Strada saddles?

[ros]

Anyone got any experience? Only asking out of interest 'cos YO said a friend has bought one, but her (YO's) instructress didn't seem to rate them.

[Jenny]

I have a Strada Multi (GP) and i think it is an excellent saddle. It suits my short backed wide horse very well. I find it very comfortable as i like the flat seat .
   For a GP saddle the stirrup bars are not too far forward imo .It is a good compromise for me as I cannot afford a jump and a dressage saddle!

[laura D]

I have the same saddle as Jenny, and I love it and would echo everything Jenny has said above.

I backed Ginger in mine and t has been used on her since day 1 - she doesnt even have an inkling of atrophy nor have i ever had any back related saddle issues.

I had a dressage strada too for a time and also loved that and had no issues. I love the fact the tree is flexible too.

[issywizz]

I have one but havent ridden in it much as Bs back was better without a saddle atall.
Why doesnt she like them? because they dont have a narrow bucket seat to fix you into position and let you waterski like Gal does? 

[Heather]

I think that the Multi saddle that Jenny and Laura have is excellent, in fact sold one for Strada to a friend in Warwicks who hunts a lot.

But they are not suitable for horses with high or long withers, the company admits to that, as the panels are very close contact. I know of a well known dressage yard that used them on every horse but now no longer does as the horses developed atrophy over a period. I do not like the dressage versions, they simply do not allow the position to be achieved easily. The designer himself sits in a position with his feet quite well forwards and no amount of cajoling by either me, or one of his agents in Europe whom I know and have taught, can persuade him to alter the bar position! He is more stubborn than the average mule!

So there are things to like, and things not to like, as with many saddles I guess.

[Lucia]

I tried a dressage version on Thea a few months back and we didn't get on with it at all. Resulted in a bronking fit from Thea, the first in nearly a year (since her ulcers cleared) she wouldn't go forward in it and when asked exploded. Back in her Vogue and she has been fine. 
I also worried about the panels as the only time they seemed soft was after the saddle had been sat in the car all day on a warm day, then they went REALLY soft.

That said, they are nicely made (the one we tried was the 'L' fit and actually felt a fairly flat seat and wider than the vogue which was weird.) the tree system is genius, and I know a lot of people love them. They seem to be rather like WoW saddles - they either work brilliantly for you or not at all. (WoW worked fabulously on Mai, but again Thea hated the one we tried on her).
I wish they would make a traditional flocked saddle on similar trees.
As it is the strada is not for us.

[ros]

Brilliant! Thanks  

IW - probably  

Heather - in that case it wouldn't suit her mare, who does have long high withers and (IMHO) a bit of atrophy    Personally I'd far rather see her in one of yours, which is why I'm looking forward to getting my hands on one of the new ones to trial. The family are a bit old-fashioned and have Views   but she's already said she'd be interested to see how the mare would go