HAPPA: SMART™ saddles have offered us the perfect solution

After struggling for years with the never ending challenge of finding, fitting and funding saddles for the wide variety of horses and ponies we currently have at HAPPA (Horse and Pony Protection Association), SMART™ saddles were recommended to us by our local SMART™ Advisor, who is also an external trainer that we used to help with the challenging rescue horses.

 

HAPPA is a small charity who offers a second chance to neglected, abused and unwanted equines, through rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming and education. We have around 45 horses/ponies on-site and are constantly having new intakes, as well as horses leaving for their loan homes. Saddle fitting is a continuous and costly challenge. With our great turnover of horses, having a purpose fit saddle for each horse is an unrealistic cost, yet it is still very important to ensure the horses welfare is not compromised. As a welfare charity, the horses’ welfare is at the heart of everything we do. 

 

SMART™ saddles have offered us the perfect solution as they can be fitted and used on a variety of different horses, meaning every time we bring a new horse into ridden work we don’t need to invest in a new saddle or have a saddle fitter out. The saddles are also easy to fit using a variety of different shims and pads. The SMART™ Native range is designed for cob types, which makes up for majority of the horses we have in at the centre.

 

We have been fortunate enough to receive a grant for two SMART™ saddles and have opted for a SMART™ Native GP and SMART™ Pro Event. Within the two-week trial period we have only needed these two saddles and have been able to use them on several different ponies.  

The ponies are a lot more comfortable and happier in their work, becoming more willing to go forward with a massively improved range of movement through their shoulders. Our physio bills are also reduced as the horses are able to work better and saddles are no longer causing them issues.

 

The SMART™ Native GP saddle is perfect for our rounder cobs with large shoulders and no withers. We always found that saddles tended to shunt forward and/or restrict the movement of the shoulder on these horses, however the SMART™ Native GP saddle doesn’t shunt forward and with it been fully flexible, is not interfering with the movement of the shoulder.

 

The SMART™ Pro Event saddle is perfect for the finer types we have and the cobs which are short backed and croup high, but still have a wither. The saddle flexes to fit the shape of the horses back, without causing any pressure points. 

 

The staff have also benefitted from the SMART™ saddles. They have commented on how they feel a lot more comfortable and they are not having to compensate for small imbalances in the saddle. The yard team have also said how they are no longer getting as much pain in their lower backs or hips from asymmetric horses. 

 

Overall, the SMART™ saddles are allowing us to improve the welfare of both the horses and the staff, as well as massively reducing costs of saddle fitting, investing in new saddles and physiotherapy. The SMART™ saddles are improving our rehabilitation plans for each individual horses, helping us to prepare them for rehoming more efficiently, which allows us to overall help more horses that have suffered neglect and abuse.

 

Thank you,

 

From all at HAPPA 

 

Novice rider and Cob feel the amazing difference a SMART saddle can make.

 

“This is Asbo, a 14.2hh, hairy chestnut cob. I bought him 2 years ago, a few months after he’d been backed - I’m a novice rider and he was a novice horse.

 

I spent two years not knowing which Asbo I would be riding. Some days he would buck and feel angry. Others he wouldn’t go forward. We made very slow progress, but he never felt ‘right’. During this time, I was riding in a heavy, changeable gullet saddle. Sold to me as a ‘it’ll fit any horse’. Except it didn’t, it slipped to the side and I constantly adjusted as I rode.

 

Eventually I bit the bullet and decided to invest in a SMART saddle …

 

 A month later I effectively have a new pony; he’s forward going, ears pricked, loving both hacking and lessons. We are bouncing along, both happy. I feel close to him and can feel every movement.

We won’t ever be world beaters, but I’m very pleased I made the choice to purchase a SMART PRO GP saddle.” 

 

Natalie Ruane

2022

SMART Ambassador: Sam Gorman and 'Porridge' with their SMART Native Dressage saddle.

INTRODUCTION:

"Porridge was bought as a lightly backed 3 year old with the intention of gently producing him for my riding school. He's a 14.2hh traditional gypsy cob. I quickly fell in love with him, and his can do attitude, so I decided to produce him myself for dressage. 

Porridge, ridden by Sam Gorman

His first British Dressage outing was as a 5 year old, gaining 69% and 70 % at novice and prelim.  

Porridge recently featured in Horse and Hound

We are now competing Advanced Medium, having featured in Horse and Hound magazine after a double win! We are schooling all the tempi's, and piaffe and passage, and hope to compete at PSG soon. He's rising 9 now, so would love to compete him at Grand Prix one day, with plenty of years left to be able to compete at this level. 

Porridge loves Spanish walk, it's his party trick! Even when saddle fitting, thinking he'll win a treat! I love training him, he's such a happy chap, and really appreciate the value of the best and most comfortable equipment for my horses. 

Porridge showing his SMART Native Dressage saddle

I've ridden lots of horses, in lots of saddles, having gained my BHSI qualification almost 15 years ago. I'd never go back to using treed saddles and my Warmblood competed at Inter 1 in my SMART saddle too.  Most of my riding school horses go in SMART saddles and I plan to increase my collection so that all my school horses are ridden in them."

We can't wait to hear how Porridge progresses in his new SMART Native Dressage saddle, watch this space!

You can follow Porridge the Long Haired Lipizzaner on Facebook:  https://bit.ly/3gCKqbc

 

'’100% top class service’’

“I just want to say how pleased I am with my new SMART™ PRO VSD saddle for my horse, Daisy Duckling.  I am starting endurance on Daisy next season and I want her to be as comfortable as possible.

 

As soon as I introduced her to the new SMART™ saddle I honestly felt there was more freedom of movement, especially from her shoulder area. She was relaxed and forward going and seemed so much happier.

 

 "The saddle is lightweight and extremely comfortable."

I like that it looks like a traditional saddle, but it isn’t. Overall, I am chuffed to bits with it and, when I start the Endurance season, I shall send you more photos of Daisy and I in action!

 

Many thanks for your support and 100% top class service including the charming SMART™ Advisor who visited us for the saddle fitting, very professional indeed.”

 

A truly quality service!

 

Judy & Daisy

 

Game-changer following kissing spines treatment for ex-racehorse

"Rodney is a retired racehorse that we bought in August 2020 for my daughter Ruby.  He was pretty much unschooled but so willing and sweet natured that we fell in love straight away.

 After we’d had him for a few months he wasn’t making much progress with working in an outline, and started to buck when being pushed forward, especially into canter.  At first we thought it was ulcers, but after he scoped clear he was eventually diagnosed with kissing spines. 

 After going through treatment and rehab. with him he was still bucking occasionally and reluctant to canter and so our saddler recommended trying a SMART™ saddle.   

Rodney was fitted with a SMART™ Elite Event saddle and we noticed the difference immediately. 

This saddle has been a real game changer for Rodney, he’s clearly so much more comfortable and is going better than he has for ages - we were afraid he would never come right after his kissing spines diagnosis so it’s really great to see Ruby and Rodney enjoying their work again!”

 

Caroline Bran

 

RWYM Biomechanics Coach chooses a SMART™ Elite Dressage saddle for effective the rider position, support and adaptability.

 

“As a Ride with Your Mind Biomechanics Coach and Masterson Method bodyworker I appreciate the importance of correct rider balance and comfort for the horse.

 

I have bought many different saddles over the years and thought I have found ‘The One’ for one of my three… but I began to realise he wasn’t happy after a couple of years and had been riding in a bareback pad for six months. I was using this saddle on my pony and my youngster too but wanted something a bit more structured for more serious riding.

 

Numerous friends recommended a SMART™ Saddle and I was fortunate to have a local friend, who was a SMART™ Advisor. I was immediately impressed at the position I could maintain with the flatter seat and the changeable position of the knee blocks. My very sensitive horse was clearly happy so I decided to keep a SMART™ Elite Dressage on trial.

I took the saddle away for two weeks training and also used it for hacking and schooling in between on both horses… the youngster has been for a walk in it and didn’t notice any difference to her bareback pad. After 9 days my horse had changed so much that my Advisor adjusted the set up of the balance pads and shims. He had his first steps of piaffe in this saddle and it was amazing to be able to feel what was going on underneath me. This saddle is the closest thing to the feel of a bareback pad with the structure and support of a leather saddle.

 

It’s really important to me that I can maintain my position to enable the most effective biomechanics but I also need to feel really secure as my horse can really throw some shapes, the youngster can also have a moment of course! I like that I can use the saddle on client’s horses when I am riding for them or just as a trial option to rule out any issues with their own saddle. The SMART™ Elite Dressage saddle has quite a high price tag but when I can share it over all three of my horses it becomes really good value! Can’t wait to see how their bodies change and improve over the longer term.

 

I’d recommend trying the saddles and the rental option is such an invaluable offer which isn’t offered by many other manufacturers. I’ve ordered my saddle new SMART™ saddle before my trial is even over!”

 

 Jo Szegota

SMART Elite Dressage upgrade transforms super-sensitive homebred.

 

“My homebred Oldenburg, Fubu, is very sensitive. From the very beginning, he would move around when putting a saddle on him, kicking his back legs out, and he was very mouthy when you rode him. However, everything changed for the better when I first tried a SMART™ PRO Dressage on him previously. 

He is now nine years old and his body has really matured, but he started having some issues going in the ring, throwing tantrums (see picture below).  He was also wiggly again when putting the saddle on his back, which I thought was just him.   

 When my SMART™ Advisor (who is also my trainer), upgraded to the new SMART™ Elite Dressage saddle and started riding Fubu in it, I noticed he was going forward and so much better.  Of course, I thought it was her riding because she is amazing. 

Finally, we simultaneously wondering if it could be the saddle, so we made the switch.  

 

Oh my gosh!!!  His whole front end came up and he was next level to ride.  No more stopping and having a tantrum and his mouth was really quiet.  I think the saddle freed up his whole front end. Long story short, I was mind blown!!!   

  

Thank you, 

 

Lori Rogers, USA