For Your Hard to Fit Friesian - Ride Bareback for a while

[sherrya]

This is the first time I’ve posted anything here, sorry for the book!!! I want to share this to whomever it might help, what I learned from 2 years of painful saddle shopping for my Friesian X. He’s 17.1, 1400-1500 lbs, not drafty but sporty, very flat backed longitudinally, laterally fairly flat and wide, saddle fit between a wide and XW in his back, BUT built uphill, medium and wide-ish withers and huge laid back set of shoulders… well proportioned for his size, doesn’t look like a “big” horse in pictures. My many years of riding have been mostly large OTTB’s and similar types. My build is tall, slim and very long legged, granted not a good body match for this horse, but he was my baby and I was determined to take him as far as I could. For this guy and for me we found, after a ridiculous weird mystery-riddled search involving a number of saddle reps who called themselves saddle fitters, unbranded saddle fitters, many saddle sellers, both new and used, suggestions from my dressage coach, other horse people, Friesian websites, et al, I found on EBAY of all places the perfect saddle for my horse and me - an older model FRANK BAINES. Victoria at FRANK BAINES identified it for me as 15 years old, a “Working Hunter” model no longer made… but they have others, and they all look the same, beautifully well balanced, well made saddles. Without asking them, I would say their saddles, especially the older ones, are for experienced riders who don’t go for or need a lot of unnecessary trappings to “help” them ride. . It’s in beautiful perfect condition, black for dressage, butter soft leather, just the right amount of cushiness for comfort, yet still gives you great contact with your horse. It has an ever so slightly forward, yet still looks like a dressage saddle (for a minimalist), long 16" flap, and very open seat so I’m not pinned into a spot that may work for other horse and rider pairs, but not for us. I am picky. I’m telling you this is a well made saddle, like maybe by someone who has also ridden 40 years, not sure, but seems like it.

The key for this kind of horse, especially in a dressage saddle, is that the stirrup bars be set slightly forward, the seat is open, and the flap gives you room for your legs to hang naturally. “Naturally” on a Friesian type like my guy is not straight down, further pinned into place with thick thigh blocks. A standard dressage saddle simply doesn’t work for this build unless you are a stick lady with completely bowed legs from crotch to ankle. “chair seat?” Forget it! Forget those words. Word to the wise (and not the brainwashed) : Sit on your Friesian or similar type horse where you can get some leg contact without torcing your hip joints backwards. I believe it’s anatomically impossible to get comfortable in a normal dressage saddle on a horse with this build. Plus - this Frank Baines, which for reference would equate to a GPD, is the most well balanced comfortable saddle I’ve ever sat in on any horse!.. well there was that Neidersuiss I used to love for my OTTB’s, but this beats it. Recently, toward the celebrated end of my saddle search, I began to see others made by FRANK BAINES, while surfing the web, and had decided FB was probably the one, and after learning much about our needs from several months of bareback riding (AND GIVING UP ON SADDLES COMPLETELY FOR A BIT). i was going to go for a newer FB or Balance International, another brand but made by FB, then this one popped up for a ridiculously low price, and it is absolutely perfect. After all my research and study, I knew it was right, grabbed it, and we are living happily ever after, and I’m telling you it was painful - 2 years seriously - I ended up riding bareback all last summer, which was a turning point. Ride your hard to fit horse bare back for a bit, focus on sitting as straight and still as possible and then pay attention to the position you are naturally taking to get as comfortable as possible. That will lead you to the saddle that is going to work for BOTH of you. You will be able to picture it in your mind if your focus on where your seat and legs are on him. It only took me 2 months to re-learn how to ride barebackl.l Why was this one right saddle so hard to find??? I think it’s lack of knowledge out there about the specific needs of this particular type of horse, and too much sheep-like thinking that we have all developed and been marketed to by same… Anyway, YIPPEE - I’m done saddle shopping!!! I highly recommend FRANK BAINES, and RIDING BAREBACK TO HELP FIT YOUR HARD TO FIT HORSE. Better than listening to all the so-called experts.

[RedHorses]

Welcome to the boards.

I feel your pain of months of saddle searching. BTDT myself, a number of times.

You do realize that the saddles you deride as “pinning you in place” don’t actually have that effect on every rider, right? And that different body shapes need different set ups (like stirrup bar position, seat depth, thigh block presence, size and position), right? And that your perfect FB would make some other people horribly uncomfortable, were they to ride your horse, yes?

How you present yourself will determine much of the sort of response you get. Walls of text like your post are difficult to read - paragraphs are much easier. Preaching the “one truth” on any subject is rarely allowed to pass without comment. If you took your post and reframed it in “I found” and “what worked (or didn’t) for me” and “I felt” instead of “you” and general absolutes it changes your message completely from flogging FB saddles as the be-all, end-all solution to TG that epic quest is over! Posting the same wall of text twice just reinforces the FB flogging impression.

You sound like a thoughtful rider who could be a great asset to discussions here. I hope you enjoy our community!

[SillyHorse]

Paragraph breaks are your friends. And ours.

I have to say, you sound a little like you are pushing FRANK BAINES saddles. A word to the wise: advertising is not allowed.

[Jackie_Cochran]

I am so glad that you finally found THE saddle that works for you and your horse.

[Bogie]

The saddle that works for you will depend on YOUR conformation as well as that of your horse. If you are very long from your hip to your femur, a saddle with the stirrup bars set forward will put you in a chair seat. It can be a real struggle to find the right solution for both horse and rider, because there is no magic saddle. I wish!

[MysticOakRanch]

Agree with the others - and I rode a few of those wide Friesian crosses myself… Different saddles fit different people - differently! Personally, I do like the Frank Baines saddles - but they are not for every body, or every horse. And saying
“X saddles are for experienced riders who don’t go for or need a lot of unnecessary trappings to “help” them ride. .” is kind of humorous, when you look at some VERY capable international riders (possibly even more experienced then you?), are riding with those very “trappings”…

Glad you found a saddle that works for you and your horse. And once more, what was that brand? (just kidding, we all got it…).

[CanteringCarrot]

Fairfax came out with the Fairfax Elias for Friesian horses/other horses of similar builds. I tried it on my P.R.E. That is built quite uphill an it fit him nicely and me too. But it’s so hard to say if someone else would like it since we all have different builds and preferences.

[lenapesadie]

@Bogie

The saddle that works for you will depend on YOUR conformation as well as that of your horse. If you are very long from your hip to your femur, a saddle with the stirrup bars set forward will put you in a chair seat. It can be a real struggle to find the right solution for both horse and rider, because there is no magic saddle. I wish!

No doubt! My horse is a similar build to the OP’s, same breeding and size. A forward stirrup bar is absolutely not going to work for me. I tried an older county that had forward ish stirrup bars and I couldn’t keep my toes out of my horse’s elbows. I was so disappointed as the saddle fit my horse relatively well and it was a steal of a deal. My search for a dressage saddle continues.

[RainWeasley]

@sherrya

This is the first time I’ve posted anything here, sorry for the book!!! I want to share this to whomever it might help, what I learned from 2 years of painful saddle shopping for my Friesian X. He’s 17.1, 1400-1500 lbs, not drafty but sporty, very flat backed longitudinally, laterally fairly flat and wide, saddle fit between a wide and XW in his back, BUT built uphill, medium and wide-ish withers and huge laid back set of shoulders… well proportioned for his size, doesn’t look like a “big” horse in pictures. My many years of riding have been mostly large OTTB’s and similar types. My build is tall, slim and very long legged, granted not a good body match for this horse, but he was my baby and I was determined to take him as far as I could. For this guy and for me we found, after a ridiculous weird mystery-riddled search involving a number of saddle reps who called themselves saddle fitters, unbranded saddle fitters, many saddle sellers, both new and used, suggestions from my dressage coach, other horse people, Friesian websites, et al, I found on EBAY of all places the perfect saddle for my horse and me - an older model FRANK BAINES. Victoria at FRANK BAINES identified it for me as 15 years old, a “Working Hunter” model no longer made… but they have others, and they all look the same, beautifully well balanced, well made saddles. Without asking them, I would say their saddles, especially the older ones, are for experienced riders who don’t go for or need a lot of unnecessary trappings to “help” them ride. . It’s in beautiful perfect condition, black for dressage, butter soft leather, just the right amount of cushiness for comfort, yet still gives you great contact with your horse. It has an ever so slightly forward, yet still looks like a dressage saddle (for a minimalist), long 16" flap, and very open seat so I’m not pinned into a spot that may work for other horse and rider pairs, but not for us. I am picky. I’m telling you this is a well made saddle, like maybe by someone who has also ridden 40 years, not sure, but seems like it.

The key for this kind of horse, especially in a dressage saddle, is that the stirrup bars be set slightly forward, the seat is open, and the flap gives you room for your legs to hang naturally. “Naturally” on a Friesian type like my guy is not straight down, further pinned into place with thick thigh blocks. A standard dressage saddle simply doesn’t work for this build unless you are a stick lady with completely bowed legs from crotch to ankle. “chair seat?” Forget it! Forget those words. Word to the wise (and not the brainwashed) : Sit on your Friesian or similar type horse where you can get some leg contact without torcing your hip joints backwards. I believe it’s anatomically impossible to get comfortable in a normal dressage saddle on a horse with this build. Plus - this Frank Baines, which for reference would equate to a GPD, is the most well balanced comfortable saddle I’ve ever sat in on any horse!.. well there was that Neidersuiss I used to love for my OTTB’s, but this beats it. Recently, toward the celebrated end of my saddle search, I began to see others made by FRANK BAINES, while surfing the web, and had decided FB was probably the one, and after learning much about our needs from several months of bareback riding (AND GIVING UP ON SADDLES COMPLETELY FOR A BIT). i was going to go for a newer FB or Balance International, another brand but made by FB, then this one popped up for a ridiculously low price, and it is absolutely perfect. After all my research and study, I knew it was right, grabbed it, and we are living happily ever after, and I’m telling you it was painful - 2 years seriously - I ended up riding bareback all last summer, which was a turning point. Ride your hard to fit horse bare back for a bit, focus on sitting as straight and still as possible and then pay attention to the position you are naturally taking to get as comfortable as possible. That will lead you to the saddle that is going to work for BOTH of you. You will be able to picture it in your mind if your focus on where your seat and legs are on him. It only took me 2 months to re-learn how to ride barebackl.l Why was this one right saddle so hard to find??? I think it’s lack of knowledge out there about the specific needs of this particular type of horse, and too much sheep-like thinking that we have all developed and been marketed to by same… Anyway, YIPPEE - I’m done saddle shopping!!! I highly recommend FRANK BAINES, and RIDING BAREBACK TO HELP FIT YOUR HARD TO FIT HORSE. Better than listening to all the so-called experts.