OK, here are the specifics on all the saddles that the "backs" of the 3 horses I took to the convention fit.
Specialized Saddle: This saddle comes in 3 different trees: mule, regular and wide. All three of my backs (2 Icelandics) fit easily with in the regular tree. With this saddle, you get a foam and "shim" kit and fit the saddle to your horse's back exactly. Since I think in pictures, and am not good with words, I will let one of the dealer's websites explain this process: http://www.lostjuniperranch.com/FittingYourSpecializedSaddleDoc.html It also has a DVD for fitting instructions. This saddle will allow you to change the fit as your horse's back changes with either more work or lack of work. Here are all the models they have along with prices: http://www.lostjuniperranch.com/SpecializedSaddles.html Just for the record, I have researched this saddle for a couple of years, and it is most likely the one I am going to end up buying for Whisper and Andi, and I will just switch out the shims when I change horses. And much to my dismay, I did not get any pics of this saddle at the Convention since I already knew so much about it. Boz Saddle: I was very impressed with this saddle and on my You-Tube video you will see how the tree flexes. The man who makes these built the saddle around a person sitting on a horse bareback. While he makes a very good case for the forward position of his stirrups, they are adjustible because they are attached in a Y style similar to Y girthing, so you can put them in a more "centered" riding position. He says most saddles are designed to set you to the back of the cantle, while his does not because he wants you right behind the wither, where you would sit if bareback. The flex also eliminates bridging and pinching, and because of this, if the saddle happens to be an inch or two too long, it will not come into contact with the loins (unless you had a humpbacked horse - which you wouldn't be riding anyway!). His website is: http://bozsaddlery.com/ I was extremely comfy in one of his english style sheepskin saddles! Native Spirit Saddlery: This saddle was very impressive, as well. I took a video of it flexing, but it is a bit dark. I don't think the video shows how well it flexes front to back, which will eliminate bridging. I should have taken a pic from the back, but I didn't, to show how the panels flex. In the front, on the pommel, there is a screw (?) for an allen wrench that allows you to adjust the gullet while riding (if need be). The leather on this saddle was buttery soft, and I fell in love with it! Here is their website: http://nativespiritsaddlery.com/ Timberline Saddles: This saddle takes what was good about the original Ortho-flex saddles and made their own company. If you look at the pic I took head on of the black english saddle, you will see where the saddle attaches to the tree/panel. This very much concerned me and I asked what prevented that area from digging into the horse, and his reply was 20 years of digging into the horse. He assured me they had that problem solved. I sat in the English style "Comfort Rider" and this saddle was absolute heaven to sit in! He said the panels could be made shorter if you had an extreme short backed horse as in one who was shorter than the majority of Icelandics. The two Icelandic backs I had would have plenty of room with most of his saddle styles. This is their website: http://www.timberlinesaddlecompany.com/ I wanted to look at Reactor Panel Saddles, but they were not there. Here is the URL of the videos/pictures I took: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCrBYV53l2Y I want people to know that there ARE options out there for people who want a treed saddle. I am not bashing treeless saddles, and I plan on keeping mine. They are not perfect, however, and you don't have to settle for treeless if you want/need the support a tree gives and still want it flexible instead of rigid. Susan in NV http://desertduty.blogspot.com/ Riding for Breast Cancer Awareness Nevermore Ranch http://users.oasisol.com/nevermore/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping
