New Synergist Saddles – What a Difference!

Pete and I recently ordered two Synergist Saddles for our Icelandic mares, Tyra fra Tuskast (Spark or Glimmer from Tuskast Farm) and Hrimfara fra Lough Arrow II (Frosty Traveler from Lough Arrow II Farm).

That the pair already had Synergist saddles gave me reason to pause. Did we really need additional saddles? Pete and I, after considerable deliberation, agreed, yes. Pete was now riding Tyra and using my saddle. And I was now riding Hrimfara and using his saddle. We did want to be able to both ride both horses.

You might ask, what difference does it make? Why couldn’t I continue to ride Hrimmi in Pete’s saddle? And why couldn’t Pete continue to ride Tyra in my saddle? The answer is this – the saddle has to fit both the horse and the rider. And so, if say the rider is uncomfortable, the horse will not be able to do its job, whatever this might be.

and I mostly ride on Alaska trails where the terrain is generally uneven. My slipping around in Hrimmi’s oversized saddle, built for a larger male, frustrated both her and me. More often than not, I let her go willy nilly down the likes of Suicide Hill at a fast, bouncy pace because I couldn’t find my balance. I knew that this was my problem and not hers, which was why I sought alternative routes.

Conversely, Pete had to deal with my too small seat. Tyra’s canter was rough, and as I told him, improper saddle fit was the reason why.

There was no question about it. We would again order Synergist custom saddles. I’d ordered my first saddle from Synergist 15 years previously. It fit Raudhetta fra Alaskastadir (Little Red Riding Hood from a place in Alaska) perfectly, and the workmanship was excellent. The same was true of a saddle that Dave rebuilt for Pete and Raudhetta, which was refitted after we’d lost a horse, Mr. Siggi, in a trail accident.

It also helped that we knew what was involved in acquiring new saddles. We first pulled out our older Impression pads and put them on Tyra and Hrimmi. Hrimmi’s still fit. Tyra’s did not. We ordered a new impression pad, and made a new mold. We’d previously rode to a neighbor’s house and heated the plates in her oven. We now have a large enough oven, which saved us from having to make the trip across the Matanuska Moose Range.

In the meantime, we talked with C.J. and said that in the past ten years, there had been no change in our measurements.

We ordered the saddles in mid-winter. They arrived in early spring, a time when riding is ideal – the days are longer and the trails are no longer punchy.

I took Hrimmi’s saddle out of the box, put it on her back, tightened the girth and went for a ride. C.J. had, as she had in the past, reminded Pete and me that it generally takes 40 riding days in order to break in a saddle. Indeed, it took about this long for me to break in Raudi’s saddle. It was for this reason that I was surprised to find that Hrimmi’s new saddle fit me perfectly – I didn’t even have to adjust the stirups. And on that particular day, Hrimmi and I went down Suicide Hill slowly, and in unison with one another. And as for Pete and Tyra? The saddle fit, as was evidenced by the fact that her canter appeared to me to be far less choppy than previously.

Happy riders and happy horses. Hats off to Dave and C.J., who even at the distance, were able to assist us in making the horse/rider saddle connection.

Alys Culhane