hdonna
Olympic Poster
Posts: 629
|
Post by hdonna on Dec 20, 2009 14:23:52 GMT 1
Anyone ever used a balance saddle I am thinking of getting one but would like first hand experiences good or bad please
|
|
|
Post by june on Dec 20, 2009 17:49:41 GMT 1
Yes, I've got one. I use it mostly for new horses as I can pad it out to fit pretty much anything until I sort out another saddle for them. So, for the horses it is useful. However, I can ride in it about 4 times before it starts to give me backache. The twist in the saddle is very wide and it is pretty uncomfortable. I think they may have made some of the newer models with narrower twists so those might be more comfortable.
|
|
|
Post by Kelly Marks on Dec 21, 2009 18:17:01 GMT 1
I had one years ago but they made it so wide and I was meant to have so much padding but it still slipped all the time - drove me mad! Very expensive too - they are from the same 'family' as Kay Humphries/Barry Swain saddles - the trouble is I don't know the answer to 'what's the perfect saddle?' but I think it's a great idea you ask about as much as possible. Hope that's of some help! Happy Christmas Kelly x
|
|
alex
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 167
|
Post by alex on Dec 21, 2009 20:06:34 GMT 1
I've got one too, a Balance soft option, it is hellishly wide, and I havn't used it for a long time since I went treeless, but I can't bear to sell it as it fitted all the horses I used it on, and they all thought it was OK too. It also never slipped forward on my mare that everything slipped forward on, which was something of a miracle, and although it's ample big enough for my long legs, it has quite a small footprint.
Mine is pretty ancient, the bottom/panels sweatflaps are all wool felt, which I suspect is why it was good at not slipping.
I think the twist is better in the other models (they don't make the soft option any more) and I have heard good things about them.
|
|
alex
Intermediate Poster
Posts: 167
|
Post by alex on Dec 21, 2009 20:08:46 GMT 1
Oh, and Happy Christmas from me too hdonna and June, and to you Kelly x
|
|
curly
Olympic Poster
Posts: 889
|
Post by curly on Dec 22, 2009 9:34:33 GMT 1
I have just got one with a fell pony I bought. It was apparently made to measure for him. I have been told to just use a faux sheepskin numnah with it. It's very comfortable and he seems to go very well in it. Fells are notoriously difficult to fit and it's a very nice saddle.
|
|
|
Post by jennyb on Dec 22, 2009 9:59:55 GMT 1
I have ridden in one and didn't like it at all due to the extremely wide twist, I couldn't sit well in it at all.
|
|
|
Post by rj on Dec 22, 2009 14:08:03 GMT 1
I had one, and my horse really loved it, so did I. I had the full consultation, saddle trial, and she chose the one that she felt happiest in. It's very much a matter of preference, and having done all my research I am confident I did the best for her, and with regular checks it fitted her for more than 10 years. I bought it 2nd hand, and didn't lose any money on it after 10 years, much to my surprise!
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Dec 22, 2009 14:24:02 GMT 1
sorry to be dumb, what are they? have you got a pic??
|
|
|
Post by rj on Dec 22, 2009 15:02:03 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by mandal on Dec 22, 2009 15:25:35 GMT 1
Here rj have some of my home made Christmas punch and a slice of Christmas 'rocky road' a la Nigella Lawson! ;D
|
|
|
Post by portiabuzz on Dec 22, 2009 15:32:13 GMT 1
thanks, was picturing something very strange!
|
|
|
Post by gillyano on Dec 22, 2009 19:17:09 GMT 1
I had a balance and loved it, the stirrup bar seemed to be cut slightly further back to allow my leg to hang longer and in a more natural and comfortable position. It was the widest one they had (without points) so I learnt to sit well balanced or it would feel like it was slipping but actually in fact didn't. It was fitted for the comfort of my horse and for me so I rode for ages and never felt in pain. They are expensive but good quality leather and the team who fit them won't sell you one if it won't - I know as I can't get one for my bigger boy. They are like marmite, you either love em or hate em! Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by rj on Dec 23, 2009 13:49:22 GMT 1
Oops Mandal; how did I miss that offer?! Plenty of alcohol in the punch, I hope!
Hate to think what you were imagining portiab!
Agree gillyano - my sharer HATED my saddle; until that is, she got her own horse, and borrowed the saddle which she was being ridden in. Then she realised how comfy mine was. It was the first saddle I could ride for hours in, without a seatsaver on.
Before I got my Balance, I had 2 saddle-fitters telling me that my own Falcon Event fitted better than anything they could provide, but my mare was jogging and head-up so I knew she wasn't comfortable. The minute the Balance went on, she dropped her head and her walk stride was longer & looser. I hated getting rid of the Falcon, but I did what my horse told me was best.
Agree re the Balance team - they won't sell something that isn't right!
|
|
|
Post by june on Dec 23, 2009 20:06:15 GMT 1
There was one horse I was able to ride in our Balance saddle without getting backache. Not sure why that combination worked. She was quite narrow so it must have been something to do with the way my legs hung relative to the saddle twist. On wider horses I could only ride 3 or 4 times in the saddle before my lower back hurt.
All our horses seem to like the saddle so if you can find one with a narrower twist it may be a good option.
|
|