[RC] freeform saddle feedback and random thoughts - Mary Krauss
I haven't tons of AERC miles under my belt but have ridden lots of horses in lots of saddles for lots of years! I can only say that our Freeform saddles make me and my daughter and our horses happy. We've done many hilly, slippery, wet, rocky, and looooong (23 mile loop) training rides with no problems. My longest event was Bandit Springs 80. The saddle definitely helped me through--a wonderful combination of comfort and support. Clara finished several LD's and her first 50 in Idaho this fall--she felt great and her mutton-withered Arab/Welsh/Paint pony-horse seemed pretty happy throughout in his saddle. Neither horse earned less than an A for back score throughout the season.
Previous saddles I've liked: An older Crates Arab tree western, a Fred Hook hornless saddle, Klimke and County Competitor dressage saddles, a Wintec Pro Endurance wide tree. Some of these were pretty limited in whom they fit--The Crates and the Hook both suited only one rider and horse combination. The County saddle had to go with my Andalusian when he was sold--it fit him perfectly. Not sure I'll ever own that swell a dressage saddle again....*sigh*. The Wintec was a surprise--I really like it. Bought it used for not much at the local 4-H sale. For endurance it's nearly as versatile and comfortable as the Freeform. Who'd have thunk?? From these and other saddles I've owned through the years, I've learned always to buy the widest treed model. You can always buy a thicker pad for the skinnier horse!
Here are the positives of the Freeform in our experience:
* fits all four of our horses plus several more (friends like to borrow our saddles :-) Our equines range from nice big withers to non-existent flat-backed models. It is indescribably relaxing to know we can toss these saddles on any horse (so far) and know it will just kinda' mold itself to whatever shape is needed.
* allows for a range of positions-- but seems to me the seat encourages a pretty natural, centered position. I don't feel as though I'm straining to sit well. My daughter adds that the only time she DOESN"T slump is when she's riding in her Freeform. As a fairly critical mother, I can tell you she's right!
* lets one's leg relax open at the top and then wrap around the horse for soft but full contact. Very natural feeling.
* light and easy to toss around--even for a 65 lb kid girl....
* close contact with enough of a "tree" to keep one off the spine. Choosing a firmer pad from Skito adds even more certain clearance. I worried about this part initially--it's truly not an issue. We both have noted a wide, dry channel all the way down our horses' backs after every ride.
* perfect sweat patterns after every ride, regardless of which horse is ridden: now how often can one say that!!!?! (I'm sure there are horses it won't work for--we just don't have one of them.)
* very secure seat. VERY secure seat. (We bought suede models :-)
* Hop on and off both tall and short horses with no slipping.
* Good looking!
Here are negatives we've worked through:
* trouble getting the saddle to stay peaked up off of the wither at first. Almost gave up until a friend loaned me her Skito with firm foam. Ordered my own dryback model--100% fix--and what a cool pad! It dries in seconds! I consider it an integral part of the saddle. Too bad the saddle is purple and green while the pad is neon orange.....that's another story.
My daughter still uses the equipedic we originally ordered with her saddle--seems ok on her mutton withered pony--nice pad. I think they make a model now that tents better in the front than the one we bought with our first saddle. LOVE the Skito though. Would go there first.
* Took a while and lots of head-ducking from my horse to realize that the saddle has to be placed further up than a treed saddle. Kinda goes against my training, but I've learned to place the saddle about 1.5 inches further forward than I would put my dressage saddle. Now that I'm used to the placement, I really like where it puts me--right in the middle of my horse's center of balance. In fact, I think I finally have a balanced seat I used to have to work so darn hard for in dressage lessons....
*Kept jamming my pelvis--couldn't believe it as the saddle is soft and I'd ordered a roomy size. Finally realized I'd placed the stirrups too far back and so was tilting forward. Moved the stirrups forward--again, contrary to my dressage training--and, voila! Suddenly the saddle fit beautifully, I sat more comfortably, my knees didn't hurt anymore. Oh, and despite my guesses to the contrary, my heels actually sat straight under me when I moved the stirrups forward and shortened them.
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A couple of our particulars: we ordered models with wool bases on the principle that more weight distribution and more air flow is good. I'm VERY glad Candace recommended the wool bases. They don't get dirty btw--they sit on the pad so are protected from the dirt. The Skito dryback wicks the sweat off the horse, up through the pad and then, I suppose, into the wool of the base. Somehow this system works so that the wool, even if it gets a tiny bit damp, keeps the channeling process going. Neither the pad nor the saddle base seems to trap the water.....
We also ordered suede as I liked the idea of being velcroed to my saddle. Works exactly as hoped! Only caveat here is that full seat breeches turns out to be too much of a good thing. Needed to do a quick dismount on one occasion and found I couldn't get out of the saddle! No longer use the suede pants....
I don't think I'd order the forward girthing system if that's still an option. Because the saddle is supposed to sit quite forward, the girth already sits a bit far into the armpit of the horse. In fact I like to use my County Logic girth that swings the girth BACK a bit....
The Ansur saddles demoed at this week's PNER convention were pretty fabulous too. I'd be considering one of those were I still on the Great Saddle Hunt. Kinda' spendy but nice--pretty similar concept in terms of a soft, moldable tree that still manages to distribute weight.
