Remember reading on here that the company had closed down… Is that true?
Looking for a monoflap saddle for my flat backed, low withered and wide horse. Currently have a Black Country Vinici monoflap as my horse loves it, but I can’t ride in one side of it! I really need the narrow twist/ deep seat, but I worry that will mean the tree will be too curved for this particular horse? Would the wise air work for us?
I have to say that my Wise saddle changed my life. They are so comfortable, even with five bulging disks in my back! I have two. In one I have the wide gullet and it fits my Welsh mare, who is very wide, very well.
I too have heard that the company is closing. I bought my last Wise Saddle from Antares.
http://equestriancalendaraiken.com/phillip-dutton-atares-saddles
There was a press release when Phillip Dutton signed Antares as a sponsor. Article said that Zabela was closing the company to concentrate on his international eventing. Apparently WiseAir will sell saddles until the inventory is gone.
That sounds great! I hope that I can still track one down to buy… Really praying that these saddles will give me the magic feel!
I’m half wondering why they are closing the company down if the saddles are so good?
I was just talking to one of their former reps today. They still do have some inventory. She loves her saddle and is still keeping it. She also indicated that one of the reason was heath issues.
Yes, last I heard, Ronald said he was closing the company. Health issues, and a restructuring of his life/work load due in part to his injury.
http://eventingnation.com/home/ronald-zabala-goetschel-knows-no-medals-are-worth-risking-your-life/
Anyone have contact info for a rep?
Let me ask the person if she does not mind me giving out her information. I will PM you.
Oh that SUCKS! I love my saddle, and want a dressage saddle… I have the XC one and it fits well and - well, darn it!
It may have just been phillip, but those saddles lifted off the back terribly over a big jump.
I hate to be the first nay-sayer, but the Wise-Air saddles would be really low on my list for a flat-backed horse. They’re curvy saddles that take a lot of cues from Devoucoux, which sponsored Phillip at the time that he designed Wise-Air.
It’s tough to recommend something without seeing the horse, but for a flat-backed and wide horse, I’d be looking at something more like the Frank Baines Enigma Monoflap, the Loxley Monoflap Jump, the Smith Worthington Zephyr Monoflap Jump, or the Pessoa Legacy Monoflap.
Thanks all… Mixed reviews it’s hard to know what to go for! It’s impossible to try anything out in the UK 
[QUOTE=RoundTheBend;7532114]
Thanks all… Mixed reviews it’s hard to know what to go for! It’s impossible to try anything out in the UK :-([/QUOTE]
Frank Baines and Loxley by Bliss are both based in the UK, so I’d be very surprised if you couldn’t try them out–at least by mail order, if not through a local rep. Also, if you’re in the UK, Heritage Saddlery makes several monoflaps and would be another viable option.
I had a WisAir, and while it was lovely to sit in (they run small, about half a size, and the regular flap is pretty straight - I needed a more forward flap), jn4jenny is absolutely correct - that’s a pretty curvy tree. My flat backed Trakehner didn’t fit in it at all, even though the gullet fit, and his vet/chiropractor said that he was very sore in his loins. He is currently in his custom Black Country Vinici monoflap and that fits beautifully. he also goes in my spare saddle, an Ovation, and that fits him well in the panels, so the Pessoas will probably be flatter for your horse, too.
[QUOTE=jn4jenny;7531968]
I hate to be the first nay-sayer, but the Wise-Air saddles would be really low on my list for a flat-backed horse. They’re curvy saddles that take a lot of cues from Devoucoux, which sponsored Phillip at the time that he designed Wise-Air.
It’s tough to recommend something without seeing the horse, but for a flat-backed and wide horse, I’d be looking at something more like the Frank Baines Enigma Monoflap, the Loxley Monoflap Jump, the Smith Worthington Zephyr Monoflap Jump, or the Pessoa Legacy Monoflap.[/QUOTE]
Praytell, where does one try a frank baines in the US. Trumbull Mountain used to carry them but I do not see that they carry jump models anymore. Annette Gavin doesn’t carry them, neither does Equestrian Imports. So who has trial inventory for Frank Baines in the US? I see you recommend the Reflex jump often but I cannot find one to try, anywhere.
I demoed one and loved it for me, but it wasn’t a great fit for my horse, so I passed on it. I did feel like it put me in a very correct position and helped improve my jumping and I loved the leather - so soft!
I also felt like it wasn’t wide enough and my seat bones were on the outer seam. Seat size was otherwise fine front to back, and I totally swam in the next size up.
[QUOTE=soloudinhere;7532855]
Praytell, where does one try a frank baines in the US. Trumbull Mountain used to carry them but I do not see that they carry jump models anymore. Annette Gavin doesn’t carry them, neither does Equestrian Imports. So who has trial inventory for Frank Baines in the US? I see you recommend the Reflex jump often but I cannot find one to try, anywhere.[/QUOTE]
First, some general answers, then a real answer.
If in doubt, just contact the saddle manufacturer or distributor with that question. They know better than anyone which of their vendors is ordering which of their products. Sometimes, a saddle manufacturer will even say something like “Well we’ve actually got one sitting on the office floor right here, so if you call your nearest stockist, we’ll throw it into the shipping container when we finish this other customer’s order that we were already sending to that stockist.” Victoria Baines is a lovely, honest person who will be glad to help by phone or email. Or if you really want to ferret out a diamond, just go down the entire list of stockists all around the US.
But if you’re asking which of those Baines stockists I’d call if I were personally trying to track down a Frank Baines Reflex demo that was already in the US? My money would be on Bill Wood in Virginia, M&M Tack Shop in Raleigh (they used to stock this saddle routinely–not sure if they still do), Atlanta Saddlery in Georgia, Pelham Saddlery in New Hampshire, and possibly The Horse in Sport in Colorado. Or you might luck out and find one at some random saddlery, but that’s pretty rare.
We still carry the endurance and dressage saddles or at least some of them. The jump saddles are nicely made and great if they fit your horse. We just didn’t move them fast enough and that is why we don’t stock them. We can order them if you find one very close to what you want but not quite right and occasionally we get them on consignment.
[QUOTE=soloudinhere;7532855]
Praytell, where does one try a frank baines in the US. Trumbull Mountain used to carry them but I do not see that they carry jump models anymore. Annette Gavin doesn’t carry them, neither does Equestrian Imports. So who has trial inventory for Frank Baines in the US? I see you recommend the Reflex jump often but I cannot find one to try, anywhere.[/QUOTE]
You might try Charlotte’s Saddlery
