Dressage rules.  BD allows treeless saddles, but they have to look like a traditional English saddle.

But that still leaves your lovely Phoenix.

Sarah

[DollysMum]

How about a Saddle Company? 

Ditto this! I love Saddle Company saddles and both Nelly and Dolly go really well in them.

[cirocco]

I think im being put off the fhoenix because of the comments from people who watch my lessons.
Of course its a saddle that no one sees, and so as its so different, then perhaps its seen as not being right???
I dont know.
Im told I look as if im perched on top of pony, but as you say, on the picture it looks ok.

[Claire]

Im told I look as if im perched on top of pony,

can't see it myself, looks fine..

[cirocco]

More saddle problems now.

I tried a tree'd 'cob' dressage saddle today after my lesson, it fitted him really well, perfectly in fact, which given all his fatty problems was a surprise. But when I rode in it I felt awful. It was just so hard after being used to sitting 'into him', on the fitform which I love and which he goes brilliantly in.
The saddle was lovely dont get me wrong, it just wasn't  'feeling' right. I have been offered it for very little money because the owner is getting a T.B [ thin] Im just not convinced now that I can go tree'd

Houghtons took my dressage saddle for someone to try, so I think thats sold [ at a huge loss ] but then in today's climate what can you expect.

I used the fhoenix for the lesson, but my trainer says I dont ride as well in that as I do in the fitform. In the fitform I feel so relaxed and able to feel the pony, 'which is wonderful', and I can feel whatever he is about to do, or doing, and he feels me too, so any kind of movement from me he reacts instantly. Today there was non of that and so I felt as if it was a backward step.

So where do I go from here.
 I have a show on sunday with two equitation classes. I was going to ride in the fitform and hang comments, now im thinking i'll just do the in hand classes.
There are two women who ride in the same sort of saddles as the fitform, I think they are torsion, who do the local club dressage, so perhaps I might go along and do the same, until I can work out exactly what I can buy, and not seen Heathers new saddle yet... that might be worth waiting for..
I cant find a vogue.

[cirocco]

I think ive found the solution to my saddle search.

My endurance saddle that I've been using all this time it seems is a freeform. I got it from Goldfinch.

Anyhow they do a really nice 'conventional' looking tree less, that seems to be just what Im looking for, so ive E mailed them.

Has anyone here got one????

[DollysMum]

The one you're currently using is a Fitform. The Freeform is the replacement to the Fitform and is a very nice saddle. I used to be an agent for them and loved mine.

[cirocco]

Do you know... I thought that was what it was called.

I actually sold my fhoenix on E bay thursday!!!! 'to an EE person', how wow was that, Im glad its gone to someone who will enjoy it, she already has a fhoenix only bigger. What a small world.

So what can you tell me about the ones that look like a conventional saddle. I think that this would be the answer to my fitting problem. There is one on the site now, a pre used and the right colour, 'brown'. but I think its too big for jim.

[DollysMum]

I suspect you'll be best off with a 16.5" seat on a Short Base (SB/20" front to back). Goldfinch Equestrian used to be the UK distributors but they have now passed this baton to Dream Team Products and although they're selling off their remaining stock cheaply (http://www.goldfinch-equestrian.co.uk/treeless.html) they all seem to be Classics (22" front to back) instead of SBs.

This is the Dream Team's Freeform website: http://www.dreamteamproducts.com/freeform.php which explains a bit about the way they work and the different models available. I'm kicking myself at the moment as a Freeform Elite went on Ebay the other day for £151. It would have been a bargain at 4 times the price!

[cirocco]

Oh no, how did I miss that... ive been looking for ages.

[DollysMum]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170644068362&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1985wt_1139

Could be worth messaging the buyer and expressing an interest should they not get on with it and decide to re-sell?

[cirocco]

I cant findthe address of seller for some reason...

Is this an Indian saddle. There seem to be a lot of the same sort of saddle for sale right now, im not sure I want to go that route.

[DollysMum]

No, the Freeform is Italian and very good quality.

[cirocco]

Just on the site now. Ive to find a suplier now, and a fitter, it seems.

Ive been looking at the 'dream' saddle and wonder if it is dressage legal. From the picture its hard to tell.
I cant understand the problem really, how on earth can a harsh bit in harsh hands be bl**dy well legal, yet a tree less saddle not be.