New Saddle: Freeform vs Ansur

Hey everyone! In the market for a new saddle, thought it would make for an interesting glance...

Typically, I like to ride treeless. The reason for this is because I ride so many different horses, that the treeless is much better at fitting all of them! Poor saddle fit can wreak havoc on a horse's back (as we all well know), so this helps me avoid that problem and continue to be an effective horse-slut. :-p I don't have anything against treed saddles, in fact I really like them. They give great support for both rider and horse. But because I do what I do, it's tough to find a treed saddle that fits 90% of horses out there. :-)

I've been riding in a Freeform classic for the last few years. Freeforms are great, they are a little more structured than your typical treeless. It was Heather and Jeremy's before they moved back to CA, and they gave me a real deal for the entire rig: saddle, girth, stirrups and leathers, and pack. Needless to say, it was very well-loved when I got it and has seen better days. Here's a site where you can learn about the freeform saddles: http://www.freeformusa.com/

Last fall, I got to test-ride some of the new Ansur models that are being designed for endurance, specifically the Excel and Endeavor. I haven't liked the older Ansurs, they really just resemble a slap or leather with stirrups (sorry for all you ansur lovers out there!). You have to be an EXTREMELY balanced rider to use one, or you're going to have a lot of problems. I'm balanced, but I have bum knees and tend to ride some greenies that like to spook now and then. So I need more structure. Well, these new Ansur models are absolutely wonderful! I was able to ride Legalas around the arena without stirrups, something I'm really terrible at normally. They're very structured and have a lot of features where you can customize fit, like different sized knee-rolls in front and behind the leg. They also now have a nice air channel, which gives the horse more structure on their back (a step up from the freeform). Here's a pic of us going around the arena, you can see how structured the cantel is, and it looks nice enough that it could definitely be multi-purpose (like for hunts).

The downside to these new ansurs is the cost. Even getting a used demo-model, the saddles cost $3,500-$4,500. Not an option for me, waaaay out of my budget. Not a lot of people know this, but on top of the riding I'm currently working 2 jobs (a full-time 8AM-5PM plus shifts at a restaurant), so this is a big spend for me. Just can't justify spending that money right now, even with trying to sell my trailer and whatnot.

So, I decided to stick with the Freeform and save up for the ansur for another day. I contacted Christoph and Dian with GETC in UT (www.globalendurance.com), after they got in touch with me to let me know they were dealers. Christoph had some classic seats, but he also had a used Enduro X in stock. Prices ranged from $1,350-$1,700. Much more reasonable. But, I didn't know much about that saddle. So I checked in with some friends, some other dealers, Heather and Jeremy, and got the research I needed (along with the photos).

The Enduro X has more structure than a Classic seat. With the new saddle design, you can actually change seat styles back and forth between the two (they velcro on). It's got a higher pommel and cantle and leg bars for stability. According to Heather, it also is a little bit better for the horse's back (the classic tends to pinch now and then and make them back sore). I also got reports back that the Enduro is a bit more comfortable to ride in than the Classic model. It looks like it is almost a cross-over between a western and english-style seat, which will be better for my knees (in endurance, it's all about comfort! for me, riding with my legs a little more forward, like "Western" style, helps me out a lot. harder to do in a Classic). Heather did mention that the Cutback model tends to come back off of a horse's withers and put some pressure there, so maybe stay away from that feature.

So, after the polls came in, looks like the Enduro X is the winner! Sending in Christoph a deposit by the end of the week, and will hopefully pay it all off in the next month or so with working two jobs (things are good at the moment).

Here are some photos where you can see the difference in the saddles. Enjoy your daily dose of learning! Photos are courtesy of Freeform USA and Chrisoph and Dian at Global Endurance Training Center.

Classic:













Enduro:













Comparisons between seats (note they aren't attached to the saddle base):