Saddles for Sale on the Message Board
Treeless
Photo by Lukka
Treeless Icelandic Saddle--Floki
Sold by Reidsport (not yet on their website).
Photo from Will
Flying C
We have
received the new and improved treeless
saddle--Keilir--from the makers of the
Floki
and will be carrying that instead of the Floki.
The price will be
$1,100 seperate or $1200 complete.
IceHorseUSA
The Floki is an incredible saddle in many ways. Instead of the regular
wooden or stiff plastic tree, a new type of soft plastic is used as frame.
This keeps the saddle strong, but eliminates the stiffness in the saddle,
allowing it to form to the horses back, and also the rider. It also follows
all the movements of the horse very well, as there is no hindrance from a
stiff frame. The seat gives a nice cushioned feeling. We would not reccomend
this saddle for training young horses, as more support may be needed, but
for general trailriding, and working with horses, this saddle works very
well. There were many questions raised in Iceland, when this saddle first
came out, a few months ago. Specially trainers had big doupts about this
saddle. Today, many of the most known trainers and riders use this saddle,
all to agree that this is propably the most interesting new product for
horses in a long time. One thing is for sure, this is a very horse-friendly
saddle. We have been using the Floki here at the ICEhorseUsa Ranch for some
months now, and we are amazed over this saddle, and can highly reccomend it
for all general purposes.
A new, totally treeless saddle called Keilir, is comming out from the same
manufacturer in a few weeks. We will post the info on that, after it arrives.
We are the only authorized dealer for the Floki and the Keilir in the USA,
and offer it for sale at US$ 1,200, plus shipping from California. Included
in this price are Stirrup-leathers, Icelandic stirrups of stainless steel,
and a 3-piece Girth.
Demands are high for the Floki, both in Iceland and Europe, and we can only
get a few saddles at the time. We have one saddle left in stock from our
first shipment. Next shipment of about ten saddles, plus the new Keilir, is
sceduled to be here in California by 07-01-99.
For further information, or to order, please contact us privately.
Ansur Saddle
Treeless, I think
SportsSaddle by Bob Marshall (treeless)
This is a photo of the saddle that I have--bought directly from the factory in Kentucky. $795 (Judy)
"My husband uses this saddle and loves it. It fits any horse. We got it
for his mare who was changing shape rapidly after foaling. He's been
using it for 4 years. He's a large rider, but there haven't been any
back problems at all with the mare. "
Bob Marshall--First Choice
Karen's SportsSaddle by Bob Marshall
SoftRide $575
SoftRide
Circle Y (treeless)
This is a treeless Italien model, called "Torsion". A real feather
weight (about 3 kg). It is made out of sheepskin (synthetic)
underneath, and chamois on top. Lots of soft padding inside. It has,
in front and behind the seat, two bags with zippers, containing
removable wodden pieces. That gives it the form and comfort of a
western saddle, and a very secure feeling to the rider.
I bought in in Germany for my daughter about 5 years ago, and it is
still in extremely good condition, even though she has put it through
quite some rough handling.
It then cost about DM 700 + the stirrups, stirrup leathers, girth,
saddle pad, which took the price up to about DM 950 (about US$ 600).
A friend of mine, dressage rider, loves it, because it allows you to
feel the horse! I like it just for its comfort and security on young
or spirited horses. ~~Yvonne Lehey
Hue &Hott Rita Leithner Laerchenweg 2a D-82205 Gilching Germany
Phone: +49-8105-24220 Fax: +49-8105-24272
Icelandic Saddles--Treeless
Click on to Horses, click on to the photo of
the Smari Saddle, then click on to the Saga II (treeless).
Flexible Panels
The Trapezius
The Trapezius saddle is designed to alleviate pressure soring of the
trapezius muscle by preventing the pinching effect often seen in other
saddles. The extra wide panels also spread the load of the rider over the
horse's back muscles, again preventing pressure 'hot spots'. The girth
straps are placed such that the saddle sits back, behind the wither.
Saddles placed too far forward will interfere with the motion of the
shoulder blade and stifle the horse's freedom of movement.
The stirrup bars are extra long to help to place the rider's leg under the
seat, enabling the rider to maintain correct balance in all gaits.
Made in Iceland using top quality English leather the Trapezius saddle is
available in UK and Iceland.
For further details contact Janice Hutchinson email:
timandj@globalnet.co.uk
Or Sigi Bjornsson, tel: Iceland ++ 354 4875033
ReactorPanel Saddle
Flexible Panels
I know this saddle and am thinking to buy one for my short-backed, no wither
Morgan baby. I'll let you know what I think after I've had it and used it a
while. Like any other saddle, it seems to work great for some horses and not
so well for others. We tested this saddle last year with Dr. Penny Bauers
(used her computer saddle pad). We did both a static and a motion eval (walk,
trot, canter). The Reactor Panel showed no pressure points at all with an
accomplished rider and hardly any pressure points with a beginning,
unbalanced rider aboard. Very impressive. Of course, that was on only one
horse. We're hoping to test it at our next advanced massage seminar on three
or four different horses with a larger variety of riders.
Thornhill Icelandic Saddle
Thornhill Trail Saddle
Steele Saddles
Several Models, including Endurance and Plantation. Deep Seats.
Henri deRivel Icelandic Saddle
Natural Ride Pad
Natural Ride
Supracor Bareback and Saddle Pads
I have found an amazing bareback and training pad that I can use on my
Peruvian.
I had had to give up riding him bareback as it hurt his back to use
traditional bb pads.
I bought a Supracor Pad and my horse has never moved better!!
His back has actually come up a lot(he was a bit sway backed)and he is
looking really good.
These pads are not cheap($325 plus tax and shipping)but its been more than
worth it to me.
These are beautiful bb pads and have inserts that are the same material
Supracor uses to make pads for wheelchair users, hospital mattresses and even
some of the bumper cars I think for amusement parks.
Both the honeycomb inserts and the pad are machine washable. I find the pad
stays cool on my horse(it has wool on the underside).
I was so impressed with this pad that I have ordered their saddle pad for my
dressage saddle.
Natural Ride--Details
The Balance Saddle
SaddleTech
Saddle Fitting Device
Editorial Note: Any type saddle that fits your horse well/perfectly is better than one that does not. One does not "need" an Icelandic saddle to ride an Icelandic Horse.
Hestamadurinn
Kjarni
Icelandic Horse Farm
Reidlist
Bennis Harmony
SaddleRight Inc
Orthopedic Competition Saddle Pads
Reidtygjasmidjan
Monchof, Germany
Bjössi's Islandpferde-Welt
My husband bought one of these pads while we were out at the ISC this
summer. It is definately wonderful. He is currently riding my old gelding
who is quickly approaching 27 and has very atrophied withers and not a whole
lot around the spine. This pad worked wonders for that. I asked for one
for my birthday (3 monthes ago) and he ordered one for me. We still have
not received it because of the back log of orders. We did receive a call
from Vern saying that the Airback pads are now back in stock at PNH and we
could directly order them from there if we wish. I think that's the way
we're going to go because Vern is having a problem taking credit cards and
needs to have the money sent ahead of time. The pads are just over $300,
but well worth every penny. Vern's number is 805-688-362. His fax is
805-693-1773.
Good luck in getting one. They are a wonderful addition to anyone's tack
room.
Saddle King
This company offers an inexpensive Icelandic saddle, as well as a Comfortmaster. Comments from Renee: I have an older one in the wider tree width that I just love. It fits
all of my horses wonderfully and is extremely comfortable for the rider
as well. There are plenty of dee rings, a quilted seat, and extended
bars. What you can't see in the picture, however, is the 4 fingers-wide
gullet underneath. It's getting harder and harder it seems, to find a
saddle with a wide-enough gullet and lots of contact surface. This
saddle has both.
The Astund "Classic" and "Super" have the shorter seat and the "special" and
"2000"have the longer(larger) seat, the difference between the Classic and
Super is that the Classic has the knee rolls on the outside and the Super has
them under the flap.
All help appreciated. Am looking for a new saddle for my new gaited
guy. Back like a table top, well sprung ribs (no Arab blood that I know of
:-), and am using my Sport saddle (treeless) as my dressage saddle just
sits on his back like a size 6 hat on a size 8 head.
Prefer English/endurance (something with a high pommel..I fall a lot hence
the gaited guy) and find the treeless sport saddle (tho not
perfect..rigging western and too far forward for my likes) is the only
thing that is working.
At this point, money isn't the issue...it's fit for horse first, rider second.
> I have an icelandic horse and it seems as if the icelandic saddle she came
with does not really fit her well.<<
I had the same problem with a
saddle that was chosen for my first Icelandic by an Icelander as being a "good fit" -- it
wasn't. Pain, white hair and behavior like your horse is exhibiting are the common result of
an ill fitting saddle. I would not use it anymore. I have had good luck with the Astund
line of saddles and I have also just recently purchased an Island, which is also working out
well.. They are wider in the gullet and shorter in length. They both tend to stay in place
very well. Others will have to share their good experiences with you.
Saddle fit is one of my interests
and although it's been discussed by the list before, perhaps someone may have
had some recent breakthrough to report. The problem I've had is that many
of the icelandics backs are sloped down on the sides therefore most of the
saddles don't make good contact. All of the saddles I have including Goetz
and Steubben bridge on their backs. In other words when I take the saddle
pad off after a ride and look at the sweat marks, I see that they show mostly
in the back and front and very little in the middle. That shows that the
horses are feeling my weight only on those spots instead of on the whole
saddle area. and that can make for sore backs. In my experience, my horses
have never been sore to the touch, but in some cases their reluctance to go
forward some days without riding with a whip is probably the result of saddles
that are not too comfortable for them. I am looking at an Albion all purpose
saddle next. I sent "back tracings" to the company and am hoping to end my
search one of these days. In the past, I sent a plaster cast to another
company with negative results.
This is a common problem with first Iceys, so don't get discouraged. I think we all have had
to change saddles a few times. I also have a Stubben Siegfried that fits both of my Iceys
very well, and although it is not a "Toelt" saddle, they both toelt very well in it.
Saddle Fitting
Think of the horse's body as a free flowing river of energy. The saddle's
job is to create a bridge over this river, which inhibits neither horse or
rider. It should make contact with the horse in the middle of his back, but
not sit on his spine, withers or loins. Most importantly, it should not
impede the shoulder in any way. Unfortunately, many saddles do just that!
Place your saddle on your horse without a pad underneath. Can you slide your
hand easily between the front of the saddle and the horse's shoulder?
Between the back of the saddle and his loins? The answer should be "YES"!
When you slide your hand under the middle of the saddle - that's where the
saddle should be sitting!
Another problem that many people have with their saddles has to do with
rigging, which should hold the entire saddle (back and front) snugly against
the horse. Most English saddles are rigged so that the cinch holds the
saddle directly in the middle, which is great. Unfortunately, many Western
saddles are used incorrectly. The back cinch should be used! If only the
front cinch is tightened, the back end of the saddle is free to move up and
down, creating a "lever effect", pushing the saddle into the horse's front
muscles, creating soreness and galls.
I own a round, wide, short-backed, witherless
Icelandic. We've been doing a lot of groundwork and "bonding" and I've only
recently started sitting on him for short periods of time. Since my bareback
skills are not what they were when I was 14 :), I decided to start looking
around for a saddle.
This has turned into more of a project than I'd anticipated. I suddenly
realized that I really didn't know a lot about saddle fiting. All
I ever learned is that it shouldn't sit on the withers, but I knew that there
was a lot more to it than that.
Somebody told me that there was a saddle maker out there by the name of
David Genadek, and he would answer saddle fitting questions. I e-mailed him
and he answered many of my questions. Then I discovered that he made a video
to answer just the type of questions that many people ask. It was only
$24.95 so I said "what the heck". After watching it, I decided that it was
the best money I'd ever spent!
If you have questions, just ask David: AboHorse@means.net
or 800-449-7409. Nicki Rosa
