If it is your “hope” that she will be able to see you, then please make sure to contact her and actually schedule to have her see you that day.
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For real though - there is no chill on this thread…I mean are we all just going to pretend that we had honest, independent fitters out (bc only independent fitters are honest), found the unicorn saddle b/c independent fitter is lyfe & trialed said unicorn saddles for weeks and weeks before purchasing them?
What alternate universe are you guys in…and how do I get there? :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
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Yeah I actually have had honest independent fitters?! Multiple times even! And the company I used actually goes to the OP’s area!!! It’s not rocket science when you live in a fairly horsey area like the OP and I do (fully acknowledging that some areas of the country have limited options… but not MD or NJ).
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@pattnic — Ha, wow. My friend and I are still in the stages of trying to coordinate and figure out a time that is good for both of us. She mentioned that she will be HOPEFULLY having her out soon - she did not mention that she picked a date and time. Thats why I said it the way I did. Once we are able to coordinate a date and time, it would be great to have her out. Yes, that requires scheduling something.
I am hoping to take it one step at a time.
@bear necessities hahaha - you raise a really good point - with everything! Haha,
I am interested in taking a saddle on a “trial” to see the full effects before I make any decisions. Not sure how that works with an independent saddle fitter honestly?
If it’s a saddle they have in stock they let you take it on trial. There’s no magic in the process. Why would it be any different than when a brand rep has a saddle you want to try?
Thanks @vxf111 I’m not sure how they operate seeing as they are independent and not tied to any type of brand or shouldn’t be I should say if they are truly independent. Do they stock their favorite brands? Get things that are used to try on different horses? I guess I’m confused a little bit on how that works. Sorry for my admitted ignorance in this category. I have only ever used reps for an individual company that I can try different panel for both horse and rider.
Some carry new and used stock. Most of them stock a few different brands and then have the used ones that people trade in. Some don’t. Some just have demos. I think most are likely to have a mix. Annette has both and will let you trial whatever she has if you are interested in buying. Just like a rep. I have no idea what stock any of them have at any given time but if they have something they will usually let you trial it.
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(emphasis mine)
Please post a shred, a shred, of scientific evidence to support this assertion. I BEG YOU!
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Here: https://www.tadcoffinsaddles.com/melissa-holland
Dr. Melissa Holland did a study but just on heart rate–so far.
Plus there are videos of the horse’s behavior with the saddle on. I think he is in the early stages of gathering scientific evidence on these saddle trees. He has also developed a therapeutic device that he calls, “Thera-Tree.” Since I do a lot of rehabbing, I went down to his farm last week to check them out. VERY interesting, but I would like to know more about what is actually happening to the horse when this thing is on them. I think they work a bit like PEMF or Bemer.
Check out his website if you want more info, or contact him. He is happy to talk to people.
So no independent sources for the claims, just tc’s own website and promotional material.
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There so many laughable things about this “study,” I don’t know where to begin (like if I submitted this to the high school science fair they would have not allowed me to enter, it’s so unscientific). But it does not in any way support the claim that the saddle is healing the horse on a molecular level with electromagnetic waves!!!
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but that sounds so awesome. Remember when I said a lot of horse people were pig ignorant and no one liked that very much? This is precisely the kind of thing I’m talking about.
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Sorry, when I read your post, I somehow interpreted it as the fitter was coming and you were hoping to get squeezed in that day with no prior personal contact with the fitter. Note to self: read for comprehension.
Sometimes they have things, sometimes they’ll just assess what you already have… either way, they should be able to make suggestions on what might work, and at least point you in the right direction. Generally speaking, they do like to see what you’re currently using (to assess horse’s current way of going, fitting challenges, etc).
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Thanks @pattnic !
I had the Voltaire rep out and holy cow - what a night a day difference in my horse, even from the other Voltaire’s. My horse LOVES the wide spinal clearance on their saddles compared to my CWD. I am truly surprised how big of a difference even from the 2 other Voltaires that I have tried in my barn. He was round through his back and engaged behind and I felt like I was miles closer to god vs when I am in my CWD with the flat, inverted backed horse. Good news - the rep is going to let me take the one for a week and even let me know in it to see how he feels in a situation that isn’t home.
I will just say this - this new rep to the area has given me more customer service, education, and has been truly nicer than everyone else I have dealt with CWD. First off, yes, salesmen, but second off, his wife is a local pro and I truly believes while he wants to sell saddles, I don’t think it would ever be in his benefit to ruin relationship within our local community. I could be wrong, eh, maybe I am, but knowing what my horse’s issues are vs how the saddle is built with wide spinal clearance, it makes sense to go in a direction like that.
Also - there IS such a thing as a different type of foam that they can add to their saddles. I was told that I could call the higher ups to even confirm. This is relatively new to them (couple of years or so) but they actually borrowed the foam that they use in their Blue Wing and add it to the panels in places. My horse was one of those candidates that would need the different foam in the back. Apparently, they still use their normal foam because it is more denser, but they take the Blue Wing foam (less dense) and soften it up a little bit.
Still trying to figure out a time for an independent saddle fitter - I just thought about this, but I am assuming they charge every time they come out? What do normal independent saddle fitters cost? Anyone have a general range?
Does anyone know any other saddle brand that stays clear of the spine? Like way clear? I feel like generally speaking from my research, Voltaire is one of the widest saddles out there. I think I heard County was like that as well?
I use Tara Miliziano as an independent fitter. She is also a horse massage therapist. I like the added anatomy knowledge. She leans heavily towards wool flocked saddles but does have access to a number of brands. I am pretty sure she goes to MD but not sure what parts of MD. I think for a saddle fit with no flocking adjustments she is around $110 but she is closer to me than to MD so travel distance may change that price.
She has been willing to work with me with what I have. I got 4 dressage saddles shipped in and she brought some with her. I bought one of the 4 and we never even bothered to try hers.
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You have to call the fitters individually to find out what they charge. Usually one fee for mileage/distance, another for fitting, another for flocking/saddle repair etc. It’s pretty hard to ball park and best for you to just call the one you’re interested in working with.
Color me a little non-believing at the magic of super soft foam (once your body weight goes in the saddle, it’s all going to compress, and I don’t see how alleged minor differences in the softness of foam make any reasonable difference. That’s like saying some saddle pads are softer than others-- yeah but so what from a functional POV? I am sorry but that sounds like a nice marketing line. I don’t see functional difference that could be accomplished from softer foam in parts of the saddle).
I guess I am also not surprised that someone who works on commission sold you something 
Hope it does work for your horse. Did you ask about the recessed stirrup bar area and make sure that’s not too tight/fits well? Did you sit in EXACTLY what they’re making you and not just something similar? Hope you have a better experience than the straight SHENANIGANS my barnmate just finished dealing with! Hope it’s a different rep than the NJ rep! I am way way way less than impressed with who we just had out. I have seen bad experiences from basically every company’s reps, but the BS that we JUST got from Voltaire’s rep… yeah… ridic.
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This sounds a bit like “foam is foam” which isn’t really accurate. They have different properties, including different shock absorbing abilities, coolness, etc. Need to see a demo? Find someone that sells Toklat’s T3 line. The difference in the shock absorbing qualities of their foams is almost startling. How the other properties stack up, I’m not so sure, but it should convince you that ‘foam isn’t foam.’
(I haven’t bought one because I HATE the actual shape of the pads. I’m considering buying the ortho inserts and cutting it to fit one of my other half pads. )
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Yes saddles with wide than usual channels include county and albion.
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Thanks @RugBug for explaining the foam situation more.
@vsf111 - as RugBug stated, it has to do with the shock absorbing quantities of the different foams. If you ride in a half pad made out of one, it is similar to that. Some horses do better with a shock absorbing half pad and others don’t need it.
That doesn’t seem so shocking. Certainly some foams have different shock absorbing properties.
What you seemed to be suggesting previously was that you could take a Voltaire with “normal foam” and it hurts the horse/doesn’t fit. Add “soft foam” to certain parts of it and now, voila, it doesn’t hurt and does fit. Isn’t that what you were saying they did for your barnmate?
I am a little incredulous of that claim, in light of all that goes into saddle fit. I find it hard to believe that taking the same saddle with the same tree and the same shape etc. etc. that changing some areas of foam are going to make the difference between pain/fitting and not pain/fitting. That’s all.
“Do better” is one thing. I thought earlier you were suggesting that they somehow made a non fitting saddle fit by switching out the foam? I thought you were saying they somehow fixed the fit with softer foam.
Of course this all begs the question of why a thinline/prolite pad couldn’t accomplish the same… for $$$$ less…
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