What to do when you love your horse, but would rather ride bareback than have a bad fit? Canadian Chantal St. Pierre, Kinesiologist and Physical Education Professor, is thrilled to have found saddles that make so much biomechanical sense for her Trakehner/Dutch WB mare Colette.

She says, “The change in my mare is unbelievable in EQ! I have had her for 6 years she has always had good movement but now it is huge!! She is 17 hands but relatively narrow and everyone has always said how big she is but I never felt her to be as big as everyone says! Now she feels huge!! In three weeks she has already changed physically --  you can see her back is already more muscular. She is a spooky horse, her go to move being bolting (completely shutdown like I am no longer there bolting)... I hate bolting I prefer bucking ... She is still spooky (it’s part of her charm I guess) but since she has had this saddle she hasn’t bolted and she always stays aware and with me. I am excited about her again, the bolting was getting worse and making our rides unpleasant. I am very grateful to have found this saddle.

As a kinesiologist and physical education professor, I work with anatomy and physiology everyday and these saddles  make so much biomechanical sense to me. I am just so happy to have found out about them.”

“ I had to share a photo of me and my horse in his EQ monoflap jumping saddle! It has changed our lives! My back and sacroiliac joints no longer hurt after riding, he is more comfortable and free in all gaits and doesn’t buck after landing a fence! Blaze is an 18 year old Clydesdale/Thoroughbred/Quarterhorse cross. Here we are at Opening Hunt with the Hardaway Hounds in Mississippi!

EQ Saddle Science is “the difference that makes the difference!”  

Cynthia P. Hall, Trainer and Instructor at Live Oaks Lane Farm https://www.facebook.com/LiveOaksLane/  , shares her experience with EQ saddles:

“As a trainer I have the opportunity to sit in many different saddles on a variety of horses. Some are preferable to others, but this is the first time I’ve been truly wowed. 

 I requested a trial for an older horse who was very sore in his back and the results were so great that I tried it on two young horses a few days before a show. Even though the saddle wasn’t fitted for them, they both scored several points higher than their yearly average. The 4 year old I’m showing has a tendency to be lateral in the walk, and last weekend after one week in this saddle her walk score in Materiale was an 8.5!

The benefit of having the tree separated from the panel is that the horse can really move without any restrictions, letting the motion of the hindquarters surge forward. If the rider makes a mistake the saddle doesn’t get pushed too strongly in one direction or another against the horses motion, or if something causes the horse to hollow the saddle doesn’t make the situation worse so they come round much faster.

The saddle gives the feel of riding bareback but at the same time I also feel more secure than the other saddles I’ve used which is important with all the young horses I ride. The extra benefit of being adjustable all the way around is icing on the cake.  It’s truly amazing the amount of difference it has made in a short period of time!”

Banner is an 10 year old Canadian Sport Horse/Thoroughbred cross owned by Samantha in Ontario, Canada. Before discovering EQ, Sam had been riding Banner in another saddle and found that he couldn't feel her aids, lurched forward when asked for a stop and was quite ornery to the point of rearing and bucking (a clear sign of discomfort). 

Samantha shares in her own words:

 “Like many horses, my horse is incredibly sensitive. Now, having the benefit of using the EQ saddle, Banner listens to my slightest body aids and I’ve seen a huge surge in his capacity to pick up on the tiniest of requests. His shoulders are free (which is HUGE for him), his body is softer (finally relaxation!) and his mind is always coming back to me and checking in.  I am ecstatic with how well he moves in his EQ saddle. Instead of having to worry about the saddle and trying to find the right position, I'm balanced and moving with him and I’m able to focus on us continuing to develop together.  I am confident that the EQ saddle facilitates our communication instead of being a barrier to it. It is such a relief to know he's comfortable and I'm giving him the very best support possible.”

Penny Greenwood and Heart (Draft/TB mare) have been partners for 11 years and they have shown up to 4th level together. Penny had been having some issues getting and keeping Heart comfortable for the last few years despite regular saddle adjustments and chiropractic care.  Her left shoulder had significant atrophy and Penny had been looking for a saddle that could alleviate pressure in this area and give her mare's shoulders the appropriate freedom to build muscle. It was also important that the saddle help her achieve proper alignment in her riding position.  

Penny was introduced to EQ Saddle Science saddles by her biomechanics coach Jennifer Derksen, The Rider Mechanic, and had this to say about her experience ....

https://fb.watch/2uEr1ucKdA/

I am so glad that I have been introduced to the EQ saddles.  My horse, Zippy,  has struggled with lameness for many years. On top of that, I was not able to find a saddle that would fit him well.  Every saddle we tried  was too tight on his shoulders which caused atrophy and he was muscled in all the wrong places. Unlike his name, Zippy lacked impulsion and was heavy on the forehand.  Last year I officially gave up on finding a saddle that would fit and started riding bareback only.  Then, early this year, I was introduced to EQ Saddle Science and the EQFlex Panel technology.  I decided to give it a try.  On the first ride I was pleasantly surprised that Zippy had some “Zip”! He was more forward, lighter on the forehand and actually willing to use his back.  I love that as he is developing his topline muscles, enjoys his work and is way more forward. As his topline develops, we have been able to easily adjust the saddle to fit his new body.  Zippy and I have been more comfortable and happier ever since!” - Elizabeth Scott

Eby got Zippy when he was only 3 years old and they have been partners for about 15 years.  They started in 4h and learned almost everything together, from Western to H/J and now their main focus is Dressage.

After 4 years of searching - I finally found a saddle that fits!

My mare, Angel, is a purebred Arabian with a wide round back, and because of this, it has been extremely difficult to find a saddle that will fit her and not slip forward or side to side.  With our past experiences of searching for a saddle, we were grateful to have the two-week trial that EQ offered, it allowed us to ride in the saddle enough to make sure this saddle was a perfect match for both of us.

Even after my first few rides, I knew this was the one - my horse and I are in love with it!! I ended up buying the saddle at the end of the trial and you can already see the difference it has made in my horse and it's only been a month! This saddle fits perfect and it’s adjustable which is why I know it will be my forever saddle!

I’ve now had a couple rides in my test EQ Saddle Science flapless dressage saddle. I’d like to share my observations so far.

I am a stickler for detail and this saddle does not disappoint. My first impression taking it out of the box, was the beautiful leather and contrasting piping. The second, and you may laugh, was the saddle cover. It has a outer layer similar to a high denier horse blanket and is lined with the softest fleece to protect the saddle. I have been continually disappointed in saddles that come with fleece or cotton covers which are dust and hair magnets in a horse barn. The EQ cover was but a prelude to the quality and performance of the saddle.

After a brief but thorough set-up video conference with EQ Saddle Science founder, Carmi Weininger I was off to the ring for my maiden ride. The saddle instantly felt comfortable and put me in a good line up, without effort. The closeness of having no flaps on a saddle is something that must be experienced to be appreciated. My thighs fell into a natural internal rotation and there was no ‘settling into’ this saddle. It was like that familiar feeling of pulling on an old favorite glove. Most notable was the stillness of my seat as the panels move independently from the saddles seat. I could not help but think how much comfort this gives to the horse, both physically and psychologically, in not having to continually adjust their balance to ours.

Gracie was agreeable from the start and for the first time, her ears got some sideways flop at the trot. She stretched nicely into the bridle and had no issue picking up either canter lead.

Subsequent rides have only gotten better. I feel very secure and balanced in the saddle and I love that the model I’m trialing has the option to switch out various thigh blocks on a velcro patch (Block tester model). This means I’m not locked into a ‘dressage leg’, when I go hacking and looking ahead, will be a big bonus if I’m teaching on Gracie as it can be easily adjusted to an individual students thigh.

Lastly, two weeks is a generous testing period and customers are encouraged to really trial the saddle in making their decision to purchase. The support received from both EQ Saddle Science and from EQ Saddle Science ambassador, Regina Milliken has been phenomenal and I've experienced none of the usual pressure tactics to purchase. I’m pretty sure I know why - this saddle sells itself!"

I have been riding for over 55 years, such a long time! In that time I have hunted, evented, shown hunters, pleasure and jumpers, done a bit of trail riding, including a couple of competitive trail rides, and I am currently doing dressage.

Tell me all about your horse (or horses) who are ridden in our saddles, and something about your goals for them.

I purchased my first RP back in 2005 (I think) for a Belgian draft horse I wanted to take to some low level events - I received the RP 2 or 3 days before the event. It was a bit of a desperate situation as he had started bucking over his fences. We ended up placing quite well. He even managed to make the time allowed in both cross country and stadium.  I then leased a terrific Dutch Warmblood schoolmaster for dressage, obtaining a Baker for him as he was an older horse with back issues. He took me up through 4th level; I got my bronze medal from USDF with him. I then purchased a horse, again with back issues, getting an Encore for him, which proved almost miraculous, unfortunately, he lost an eye and had to be retired. I then purchased a very nice Holsteiner mare, Ocita, getting a smaller Encore for her. I ended up successfully competing her at second level. I lost her this past Christmas eve much to my sorrow. Last summer I had purchased a young horse, Faith, who has an asymmetrical back, but a large heart and a sweet disposition. After trying many EQ saddles, (thank you Carmi for your patience), I ended up going back to a Baker (I even tried to get my original Baker back, but the person who bought it years ago was not letting it go). I did not plan on competing Faith last summer, but with Ocita ill and unable to be ridden, I took her to a show as a non-compete and the next thing you know we are going to shows competing at training level. At our second show we ended up high score adult amateur, high score training and high score of the day, much I credit to her comfort in the EQ.

How did you come to choose to try our saddle? What made you decide to buy it?

I got my first RP as my draft horse was growing so rapidly, we kept growing out of saddles.  Melissa Whitney who has been my saddle guru, convinced me to try an RP. As he was bucking his large mass over fences (very uncomfortable for the rider!), and as the master saddler for Steuben who had graciously brought a car load of saddles, none of which fit, stated that he did not think I would be able to use an off-the-rack saddle, I was more than willing to try an RP.  Having been coached by many cavalry officers in my youth, some of whom used McClellans, I was familiar with the basic concept of the saddle.

What else would you like to mention about our saddles or our staff?

Everyone at EQ has been very patient and generous in allowing me to try a large range of saddles, and in helping me maintain my saddle. I love the trial period. The adjustability of the saddles means that as the horse develops, the saddles can easily be adjusted for the horse's changing musculature and way of going. I have seen so many issues with old, worn out, lumpy or badly flocked saddles; I love the panels. I like that I can in a minute change the knee rolls. In less than a minute I can change the fit of the saddle by using different billets. And I really like the overall quality of the saddles. I always enjoy calling EQ, whoever answers the phone is so friendly and helpful.

Alessandra followed the clinic with a lesson February 1st with her usual coach -- someone who knows her and Anastasia, quite well. Here's what she added.

"My trainer watched her go in it today and said that she looked drastically different and started trotting through the back from the very beginning"

Alessandra also uses her Flapless EQ saddle on two other horses: Mare Anastasia, who indicated her immediate preference during a lesson with Conrad Schumacher in Wellington, FL and now on International Grand Prix horse Sagacious HF! She says, "Sagacious is super, and I absolutely love the saddle on him. It feels so much more comfortable to ride in, and doesn't bounce me out like the conventional one. He also feels freer in the shoulders. I feel much closer to his body, so he really feels my half halts.

 Impeccable customer service; being part of the EQ family; having people like fitter Lisa Jordan be on “team Boca”. 

What would you like other people to know about EQ saddles? 

How much you care about the horse, and continue to find educational and research opportunities to improve how saddle fit can help the horse.

If you could change one thing about the EQ saddle, what would it be? 

Absolutely nothing! How could I possibly change something?  Lisa came out to watch me ride and because I lamented that my horse’s mystery movement issues go away when he is ridden in an EQ, but the saddle doesn’t give me enough support to allow me to refine my aids. Carmi and Lisa figured out how to make a saddle that can do both and then let me lease it until I was sure it would work for me. Who could ask for more?  

I wish I had taken a photo of my horse in the cross ties while he had “team Boca” (the vet and the chiropractor on one side, and the trainer and Lisa Jordan on the other), all discussing how to optimize his movement. One would think he was an Olympian.  

Prior to 2017, EQ saddles for sporthorses were marketed by their sister company, the ReactorPanel Saddle Company.

Prior to 2017, EQ saddles for sporthorses were marketed by their sister company, the ReactorPanel Saddle Company.

"I can't say enough about EQ Saddle Science. The innovation, comfort for both horse and rider, design, beauty and functionality is top notch. Since my amputation, I have been challenged finding a saddle that is supportive for myself but does not cause pain on my residual limb.

These saddles are amazing. The studies that back the designs are uplifting. After my rides in their saddles, my body feels great -- it positions my (altered) body in the correct position, and creates a centered almost bareback feel. Thank you, EQ Saddle Science, for your support."

It’s not always physically easy for Bon but I’m grateful for his rideability. I am extremely grateful for the Kundrun’s support and for giving me the ride on their Bon Ami over the past year and a half. I can not thank Allison Brock enough for her coaching and gentle pressure to push me to be a stronger rider and competitor.