Hennig Saddles?

[Kitt]

alibi_18, thanks for the info. All the Hennigs I’ve encountered have had very long tree points, so I guess I’ve never run into any of the shorter ones.

slp2, I’m not familiar with the Prestige shoulder freedom system, but you could ask Ann Forrest at Equestrian Imports - she’d probably be able to clue you in. But as far as saddles w/shorter points, most of the UK-made saddles (Albion, Black Country, F. Baines, Loxley/Bliss, Ideal, Hastilow etc.) have short points. Passiers are quite short-pointed as well.

[Countrywood]

Schleese has a shoulder panel option with short tree points .

[Maude]

Kitt,
Are you familiar with Kent & Masters and Fairfax? I spoks with a saddle rep from GB and both the Fairfax saddles are supposed to offer shoulder freedom panels. They have long gullet plates/points though. How would that work? My mare has low withers that are approximately a 90 degree angle, a back that slopes slightly down to her withers, big shoulders that push the rear of the saddle off to the outside especially in the canter, and a short thoracic area. Her D ibs are well sprung and her back is wide.

[kris0227]

I got an older 96? Hennig used this past fall. The difference in my mare is absolutely unreal. She is a big moving mare with big shoulders, she’s a Friesian cross, and all of her gaits are bigger, she’s more relaxed and happier in it. And I feel glued to it which is fabulous.

[Kitt]

Maude, the K&M saddles offer two different gullet options, based on the horse the model is designed to fit. The round cantle saddles (standard and high-wither models) use the R bar, which has a longer “leg” and is more suitable to a more withery horse, while the square cantle saddles (cob/broadback model) use the S bar, which has a shorter leg. AFAIK, the Fairfax all use the R bar, and don’t work as well for the broader, lower-withered horses.

“Shoulder freedom panels” that I’ve seen really don’t do much, IMO; you can remove/modify all the panel you want in that area, but if the tree point/gullet plate leg impinges on the rear of the shoulder blade, gait and movement will be affected.

[Maude]

Kitt?

So what brands/models should I look for to fit the horse described above? Not to start a riot, but I’ve just spent an hour watching the Equine Inspired videos. Once you get past all the anatomical verbage (which, btw I “get” as I am an RN) what Gullikson is describing is exactly what my horse needs to move freely and correctly and what I am looking for so I can just relax and ride. The videos make sense down to the uneven development issues also. My horse’s shoulders push the saddle all over ths map.
I know that GG has has issues in the past and don’t want to stir things up. Please lets not turn this in to a train wreck. That said, does anyone have one of the new Gullikson-Baines dressage saddles? If they do what they say they do, I’d be interested in trying one if I did not have to put money on it up front. I’d be willing to pay a small consult fee and if the saddle fit and worked after a trial period I’d happily part with $$$. Not ordering a custom saddle that I can’t return though. I HAVE learned my lesson on that one!

[alto]

[QUOTE=Maude;7432472]

I’d be interested in trying one if I did not have to put money on it up front. I’d be willing to pay a small consult fee and if the saddle fit and worked after a trial period I’d happily part with $$$. Not ordering a custom saddle that I can’t return though. I HAVE learned my lesson on that one![/QUOTE]

I commiserate with you on your previous (awful) experience

BUT given that this is the saddle you want

made for a short, wide back with a small wither and a flap angled more forward for a rider with a long thigh

I don’t see you having much chance of finding that used, perfect saddle (which likely someone else did order custom) - I suspect you’ll tend to get either the fit for the horse OR the rider, not both.

Given your description of what the horse needs, there are certain companies I’d steer clear of … and I’d insist on a rep that is very experienced.

[Kitt]

Can’t make any detailed recommendations w/o seeing the horse in question, but shorter, flatter backs can be fit with Albion K2/SL Platinum, BC Eloquence, FB Capriole, Loxley Classic tree, and some of the Ideal and Hastilow saddles as well (can’t make model recommendations on the latter 2, as I’m not that familiar with them). An upswept rear panel is often a help, and if the horse in question is really wide, a hoop tree is often a good option.

[staceyk]

There is an almost new Hennig for sale on Ebay now – 17.5-18" in brown, slightly long flap.

[XHalt]

I personally love Hennigs and have used them on lots of horses. I was told by Charlie Tota though that they have very tiny tree points. At least the majority of the models in the US.

I think they fit riders with longer legs very well.

[3s1]

The marketing verbiage for the ‘new’ Gullikson-Baines saddle is almost word for word from Schleese. They could be flattered by all of the imitators out there, but it must be frustrating to have done so much in the field of ‘saddles for women’ and then have everyone else jump on the bandwagon riding on their coattails.

[Maggiemoy]

Soo if buying a used Henning How do you know what you are buying? I have one on trial and could only trace what month and year it was made by the serial number. The owner said it had panel gussets but I only see rear gussets and she said it offers lots of shoulder freedom which is what I need for my horse. How can you tell by looking at the saddle?

[LetItBe]

You can check with Hennig but that’s not always the most up to date information. For instance I have a Hennig on consignment with Charlie Tota (Dressage Connection) that has a new tree in it as well as some other changes to it that wouldn’t be known from the serial number unless they marked the tree down before shipping it to the US.

LetItBe

[LowKey]

I have a Hennig on trial that I am in love with AND fits my horse. However, my saddle fitter (who is not familiar with the brand from a fitter’s perspective) kind of flipped out at how much flex it had mid-seat when she did the cantle on the thigh, lift the pommel thing. It came from a very reputable used dealer who I seriously doubt would be selling a broken-treed saddle, and it’s not one of the years where they had the problem.

So my question, do they have a bit of bend from front to back when flexed by a human? Or should I steer cleer. (Sad face - it’s so comfy and my horse moves well in it) (And then will my saddle fitter fire me as a client if I go for it…)

[LetItBe]

Mine wasn’t one of the years, but had a crack in the seat area so I opted to replace the tree to have a usable saddle which unfortunately still didn’t fit as I did love the saddle. I would contact Hennig or Charlie to ask about the flexibility.

LetItBe

[iberianfan]

@LowKey , my Hennig has that same flex. It’s a 2011 or '12 model. The saddle fitter for Hulsebos had the same reaction as yours: Is this right? So, I would say they are built that way…