Katie found her horses jumping improved when she changed to the lightweight SMART saddle

Diamond Purdy at the age of 16.

"She hasn't jumped this well since she was a four year old !! We have only recently converted to a SMART Saddle, I wish I had know about them years ago. They are so lightweight and she is so much more relaxed with this saddle. Her turns and shape over a fence has improved with the extra freedom" :) 👌

Katie Marshall

"What the SMART GP saddle has given me is priceless..."

"I started working with Solution Saddles last year, so I am used to hearing good reports from clients who have tried SMART™ saddles. However, I hadn't tried a SMART™ saddle myself until a few months ago; mainly because my horse Annie, at 22, is mostly retired. She can be tricky to ride unless she is in full work, she always has been and has the ability to make you feel like you can't ride most of the time, hence she has been pretty much out of work for the last few years with the occasional wander out - at walk.

I am an equine podiatrist so I know and understand the many factors that contribute to a horse’s performance. Over the years I've had all the usual things checked for Annie; feet, back, teeth, saddle, bit etc. but all were apparently fine. So, I concluded it must just be her temperament ... without stereotyping her as a chestnut mare. I've had her since she was four, so I’ve had enough time to figure her out, or so I thought. 

After taking a SMART™ saddle for a trimming client to try, I tried it for myself on Annie, for a quick walk round the block, just to see how it felt compared to a normal treed saddle.

It obviously felt different to her. 

From the first ride until now she has been a completely different horse to ride. She is easier now than she was when we were competing. With the SMART™ GP saddle, we can trot on a loose rein, canter on a loose rein, we are jumping again (albeit fallen logs in the forest, but jumping!) and we can walk afterwards without her getting stressed and tense.  Those who know Annie will realise what a true feat this is!

She doesn't toss her head up in transitions. She doesn't get the strange diamond shaped sweat patch on her shoulder. She's not stiff or sore after a ride. She doesn't rush. She doesn't grab at the bit or run through the bridle. And she hasn't done her silly 2 beat bouncy canter that consistently got me marked down in dressage.  She is relaxed.

Honestly, it's the biggest horsey investment I've ever made ... I think it costs more than the horse did 17 years ago!

But what it's given me is priceless.

It's made me fall back in love with riding. 

The SMART™ GP saddle has given Annie and I the chance to make some more memories even though I'd retired her. It has given my youngster the opportunity to have the best start when the time comes to back her.

So whilst I really can't afford to be buying saddles ... I can't afford not to ... 

I owe it to Annie to make her life as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. 

We owe every horse that. 

If only I knew 17 years ago what I know now ... our life together could have been very different.

Better late than never I suppose.

Jenny Parsons
Wild at Hoof – DEP / MEPA

#thankyou #solutionsaddles

Catherine is enjoying the comfort, security and easy-fit system since using the SMART Pro Dressage with her Icelandic Horses

I have Icelandic horses, which are gaited and often short backed. In this sport it is very important that the horses shoulder is able to move freely and that balance and evenness are maximised to produce an even-beat gait.

A Solution Saddles Technical Advisor fitted the SMART PRO Dressage saddle for me and I found her to be excellent; she was attentive to what I needed and even spotted a small unevenness in my horses’ back, which corresponds with my own slight asymmetry relating to a hip problem. A small adjustment was made using the SMART BalancePads and I immediately felt a small but very important difference to my position.

I find the SMART Pro Dressage saddle extremely comfortable and secure and I like the way that adjustments can be made to the fit. I can also use it on both of the horses that I ride and it is lightweight - making tacking up easier. The Suprabloc knee block also look really smart.

Even though I was familiar with Solution Saddles, it was great to be able to take advantage of the Rental Service before purchasing to be certain it was the right saddle for both me and my horse.

Following the trial period, I took Svipur to a training show and we did really well. The trainer said it was the best tolt (Icelandic gait) she had seen him do and I am sure the SMART Pro Dressage saddle and expert fitting advice contributed to this.

Catherine Holland

Catherine Holland writes the ‘Little Viking Horse’ blog and is active in the Icelandic Horse of GB community.

Having had problems finding a saddle to fit her 13.2hh mare, Amy is looking forward to affiliated competition thanks to her SMART Native GP saddle.

“I cannot recommend Solution Saddles highly enough. The SMART Native GP saddle is amazing and the support given from the company is fantastic!

When I bought my mare she had a bad back and due to her round, native shape, other saddles I had tried rode up over her shoulders. I had had to resort to riding bareback while I waited 14 weeks for a bespoke treed saddle to be made, as all the saddles I tried hurt her. Once the saddle arrived, although the saddler assured me it fitted, Pippy hated it. I persevered until Pip went lame and myself, my vet and physio all agreed it wasn't working. I had no idea what to do. Pip had been seen by the vet, had monthly appointments with our physio and we couldn't get a saddle that worked for her.

I then researched treeless saddles and found out about Solution Saddles
 - and we haven't looked back!

We won our first showjumping competition last weekend and are hoping to affiliate by October - none of this would have been possible without our SMART Native GP saddle.

Our Solution Saddles Approved Advisor has been with us every step of the way, giving advice and guidance months after coming to fit the SMART saddle. I would recommend SMART saddles to anyone and can't wait to save up the money for a SMART Jump saddle now!

Amy Shone

April 2017

Over a year on, Rachel and her mare have had nothing but success with their SMART Eventer saddle.

I purchased my SMART Eventer saddle in January 2016 after a rocky start with my new mare (who I have owned since August 2015). I found myself with a catalogue of issues from tacking up through to ‘tanking off’ when ridden. Most concerning was the sudden muscle atrophy either side of her withers, despite using a correctly fitted saddle by a Master Saddler.

Now, over a year on, I haven’t looked back. Haze and I compete regularly at 85cm showjumping and cross country, and we have even turned our hand to a bit of dressage.   

The improvement in her movement, and most noticeably her attitude to work, is incredible.  Haze is happy to be tacked up and the issues with ‘control’ have vanished, never to be seen again.

Whilst the initial outlay for my SMART saddle was significant, I believe I have saved a sizeable sum over the 15 months since switching to my SMART Eventer and will continue to save for years to come. I have not required saddle fitters to adjust to her changing shape over the seasons; I just add or remove shims as advised, and I have not spent the hundreds of pounds I was previously on physio and back treatments.

My SMART Eventer saddle never slips. It is comfortable for both Haze and I and the RigidFree design allows for a much closer contact and clearer communication - to the point I ride mostly through my seat now and the benefits have been huge. 

It has allowed me to transition this ‘hot’ mare to a bitless bridle (although sadly we are not allowed to use it for competing), something I could not possibly have dreamed off 18 months ago.

The journey Haze and I have been on is one of success and it all started with Solution Saddles. I’m so excited to be out and about, I never imagined we would be jumping clear rounds at 85cm and yet here we are!

Rachel Howard-Louvaine

Read Rachels previous story here: http://news.solutionsaddles.com/2016/02/rachael-is-feeling-optimistic-about.html

Five star review for the SMART™ Native GP saddle

 I have owned my Haflinger pony, Crunchie, for many years, but this winter has possibly been the hardest. In September 2016 he became lame, and then to make matters worse, he started with thrush in both back feet. After spending a lot of time off work and being spoilt with plenty hay, he became quite round! By the time I could get back on him, we needed a new saddle.

My saddler recommended I try a SMART™ saddle; I tried one and instantly loved it; it’s comfy, lightweight and has helped massively with my position.

My Approved Advisor was fab, explaining everything I needed to know about Solution Saddles and why the SMART™ Native GP would be good for Crunchie. The whole process was quick and hassle free. I rave about my new SMART™ Native GP saddle to everyone!

Linda Cawthorne 

The comfortable SMART™ Jump saddle helps one customer achieve BE aspirations following spinal surgery

I purchased my 15hh cob x thoroughbred mare 6 years ago but couldn't find a saddle that would stay still on her back. She was asymmetrical with muscle wastage and all of the saddles I tried were slipping back and to the right.

On top of this, I had undergone extensive spinal fixation surgery following a riding accident in the past.  I was finding it very difficult to get back into a correct position or ride comfortably, in balance. Not an easy combination or a straight forward problem.

I asked around my eventing friends for help and they recommended I try a SMART™ saddle.

Following a home consultation visit, I went on to purchase a SMART™ Jump saddle with all of the accessories recommended to me by my Solution Saddles ApprovedAdvisor. From this point on we haven't looked back - both the horse and I are so much more comfortable. By this stage, I was a complete convert and a year later I decided to purchase a SMART™ Dressage saddle.

Last year we were on the winning British Riding Club 80 National Championships Horse Trials Team and this year we are competing at 90/100 and intend to BE for the rest of the season. I'm really proud of our achievements since changing to the SMART™ saddles as I'm 53 this year and didn't think I would ever be able to event again.

My horse's back has undergone a complete transformation and is incredibly strong. Her movement is unrecognisable from the little cob I bought; her lateral work is improving and she is even becoming strong enough for a little passage!

I do not believe we would be have achieved so much had Solutions Saddles not been there to support my own and my horse's development.

- Annie Rae