Testimonials
Mary Ipkendanz (Australian Paraolympian Dressage Rider and Coach) | Kym | Caroline Hannah, Magazine Article | Liz Tollarzo, EFA & NCAS Level 2 dressage specialist coach | Melissa Crowl, Crisfloats Silvan | Caroline Hamilton, BHSAI, Equine Myofunctional & Cranio Sacral Therapist | Clare and Madam Yates | John Dow, Victoria | Jennifer Gilbertson, member of the Australian National Endurance Team | Juli Jakub | Duncan McLaughlin (2005) and Duncan McLaughlin (2007) Endurance Rider | Di College, Equine therapist and barefoot trimmer | Shelley Cooper (Canberra ACT) | Wrangler Jayne, Natural Horsemanship instructor | Irene Johnson, W.A | Annie Woodhouse, NSW endurance rider | Dr Evelyn Thompson, Natural Horsemanship student | Melynda Roberts, Northern Qld | Emma Harold, W.A. | Sandra Burr | Jackie Hooper, Level 3 Parelli Natural Horsemanship student | Jen Clingly, endurance rider and barefoot trimmer | Annie Minton, Horses and People magazine
Dear Natalie,
I'm sorry for the delay in writing to you but we have only just got internet access now we have arrived at Hartpury for the World Dressage Championships. I have attached some photos for you to see my horse and the saddle fit. JC Too belongs to Tim Downes, a fellow of the BHS, from Ingestre Stables. He is an Irish X standing well over 17hh with a wither like a shark fin and quite a sway back, not to mention very bouncy movement. Interestingly Tim rides all his horses with treeless saddles. He swears by them. I have attached a photo of me on a smaller chestnut horse taken last year to show you how the London has improved my position. There is a photo of JC Too (Jim) wearing the saddle and one of me in a practice competition a couple of weeks ago.
As you will see I've modified the saddle a little so that I am in closer contact and have the option to move the blocks to support my legs. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this saddle. It is the best saddle I have ever ridden in, allowing me to sit naturally, more
upright, and allowing me to use my seat without experiencing the 'bounce' that all other saddles give me. My horse in Australia has had contact and back problems since I bought him and now has progressed amazingly since riding him in the London. Fortunately my next door neighbour also has one as she is riding him while I'm away. He is not allowed to be ridden in anything else now. My coaches, Mary Longden and Zoe Harriison, are also thrilled with the saddle and how it has enabled me to improve my riding. I believe that Mary may contact you on her return to Australia to buy a saddle. We have a horse physio with us on the staff and she said that Jim is the only horse that hasn't had back problems since our arrival and that he would've been almost impossible to fit with a normal saddle. Once again, thanks for your sponsorship and I'll be mentioning you at every opportunity when promoting myself. As a coach I believe that the problem of sitting trot for all riders is due to the 'bounce' factor in regular saddles and that the
treeless saddle would improve everyones' riding. Please do not hesitate to put this email on your website and I'd be happy to recomend the saddle to other riders.
Mary Ipkendanz (Australian Paraolympian Dressage Rider and Coach)Click here to download official letter
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Wordsmith was never going to be your average dressage and show horse. The half Thoroughbred, quarter Clydesdale quarter Paint gelding was bought sight unseen as a green-broken 2yo, and brought along slowly with lots of road and trail riding before making his showing debut in 1996 as a 4yo. In that time, he'd outgrown three saddles, and an extensive search had failed to find anything "off the rack" that suited his broad back and high TB wither. I'd heard a lot of good things about treeless saddles, and after speaking to Natalie at length about our situation, I purchased a Barefoot Cheyenne, thinking it would "get me through" until he stopped growing, and then I'd look for a "real saddle". "Smith" is barefoot, and has always been on a natural diet, so I joked that he might as well be a total hippy-horse.
That idea lasted as long as it took for me to have my first ride in the Barefoot. I was in love with the feel achieved in the treeless saddle -- you can feel the individual muscle groups working, and the horse, in return, can feel the slightest suggestion of an aid.I hadn't realised how tight my lower back was when riding in treed saddles. The Barefoot have made a huge difference to my comfort levels, and Smith obviously enjoys the freedom and comfort the saddles offer him, and responds with a swinging, soft back. Yes, he is like a great big sofa to ride!
The Cheyenne saw us through our first, incredibly successful show season with aplomb, with most people not even noticing I was riding in an unusual saddle until I hopped off. Apart from one show where poor Smith was confronted with harness horses in the next ring (the first time he'd seen such a thing!) he was unbeaten in his ridden pinto classes, bringing home Champion Ridden Pinto from his very first outing.
He had a great show at the NSW Pinto Championships in 2006, winning both his dressage tests and his Novice Hack class, and in 2007, he came home with eight broad ribbons from five shows. He's growing into himself, and now weighs in at a substantial 750kg.
Natalie and Barefoot generously offered to sponsor us, and provided a London Dressage saddle, which I adore even more than my beloved Cheyenne. It makes riding effectively and correctly so very easy, and is a lovely looking, good quality saddle.In July this year, we stepped into official dressage, after winning and placing consistently in unofficial tests throughout the year. While the EI situation has brought a halt to our season for this year, out of the two official competitions we managed to get to, he received a first, a second and two thirds from four tests, scoring over 70 percent in his wining test. On a lighter note, we also competed in our first freestyle to music, dressed in full warhorse costume.
You can see the test at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2aM86X11CE We can't wait until we can get out there competing again, and promoting these wonderful saddles. Smith and I are rapt in our Barefoot saddles.
Kym
If you see us around, come and say Hi!_______________________________________________
Caroline Hannah had her story published in the Natural Horse magazine in the USA and Organic Equine in New Zealand.
Please click here to view her story.
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I would like to tell you about my experiences with these saddles as I have found them to be fantastic.
I am a EFA NCAS Level 2 dressage specialist coach and a NCAS Level 1 General coach in WA. I ride and train all my competition horses in treeless saddles supplied by Horse Connection (the "London" and the "Freeform") and have found their ease of fitting and my horse's increased comfort and movement makes these saddles my number one choice. As I make my living from coaching whether privately, organised clinics and at pony club, I get to see many types of saddles and often help discuss the correct fitting and choice of saddles. Treeless saddles come in all types, some better than others, however particularly for the round ponies often seen at pony clubs these saddles offer an excellent choice as conventional saddles just don't fit. Being able to fit these difficult ponies without discomfort makes it much safer for the riders whilst assisting in correctly positioning the rider. When used with safety stirrups, whether 'quickouts' or peacock irons, I couldn't think of a better saddle. Often ponies can only be saddled up with a pony pad which does not give the rider much assistance in sitting correctly or aid stability.
Liz Tollarzo, EFA & NCAS Level 2 dressage specialist coach, W.A._______________________________________________
I met Natalie at Equitana where I was desperately looking for a saddle that might solve the problems I have with my young TBxArab/WB. Natalie introduced me to the Freeform and I have never looked back! My boy was riddled with back complaints from muscle soreness and swelling of the spine joints which led to bad behaviour when riding, bucking, tension, anxiety and fear. His movement was short and choppy and had the feeling of going up rather than forward. I had several opinions from saddlers, friends and physios with some saying saddle and some kissing spine. Over the next two years I tried every saddle I could get my hands on, English, Western, and Stock with no luck eventually settling for very short rides and bareback riding.
From the first ride in the Freeform, he became so relaxed and took such a big long, forward stride that I nearly fell off!! The anxiety and tension is gone and his willingness has improved dramatically. I have ridden him in every discipline including dressage, crosscountry, stock and trailriding with no swellings and a very happy horse. He now runs too me and not away. Our showjumping is improving and finally in 2 years we are ready to get out and compete. We are so happy with our Freeform saddle we are now the Victorian representative. On behalf of my 4 horses and myself, thank you Natalie – a fantastic product.
Melissa Crowl, Crisfloats Silvan
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I believe the 'Barefoot' treeless saddles are the long awaited answer to freedom from saddle pain for all horses. It allows the horse to keep its freedom of movement. It also allows riders to sit very closely on their horses back, feeling their natural movement whilst comfortably sitting in the classical riding position. Children also find this saddle easy to ride in due to its comfort, the natural closeness to the horse and the placement of the stirrup bar which allows them to keep their leg in the correct position along the horses side. However I would recommend that quick release stirrups or toe stoppers are used with the saddle. Communication with the horse becomes easier and subtler.
This saddle is affordable to most people in the market for a new saddle unlike a lot of the other treeless saddles on the market. I love this saddle and would recommend it for horses of any shape and size. I believe the saddle industry needs to abolish treed saddles. Why do we need to have treed saddles? I found the Barefoot saddle to have a lot of stability. Well done to Sabine Ullmann for developing the saddle and to Natalie for bringing it to Australia. Good on anyone also who are looking to do the best thing for their horse, its people like you who will make a difference to the way we treat horses.
Caroline Hamilton, BHSAI, Equine Myofunctional & Cranio Sacral Therapist, Author & Co-Producer "Free to Move" saddle fit video, Senior Lecturer National College of Traditional Medicine, Melbourne Victoria
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Of course my girl just loves the saddle and would never think ever to put a treed saddle on her back ever again. I rode a very tall big backed chestnut ex racehorse the other day and he has been ridden in a very badly fitted saddle, not that the owner wanted to see that and I had to ride in this saddle on the first day because the owner insisted and I felt like an enemy to him by adding to this terrible discomfort and he was obviously unhappy and could really not listen clearly to just simple aids - poor bugger. So anyway on the 2nd day I couldn't wait to kit him up with the Freeform and say no more he was with me and listening after the first few moments he realised that their was not going to be anymore added pain. Wow!! after a week he is moving like the owners have never seen before. On soft contact to the bit - filling up right through the back and I can feel all of him - moving through softly via the shoulders being unrestricted, there is just no other way for a horse. I am not sure the owners are convinced but I know for sure that this horse is only ridden through forrest and not done any work in the manage on a consistant basis - maybe once or twice in 2 years and one lesson with an instructor. Just goes to show add the simple askes on a consistant basis and an amazingly kind saddle like the Freeform and good looking as well and a horse who's been difficult until now that, using the Freeform one can have a happy relationship in working a horse and in playing with one as well. Now Natalie thankyou for offering such a wonderful saddle like Freeform or any of your other saddles in Australia. Madam is my best friend and how couldn't I give her the best in comfort, it was definitely worth the try.
Clare and
Madam Yates
(Natalie's very first Freeform customer, Clare wrote this 5 months after
the purchase)
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I have had the BAREFOOT saddle for the last month and have to tell that I have never been more pleased with an equestrian product!
It truly fits all three of my horses and, still to my surprise, they are all going better than ever! Their movement is freer and more extravagant than it used to be. I feel very secure in it and I am told, and feel, that I am sitting so much better than in my previous saddles (treed). Also lateral movements that I'd always found so difficult now seem to flow and what's more- they are now effortless. Indeed riding is now easy and fun - not hard work at all! I can feel the horse so much better and this allows much clearer and more effective communication. There seem to be so many advantages for both horse and rider. Thank you Natalie from both me and the horses.
John Dow, Victoria
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At the Quilty this year, I was very impressed with my new "Freeform" saddle, my horse seemed impressed as well, he seemed to stride out more freely. I did'nt realise how much some saddles can interfere with the shoulder movement as much as I now know they do".
Jennifer Gilbertson, member of the Australian National Endurance Team
_____________________________________________________I really do love my Freeform!! I am going to buy one for my husband as soon as we can afford it. Best saddle I have ever owned so far! I jump in my Freeform stadium and cross country...I find it very stable and comfortable. I would not maybe want to jump over 4 ft. in it..but I have jumped 3'6" or so and it has done okay. The adjustable stirrups are key! I
am a pretty secure jumper however and don't mind jumping bareback. I find the Freeform to be very comfortable though and perfectly secure. I highly recommend the saddle and none of my horses have been sored by jumping in it.
Cheers, Juli Jakub______________________________________________________
2005:
I am an endurance rider and have been using my Barefoot Cheyenne for about 18 months now. I would not have bothered trying this saddle except endurance vet Dr. Steve Roberts had a demo and found it quiete good. Glad I did as I immediately arranged to buy one after trying it and now I own two. The stirrup attachments and the anatomical girth were of initial concern to me which turned out to be unfounded and I would recommend the anatomical girth to anybody using this saddle as it stopps the saddle moving on steep terrain. I don't do up the girth particularly tight and my formerly very girthy horse is not girthy at all anymore! The stirrup position is very good with the leg under the body and the seat is comfortable and of good size. The finish is a napped suede which is very secure and I have not fallen off Tom since using this saddle or even felt like falling off - not an uncommon occurance in other saddles. You must use this saddle with an appropriate saddle pad as the pad in large part is where spinal clearance is delivered. I trialled the saddle with the Grandeur pad, this pad is excellent. Now I am even more convinced of the Equipedic pads Natalie also sells and want to buy another one. The saddle is really very comfortable and I also have been schooling my horses in it with great results. Another one of our horses with back problems owned by my mother moves so well in this saddle that my mother also ordered one Cheyenne initially and after a short while a second one. I have found Natalie very easy to deal with and the customer service very good.
Just thought I would tell you about some of the gear I have been trying out.
1. Cherokee saddle. As you know I have been a fan of the Cheyenne saddle. Well the Cherokee is the updated version. It keeps the good things of the Cheyenne but most significantly provides a lot more support for the rider (this was the biggest flaw in the Cheyenne - you needed to be fit to maintain your position over endurance distances). There is a moveable thigh block (as you find in most saddles these days) and the saddle is slightly more forward cut than the Cheyenne. The ride is something between a dressage and and all purpose saddle. It also has an inbuilt channel. I never had a problem with this with the Cheyenne but for those who worry about the lack of spinal clearance, the Cherokee will remove your worries. It does have these peculiar 'tie strings' on it, which give it a somewhat western appearance, but otherwise it has a better finish, with more robust leather, than the Cheyenne. More info: http://www.horse-connection.com.au/cherokee.html
2. Meroth Leatherbit. Also supplied by Horse-Connection. This bit has a leather mouthpiece (you have to soak it in oil prior to use, to soften it up). I tried this bit on a number of horses. It really only seems to suit horses that want to be too short in the neck and not seek the bit. It is perfectly for schooling horses like my horse Tom (where his neck comes out of the shoulder too low and he tends to be behind the vertical). The other nice thing is that you can use the oiled leather as a 'carrier' - for example, I use a few drops of Larch (for courage! :-) Bach flower for Tom. The bit is not legal for dressage competition as it has a strap that does up in the chin groove. This stap has NO curb effect, it is simply to prevent the horse from sliding the bit through its mouth and chewing it all up! Dont use this bit on a horse that is stong or runs through the bit - you will be run away with....
Duncan McLaughlin, Endurance rider , equine Myofunctional Therapist, advanced dressage rider, barefoot specialist & Zoologist ( an all around great guy!! Natalie thinks)
For more info - scroll to the bottom of: http://www.horse-connection.com.au/accessories.html
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I had an amazing thing happen last week with saddles....I decided to have one last deciding ride in my tree'd dressage saddle just to see if I really wanted to sell it. Phoenix would not stop tossing his head up and down, crunching the bit and generally shuffling around the arena. I thought perhaps I had been doing too much bush riding in my rope halter - he no longer appreciates a bit in his mouth. So I got firm with him and really just tried to push him out of the cranky mood he seemed to be in. Well - he bucked a beauty and I nearly was going to meet a very painful end to that ride by almost coming off and being impaled on my arena fence! Luckily he kept his neck up and it saved me from coming off. So I sat there scratching my head and thought - perhaps it's the saddle? Remember, I had had this saddle expertly fitted only a year ago...so I didn't think it would be that uncomfortable for him - boy was I wrong.... I quickly changed back over to my Freeform and the message from Phoenix couldn't have been clearer! He instantly grew about a hand (and I'm not exagerating - the head tossing stopped and he floated across the arena in the biggest extended trot I have ever felt him do!! I think he wanted to make the message very clear indeed so he showed off a bit in the process.
Thought I would share that....Di College, Equine therapist and barefoot trimmer, Ballarat
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Previous to buying my "Barefoot" Cheyenne treeless saddle, I had probably spent ten years looking for an affordable saddle that would fit my very broad, large shouldered pony. I had tried everything, stock saddles, wintecs, imported English Barnsby pony saddles and the list goes on. It did not matter what I tried my pony had the same comment "Buck, Buck, Buck". Eventually I gave up and just rode bareback. However, with the purchase of a new very green 16hh Anglo Arab, with an almost identical back, I started to seriously search for an alternative and came across the "Barefoot" range and I bought my "Cheyenne" site unseen and felt that I was taking a risk, and having had so many bad experiences I wasn't holding out too much hope, but never in my life have I made such a great purchase!! Every horse I have ridden in this saddle, even those who did not have saddle fit problems have been happier and more comfortable.My pony now stands happy and relaxed whilst being saddled and all his bucking behaviors have disappeared. I have also recently started riding a standardbred gelding who had serious back muscle wastage and within two months of being ridden in the Cheyenne there has been a very noticeable improvement both physically and mentally.
For the price I believe the Cheyenne is serious value for money, it is a quality product, with a very nice finish. The saddle looks smart and more importantly the horses say that they like it too. Another serious advantage is that even though I now have three horses, I only need one saddle. I have been overwhelmed by the interest from others in this product and at my agistment centre alone I know of 6 people who are going to purchase one after riding in it only once. I think this speaks for itself.
I would also like to say that my dealings with Natalie and Horse Connection have also been great. Natalie was happy to answer all my questions (and, believe me, I had quite a few!), and always kept me up to date on when the saddle would arrive etc.
My pony is 30 now and recently for the first time in 15 years of owning him I was able to take him to a show, riding in the Cheyenne. We came home with a truck load of ribbons and had a great time, and not one Buck was seen or heard!!. HOORAY, I hope the Cheyenne can save other horses from years of pain and discomfort. I would recommend the Cheyenne saddle to anyone who cares about the comfort of their horse.
Shelley Cooper (Canberra ACT)
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We like it very much. It seems to go well for all the horses, and amazing how the saddle adapts itself to fit each horse! We also like the fact we're sitting 'on' the horse as opposed to 'above' it, and how the stirrup positioning as they hang off the saddle seem to be more natural - we feel they're further back and therefore more comfortable than the saddles we've been using.
Thank you for your kindness and assistance. You have been extremely helpful and there for me, I appreciate it.
Wrangler Jayne, Natural Horsemanship instructor.
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After having previously purchased two saddles and had a lot of fitting problems which ended with my daughters horse having back problems, I purchased a Barefoot Western saddle. I had regular checks done over the first three months of purchasing the saddle and know from the therapist then that her back improved and she no longer needed treatment.
While attending my daughters regular horsemanship lesson today almost a year later, a Bowen Therapist was present to give a talk. She was available for to check our horses and I was told my daughters horse was fine, no problems at all her back was good.
Lots of people have asked about my daughters saddle, and because it is treeless they have been able to try it. I know some have gone ahead and purchased your treeless saddles. After the therapist check today we thought it would be a good idea if I contacted you to let you know just how please we are with the saddle and how well everything has gone since we decided to to treeless.
As well as the health benefits I must also say that my daughter finds the saddle comfortable and secure, and I am sure she and her horse will have many more hours enjoyment whether they are out for a trail ride or a training session in the arena.
Thanks again for you advice and help.
Irene Johnson, W.A.___________________________________________________
The saddle is GREAT! I really LOVE it. It is very like riding bareback and is so soft.
Annie Woodhouse, NSW endurance rider.
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I am a student of natural horsemanship. What that means to me is that I have an absorbing interest in helping my horses to cope calmly with many varied and challenging situations and disciplines of riding. I am exploring diet, general management, care of the teeth and feet and more lately saddle fit. I ride two quarter horse types and a thoroughbred. The former two have wide low withers, the latter a high prominent wither. My lowest widest horse had developed pressure patches of white hair and the TB came to me with paraspinal muscle wasting and loss of shoulder muscles around the wither. I felt there was blockage to free forward motion in all my horses when they moved under saddle. I purchased a Barefoot Cheyenne saddle in November 2004 and have in a short time seen changes in my horses and in myself. My riding position is deeper and more aligned with the horses centre. I can feel the movement of horse through the saddle and he can feel me, so changes of pace and direction can be signaled in a more subtle way through body movement rather than rein and leg aids. The horses seem more willing and rounded. They use their back and belly muscles more. The saddle is comfortable and surprisingly secure. I have used it for rough trail riding - up and down very steep inclines and for flatwork. Mounting requires the rider to find a small slope or mounting block. The finish of the the saddle is reasonable, more attention could have been given to the quality of the girth points and stirrup leathers but overall for the price I think it is a very good value and well constructed saddle which certainly fulfilled my hopes and expectations.
Dr Evelyn Thompson, Natural Horsemanship student
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I tried saddle after saddle to try and find one to fit my horse. He had white hair appearing near his withers, was tender on his back after riding and was stumbling a lot. As a last resort I went searching on the net and came upon treeless saddles which I had never heard of before. I decided to look further into them and found Natalie and the Barefoot treeless saddles. These saddles sounded really good and within my price range. Natalie was very helpful and answered all my questions in detail - on impulse I bought the saddle, site unseen and it was delivered within 4 weeks. My horse and I have not looked back since I bought the saddle. You are naturally in the correct riding position. The horse is traveling much more free and is not stumbling as badly. He has no sore points on his back and his white hair is disappearing. He has consistent sweat throughout after riding. I have spend up to eight hours a day in the saddle and my horse is fine!
This saddle really brings a new meaning to 'happy horse, happy rider'.
Melynda Roberts, Northern Qld
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Here are my impressions of the saddle from the several weeks I've had it. The first thing that struck me about the saddle is the quality of the leather, I was pleasantly surprised it is a great looking saddle! Of course I put it on my young boy straight away and it looks great, being very windy and my youngster not having been ridden for a while I thought I 'd give it a go with my old horse who's got muscle wastage and a high wither. I never thought it would fit him comfortably but once I figured out that it simply needed to be placed a little bit further back it has been great. I have ridden him for two hours at a time and did not get a pain response from his back which I had many times with my (supposedly well fitting) old western saddle, needless to say he is a happy boy! I only started my young horse recently and it has always been difficult to get him striding out like I know he can, not anymore! In fact until my position has improved enough to not interfere with his now huge stride I've been riding my old horse every day. You were certainly right about the saddle working different muscles (ouch!) but it only took a few rides to adjust properly and I feel so much more secure now.
Basically the saddle is everything I had hoped for so thank you very much especially from the horses. Thank You.
Emma Harold, W.A.
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I had a half breed saddle for several years and then my horse began to throw her head up when I dismounted or put pressure on her wither indicating pain. She has filled out and changed shape since I bought her as a scrawny, undernourished 4.y.o. but the person who recommended this half breed saddle, which I had made for her, assured me, that with a full quarter horse tree it would always fit her. Since changing to the treeless there have been no more signs of discomfort. In fact, her back seems to be really strong and well muscled now because she is free to use it properly. I am also really impressed with the quality and finish of the saddle. I have had my Cheyenne Barefoot Saddle and Grandeur Saddle Pad for over 12 months. According to your letter on 3rd April 2006 I should replace the inserts. I inspected them and found them to look normal, however, to be on the safe side I would like to order a replacement set. I am very happy with my saddle and my horse is moving freely and happily.
Sandra Burr (who obviously has an excellent seat and balances from her pelvis and not in her stirrups, therefore she does not need replacement foam, good on you Sandra, cheers Natalie!!)
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I must admit I'm pretty impressed with the Barefoot Cheyenne. Even in the first ride I noticed quiet a few changes in my older / larger mare...less tail swiching and pinned back ears through transitions... and huge movement through her fore and hindquarters. How amazing to feel the horses 'whole body' action underneath your seat while riding in a saddle! 'Bid' has always been a horse with ' more whoa than go' under saddle, well not anymore! In the Barefoot saddle she is an absolute powerhouse. I also find the saddle very comfortable to ride in and I was able to ask more of my younger / smaller mare because I felt very stable and secure - all in all it was much easier to guide her through the ride in the Barefoot, than in any other saddle I have had on her.
Thanks for all you help Natalie
Jackie Hooper, Level 3 Parelli Natural Horsemanship student
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My endurance horse was suffering from an ill fitting saddle, with niggling back pain and whitening of hair around the withers. With only one month to go til the prestigious 160km Tom Quilty Goldcup I made a brave move to follow a friends suggestion and ride in her Barefoot Cheyenne saddle. In my first competition in the Barefoot we successfully completed 80km in just over 4 hours. We won best conditioned horse and ran 2nd in our devision. My horse was flying, his extended trot unfaltering and he chewed up the kilometers in no time at all. I was gobsmacked because not only was his quality of movement uncompromised but I too pulled up sound. Not lame like I usually am following a long distance ride. The saddle is so comfortable for your butt, back, knees and ankles. Best of all, my dream to ride in the Quilty happened and may just not have had I stuck with my treed saddle. Thank you to Jayne, Tara and Natalie for ensuring our success.
Jen Clingly, endurance rider and barefoot trimmer
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Road Testing the Barefoot Treeless Saddle, Horses & People magazine, Feb 2005 edition
Horses & People was contacted recently by Natalie Eggenberger of Horse Connection who handles the Australian distribution for a German made innovation, a treeless saddle. Deciding that this was a different concept with a huge potential given the current concerns and hype relating to fitting saddles to horses, it was decided that a road test was a good way of telling people about the saddle from an unbiased perspective.
The saddle is not only extremely comfortable for the rider but allows the horse to lift through the back and work freely without the pressure of a tree (in combination with the riders weight) driving into the horses back.
On first sight the saddle, while certainly different, it is not so radical that it would put you off by the sight of it. It looks something like a cross between a 'half breed' saddle and one of those used in the Spanish dressage schools, made by KN in Austria. Our test saddle is the Cheyenne saddle with swinging fenders but English leathers and stirrups are also available. Without mounts the saddle weighs an impressive 3kg - it would feel like a feather to a horse in comparison to some saddles. The saddle has fiberglas inserts across the front ad back which are moulded and removable. The front one is wide enough to fit over the shoulder (scapula) of the horse, stabilizing the saddle but not interfering with movement. The rear insert has a channel for the spine. We tried the saddle on 5 different horses including a 20 something year old TB with a high wither and the beginnings of a sinking back, and it fitted well with no wither interference. In the event of an especially high withered horse it would be possible to remove the insert and stuff the space with wool or to get a different insert especially designed for high withered horses. There is also a wider moulded pommel available for very wide quarter horses, warmbloods and draft breeds. One of our test horses was a QH Arabian cross with a very broad back and shoulders, with some wither - the front was snug on him but did not feel or look as though it would rub or cause pressure. Another test horse was a broad backed campdraft mare which requires a half breed saddle build on a full QH tree in order to prevent pressure spots. The Barefoot fitted her very nicely and in fast work and turns did not give the rider any concerns about stability, in fact the close contact enabled much better communication; the mare responded to to applied pressure coming from the whole leg just as well as from the more usual lower leg. The rider felt that not having a tree to interfere with the contact between horse and rider gave a positive indication of the next move of the horse.
We found that the barefoot looked good with a rider in it, placing the rider in a good position with their leg beneath their point of balance. Some riders might at first find this feel a bit radical from what they are used to , but after a few rides would find the same thing about their previous position if they went back to it. It might be argued that having your leg under you might not be ideal in a campdraft saddle, but our campdraft rider had no concerns that the leg couldn't be braced as required for that type of work.
One of our tests was to take the saddle out for a good long ride. About 2 horse into the ride when the horse was well and truly sweated up we removed the saddle to see weather any pressure points were happening. None at all, al;though the way the saddle looks we were not expecting any either. The main difference noticed by the rider was that the widest part of the saddle, instead of being where the tree usually is, was about midway down the thigh where the widest part of the horse's ribs are.The test rider was riding fit so experienced no muscle soreness but a on fit rider might have done so and in different places than usual. Any rider who grips with the knees or thighs would also feel the rim of the padding which extends down to about mid thigh on the saddle and over the widest part of the horse. This pressure area for the rider might cause soreness initially, just as one would be experienced by an unfit rider in any saddle.
We asked Classical Dressage trainer Peter Acton to try the saddle and to give us his immediate response on first sitting in it, which was that he liked where his leg and seat position were. This surprised him given the look of the saddle which is far from an English look. A further response observation was that not having a steep and long pommel gave him more room in front which as a man he felt was a definite bonus! Time did not permit Peter to have more than one ride in the saddle, but he liked the close contact feel and how this enabled a better communication between horse and rider. He was impressed how comfortable the saddle felt and that it offered no danger of tilting the rider forward or backwards because of an incorrect tree or gullet fit.
Another of our test riders is an experienced show horse rider with a very wide backed horse which is still trying to find a saddle for which fits without leaving pressure points. She was stepping off a Klimke saddle as we arrived and was enthusiastic about it and felt it fitted her horse better than anything she had tried to date. Her initial reaction was surprise that it put her leg in the same position as the Klimke without it being jammed into that position. Our barefoot was mounted with swinging fenders which was a feel she was not familiar or comfortable with, but we felt changing this to english leathers would have removed this feel. Because the widest part of the saddle is over the rib area this was a strange feel for her. We removed the pad which comes with the saddle at all times. The pad beautifully made, lined beneath with sheepskin and containing removable high density foam inserts is an integral apart of the whole system and helps protect the horses back from the points of the riders seatbones. Our Show rider gave the saddle a 15minute or so workout in the arena at walk, trot and canter and apart from the initial strangeness found it very comfortable. It was also obvious that the horse started to lift through the back and use himself better through the quarters and the shoulders. Regarding the look of the saddle this was a little strange for her taste and of course it would raise many inquiring eyes in the show ring. She is interested to see what an english style barefoot would look like and the Barefoot got a definite thumbs up for horse fit and rider comfort.
The anatomical girth girth is especially recommended for use with the Barefoot saddles. The points are long and the girth is designed to buckle up below the saddle. It is cut away behind the elbow to allow for freedom of movement and to avoid contact in this area. The girth is fully padded and elasticized which allows the ribs to expand to expand as they should for hard as well as normal breathing.
Mounting is recommended from a block rather than from the ground, Trail riders and endurance riders might look for an available stump or fence.
We had no preconceptions of the saddle beyond being very interested in the concept. We believe we gave it a fair trial and found there were very few negatives. Dressage and show riders primary concern was with the style while rider position got a positive response from every rider. One rider, a very experienced professional horse-breaker, felt that he would have no problems breaking in a horse with the saddle and actually felt that the ability to to feel the horse through the seat as opposed to feeling the tree was a definitely plus in being ready for what the young horse might deliver unexpectedly. Also the fact that the saddle would fit a wide variety of horses was a big plus from his perspective.
We feel sure that once the Barefoot is used on a regular basis, both horse and rider would far prefer to use it than a tree'ed saddle, regardless of what style of riding they do. The price is extremely competitive with the base saddle just above $1000.00.
Annie Minton, Horses and People magazine, February 2005 edition