"I couldn't afford both a SMART Jump and SMART Dressage saddle, so decided to change to a treed saddle… what a mistake that was!’’
I backed my croup-high, wide, big shouldered young horse in
a SMART Native GP saddle, which fitted her very well. The saddle always sat
very securely and my mare moved well in it, but as she changed shape and
levelled up I wanted more in front of my knee for jumping and hunting. I couldn't
afford both a SMART Jump and SMART Dressage saddle, so decided to change to a
treed saddle - what a mistake that was…
We lost right canter lead and my mare became increasingly
asymmetric as she tried to compensate for a weakness from previous surgery. She
had physiotherapy and we made repeated attempts to fit a treed saddle to her,
but with no success. My mare either could not move (quite literally; she stood
and kicked out in protest) or she moved the saddle over to the left because of
the asymmetry and her movement.
Eventually I decided to reinvest and arranged for a SMART Saddles Approved Advisor to come out for a home consultation visit. In just 3
months of owning my new SMART Eventer saddle, I have an evenly muscled horse
who is getting 7.5 and 8's in her dressage and I can jump without worrying if I
and/or the saddle will stay put!
Although expensive, I have found the SMART Eventer to be absolutely
worth it – no doubt it will save on future vet bills too!
Photos at riding camp.
Sam Edwards
April 2018
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