Input on specialized saddles

[Chrystal Woodhouse]

Hi I am trying out a Trailmaster Saddle from a friend,- however am also looking at the Eurolight, just don't have one to try.
Does anyone have any comments on the differences between the two? Am finding the Trailmaster seat pretty hard even with a wool seat cover, the Eurolight looks "cushier" does anyone know if it is?
How secure is the Eurolight?  I feel pretty secure in the Trailmaster,

Thanks for any help/advice:-)

Chrystal :-)

[velvet....@yahoo.com]

I have the eurolight and like it.  It is very secure, but I wouldn't call it cushy. 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID

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[Kathy Mayeda]

I think any saddle might feel hard if you don't have the right anatomy for it.  I loved the way my close contact English saddle felt, but a long legged, bony butted guy thought it was the hardest saddle in the world.  Just like I really detest some Western saddles because the seams would hit at exactly the wrong spot for me.

You just have to try it for yourself.... sorry.

K.

[laney humphey]

i have both saddles - trailmaster is old, euro-lite newer. trailmaster is harder (that's why i got the euro-lite). i think the trailmaster twist is wider too. neither is secure enough for high speed arena stuff , but that's not what they're built for. the euro-lite is plenty secure for a lightweight saddle built for speed on the trail. hope this helps, laney
Sent from my ASUS Pad

Chrystal Woodhouse <Chry...@aadomino.com> wrote:

Hi I am trying out a Trailmaster Saddle from a friend,- however am also looking at the Eurolight, just don't have one to try.
Does anyone have any comments on the differences between the two? Am finding the Trailmaster seat pretty hard even with a wool seat cover, the Eurolight looks "cushier" does anyone know if it is?
How secure is the Eurolight?  I feel pretty secure in the Trailmaster,

Thanks for any help/advice:-)

Chrystal :-)

[Jonni]

If the Trailmaster is an older one, it may feel different than the
newer ones. Also, they offer different seats, and different cantles on
the Trailmasters, and each will have a different feel. There is the
endurance seat, which will have the larger cut out behind the pommel,
then the trail seat which is a tad deeper, with a very small cut out
behind the pommel. Then pencil roll cantle, which makes the seat a
little bit of a deeper feel that cups your butt a tad more, and the
Cheyenne cantle, which has less of a cupping of your butt. ;) I
think the Eurolight will have a bit of a softer seat. Also, you can
request a more padded seat if they are making a saddle for you
Jonni

[Nathan Hoyt]

Chrystal,

I tried both and went with the Eurolight.  I don't remember the Trailmaster having a harder seat, but I was more focused on which rubbed me where.  At this point, I can't remember what I didn't like about the Trailmaster.  I really like the Eurolight seat, but as mentioned, you have to try them both for yourself.

I generally prefer a hard seat if it fits me.  That being said, the Eurolight is pretty cushy, although not excessively so.  A hard seat that doesn't fit is miserable, but it at least you know it quickly.  A cushy seat can hide the fact that the seat doesn't fit and lead you to believe it does until you have ridden it for a few hours.  Nothing is better than finding out your saddle hurts 4 hrs into an 12 hr day.  If the seat doesn't feel ABSOLUTELY PERFECT over the course of the average test ride, move on to another saddle. 

I would suspect that the Eurolight will feel less secure to you because of the endurance seat.  If you are concerned about security, you should try the International.  It has a deeper seat and thigh blocks and is much more secure than either the Trailmaster or the Eurolight IMO. 

If you decide to go with a Specialized saddle, DO NOT buy directly from Specialized.  There is a list of distributors on the Specialized site.  Find the one closest to you and purchase through them.  I used Ms Shelby Friml of Double Diamond Equine in Starr, NC.  I cannot say enough good things about her.  I contacted Specialized directly regarding a couple of concerns and was very underwhelmed with the company's customer service.  Shelby kept things moving when the process was trying to stall.

Regarding my Eurolight, it is the most comfortable saddle I have ridden.  I thought about getting a completely custom saddle, but a saddle that is specific to one horse at one point in its life doesn't fit my needs.  The shim system works as advertised and I've gotten pretty good at fitting it to my horse as she changes.  I got the dark oil finish and am glad I paid extra for it.  The core construction is very solid, the leather is awesome and the finish is beautiful. 
 
When you first get your saddle, make absolutely sure everything is exactly how you want it.  While the core construction is good, the attention to detail putting the final saddle together was lacking.  They made everything right eventually, but it was a slow and frustrating process.  Since they did right by me in the end, I would buy another saddle from them and I'll recommend the saddle, however only with the aforementioned caveats.

Nate

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From: Chrystal Woodhouse <Chry...@aadomino.com>
To: ride...@endurance.net
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 4:51 PM
Subject: [RC] Input on specialized saddles

[Sandra Adams]

I have an older Trailmaster and I really like it - of course, so does my daughter who now WANTS it so I am actively hunting down another Watson to replace it. I find the seat softer and even more balanced than my Trailmaster, and of course the fit for my multiple horses is excellent. But the older Trailmasters from what I have seen are much better than the new ones. Funny how that happens with so many things.

Sandy Adams

Deep Sands Arabians

www.garyadamsbooks.com

Home of Salazar SF

"The Gentleman Stallion"

[Diana Peterson]

Hi
I had an Euro light , and NO amount of padding made this saddle comfortable for me. So i sold it and bought an International hoping it would be better,
Well it was NOT any better for me. I also had a hard time with the person fitting the saddle for me , because his "fitting " my saddle ended up with my horse having
white hair along both sides of his spine and a very bad attetude. Needless to say , the International is sold too.
I think the idea of the Specialized saddles is great. But they could build much better seats for the saddles for the $$ you have to spend on them.
 
Diana
 


 

I am too blessed to be stressed and too annointed to be disappointed.

 
My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:19
~~____(\
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> Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2013 20:51:24 -0800
> From: rokj...@gmail.com
> To: ride...@endurance.net
> Subject: [RC] Re: Input on specialized saddles

> Demo'd a Eurolight from a Rep. OUCH! I peeled the seat and added a piece of 3/8 closed cell sleeping pad foam and that helped it go to OUch! Can't imagine being in that for hours. I should mention that I AM that long legged bony butted guy. Talked to David at Specialized & he said it is for those that don't sit down. I'd add "Ever." A couple hours in that rig & you wont sit anywhere! For days!
> When I waffled and didn't order right then the Rep stopped communicating so seems like "definitely" don't go to Specialized but use a Rep isn't bombproof advice either. Next talked to Amanda at Specialized & when I told her I was on a MFT she exclaimed "Well, no way is the Eurolight for you! You HAVE to sit down!"
> I had a chance to sit on a Featherweight trail when I picked up the Eurolight and it felt like a sheet of titanium. Supposedly have a Trail Master demo on the way (it is 3 weeks late so far) so will see if that one is any better. Leather roulette!

[richardson.carla]

I had a similar experience and my only comment is to say that no saddle is right for every horse and/or rider, despite the claims. 

After four years of struggling, I finally gave up and decided to just use my old Fabtron trail saddle which cost me $350 in 1998.  It is more comfortable for my horse and myself and 3 lbs lighter as well.  Kind of ironic. 

Carla 

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone

[Shannon Chastain]

I had major issues with a specialized and I think they need more tree options too. You cannot pad too narrow.

 

Shannon

[Karen Standefer]

I bought a used Trailmaster as  "guest" saddle.  As it happened, I was taking a cross country trip with the horses right after I purchased it  So, I arranged to stay at Dave Kaden's place and had him fit the saddle to my horse (shim it for him).  the first time I tried to ride him in it, he pinned his ears and rung his head at me.  This horse is very communicative :-)  I tried to use it on him 3 times after that and every time he had a horrible attitude and didn't want to go forward.  I just think the pads are too hard and not spaced far enough apart in the center.  They were pressing down on his spinous process in the rear of the saddle.   This particular horse had an injury in 2002 and that part of his back is easy to "upset".  So, we went back to the Freeform and if someone else rides him, they just have to use the Freeform.

On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 8:51 PM, greg m <rokj...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Friday, December 21, 2012 1:51:43 PM UTC-8, Chrystal Woodhouse wrote:

[Laney Humphrey]

Very well said, Cindy! Like you, my sit bones and private parts have
gotten worn out by 20+ years of endurance so it's me far more than more
horse who is hard to fit. I rode in a Trailmaster for about 5 years
until my butt just couldn't stand it any more. Then I got a Euro-lite
which has a narrower twist. It's better but not perfect for the mostly
walking types of riding I do now. I think David is right: his saddles
are built for riders who do not sit down - ever. They certainly aren't
built for the typical female pelvis.
I've also ridden in a variety of saddles that worked for a particular
horse at a particular time. I learned from the Sharon Saare & SR
saddles that I need a pretty narrow twist (they are both too wide for
me), loved my ReactorPanel, etc., etc., etc.
One aspect of our sport we all have to endure is The Great Saddle Hunt.
And no one tells you about that when you first get interested in
distance riding! Most of us can't just go into our local tack store &
try sitting on lots of different endurance saddles. So we end up paying
lots of money to UPS, FedEx and the USPS.
A long time ago (1995), I wrote a little book about how to choose a
saddle for endurance. I contended then and I still do, that most saddle
makers are way more concerned about how well the saddle fits the horse
than they are about how the saddle fits the rider. It was true then and
it is still true that there are more women independent endurance saddle
makers than men. The women tend to be at least sympathetic to female
riders' fit issues. I believe that part of the popularity of treeless
saddles is that they can mold to the contours of the the horse *and the
rider*.
David Kaden does not build bad saddles. Like all other saddles, his
have a particular style. His operation is large enough that all his
saddles are alike. What's unique about his saddles though, is his shim
system that allows a pretty well nigh perfect fit for almost all horses.
The problem is that there isn't something comparable for the rider.
For anyone on The Great Saddle Hunt, I'd advise going to the largest
tack store around. Don't go expecting to find real endurance saddles
(there are some mass market saddles marketed as "endurance" but they're
really not), but do sit in every saddle you can, english and western.
Hopefully there will be a sales person who is willing to hang in there
with you and explain what makes one seat different from another.
(Remember, your only interested in how the saddle fits you!)
Also, google "saddle fit for female riders" or some such. Look for pix
of male and female pelvises. There's lots of info out there that can
help you get to that perfect saddle.
Laney
12921

On 1/13/2013 8:45 AM, Cindy Collins wrote:
> This thread is the perfect example of why no one else can tell you what saddle is right for you or your horse. I have serious problems in my old age with saddles and my private parts, I find my Eurolight w/fenders very comfortable. However, it's been said that I am a "hard assed woman." :) I do use the sheepskin seat, though I have both. I also added bucking rolls and it is VERY secure...I have tested that several times :( I have ridden and loved Sharon Saares, Freeforms, Reactor Panels, Orthoflex, Boz, Stuben, and a variety of good quality dressage saddles at various points in my 30+ year endurance career. Each one fit one horse exceptionally well and at the time worked for me. Some people and some horses can finish rides in any saddle no matter how poorly made without obvious problems. Other horses and people have a variety of physical and/or sensitivity issues that they can only be successful in one saddle. I love my Specialized, but woud not ever presume that someone el
se might or that two years from now it will be best for me or my horse. Cindy
>

[Karen Standefer]

If this were on Facebook, I'd put a big LIKE beside it!

On Sun, Jan 13, 2013 at 8:45 AM, Cindy Collins <sagecreek...@gmail.com> wrote:

This thread is the perfect example of why no one else can tell you what saddle is right for you or your horse.  I have serious problems in my old age with saddles and my private parts, I find my Eurolight w/fenders very comfortable. However, it's been said that I am a "hard assed woman." :) I do use the sheepskin seat, though I have both.  I also added bucking rolls and it is VERY secure...I have tested that several times :(  I have ridden and loved Sharon Saares, Freeforms, Reactor Panels, Orthoflex, Boz, Stuben, and a variety of good quality dressage saddles at various points in my 30+ year endurance career.  Each one fit one horse exceptionally well and at the time worked for me.  Some people and some horses can finish rides in any saddle no matter how poorly made without obvious problems.  Other horses and people have a variety of physical and/or sensitivity issues that they can only be successful in one saddle.  I love my Specialized, but woud not ever presume that someone else might or that two years from now it will be best for me or my horse.  Cindy

[Truman Prevatt]

Amen. No one saddle fits all horses - no matter what the saddle maker tells you. No saddle fits all people - no matter what the saddle maker tells you.
The quest is to find one that fits both the horse on the bottom and the rider on (hopefully) the top. The challenge of endurance is - today a saddle fits fine and in six months the same saddle doesn't.

I have been lucky I have had a saddle since 1999 that fits both me and my horse (same horse). It is an RP and it has been adjusted a couple of times as he has changed (he is 24 now and still going strong) but it still fits him well. From my experience that is the exception rather than the rule. I would not worry much from testimonials on the Internet over how awful or how well a saddle fits. A saddle that fits well may not in 18 months. A saddle that doesn't fit someone else's horse might fit yours just fine and a saddle that fits someone else's horse might be awful on yours.

Endurance is about the great saddle search - which seems to never end.

Truman

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"Crash programs fail because they are based on the theory that, with nine women pregnant, you can get a baby a month. " Wernher von Braun

[enduranc...@gmail.com]

I have never used a specialized but did use a James Saddlery Aussie saddle and had issues after 20/35 miles with my horse sore all along her spine. This is when i learned the importance of gullet width - even though my horse is narrow and the saddle had plenty of padding and vertical spine clearance. Sounds like the Specialized might have the same issue? 

Sent from my iPod

[Becky/Sue Burkheart]

I love my synergist saddles.  I've ridden in a couple different kinds but find the synergist more comfortable to the rider, in combination how well they fit the horse, makes them especially good saddles for me - i have two.  They have a DSS Model, designed for endurance riding by a woman. :)

Becky Burkheart
Write Horses Right ~ avoid the  The 33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Horses  
Short and Twisted Fairy Tales Unique twists on seven classic fairy tales

[Karen Standefer]

It can be adjusted, so it shouldn't have that issue  I think it was more the way David adjusted it for my horse and also that the edges on the padding are hard corners that dug in where he is sensitive. 

Karen

[Lauren]

HI Karen, I have to make a comment about Dave adjusting your saddle. And I love Dave, but here is the scoop. Right before the big XP, Dave flew out to Missouri to personally adjust a bunch of saddles. He spent a lot of time using his computer and pressure pad and we were all very thankful he came. BUT, every single one of us in our group (5 saddles) had to refit the saddle back to where we all had them originally. I heard of others too. The horses told us immediately. I'm not going to get into why it didn't work out for all of us, but my point is that the saddles are GREAT and highly adjustable and fit a wide variety of horses and people. I LOVE my Specialized saddles, but now I only trust ME to do the fitting. The saddles are extremely popular for good reason.

[Truman Prevatt]

I can put a lot of socks on under shoes that don't fit. However, if the shoes don't fit - it doesn't matter how many socks I put on they still don't fit.  If a saddle fits on a horse without pads, shims, etc. you will have not problem until the horse's back changes;-).  If the saddle doesn't fit bare - then everything else is a compromise.  There are some adjustable trees out there that can be modified.  However from what I have seen the Specialized is a fixed wood tree.  If it digs in there is no padding that will make it not dig in. 

Truman

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"There is always a well-known solution to every human problem--neat, plausible, and wrong. "H. L. Mencken