RE: Close Contact Saddles for Endurance

["Lone Pine Ranch" <lonepineranch@velocitus.net>]

I love my Reactor Panel Endurance Saddle that I bought this summer. It has
wonderful close contact and is very secure on those "Man from Snowy River"
downhills. The saddle feels very "deep and secure". I had an Orthoflex
endurance cutback saddle for awhile and could not get used to it. I
definitely felt "miles up" and "on top of the horse" rather than with him.
Granted, I have a very high-withered horse that is also very wide right
behind his withers (huge heart). In my Reactor Panel we can really work
together. I definitely experienced a dramatic increase in stride length,
especially on his left diagonal and when taking his left lead. So much so I
had to ease him back away because I was making his left shoulder sore. He is
fine now. I was enjoying our newfound freedom so much we overdid it at
first. My husband has ridden his Orthoflex for 7 years now, rode in my
Reactor Panel and now wants one for his up-and-coming young endurance
prospect. It was comfortable from the beginning even thought it was not
"broken in". I highly recommend it. Marilyn @ Lone Pine Ranch.


-----Original Message-----
From: Carolyn Burgess [mailto:carolyn_burgess@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 7:37 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: Close Contact Saddles for Endurance


Karla:

I have to comment on Carmi's reply about Reactor Panel saddles.  I have two
girl friends and their next saddles will be Reactor Panels, both are
endurance riders.  I went to one of Carmi's saddle fitting clinics and rode
in a couple of the saddles.  As someone who loves a close contact saddle and
feeling the horse under me, I was sure that these saddles with the panels
would just put me too far away, much like the Ortho-Flex does.  Boy was I
pleasantly surprised.  The Reactor Panel saddles I rode in were very close
contact.  The one thing they aren't is flat.  I really like a very flat
saddle and I can't find one yet that is suitable for endurance (I mean flat
like a saddle seat saddle).  But if flat isn't one of your criteria, Reactor
Panel saddles will give you a very close contact feel.

BTW, Carmi is really great to deal with.

Carolyn Burgess

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