Re: Sports Saddle vs. Soft Rider Saddle

["Sullys Maze" <Sully@Forsythe.Stanford.EDU>]

REPLY TO 03/10/98 00:06 FROM ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Sports Saddle vs. Soft
Rider Saddle


I have two youngsters that I am starting this year.  I have a Sport Saddle
that I use on one and a Soft Rider that I use on the other.  (Jack
Underwood who makes the Soft Rider is my horse shoer)  Both saddles are
reasonably priced, the Sport Saddle at $700 to $900 and the Soft Rider at
$500 to $600.  I like the tree less saddles on my youngsters because they
seem to have more give and flexability to them.

I think that I like the Soft Rider just a bit better.  The way he does his
pads allows for preassure to be taken off of the spine, it is two separate
felt pads that velcroe on each side, similar to the ortho flex system, so
there is a space over the spine.  That is not the case with the Sport
Saddle, unless you buy a Skito pad for it (from Skito, not SS) at an
additional $135.

Cathy, in S. Oregon

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Hi Cathy,

A couple of comments, though Ihave only seen photos of the
soft-rider.

My understanding is that there are more differences.  From that I
saw from the photo, it looked like (on the soft rider), that when
you stood in the stirrups, that the strap going over the seat of the
saddle would bear all the weight.

Even though the Sport Saddle is helped by having the split skito
pad, it is designed to distribute weight becuase the rigging straps
for the stirrups and girth go inside the saddle and attatch to the
pommel and cantle, which are obviously raised over the back.

I would love to hear more comparison between the two, since I do own
a Sport saddle and have ridden it for some 4 years or so.

I find it very stable (does not move forward or back or side to
side) If the soft-rider this stable?

Do you check your horses backs after long rides? Any soreness from
either saddle?  How far do you ride in each saddle?

Like I said, I am curious about it, and would love to try one!
I do like the idea of flexible saddles.  They certainly do eliminate
some problems that rigid tree saddles have, the question is, do they
have other problems?

The Sport Saddle still works very well for me and my horses, and I
haven't seen anything else I would replace it with, still I am aware
it doesn't work for everyone.  I am always interested in new designs
in saddles.

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