But that said. I'm already in the process of moving forward with one of the two finalists, even though I'm over a month away from signing anything official or sending a check.
And the winner is...
I KNOW. I'm as shocked as you are. If you think I'm absolutely insane for not going for the picture of perfection that is my leg in the Patrick, I don't blame you at all. But I'm also not going to be able to explain it to you unless you've ridden in the flapless. So far the flapless is 2 for 2 for converting everyone who has ridden in it since I've had it, but like 0 for [everyone else] on converting anyone who has just seen it and not ridden in it. Insanely ugly to the eyes, magic under your butt.
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| Like, literally perfect |
I also realized, after some probing questioning by Leah, that a big part of the reason Patrick was in my top two was Kate. If Kate ever moved on or quit fitting, I wouldn't be nearly as happy with the Patrick, and could potentially find myself without someone who would work on it given the lack of independent fitters here, a risk that the user-adjustable flapless doesn't have.
My next ride after the Patrick fitting, I rode in the flapless, and as I settled into the saddle I felt that "coming home" feeling my jump saddle gives me. "Oh shit," I thought. "I genuinely missed riding in this." THAT'S the feeling I've been chasing this WHOLE TIME.
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| Point for the flapless, there's no other saddle on the planet easier to use a quarter sheet with! |
Then I had a lesson at home in the flapless, in which Connor went SO well, my trainer asked me if CGP rode him in my last lesson. Her initial reaction to seeing it when I unboxed it the week before was shock and horror at how ugly it looked, so it had an uphill battle with her. "Your leg does look very effective in it," she mused as she watched us. After my lesson, I begged her to get on him and just try it, and I think she shocked herself when she admitted she really liked it and asked if she could ride him in it during her training rides this week.
The flapless solves a problem for me that I've always had, which is that Connor's body and my body are really poorly suited for each other. In a normal saddle, I choose between my thigh and calf on him at any one time because of where his barrel hits my leg, and the only saddle I don't have to do that in is the flapless. Yes, I've tried a lot of monoflaps. It's not even close to the same feeling.
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| The repositionable stirrup bar is a gamechanger |
Even with a knee roll that's not yet perfect, the balance is effortless. I can be a lot quieter with my leg aids, because the only thing between my leg and him is a saddle pad. It just feels like a better way to ride a horse. And even though I'm my own person and would buy whatever saddle I'm happiest in, it does feel good that I have an option that both of my trainers like.
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| Time to get used to this strange, strange view |
The one thing I'm still concerned about is the Reactor Panels. This is 20+ year old technology at this point that's beloved by endurance riders, so in theory it's solid, but like anything there are good and bad stories about it out there, and I'm still nervous about just how weird it is. Connor is going well in it, but I'm still going to approach the purchase with a long trial runway just so that I can abort before purchasing if I notice he's sore.
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| Pony likes it, human is still skeptical |
Right now, the plan is that Eq Saddle Science is going to send me a second trial saddle, one with a giant patch of Velcro on the front, along with a pile of knee rolls, so that during my next lessons with my GP trainer the second week of December, as well as with my home trainer, we can figure out the perfect knee roll and position for me. Then the Velcro saddle will get sent back, and my saddle will get made with the knee roll in the same spot. I'm going to continue to ride in the trial saddle at least up until I order, which will be mid-December, so that I can thoroughly assess how Connor's back reacts to the Reactor Panels.
And now...let the fun part begin 😁 How do y'all feel about brown? Contrasting piping? Hot pink cantle designs??????
This is so exciting! I'm happy you've found an option that seems to work so well for both of you -- I hope you continue to feel that way :-D And, as a graphic designer, I say do all the fun design things with it!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm probably not going to go toooooooo crazy, but it's fun to dream!
DeleteYay! I'm super interested to continue to hear about how this saddle works for you. I think I would love a flapless saddle and, one day, when I'm saddle shopping I would heavily consider an EQSS or RP saddle based on where the majority of my riding discipline lies.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem like they'd be right up your alley given the disciplines you do most!
DeleteNooooooot going to lie. After I saw this one for the first time, I popped over to their website to look at them. Out of mu budget, but so cool!
ReplyDeleteAnd believe it or not, depending on what options I choose, this one is going to come in $500-$2500 less than the Patrick! I have saved pennies for a long, long time for this. Just consider it me giving you used saddle options in the future :)
DeleteHaha I seriously did not think my questions would have this effect 🤣 but I'm super excited you found something that seems like it's going to be perfect for you, and now I definitely would like to ride in it sometime 😉
ReplyDeleteThis is why blogging/bloggers matter! I always appreciate counterpoints to my thoughts. And yes, you and anyone else who wants to are welcome to ride in it. I think it's one of those things that you don't fall in love with until you sit in it. Good thing my horse is a packer at this point!
DeleteHey, st least you made a choice after lots of different brands! If you love it then that’s all that matters. I’m curious about how it feels with the panels. In terms of colour go with what you will still like in 5 years. I love brown saddles and I’d likely do contrasting piping.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, it was harder than you'd think to make a decision with so many options. For me, the panels don't change much in terms of feel because it still has a traditional tree. It maybe moves with the horse a big more, and you CAN adjust the feel using the rubber discs (softer or harder depending on what kind of feel you want out of the saddle).
DeleteI won't lie, I do NOT like the way it looks. It woudl have to be a magical ride for me to be wiling to move forward with something that different.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably in the majority on that, and even I can't say I like the way it looks. But it's such a great ride for me almost nothing else matters.
DeleteI honestly did not see that coming. But I'm SO SO glad you found something that you can't wait to ride in. I literally cannot wait to see what you come up with design wise. I kept it a bit tame on my saddle and I wish I hadn't.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see it coming either, not really until last Saturday when I sat in it and fell in love all over again.
DeleteI kinda thought this was what you'd choose. I think it's really interesting, and it if makes you both feel great, then it's definitely the way to go! Sounds like you can customize similar to the patrick too, so that's fun! I'd vote for brown... cause I'm a hunter/jumper princess.
ReplyDeleteBrown is definitely in play, I really don't want to buy another bridle!
DeleteSilent stalker. I'm glad you found something you love. That is all that really matters in the end...that you WANT to ride in the saddle and your horse agrees. I trialed 2 RP saddles a few years ago (probably 4-5 by now)...the Heradlic flapless and one other I can't recall. My mare hated them both with a passion I've never seen before. They were the only saddles she ever bucked in. The discs put so much pressure under them and pinched her badly. It was like all the pressure of my weight were on those discs and nowhere else.
ReplyDeleteBut that was me and my horse and what doesn't work for one person makes another thrilled so enjoy the process of choosing your colors and love that saddle when it comes! You've put a lot of effort into picking the correct one for you. I hope you love it!!!
Yeah, if I could get the flapless without the RP I'd do it just to eliminate the risk. I grilled Carmi on whether there were four pressure points on the saddle under the discs and felt good about her answer. I've also noted on mine the area with the most pressure isn't under the discs at all. For every story about someone who had a bad experience with it, there's one with a good experience, and that goes for every saddle out there. It's why I'm approaching it so cautiously with a long runway even though we both seem to love it.
DeleteGood for you Jenn! And good thinking about the what ifs about Katie.
ReplyDeleteSaddleseat saddles come with the adjustable stirrup bars, they are a great feature. Glad Connor still goes well in it too. Anna
It's been very fascinating to read all about the various saddle fittings you've been doing! This flapless intrigues me a lot and so exciting for you to have found what you like! Not totally sure I could convert but your reviews make me very interested in flapless.
ReplyDeleteThis is so neat! I am so curious about how one of these feels. And I love this trial period of having a velcro saddle and being able to play with where you need the knee roll!
ReplyDeleteSeriously on the Velcro! It amazes me that County and CWD are both like "Welp, here's where the knee roll is, F you if it doesn't work for you!" Like, these are "custom" saddles!
DeleteI didn't see that coming, I would have put money on Patrick :) Someone at my barn has an Eq Saddle, but unfortunately her horse had to be retired not longer after she got it so no long term assessment.
ReplyDeleteThat’s so cool!! This is the one I was hoping you’d go with. I actually love the way it looks, like a cross between something completely modern and historic at the same time. I’m so curious and hopefully someday I’ll get to try it. I think the only negative for me would be not being able to use my current saddle pad collection 😂
ReplyDeleteAs an endurance person, I predict you will continue to love it. Those reactor panels have seen SO MANY horses through 50 miles, 100 miles, Tevis, and multi day events. Good idea to have a long trial, but in my experience with the RP in endurance, if the horse is happy first up, they stay happy. The Sensation saddles and the like are the ONLY thing I'd consider giving up my beloved treeless for: for the same reason - SO MUCh adjustability which you can do at home.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited that you picked this one. As someone with a 29" inseam and a fondness for drafts, I share the "calf? or thigh?" problem. I've daydreamed of owning a Butet Practice saddle ever since it came out, and it's amazing that there is one that is dressage legal!
ReplyDeleteI like it! The look is interesting, not ugly, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly eye catching and unique, but ugly seems a little harsh. =-) I would love to give one a try sometime!
ReplyDelete