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Synergist saddles and other trail/endurance options

Endurance and Trail Riding
#1

Hey,

I happened upon one that looks very interesting, but I know little about this brand. Does anyone have one? Has anyone ever bought one used and had it resized by Synergist? This is very intriguing. Are they worth the money?

We currently have a Heather Moffett Vogue for dressage and really like it. I am just wanting a western/endurance style to enjoy on the trails. Plus, I’ll admit to being a tackaholic. :wink: Other recommendations under 1000.00 are appreciated.

Happy riding,
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco

#2

Possibly the most horrible saddle I have ever ridden in. And I should use the term “ridden” lightly because I was in it literally 5 minutes and was in so much pain I had to get off the horse. It was terrible. It felt like sitting on a saw blade across my seat bones. Never felt anything like it before or after. The owner of the saddle had commented the yeah, it ain’t the most comfortable thing in the world but at least it’s good for the horse…

The owner of the saddle has had it resized a couple times and ended up going with a different saddle brand alltogether. No clue what she will do with the Synergist. Right now it’s sitting in my tack room.

Another friend of mine did a 16 mile trail in this same Synergist and did not like it at all. She didn’t have the saw blade feeling that I did, but she said it was too sloppy, slick, she had no security, legs swinging every which way, and she is an experienced trail rider who rides in a variety of different saddles with no problem. She ended up extremely sore after the ride.

I have pics of it on one of my horses if you’re interested but I will have to post them tomorrow. This saddle was made for a narrow, gaited horse, but it was entirely too wide for my narrow gaited horse.

I’d have to look up exactly which model this is but it’s an endurance style.

#3

Oh my, that does not not sound appealing. I was surprised with the number I see for sale when I google Synergist and craigslist since they are a smaller saddlery. The adjustability of the tree and English rigging on a western styled saddle caught my eye. I would use my Vogue saddle, but I hate to ruin the softer leather on it and want a endurance/western styled trail saddle. The other options I’ve considered are the Abetta endurance and the Fabtron Cross Trail. This is for my little Morgan gelding who is a medium-Wide to wide in an English tree saddle. I personally want something that gives me balanced, centered position.

Thanks and happy riding,
Jessie and Bosco

#4

I have never ridden in one, but one of my endurance buddies has had one for about 4 years that she loves!! She does 25’s and 50’s in the saddle. Her saddle has the fleece on the seat, so maybe that helps with the comfort level?? She had some saddle fit issues with her horse until she got the Synergist and had it fitted to her horse.

#5

I have a Synergist and I love it. It’s custom fit for me so it fits me perfectly and I can ride all day in it. I originally had it made to fit my old Arab gelding. When I retired him I had the “fitting” removed and use it on my QH mare with an ordinary tree. It’s not custom fit for her but fits her perfectly. Can’t imagine why it was so uncomfortable for you. Mine has a padded seat, but no fleece. The form you have to mold to the horse’s back is a pain in the neck but once you get it molded the saddle can be refit to your horse. You can usually find a saddle on ebay for a lot less than a new one and ship it to Synergist to be refit.

#6

I also see them for sale everywhere,which I’ve wondered about - why? Of course you could say that for other brands also…

This one is a larger seat - a 17.5" I believe, which is way too big for me. However, my friend who used it fit in it seemingly perfectly and she was not comfortable either.

The overall feeling I get from the saddle is that it is so stiff and hard. There is no padding anywhere. The leather is smooth as glass. It is heavy, clonky, and just overall uncomfortable. There, does that help? :lol:

I “rode” in it on the horse it was built for and I felt like I was falling over on my nose, downhill. Like the seat was up too high, it was too wide for the horse and fell down on his withers? Weird.

Saddles are SO individual though. If you’re interested, I would sit in it and see if you can do a test ride. Who knows, you might fall in love with it! :slight_smile:

#7

I have a Marciante and it’s about The Most Comfortable Saddle Ever Made for me and my horse(s). I’d heard that the fellow who makes Synergist used to work for Marciante. The saddles are built on the same principle: western style tree but padded bars similar to an English saddle.

#8

Thanks for all the information. The saddle I was considering most likely will not work for Bosco. He is far different than the horse it was made for and would need a wider tree. The owner finally sent more detailed pics and described the horse that used it. Oh, well. I will say it looked well made.

#9

Does anyone have experience or comments on this saddle?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crates-Endurance-Saddle-/190619322558?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c61cc08be#ht_500wt_1327

#10

They seem to have good reviews on www.horsetackreview.com for what it is worth. Look in the western trail section to read about them.

#11

Thoughts on any of these…
Abetta Endurance- I have one coming that was used a couple of times.
After reading reviews in multiple places, this seemed to fit the bill and ideally the horse.

Wintec Pro Endurance- ruled this one out, but found a great deal on one used 3 times if anyone wants info.More than half off with fittings and sheepskin seat cover. Tempting, but not right for the Stinky Pony

Thanks for all the feedback so far. The Synergists still looking interesting, but it is not in the cards right now.

Happy riding!
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco

#12

I just bought a Fabtron Cross Trail. I’ve only had it a week or so and have ridden in it twice. So far the saddle itself is fine, it has a nice wide tree. The one thing I don’t like is the pad tends to slip underneath it. It has the leather underneath instead of the wool and I think that’s why the pad slips. I’m going to try a different pad and see if that helps. Actually I’m ordering the pad that the manufacturer makes custom for it, I hope that cures it.

#13

The Fabtron Cross Trail is on my list to check out if I don’t like the Abetta. Seeing you can’t pick one up used yet, I’d like to just sit in one when I am near a tack store that carries them. Might be a nice graduation gift when I finish my PhD this year.

#14

I bought the saddle hook line and SINKER.

I was swayed by the video, and how wonderful it was suppose to be.

Bought it, and it was such a pretty saddle. Oh it was so trending and fancy.

However, it absolutely did NOT fit my horse, 90% of my weight was on the back of the saddle, and it was the most uncomfortable saddle I had ever sat in or ridden in, in my entire life! I really tried hard to love it, but I couldn’t due to the horrible pain of how it rode. Another friend my same height/weight proportion also rode in it and she is a was not comfy either. It also rubbed the fur off my horse at the edges of the back of the saddle.

It made bones hurt so bad, it took weeks for them to quit hurting.

Sent it back. I was told when I was being “romanced” 100% refund. Not true. I was happy I got most of my $ back, and chalked this up to stupid tax.

Bought a Solstice, have loved it since 2002.

Of course there are deals on these saddles. Doh!

Two thumbs down.

#15

Are you talking about the Synergist? Other brands were discussed here too, so I’m not sure which you’re talking about.

How you describe the pain is about what I experienced. Never had pain like that from a saddle before, and never again after. It was an awful sharp searing pain across my butt bones so bad that after 5 minutes I felt like it crippled me.

#16

[QUOTE=chebeau;6047868]
Hey,

I happened upon one that looks very interesting, but I know little about this brand. Does anyone have one? Has anyone ever bought one used and had it resized by Synergist? This is very intriguing. Are they worth the money?

We currently have a Heather Moffett Vogue for dressage and really like it. I am just wanting a western/endurance style to enjoy on the trails. Plus, I’ll admit to being a tackaholic. :wink: Other recommendations under 1000.00 are appreciated.

Happy riding,
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco[/QUOTE]

I think the whole subject line included the word SYNERGIST. Also she asked about Synergist in particular.

Ummm, yes, I am talking about SYNERGIST. Sorry a2 I didn’t say Synergist, but I was channeling my inner dislike and trying really hard not to lay my heart all over COTH about this dislike I have of this saddle maker. Also I do NOT believe in it being refitted to ANY horse. There is no way they could have fixed that saddle to fit my horse nor my inner inside issues.

My seat bones didn’t hurt it was further up inside, and yes I am female. My upper inner va jay jay bones. My friend felt the same thing. I have never EVER felt that. And ya know I have ridden all kinds of conformational types of horses bareback. Never have I experienced SUCH discomfort.

Husband said it made his “round thangs” hurt REALLY bad. He couldn’t imagine being on a horse no matter how smooth.

Synergist, yes Synergist, Synergist.

Sure was a pretty saddle though. But pretty is as pretty does. And it didn’t do my inner va jay jay (is that plural in this case??) any comfort or good.

I was ready to sell the horse, sell the farm, sell my truck, sell my tractor and go live in a condo in the city and never be involve in horses ever again if I had to keep that saddle and RIDE in it.

I sent them ever measurement possible of me and my horse (more than they asked), pictures, flexicurve, gee my GYN or doctor doesn’t even know me that well.

FAIL. Synergist. FAIL.

It is like buying your dream breed of horse, in the dream color you want, for many many bucks, only to find out the horse is a pyscho path, and you hate the gait and hate the horse really bad!!! What the HECK have I done??? Oh I know somebody right this second who has done that. Horse is too hot for her to ride. Oh my, I am off topic. whoops.

Ok a2, stepping down off my plastic green 2 step step up. Your turn. But we seem to have a meeting of the minds. :~)

Arg!

Sigh, I ride in a Solstice, ahhh so much comfort. (sipping my J.Lohr red wine . . . . . . ahhhh)

#17

The fact many of the ones for sale used are next to new makes you wonder. Of course that happens every now and then with any saddle, I do find it telling of certain saddles that always seem to be for sale as barely used. Of course, there are some saddles you can hardly come by used because they end up being well liked by horse and rider. The Solstice is one that comes to mind that is rarely seen for sale second hand. Interesting to know what other brands and styles of saddle people keep around long term.

Happy riding and happy new year!
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco

#18

Good grief, excuse me rmh! There were multiple other saddles mentioned above your post, so I did not know if you were referring to the ORIGINAL POST - SYNERGIST - or if you were talking about Fabtron, Abetta, Wintec…good grief, what got into your wheaties?!

I hate Synergist. Absolutely the worst saddle EVER in my opinion. So I wasn’t disagreeing with you - or questioning you - I just wanted clarification since you didn’t quote a post. I didn’t know which of the 4 or 5 brands listed here you were describing.

And I further AGREE with you that the pain the Synergist gave me is nothing I have ever felt before. It was a very deep, burning raw kind of pain. After just 5 minutes I was almost in tears. That was the most bizarre feeling saddle I have ever experienced. Not even words to describe how horrible it is.

#19

Chebeau - just putting in a plug for my Bob Marshall endurance with a Skito pad. It’s comfy!

I have the basic endurance model, and I think they run right around $1K. http://www.sportsaddle.com/endurance.html

#20

A2 I wasn’t fussing at you. Read closely my post, I was agreeing with you absolutely. Oh, no not fussing at you. I saw the title and saw you posted your dislike on the synergist so I was agreeing with you. Nothing else.

Yes, I was very disappointed with this saddle. I am so glad somebody else felt discomfort from this saddle in the same type place on the body. Hard to describe, but wow such pain. It confirms in my mind it wasn’t just “me” who had an issue. Wonder how many others have had this issue? Synergist told me to totally oil the saddle and ride in it alot, break it in. I did ride, not alot but a couple hours or less. I was careful not to damage it. I knew if I oiled it, rode in it alot, that means it would be used and not returnable. I am no dummy. Also, oil was not going to fix this saddle, nor breaking it in. Doh!

Lovely looking saddle, but beware for sure. Not even sure if they are in business still. Not sure if I care.

Ha ha what got in my wheaties was synergist, and my total dislike of synergist.

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