And the answer was- Yes and no...
Yes because-
The saddle is such an important part of riding, but the industry is so opaque.... There are no clear quality standards. Cheap saddles are made from terrible materials and often people lack the resources to gain knowledge about what makes a quality saddle and what kind of saddle to look for for their horses. So- I guess you have to buy something expensive and then everything will be fine...?
I had given up searching and decided that a treeless saddle would be the best answer to my question, because I just couldn't find anything better. Eventually, I started to feel sorry for my horses, because they lacked a quality pressure distribution on their backs.
No because-
I decided to take the reins into my own hands!- finding a saddle is hard and expensive- I'll do it so it's easy and at a price that won't make a hole in your wallet!
I spent several months reading scientific and popular science literature about saddle construction, took several paid courses and joined online seminars, until I decided that I needed real certified education! That's how I ended up at saddlefit 4 life academy, where I'm getting certified as an equine ergonomist (a stylish way to say ''saddle fitter'')
-and of course, I also take part in long, very long discussions with saddle manufacturers.
In the end, I plan to create my ideal design with insanely important details that provide better comfort for both the horse and the rider- But this is still in progress!
If you want to contact me, if you have any questions or want advice- feel free to message me here:
