EQ Saddle Science?

[Libby2563]

I’m curious about these and other non-traditional saddles. Does anyone understand why flap vs. flapless would make such a difference in rider stability? The Clayton study says, “The improved stability was thought to result from the absence of saddle flaps allowing the rider’s thighs to lie in more adducted positions, which facilitated the action of the lumbopelvic-hip musculature in stabilizing and controlling translations and rotations of the pelvis and trunk.” It surprises me that a thin piece of leather (or two pieces, I guess, since none of the traditional saddles in the study were monoflaps) under the leg would matter so much. Does that mean you lose the benefits of the EQ saddle if you ride with flaps? I would think the difference between the EQs and other saddles would be more due to the tree and panels than the lack of flaps.

Can someone educate me? I love the idea of evidence-based tack, but I’m more likely to buy something that makes my horses more comfortable (i.e., Fairfax bridle) than I am to buy something that makes me more stable–though I guess indirectly that might make my horses more comfortable! Also, a study with a larger sample size would be nice to see.

[polkadotedpony]

I don’t think the flapless is that big of a deal compared to a mono flap. I don’t find there to be a huge difference between riding in it with a flap versus none. For me the game changer is the panel design without tree points-similar to an aviar but more adjustable. I could see it giving a closer to the horse feel compared to a kind of bulky 2 flap saddle with a big block- but I think that’s more about the bulk of stuff right under the skirt rather than the rest of the flap.

[Boomer]

I ride my EQ w/flaps - feels like my old traditional monoflap saddle. I’m very happy with the EQ - it’s the tribute model. Very comfortable and secure, plus my horse likes it! And he’s super, super, super picky about saddles.

I don’t use the “booties” (the saddle pad they send with it). I use a horse dream pad - regular dressage pad but with sheepskin that goes directly on the horse’s back. A bit of a pain to clean, but horse is happy…

Liked these saddles so much that I referred it to a friend who was at her wit’s end with her ultra sensitive picky horse. He loved it too!

[leheath]

I notice a slight decrease in my stability when I put the flaps on my EQ dressage saddle for showing. I also notice a slight decreased in the aid responsiveness of my horse. It is not enough to really affect our performance, but it is more noticeable when I am teaching him something new. I would not put the flaps on if I didn’t have to.

I not really sure why the flaplessness increases stability - maybe because it seems to make it easier for my leg to drape around my horse with less effort on my part? Or maybe my leg slides around less on a fabric saddle pad compared to a leather saddle flap?

My previous dressage saddle was a monoflap and I still felt a clear difference in how close I felt to my horse and my stability when I switched to my EQ dressage saddle even with the flap. I could also suddenly use much lighter aids and my horse was more even between left and right sides in the EQ saddle.

In my EQ jumping I also feel much closer to my horse and thus more stable, but my previous saddle was not a monoflap. I definitely think my leg stays stiller against the saddle pad compared to a leather flap. Since flaps aren’t required for the jumping phases of eventing, I never put them on my jumping saddle.

[Dr_Doolittle]

Do you have any photos of you riding in the saddle(s) flapless?

Interesting that you feel you have better grip! I would think that leather boots against a leather flap would have more grip than leather boots against fabric, but obviously I’ve never tried it!

[leheath]

I agree, it seems counterintuitive but that’s definitely the feeling I get and I don’t really have any other good explanation for why!

I generally only get show photos, so they all have the flap on when I’m in my dressage saddle. Will try to ask someone to snap a picture next time I’m at the barn and riding in it. All my jump photos are flapless…here’s a photo I happen to have on my phone…

[Guyot]

I have three clients with them and the saddle works really well for those horses and riders. I get to ride in the saddle pretty much daily between the three horses.

I don’t feel a difference in the saddle from a regular saddle. Horses either goes better in the saddle or they don’t. I think flapless is a gimmick, but I grew up riding bareback so I don’t know if I just don’t notice the difference. Again to me the horses either like them or they don’t, as they do with any saddle.
We can’t ride without the flap at shows and I don’t like making changes at shows so we ride with the the flap all the time.

Does seem that the super picky types prefer these saddles. Which usually in my experience the super picky horses like minimal saddles… no blocks or support for the rider. So it’s been interesting that the EQ saddle satisfies these horses and we can give the riders the block they want as well…super satisfying for all!

All that said we’ve had some issues with the service with the saddles. Two have their saddles for about a year and still don’t have their blocks. One was sent wrong and the other just hasn’t come.
So both are still waiting… we do have the demo blocks so we’ve been riding in comfort but a year is a long time to wait for the correct block I think.

Also when another client wanted to order but She wanted the flap sewn on and the hard side of the block towards her….and that was met with fierce resistance… although I don’t know why since none of that should matter to the manufacturer. She’s contemplating still, watching to see if the others get their blocks at this point.

Overall I like the saddle and for some horse and rider it’s a game changer. If you want to call your saddle a custom saddle perhaps some less push back on items that are client requests would be fair; make your point and then let the client have what they want.

[Xanthoria]

@Dr_Doolittle

Interesting that you feel you have better grip! I would think that leather boots against a leather flap would have more grip than leather boots against fabric, but obviously I’ve never tried it!

The grip improvement for me is in the thigh and knee areas - fabric on fabric, so much more grippy.

[Dr_Doolittle]

That’s really interesting to hear! I would’ve thought leather and leather would be more grippy. Good to know in case I want to try one of these saddles - I have been pondering it for a few years now.

[leheath]

In case others were not aware (I wasn’t) EQ now offers half pads that basically just cover the panels, so it is even easier to use any “regular” saddle pad and add the half pad to cover the panels or to allow the use of shims if you need them.