SR Saddles

~High-Tech Flexible Tree that remains fit to the "moving horse".

The hand made fiberglass lamination tree is my own design, not a copy of a Western or English saddle tree. All trees are an "in shop" build to maintain quality control of the saddles foundation. The tree design is minimally flexible in that it is designed to yield to pressures applied by the horse and riders movement, creating a stable rider balance platform and weight distribution structure onto the horse. It is not flexible like a treeless saddle or a tennis shoe. It is only a yielding flexibility. The tree is a "figure 8" design where the rider positions and postures in the center/cross of the "figure 8". The flex of this unique "figure 8" tree allows the saddle quadrant sections to move independently through each of the four quadrants of the horse's back... assisting with the horses diagonal movement through its back structure. This design provides a "less stress" function to the horses overall movements by reducing the horses overcompansation of restricted movement usually typical in the rigid tree saddles. The design of the saddle creates a more dynamic function through movement of both horse and rider. 

                                           figure "8" tree seatpiece mounted to the upholstered molding skirting

~Upholstered skirting provides a molding weight distribution.

The flexible saddle tree seatpiece is mounted on an upholstered skirting base -- a combination of shaped foams and dacron...taking the place of the rigid non-yielding wooden bars or hard packed panels of traditional saddles. This upholstery combination does mold to the moving conformation of the horse's back from the horses standing back conformation. The upholstered skirting does not keep the static size and shape from its initial build and fitting. The molded fit to the size and shape of the moving back provide an excellent weightload distributing platform onto the horse's back, giving a greater square inch coverage than traditional rigid bar/panel saddles. The seatpiece/skirting combination, as a saddle foundation, offers the rider a correct position and posture on the horse; a level saddle for optimal weight distribution; and excellent full saddle skirt contact to the horse's back... throughout all the horses changing movements. My saddle simply fits and functions best for the rider and horse during motion...

~Custom fit to the horse's back by a plaster casting.

The saddles are initially fit to a plaster casting of your horse's back, or if requested to a general, standard of the market size: wide, medium, narrow... arab, semi-quarter, quarter horse...etc. riders choice.  The plaster casting allows for the horses body form to be present during the saddles build. This will ensure the proper positioning of the saddle onto the horses back, proper level of the saddle for functional weight distribution, and maximum contact of the upholstered skirting to the horses designated saddle fit area. This plaster cast fitting also begins the documentation of your saddles fit to provide a fit history if changes should occur at a later time. After its initial build/fitting, the saddle will then mold from its casting fit to the functional movement fit of the performing horse in the first few beginning rides...creating the functional "dynamic fit" to the moving horse.

                                                    The saddle is fit to the topside of the casting. The castings thickness represents

                                the compressed saddle pad in the fitting, to ensure the saddle is fit with its pads usage in mind

~Saddles have an unlimited refit capability

 The design and construction of the upholstered skirting allows for the saddle to have unlimited refittings to the changing initial horse, or any choice of horse at a later time.

~Saddles offer a "centered" seat posture for your ride balance

 100% balanced dressage posture, with adjustment to fine tune..also available are adjustment options to create a more "chair seat" for those needing this posture.

The seat width of the tree directly under the rider is only 6", allowing for an anatomically correct thigh curve placement right at the hip joint of the rider. The seat to stirrup position mechanics of the tree places the rider into a dressage posture, through all gaits of the moving horse. The stirrup hang in the tree has 3 positions...front to back... accommodating rider preference... and fine tuning rider posture... very important in long hours, long miles to reduce fatigue and increase performance of horse and rider. 

~Saddle seats provide a fatigue reducing custom rider fit

The seats are custom sized and shaped for the rider, foam padded and narrowed, providing an anatomically correct thigh and pelvis position for motion. The seats shape in the tree is finished of component construction, and if needed, the finished shape of the seat can be changed to later further customize comfort for the rider. The seat is not one solid piece of uncomfortable shape the rider must get used to while riding. The seat is finished in a high quality chap/mocassin leather, covering a foundation of dual molding foam which will mold to the bottom shape of the rider in a riding position and posture in movement, thus further customizing the seats shape to provide the comfort and body dynamics required.  Seat sizes in 14...15...16...17 inch to your body measurements.

              Padded thigh rolls, a four inch "deep seat" cantle, with a firm grip handle, provide the base for a riders security

~Security

SR saddle designs provide more security for the rider. The grip handle design is low and below the riders rein hold. With a foam padded fingertip grip underside and a "no slip" rib above.

Firm padded thigh rolls add to define your seat, giving a thigh grab when needed, also a nice stop for forward movement.

The four inch cantle height provides a deep seat without the "bucket seat" feel, also adding a nice stop to rearward movement.

~Lightweight full build saddles

Saddle weight ranges from 16 - 22 lbs depending on the size of the rider. Most saddles will size 22-24 inches front to back in the horses saddle proper saddle fit area.

~Fenders and stirrups are sized to the riders leg length, with adjustment, while providing close contact to the horse and rider comfort.

 The fenders are a traditional western shaped cut on the Enduro, however, they are of a leather and safety seat belt strap lamination. This provides for only one single layer of fender between the rider's leg and the horse, and allows very close contact of rider's legs to the horse. There are no additional stirrup leathers added to the fender to create bulk, or the hard twist of the stirrup to the riders leg. The fenders are designed to remove bulk and provide for an "easy twist" to reduce fender-turning stress to the riders's feet, ankles, knees, legs, and hips. The Fenders will adjust front to back in the tree and up to down in the tree...providing much versatility for the fine tune of posture to the rider.

single layer fender design reduces bulk to riders

leg and knee position, providing a free swing, close leg contact to your horse 

~Load-Leveling Rigging, multi-positional.

The saddles rigging design is taken from the US cavalry saddles, and is a multi-positional, self-load leveling, no bulk, rigging constructed of nylon strap and leather lamination. The rigging is not in a "set" position in the saddle, and can be positioned to match the better cinch position for the horse during the horses movement. The saddles can be set up for a western cinch or english girth, and can be interchanged at anytime during the life of the saddle, offering whichever style is better for the horses movement and health.  

Multiple rigging positions will adjust to match the girthing position on the horse, never a set rigging position... always keeping the saddle in its saddle fit position