I never write these type of letters, and can hardly believe I’m writing this about a saddle. My Rocky Mountain Horse has been in over 15 saddles in 4 years. WE have never found a saddle we liked: most of them don’t fit him, or me. ( I am physically challenged). I am also particular (“picky”) about saddle leather quality and workmanship. I’ve lost hundreds of dollars on saddles.
My Rocky was started by an unscrupulous trainer right after I bought him as a 3 year-old. As a result, he’s very sensitive and still reacts fearful to discomfort or horses too close to his behind. Finding a trail saddle that he can actually deal with has been a challenge. I finally put him in a popular treeless saddle, which he could handle, though it caused numerous issues for me. I couldn’t get on him unless I stood on something tall, like a picnic table, we dealt with the saddle not staying put (which required a special $ 345 saddle pad), but even then the saddle would not stay 100% centered because of my physical issues and lack of staying perfectly balanced in the saddle. Eventually I got terrible back aches from this, not to mention that he has the most uncomfortable gait. No “ride the glide” in this horse.
On our last major trail ride, my husband took pictures and there were about 5-6 pictures he took riding behind me. I was surprised too see that in every picture I was leaning slightly to the left or right. So my saddle quest started again.
I’ve always heard about your trail saddles, and since you have the BEST demo program, I thought well, Why not try a Steele saddle?
I called on a Wednesday and had a Demo by Friday! Just in time for a big trail ride. I tacked up Whiskey and waited for the usual frown lines, ear pinning, tail swooshing, his usual reaction to most saddles. (Many saddles fail at this stage), but he was calm. So I got on him, with my husband holding his bridle, because by this time, I can expect the head to go up and a fear reaction. But Whiskey just looked bored, so we rode around the yard and he was fine. Took him out on the trail that day, and he was the most content and “happiest” I’ve seen him under saddle. After the second trail ride, I placed my order.
Yesterday was our 3rd ride out in this saddle. (we ride a lot). We were out with friends on gaited horses, and for the first time ever, I got Whiskey up into the finest, smoothest, fastest gait ! He was like a train, with perfect collection and just going and going. It was amazing. This horse is 7 years old and I had given up on him ever gaiting well. I nearly cried from joy.
Other benefits have been my friends commenting how straight I ride, no more back aches for me, and my horse actually being fine with horses behind him, even ones that bump him from behind. I figure that maybe he was associating any saddle pain with the horses behind him, though I’m not sure how to explain that part.
All in all I really love everything about your trail saddles, both my horse and I are 100% content which is really a miracle. My husband didn’t even flinch at the price since I promised him this is the last saddle I’ll ever buy.
Thanks a million. Anne-Marie Florida
