Who rides in a foam/latex paneled dressage saddle?

[fizzyfuzzybuzzy]

One of my barn-mates has an Aviar and loves it. Depending on the seat size you need it may work great. Like Customs (I think they are a sister company of Custom) they have some “non-weight bearing” panel extension out the back that made my shorter backed (long loin) guy very uncomfortable when he lifted his back. My guy is going ok in an Amerigo but we went through needing fitters out every 3 months or so after I injected his SI and rehabbed him. The topline changed immensely so having wool flock during that time was helpful. I will also say I had my fitter adjust the saddle to accommodate a memory foam half pad to give his back some room to build that muscle. Still needed to adjust flocking to adjust any rocking but that seems to be working for us so far!

While the Aviar panels are changeable, you may want to inquire about the process. Is it on-site/immediate? My friend who has a CWD can also change the panels on her saddle, but she has to send it to SC (I think) to get that done. Likely 4-6 weeks without a saddle… Just something to keep in mind.

[blue_heron]

I tried it this weekend and I’m undecided on how I liked it (I’ve sat in saddles that I immediately HATED so it’s better than some) but it doesn’t fit mare super well. We’re back to the drawing board. I’m thinking of trying an Equipe next.

[CanteringCarrot]

I rode in an Equipe dressage saddle and it was alright, but they have quite a few models, so I can’t speak for Equipe on the whole. I didn’t mind it, but would’ve tried other models if given the choice. I cannot recall which model it was.

I rode in an Equipe jump saddle and my horse went well in it. His dressage saddle was wool flocked though. I used a Thinline pad under both. Can’t say I noticed a difference in him due to panels or anything.

I will go for wool flocked first, but I’m open to foam panels. My biggest “issue” with them is that some of the panels are really flat or small (Voltaire), and I don’t like that for spine clearance on some horses, and I don’t love a smaller weight bearing surface either. So those are the things that I’d consider when looking at foam panels.

[blue_heron]

I feel like most of the saddles I’ve looked at with foam panels have a huge surface area. It’s just a matter of making sure the panels actually come in contact with the horse.

[CanteringCarrot]

@blue_heron

I feel like most of the saddles I’ve looked at with foam panels have a huge surface area. It’s just a matter of making sure the panels actually come in contact with the horse.

Yeah, I found that the Equipe was good when it came to surface area, and it’s been a minute since I’ve saddle shopped.

Perhaps bit all Voltaire’s are the same either. The one I saw in person was new, but very “flat” I guess. Not sure if that’s bad, but it just looked different to me and the panels seemed narrow. Maybe it’s just me or my perception though. Here’s a pic:

[outerbanks77]

Yep, it seems like Voltaire has gone so wide on the channel at the expense of panel surface area.

@fizzyfuzzybuzzy the panels are changed onsite - they say it’s a “click” system, whatever that means. I think it can be done by the client.

[IPEsq]

I have 2 Equipe dressage saddles. Viktoria and Elegance. Both were customized for me with a shorter block and more forward flap.

I prefer the feel of Viktoria (it’s also at least $2k more expensive!) but the Elegance was the only dressage saddle out of many I tried that my other horse didn’t totally object to. The Viktoria is pretty straight in the tree. They have so many models and trees, though, so to me it’s a brand worth looking into. I also have a couple of their jump saddles. I also ride in brown tack and needed that option, and their leather is super nice, even on the cheaper model.

[outerbanks77]

Thanks! It sounds like Equipe might be promising. I heard back from the Aviar rep, and she will hopefully be in the area next month, so I’ve sent her more info to get started. She is checking on the cost of changing out panels.

[Pico_Banana]

Count me in as another EQ fan. I have two for two different horses.

My mare is the trickier one to fit. Very wide, huge shoulder, very short back. We have the EQ Encore and it has made a huge difference. We were in a Black Country Equinox before, which we loved, but we LOVE LOVE LOVE our EQ. And riding flapless is a positive, not a negative!

[Ibex]

You’re not wrong - Voltaires do have a fairly flat tree compared to other French saddles.