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Post by tinkerdorisalison on Jul 24, 2013 17:01:15 GMT -1
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Post by harveydales on Jul 24, 2013 19:08:13 GMT -1
Perhaps unfair of me to comment because I haven't actually sat on one on a horse but I saw and sat on one at Your Horse Live a couple of years ago. I found it sat me wider than the Vogue model and not as comfortable. I know they are very competitively priced but they would sit me too wide for any of my ponies.
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Post by heathera on Jul 25, 2013 4:47:02 GMT -1
I've heard a lot of good things about them but haven't tried one myself. I am debating taking the plunge but I'm waiting as a friend is going to buy one for her cob in a couple of months and I want to see how she gets on.
One of the reasons I like the WOW saddles is they have a narrow enough waist/seat for me to cope with despite my dodgy pelvis. I couldn't cope with the early HM saddles as there's no rider support at all in a treeless saddle and they were too wide for me.
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Post by flintfootfilly on Jul 25, 2013 5:42:49 GMT -1
I find the claim that the leather tree widens to fit the pony a little strange..... as I don't see how the tree "knows" when to stop getting wider (there's no wither arch or cheyenne roll to keep some shape in it), and so I'll be interested to hear how they work out in longer term use.
But like Heather, I'm a big fan of Wow saddles now. I love my wow stock saddles - seem to suit the ponies well, even a very short-backed one, and they are great for rider security because of the poleys. Also love the free n easy's but they don't do a stock saddle unfortunately.
Sarah
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Post by heathera on Jul 27, 2013 5:07:57 GMT -1
I really want a western or stock WOW now, just waiting for him to have some at a cheaper price at the western brand new and made for me was going to be £3,000!! The FlexEE is around £400 so I can see why they're an attractive saddle to look at.
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Post by tinkerdorisalison on Jul 27, 2013 8:55:25 GMT -1
Sarah, I'm not sure how the width fitting works to be honest - but I have seen them advertised for sale as too wide/narrow for the horse so there must be some limit on width fitting somehow.
Is anyone a member on the Enlightened Equitation forum? I want to post a wanted ad for a 2nd hand 16" Flex EE, but they dont't seem to want new members as they haven't answered my emails
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kc
Exmoor
Posts: 97
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Post by kc on Jul 28, 2013 18:26:35 GMT -1
Hello. I have a Wow and love it, (crashing your post a bit, sorry) but have been told by one saddle fitter and a physio that they are not suitable for Dales ponies but were meant for sport horses. I also got told recently that the Wow's weight plus mine combined (I am under ten stone) was verging on being too heavy for my 14.2 ish Dales pony. Not sure what to make of either of those comments really!
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Post by heathera on Jul 28, 2013 18:53:23 GMT -1
I started using WOW saddles after my first Dales bucked in all others yet went forward happily in a WOW. I've backed and ridden away four Dales ponies in WOW saddles with no problems whatsoever and I'm in the process of backing a LW cob in a WOW saddle this summer. If a saddle is fitted properly it doesn't matter what size, shape or type the horse - it sounds daft to me to say the WOWs are only for sports horses. I know of four other Dales and at least three Highland ponies being ridden very happily and competing actively in their WOW saddles. They used to be heavier but have never weighed more than 10-12lb when I've weighed them. My 14.2hh Dales mare is happily carrying me and a WOW at 12stone and my old 14.2hh Dales gelding competed at national level TREC doing 35km orienteering on the Saturday and a XC style round complete with 2'6" jumps when I was 11stone. One of my WOW saddles has been used on three Dales, a TBxWelsh, a three quarter Standardbred and a SB x cob. I'd happily put the same saddle, with the right adjustments made to it, on a TB or a Highland. I take it that the saddler who told you this sells a different make of saddle which they reckon will work for you  |
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kc
Exmoor
Posts: 97
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Post by kc on Jul 28, 2013 20:07:49 GMT -1
Thank you for your reply. Its really great to hear from other Dales owners about their experiences. Shall stop worrying about the saddle now.  |
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Post by felix on Jul 29, 2013 19:52:32 GMT -1
I like the look of this saddle but also am waiting for them to have been out for a while and for others opinions before I take the plunge.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2013 18:59:53 GMT -1
For what it's worth I have a Kay Humphries / Nick Dolman saddle - fantastic.....they made it specially for Marlz, flat tree and felt panels.....took a bit of getting used to as it was cut right back to accommodate his mahoosive shoulders but he was very happy in it. Not cheap though....although from what i know now, if anyone ever asks me about buying a horse I will tell them to save up for a good saddle first!
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Aug 24, 2013 13:10:40 GMT -1
I have a Barrie Swain Semi Flex saddle (Barrie trained Nick and worked with Kay on saddle design) had it made to measure for Briallen when nothing else fitted her properly, and it is also fantastic it also has serge half panels and cut quite straight to accommodate large shoulder. It is so well balanced and comfy for horse and rider and puts you in really good secure position again not cheap but worth every penny, unfortunately it is too wide for Emerald at the moment but hopefully she will grow into it as she matures, it can go back to Barrie to be altered to fit a template but obviously don't want to do that until she has stopped changing shape.
Would definitely recommend a Barrie Swain, Nick Dolman or Kay Humphries saddle, I believe they are similar and made to same principle although I think only Barries are Semi flex as this is patented.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2013 14:19:32 GMT -1
Yes - some of ours are semi-flex also which the horses are very comfortable in. Jo (my boss) is a trained Kay Humphries saddle fitter and is going to show me how to take a wither template with her rubbery implement (!) and I shall share on here.....really useful for checking your own saddle and changing shape of your pony's wither. I would also like to train as a KH saddle fitter after my physio course - from what I've seen there is lots of need for decent saddle fitters using her unique approach. If anyone is in the Northamptonshire or surrounding areas and would like Jo to take a look at their pony just let me know. She has just come back from Norfolk to do a whole riding school - the lady was fed up of poor saddle fitters......
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Post by tinkerdorisalison on Aug 25, 2013 9:06:23 GMT -1
Have to admit I have bought one of these saddles! I advetised on the EE site and a lady got in touch with one she had bought for her horse, but he'd then had an accident and was unlikely to be ridden again. It is like new, so a but more that I was going to spend, but first impression it looks good. I'll update once I get around to ride on it. |
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Oct 22, 2013 21:15:56 GMT -1
Alison how are you getting on with your FlexEE saddle? I'm thinking of getting one for my Fell, he currently has a Black country but I'd been using it on Emerald as my Semiflex was initially a bit wide for her and so for the last 2 months Amy has been riding Spud in the semiflex and he was a lot more forward going in it.
The semi flex now fits Emerald so put the Blackcountry back on Spud and he told us loud and clear which saddle he preferred, instantly going back to slug mode and moving much less freely through his shoulder. The problem is I can't afford another semiflex for him even second hand they're £1200 + especially as he only does very light hacking now. On the other hand I do want him to be comfortable so thought the FlexEE might be the answer for him and would be interested to hear how your getting on with it.
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