Basically adding a front knee roll, back thigh
block (both positionable), and additional second knee roll pad
under
the front flap....giving what a most standard
Engiish saddle already have.....seems excessive cost.
I was interested in this saddle some years ago. My
daughter and I are diehard treeless Sport saddle advocates, but she was also
looking for an English style saddle she could show in and take some low-level
jumping lessons. While i was totally put off by the price, I thougth it might be
the solution, if there was a model we could use both for trail/endurance, AND
English.
At the time,I was able to try out an Ansur Classic,
on a big round Quarter horse a friend has. Frankly, I felt really insecure
(would have felt better balanced bareback), The saddle was extremely slippery,
with a very shallow seat; I could not get any kind of grip or even balance
evenly. It qualified for what I term a "launch pad.". I also did not
like the fact it sat right on top of the horses withers, no matter they tell you
the saddle is designed this way and won't bother the horse.
So......this saddle is evolving to have added
thicker gullet in certain models to accomodate the spine on distance
horses....and now they are finally adding the more normal components of knee
roll and thigh block you would see in a standard English saddle.
I have to give them a ton of credit for creating,
researching and modifying this saddle....I think they are totally on the right
track.
I have not yet been able to find people who are
using these long distance. I am not sure how the stirrups are supported inside
the saddle, and where the pressure is applied, or how they do going down hill,
etc. So,I think the saddle is not yet something I should shell out that kind of
$$$$$....
Are there others out there who are riding these
long distances regularly, who can comment?
To quote from their
website it is ??for even more support and assistance with holding their
position and posture, especially on big moving horses, flighty and spooky
horses, and just a little more back -up for the timid amateur. It is
made to give more support and assistance with holding their position and
posture, especially on big moving horses, flighty and spooky horses, and just
a little more back -up for the timid amateur.?
It adds 3 more
pieces parts to the saddle that look like they will give you extra hold when
you need it, but it costs $295 to have it added to your saddle. I would
spend the money for the extra safety but don?t know if it really makes enough
of a difference. From the testimonials on their web page it looks good,
but I would love to test drive it first or get some opinions from someplace
other than the manufacturer?s web site.
