Heather Moffett Vogue Saddle on Trial

[Pocket_Pony]

I’ve got a HM Vogue dressage saddle on trial! Yesterday was the first day I rode in it and it was very comfortable. There were a couple things I noticed about Mac in this saddle. One, he was very . . . what’s the word . . . prompt, responsive, soft, attentive? Typically we go through an initial period of tension, resistance, bracing when starting a ride. I do ground work first to help him soften up, and we do lots of work at the walk to get loosened up and stretched. Of course I did this yesterday, but the difference right off the bat was very interesting. In rudimentary terms, he stopped and went much more softly. Whoa was softer and more solid, meaning he would stay stopped vs. dribbling forward. Go was softer and required less on my part. Backing was easier, too. His trot was more forward and free, his canter was nice.

Now, I have recently done some new things, but I don’t think that they are a factor (clinic, lesson with new trainer), unless he just decided that after our new training/lesson experiences that he’d go along.

One interesting observation is the softness in his mouth/poll/head/neck. He’s always carried tension there and is difficult to warm up in that area. It comes out as stiffness, resistance, tension, fussiness in the mouth, etc. In yesterday’s ride it was very different and the softness was a welcome change. I say this is interesting because he’s not shown any typical symptoms of having back pain. I palpate his back regularly and he always seems fine. His regular saddle has been professionally fitted and flocked. He’s not girthy or resistant to saddling, he stands quietly for mounting, etc. Things that you would typically say “maybe the saddle doesn’t fit or maybe he doesn’t like the saddle” haven’t applied in an obvious manner - except the tension/resistance in the neck to the mouth. (And he gets his teeth done regularly, needs minimal chiropractic adjustments, feet are excellent, etc.) So it is just an interesting observation.

I’m going to ride it on the trails today and see how I like it, then I think tomorrow I’ll ride in it in the arena and then put my regular saddle on to see what back-to-back comparisons I notice.

Just thought someone out there might be interested in case you’ve ever wondered about an HM saddle.

[Bogie]

You have to listen to your horse. I tried a Heather Moffett Vogue GPS (jumping saddle) and my horse hated it with a passion. I’ve heard that the dressage saddles balance better but the one I tried made his back sore.

I thought it was a nicely made saddle and comfortable for me, just didn’t work for my horse.

[Loopy]

Keep a close eye on his back, if you end up keeping it.

[Pocket_Pony]

Could you both be a bit more specific, please? “Keep a close eye on his back” - how so? Why? Look for what?

Bogie, what about the jumping saddle did your horse hate? What did he do to demonstrate his displeasure? Where was the soreness? How did you notice it?

Edited to add:

We just got back from a trail ride where we went galloping hell-bent-for-leather through the forest because of a large animal - maybe a bear (well, there was something in the woods and it wasn’t a person, squirrel, bird, deer, or coyote - it had to be something bigger - we decided it best to high tail it out of there!) - and the saddle was very stable!

[rizzodm]

Curious about this saddle. Does anyone have anything to add?

[Bogie]

[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;7802560]
Could you both be a bit more specific, please? “Keep a close eye on his back” - how so? Why? Look for what?

Bogie, what about the jumping saddle did your horse hate? What did he do to demonstrate his displeasure? Where was the soreness? How did you notice it?

Edited to add:

We just got back from a trail ride where we went galloping hell-bent-for-leather through the forest because of a large animal - maybe a bear (well, there was something in the woods and it wasn’t a person, squirrel, bird, deer, or coyote - it had to be something bigger - we decided it best to high tail it out of there!) - and the saddle was very stable![/QUOTE]

Didn’t see this question until now. The saddle was stable but it put too much pressure on my horse’s loins. He was noticeably sore in that he flinched away from touch.