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  Discussion on Imus 4-Beat Saddle
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Member:
Rama

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2003 - 4:26 pm:

I just received information on the Imus 4-Beat Saddle. After having gone through so many saddles for my hard to fit TWH mare I thought I'd post to see if anyone has had any experience with one of these saddles. The information makes me question the "rigid tree" saddle I'm currently riding in.

Hopefully someone has or knows someone who is riding in one of these saddles.

Thank you,
Becky
Member:
Diana

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2003 - 5:07 pm:

I ride my TWH in a treeless Ansur saddle. He loves it and I love it. It is English style, so I don't know if it's comparable to the saddle you're asking about but I believe you are on the right track in questioning the rigid tree concept in general. Without directing you to a particular saddle (by the way, I don't sell or represent the Ansur saddles), I think that it just makes intuitive sense that a saddle ought to move and flex with the horse, and a rigid tree saddle can't do that. Especially for a "hard to fit" horse, treeless might be a direction to consider. Ansur's website has a lot of interesting information on this concept, but there are others too.
Member:
Rama

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 8:21 am:

Diana,

Thank you for your response. I have heard good things about Ansur saddles too. In fact one of my riding buddies just told me that will be her next saddle. I certainly will check out the Ansur
website. The Marciante saddle I had custom fit for my Mariah fits the best of any saddle yet but after doing further research on the treeless saddle I'm concerned I haven't done right by my Walking Horse.

Becky
Member:
Diana

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 8:46 am:

Becky,

It sounds like you're taking the time to do the research on saddles -- I've been there, done that pretty recently so it can be confusing. Since saddles are an "investment" (i.e. can be expensive) we want try to get it right.

I am wondering why you are concerned that, as you put it: you haven't done right by your TWH? Are there specific "symptoms" that lead you to think that? Are you comfortable in the saddle? Also, what are you and Mariah doing -- show, trail, etc? Is she flat shod?

Diana
Member:
Conniep

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 9:29 am:

Rebecca, I checked out the Ansur website and they have reps. that will let you come and ride in one of thier saddles. HAven't done it yet, but will. Interesting to see why you think you need a treeless saddle. They make sense to me.
Connie P
Member:
Rama

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 1:04 pm:

I ride my TWH bareback a lot. I can feel her back, shoulders and hips moving independently. At times there is a great deal of action. The Marciante saddle I had fit for her allows for freedom of motion and as I write this post I realize though the bars are fixed they ride on the muscle area that doesn't have the range of motion I was concerned about! If placed properly on her back (another concern of course) that saddle does not interfere with her go. If placed too far back the front can DrOp into the hollow behind her shoulder and pinch the muscles there. if placed too far forward it will interfere with her shoulder range of motion. With a treeless saddle I would think the placement would not be as critical. And of course with a treeless saddle the saddle should fit (providing it's not too long)all three of my mares. The saddle I had made for Mariah only fits her because her right shoulder is nearly three times the size of her left. She apparently had many years of riding with poorly fitted saddles before she came to me. I went to a saddle fitting clinic and was told there was an awful lot of muscle damage and atrophy. I worked for six weeks to try to build back up what shoulder and back muscle I could doing ground work and bareback riding. I bought her when she was ten and she is now 17. The saddle maker thought she must have been badly hurt somewhere in her early years. So this is why I am still fussing about her saddle. She and I ride better bareback than in any saddle I've tried. She goes barefoot. We are not showing, we do some judge pleasure rides and are currently working our way through Parelli Natural HorseManShip. I want her to have the foundation training that comes with Levels One through Three.
Member:
Diana

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 1:47 pm:

Hi Becky,

If you ride better bareback than in any saddle, then you really owe it to yourself to check out the Ansur. You will surely find the story behind the development of the saddle fascinating. It originally was designed for a dressage horse who went so much better bareback but they needed a "dressage saddle" in order to compete and "look right." I realize looks aren't what drive you (or me) but the origins of the saddle design in trying to mimic bareback riding (from the horse's point of view) will interest you I think. As a rider, the saddle puts you in a very natural, bareback-like position because the stirrup leathers are back a bit further than usual so I find my leg is right where it would be if I DrOpped my stirrups and let it find it's natural position.

You're right, the treeless saddle would fit all three horses, unless there are some specific conformation problems, such as the shoulder imbalance you described. But Ansur makes removable pads to help with these things.... so I think you could use the same saddle. Best to check with the saddle maker though.

I'm curious now what you will think of it and look forward to reading your comments. It sounds like you put a lot of work into your horse and your riding, so the search for the best saddle is well worth it.
Member:
Conniep

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003 - 2:00 pm:

Becky,
Since you said you were working through Parelli, you might be interested in this site, www.balanceinternational.com. This is the saddle that Linda Parelli rides with. I looked at her saddle at a clinic I attended. Never got one. But a fantastic saddle!!
Connie P
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