So I inherited this Boz saddle. Never even heard of the thing, and unfortunately the website seems as though it was written by Jack Kerouac if he was just learning the internet in 1996. My mother, oddly, knew of them and said a close friend swore by them, first for her horse’s back, and second for “changing the way she rode entirely.” I understand some people find them more secure, and some people think the feet-first design is ridiculous. I searched old Chronicle threads and couldn’t find much at all. I am highly doubtful of any saddle that wants to put me in a chair position, but I’m going to try it out for funsies. I’d like to use it on a fat, swaybacked Appaloosa, but I’ve got plenty of backs in the herd that if it doesn’t fit him I’ll put it on someone else. I can’t find any info on how it can be adjusted to fit a horse. Can you share your experience with them, and any particulars on how to adjust or pad them? Thanks in advance!
Uh oh… no replies. Perhaps they were a fad that has passed? Perhaps everyone is being polite and doesn’t want to me the truth? Perhaps no one else has heard of them either? I’m going to take it down to the barn today and see if it fits anybody, then just sit in it and see what it feels like. I inherited a nice Passier-Sohn jumping saddle too, and am interested to see if that fits as well. Otherwise, on to ebay they’ll go!
I have one. It fits most of my horses but my main horse gets real sore where it pinches his spine. He’s very stoic so it took awhile before I could tell he had a problem. My biggest issue with it is it’s very uncomfortable for me. I can only stand to ride in it for 2 hours…any longer and I am seriously hurting. So now I only use it if I need an extra western saddle for a guest.
Thanks! I liked the sheepskin and the stirrups, but it was hard to tell how well it fit. Also, it seemed wide. I could see how that could be tiresome. I think I’ll ride it some more and see how it goes!
[QUOTE=TheMountainsAreCalling;8499921]
So I inherited this Boz saddle. Never even heard of the thing, and unfortunately the website seems as though it was written by Jack Kerouac if he was just learning the internet in 1996. My mother, oddly, knew of them and said a close friend swore by them, first for her horse’s back, and second for “changing the way she rode entirely.” I understand some people find them more secure, and some people think the feet-first design is ridiculous. I searched old Chronicle threads and couldn’t find much at all. I am highly doubtful of any saddle that wants to put me in a chair position, but I’m going to try it out for funsies. I’d like to use it on a fat, swaybacked Appaloosa, but I’ve got plenty of backs in the herd that if it doesn’t fit him I’ll put it on someone else. I can’t find any info on how it can be adjusted to fit a horse. Can you share your experience with them, and any particulars on how to adjust or pad them? Thanks in advance![/QUOTE]
I don’t believe that they put you in a feet first or chair position. They are based on the Monte Foreman Balanced Ride Saddles which were some of the first saddles to put the rider in a good position (hence the name Balanced Ride).
I ride in a Tex Tan Balanced Ride Saddle and I like it. It doesn’t put me in a chair seat. Monte Foreman licensed the making of his saddles to a few companies such as Tex Tan and Fallis.
You can google Monte Foreman and Balance Ride Saddles to get more information.
You’d be better off going to the AERC FB page and asking this question. I know of several endurance riders who have used them or are still using them. I’ve heard mostly good things about them but I haven’t ridden in them myself.
Thanks all! I just read on the website about the “feet forward” position, and how Boz’s system advocates putting all your weight on your feet and not your seat (!?). I very much like Monte Foreman and have always wanted a Balanced Ride saddle. However I’m not sure this Boz is the one. I have only trail ridden in it, a couple of times a week all month, only at a walk. It’s fine, and I love how light it is on the horse’s back, but my other saddles have a much narrower twist and are more comfortable for me that way. I’m still undecided what to do with it. My husband seems to like riding in it, so for now it will stick around.
