“As a Classical trainer and Equine
Sports Massage Therapist specialising in the physical rehabilitation of horses,
it was clear that most saddles were giving horses and riders alike a whole
world of heartache...
Personally, I had found that trying
to find a saddle to fit my Lusitano was an on-going challenge over the years;
we have been through many different options, none of which have quite cut the
mustard. I needed a saddle that was suitable for a lot of demanding work in the
arena and very challenging hacking out over the moor.
Along with my own young PRE and heavy weight cob, plus all of the horses
I have in for starting, rehabilitation and training, I was gathering quite a
collection of saddles - all of which were more of a ‘make do’ than I was
happy with.
I had been scared off treeless
options in the past having seen problems with them, but also recognised the
inherent challenge of putting a fixed object between two moving beings, and
that unless the tree fitted perfectly (which seemed to be a rare occurrence!)
it often caused significant issues.
I was finally persuaded to try a SMART Saddle by a fellow trainer and I haven’t looked back. They are unlike any other treeless saddle I have previously tried; providing stability for the rider and supporting their weight while also allowing the horse to move.
I initially bought a SMART Sport Dressage saddle, but have since invested
in a SMART Pro Dressage saddle. With a variety of SMART Balance pads, I am able
to use this saddle with all three of my horses as well as visiting horses.
My Lusitano and I are finally both very happy with our saddle, and it’s
proving to be as stable out on the muddy, slidey slopes of Dartmoor as it is in
the arena. I couldn’t be more pleased with my SMART Pro Dressage saddle,
and recommend SMART Saddles to all of my clients.”
Kate Sandel
