Contents:
Medium dressage - Amanda Hope
Dressage horses - Ruth Baillie
Amateur rider - Louise Horn
Trainer - Shena Kozuba-Kozubska BHSI
Trainer - Tim Downes FBHS
Amateur rider - Olivia McCann
Amateur rider - Jane Barnes
British Pony Squad - Michelle Chalmers
Alice Bell
Irish International - Sam Watson
GB International Grand
prix - Jane Bartle-Wilson BHSI
BD Petplan Area Festival Qualifier - Jo Greenaway
Advanced Medium National Championships - Susie Crouch
Medium Dressage - Amanda Hope
I have had my 14 hand Welsh Cob for 5 years and I have always had her treeless…
…Although I did get through a few saddles before I found Solution, including Barefoot and a Heather Moffett.
Two of my previous horses both had behavioural problems caused by saddles, and despite spending a fortune on physios and saddles I never felt happy that the issues were resolved – and I resorted to riding bareback, which as you can imagine is pretty limiting!
Since affiliating, Lily and I have qualified for the Regionals Finals in Novice and Novice Freestyle. The focus now is on training her up the levels and we have just come back from a 3-day course with Adam Kemp, working at Medium level.
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My equine chiropractor and massage therapist always comments on how Lily has never had any saddle related problems and the muscles on her back are well formed and soft and supple, which she attributes to her being in a treeless saddle.
I am totally committed to treeless; I changed trainer when it was repeatedly suggested that I needed a treed saddle, as that is what all the top riders use!”
Amanda Hope,
Derbyshire. |
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Dressage Horses - Ruth Baillie
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“I have two very different horses with very different needs of their saddles...
Peter, my 15 year old ¾ TB 16.00hh all rounder was diagnosed with kissing spine disease three years ago and I bought Wally, my 7 year old KPWN 16.2hh gelding two years ago to replace Peter as my “full time” dressage horse. He is working at Medium level and has more than 160 BD points, so he is capable!
When the kissing spine diagnosis was made, on the advice of the vets I tried and bought an Energist saddle from Solution Saddles. It helped Peter to recover some top line and move more comfortably and I was able to bring him back into full time but managed work. He hacks and works on a free lunge with the odd schooling session thrown in.
I chose not to ride Wally in a treeless saddle but after about 18 months started to notice the tell tale signs of muscle wastage around his shoulders even though the saddle I has chosen was checked and fitted every six months.
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As a past customer, I receive regular Newsletters from Solutions Saddles and noticed the Smart RigidFree™ saddle. I liked the fact that the SMART™ saddle looked more like a conventional saddle and I felt that the advancement in the technology to bring the RigidFree™ saddle to market would possibly suit Peter better. On speaking to Emily, Solutions Saddles agent, I decided to try the saddle on Wally also.
I immediately noticed a significant difference in the way of going of both horses. Peter could instantly stretch down more and take bigger steps in all his paces and out hacking especially, the feeling of freedom through his shoulders was far greater than before. With Wally, the difference was even more marked. He can now “swing” through his back and engage his hindquarters more and most importantly, has made a huge improvement in his medium and extended work. He feels freer and more balanced and as the rider, I also feel far more comfortable through my back and neck too. It is worth mentioning that the SMART™ rides much more like a conventional saddle so the requirement on the rider to adapt to an alternative saddle solution is minimal. |
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In conclusion the SMART™ saddle has helped both my horses in a very positive way and I can use the same saddle enabling me to simplify my tack store too! Finally I would add that the service I have received from Emily and her colleagues in the office has been excellent and I hope that this testimonial will encourage others to try the SMART™ saddle soon for the welfare of both their horses and themselves.”
Ruth Baillie, Leicestershire, Dec 2010.
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Amateur Dressage - Louise Horn
“The treed saddle he used to wear affected
his performance as it allowed no movement of his shoulder, pressed
on his withers giving him sore points on his back, and he was
rather stiff!
My dressage score sheets previously always commented about how
stiff he was & not supple enough. A common comment from
judges was "Horse rather stiff, needs to be softer over
the back".
I was starting to lose heart until I made the decision to
try a treeless saddle to see if it would make a difference.
I tried many different ones over the course of a year then
discovered Solution
Saddles. I tested a couple & fell
in love with the "Freestyle".
Straight away I felt a difference in him; even when hacking
out he is forward going, supple & he can stride out like
never before.
Since purchasing my Freestyle saddle in December, my horse
Jigsaw has been placed every time out in his dressage competitions
even getting a first place.
I no longer get those same comments & my horse feels younger
& happier than ever!!! THANK YOU!
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Before - tight back and braced neck |
After - younger and happier |
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Trainer - Shena Kozuba - Kozubuska
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"The
Solution Saddle was an immediate success,
although initially I still thought of it as a remedial measure.
However, over time, it became clear that the technology behind
this saddle must be the way forward for all those who value
horse welfare."
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Trainer - Tim Downes FBHS
| I first met the “Solution” in its former guise as the “Ansur”, back in February
2005. Since then my acquaintance with these saddles has saved
me untold amounts of time and money.
My first interest came for a horse known as “JC Too”
or “Jim” to his friends. I had acquired Jim as
a project in October 2004, as a very green 6 year old. In
my fascination with his fabulous temperament, and his metronomic
trot rhythm, I had overlooked his rather dippy back, and his
complete inability to canter!
The fact that he had spent two years running around in Ireland
with his head in the air, did not put him in the best starting
place to commence life as a dressage horse either!
It soon became apparent that as long as he was totally comfortable
under his saddle, he was prepared to learn. This was all well
and good, but as he learned, so he got stronger over his back,
and he changed shape. Bearing in mind his total lack of acceptance
of discomfort you will understand that from October to February
we went through 5 saddles! As he began to grow out of the
fifth saddle, I began a search for an alternative. A chance
meeting with Anne Bondi led me to “going treeless”
At that time Jim had mastered some degree of balance in walk
and trot, but was still cantering only when fifty acres were
available, and in a fair impression of an Alton Towers experience.
Within two months of starting work in his new saddle he had
won his first novice test with 76%! Steady progress has been
made ever since. Learning to canter enabled him to learn to
jump, and his new found freedom of movement meant that learning
lateral work was childs play! This year he has competed at
medium level, and been a star at the BHSI examinations.
Naturally having had such amazing results with the saddle
I was keen to try it on other horses. The fact that the saddle
is so light weight and folds up has enabled me to take it
with me on my travels around the world to teach. I have used
my saddle on every conceivable shape and type of horse, and
all have quickly discovered greater freedom of movement and
elasticity, rapidly followed by more willingness to work towards
self carriage.
At home we have tested the durability of the saddle to excess!
We own two, and both are used daily on at least four horses
each. It is fortunate for me that many of my clients now ride
on the Solution, as I am no longer allowed to
remove my own from the yard for more than about half an hour.
To do so would cause too much distress amongst those left
at home, as they would have to fight over the one remaining
saddle!
I have currently got three horses of my own in work, “Jim”
who is an Irish sports horse, “George” who is
Pure Irish Draught, and as wide as a house, and “CK”
who is an Australian thoroughbred ex race horse. He is narrow
beyond belief! All three wear the same saddle each day to
work.
As a rider, a trainer of horses, and a teacher of riders, the Solution saddle has made my daily
life easier, saved me hours of time trying to find saddles
that ”fit” and enabled me to develop the training
of many individual horses and riders way beyond their expectations.
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Olivia McCann
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Olivia mcCann riding stallion Glimmer
in her Solution saddle at
his first dressage competition,
wining by an impressive score of 72.4% |
Riding homeproduced Quarter horse
Annie in The
Solution. |
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"I couldn't believe the transformation...All
the twitching, spooking and shying, had totally disappeared.
He took a confident forward rein contact and the elevation
in his paces was amazing. The horse I always believed was
in there finally came to the surface.
This is the most amazing break through in Equestrian epuipment.
I have since gone on to share my experiences with the people
I teach and several other horses I ride - the improvement
have all been breathtaking." |
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Jane Barnes
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"When I tried him in the Solution Freestyle
saddle the difference was instantaneous and amazing. He now
works correctly through from behind into a steady soft contact.
He is straighter, his half passes and shoulder-ins even on
both reins and mush more expressive and best of all he does
not run to the back of the box when I produce his saddle or
tighten his girth."
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Michelle Chalmers, GB International
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"Since using The
Solution my pony has improved so much
she was this year's reserve for the European Pony Team, and
my 16.3hh mare has been invited to the trials for this year's
World Class Start and Potential Programme."
Michelle Chamlers and Juno
British Pony Squad 2004, 2005, 2006 |
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Alice Bell
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"I had to buy TWO saddles in the end,
but it is worth it to see not being only Peter, but every
other horse that Alice and I ride enjoying their work, without
constriction and discomfort.
I am now busy trying to persaude the Scottish Highlands to
become a 'tree free' zone."
Alice and Liz Bell |
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Sam Watson, Irish International
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Sam Watson was a member of the Irish Team for
the European Young Eventing Championships 2006. They came
fourth having performed a 'personal best' in each phase.
"Sam was quite convinced that this finish at the
Young Rider Eventing Championships at Pardubice was possible
because of his Solution
saddle."
Sam Watson and Ballybolger Bushman |
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Jane Bartle-Wilson BHSI, GB International Grand Prix
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Jane has found The
Solution Saddle invaluable, particularly
in developing straightness:
"...The resulting correct muscular development takes
place quickly and this in turn allows the saddle and therefore
the rider to remain more centred." |
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Jo Greenaway
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This is my 4yr old Gelding Alexsandro by Sandro B (Sandro Hit).
After a successful start to unaffiliated dressage this spring we aimed to qualify for the BD Petplan Area Festival.
It was a very early start at the qualifier, all I wanted was to come out feeling we'd done our best as there were a lot of flashy horses in our section. Much to my shock we got over 68% and won!
We are now frantically training with the help of Lucy Cartwright as the Area Festival Finals are held at the BD Winter Nationals in April 2010.
Lex has NEVER been ridden in a treed saddle and NEVER will. Having my Solution Saddle for my youngster has not only saved me money but also training issues and heartache. |
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Susie Crouch
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"I have had my dressage horse, known at
home as Bert for nearly 11 years, he is now 14 years. He is
currently competing at Advanced Medium level and has competed
at 3 National Championships.
Throughout his career I had problems with his back, he used
to collapse behind the saddle and appear to trap a nerve which
sent his muscles into spasm.
We tried everything and eventually x-rayed his spinous processes,
expecting to find kissing spines, but the x-ray showed nothing.
I tried every saddle made- or it felt like it! - But nothing
made a difference until I tried The
Solution Saddle. In the two years I have
owned it, I have had no problems at all with his back and
he is much happier, more forward thinking horse, the muscle
on his back had recovered and the osteopath gives him a gold
star every time she sees him!" |
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