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Post by spotti on Aug 5, 2011 20:26:42 GMT
Anybody know where I might get my hands on one of these amazing things? We borrowed Yanns earlier to try with Faith (yes, we're still having issues :  and I am in love! AND Faith actually moved!!! We only wandered around the yard but she was willing to move and even bent when we turned around - she never normally does that! So yeah, any ideas where I might find one? If that fails, I might go down the Torsion route...can I try a Torsion before we potentially buy one? How would I go about organising that? |
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 6, 2011 11:05:07 GMT
Spotti torsions and fitforms (I assume it's an authentic Italian on one you mean looks like this  ) are almost identical! The freeforms have evolved so much from the fitforms but personally having found mine uncomfortable not for the better in my opinion. Your only small and light - Robinsons have further reduced the childrens torsions to £250 - get one!!! You won't regret it I promise. I'm seriously tempted to buy another and save for later just because there half flipping price. |
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 6, 2011 11:09:35 GMT
Forget to add you could try before you bought previously - Dream team sell them now but I think it's same people.
Sometimes fitforms come up on ebay - there was one just last week cheap too.
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Post by spotti on Aug 7, 2011 12:08:05 GMT
Yep, looks just like that only black. And I saw that one on ebay...shame it sold a week too soon! I might have a look at Robbies you know, although I got a magazine/catalogue through yesterday and there were no Torsions in them  . Might have to nosey on the website (could be dangerous!) I agree that the Freeforms have changed a lot from the Fitforms, and if Faith wasn't having issues with our Freeform then I don't think I'd have thought about swapping because it is lovely and comfy HOWEVER after having tried Yann's Fitform and having a little hack out yesterday in it (with no stirrups lol) I think my saddle is hard and thick and really chunky under my thigh. I also feel quite unbalanced in mine...even when I have got my stirrups attached! We never really had much of an issue with the saddle when we first got it, but I can't tell whether that's because of how her back was at the time or if it as because we had a longer Equitex pad than we do now so it stuck out a bit at the back and obviously supported the cantle better to prevent it digging into Faith's back; sadly the long one went wonky and I can't find another one that long for love nor money! Anyway, I think the issue we're having at the minute - and may also be the same reason why Faith keeps getting the same pattern of soreness in her back - is that the saddle is too long and is pressing down on her soft bits instead of sitting on her back/spine/ribs. I think this mainly because when I'm onboard it's hard to put my fingers under the back of the saddle in the 'space' that should be there like there is at the front, and also based on Faith's reaction to Yann's Fitform...i.e. she actually moved!!! What pad do you use under your Torsion Haffy? I've already got a HAF and an Equitex (from Jack but I think they're too short..at least for the Freeform anyway. Oh and one last thing (I will shut up soon, promise!  ), what size is the child's Torsion? I'm a size 8, rather little and quite light - do you think that would be ok for us? |
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 7, 2011 12:56:00 GMT
I use merino wool pads (they have slots and removable shims so you can shim as appropriate), having recently bought an equitex, as you know, even if it had fitted I was not impressed with the way I could flatten it with my fingers with hardly any pressure. My pads have 'old sofa style grey/purple wooly stuff' shims in them and don't compress when you touch them. Haf pads are shimmable aren't they? Size wise i'm also a size 8 (just ..seen to be getting fatter  ), I prefer the childs saddle (14 or 15" I forget which) as found the 16" too roomy and you slid about whilst the kiddie ones holds you in nicely (great when Murph bucks)  It's also quite a bit shorter in length as the 16" was just too long for Harry's short back and I don't care what they say about the length not being important it bloody well is  so many people will now verify this having used 17" treeless's on smaller short backed horses and had problems. When I sold Harry's old one a lot of the interested parties said just this and the main thing they wanted to know was regarding the sizing for adult use verses the length. I'll try and see if the old auction is still available to view as there are some PB links to the saddle so you can see how similiar to a freeform it is...only real difference is they have a closed stirrup bar and I know some freeforms don't. They are on robinsons web site by the way - just search torsion and the saddles and equitesx pads come up. |
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 7, 2011 13:05:50 GMT
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Post by jack on Aug 7, 2011 16:43:27 GMT
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Post by spotti on Aug 9, 2011 12:49:33 GMT
Thanks Jack, I've got that in my 'watch list' as it is gorgeous, albeit rather expensive! Haffy, I've had a nosey on the Robinsons website and they seem to only have 14" saddles...would that be ok do you think? I noticed your ebay link mentioned that the old model was a 14" and I take it that was a good fit for you? I totally agree with the notion that 'length DOES matter!'. If I'm right this time with my diagnosis of what's causing this repeated soreness on Faith's back, then it's the length of the saddle that's the problem, not the general fit. In fact, the front end fits beautifully and is really roomy over her withers, even with me onboard, it's just that the back end seems to press down onto her soft squishy bits (i.e. kidneys?) and she obviously doesn't like it...this has been pretty much proven by riding in the Fitform instead where she has been free and easy and just a pleasure to ride really (even during a mini spin-buck-canter-off spook without stirrups!). Something that is niggling me though is the wooden pommel...is this just one size and you pad underneath as needed or do they do different widths? (my common sense says it would be a wide fit to suit all and you just add padding as needed, otherwise it would essentially be like a treed saddle, but there's the worrier part of me that needed to make sure!!) Thanks for all your help so far guys. I'm thinking we may be getting a saddle sooner rather than later at this rate  but I don't want to dive in too soon and get it wrong and then be back at square one again (I've been there before!). Yann has very kindly said we can keep riding in the Fitform until he needs it so we can at least still get out and about until I take the plunge and buy a saddle of our own. |
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Post by spotti on Aug 9, 2011 13:08:11 GMT
Hmm...from what I'm reading on the internet I think I'll need a 15" Torsion so that my bum isn't sat on the cantle!!! Pity, 14" saddles are a bargain at the mo. I wonder if I can find a way to try one...
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Post by nagsequestrian on Aug 9, 2011 14:29:23 GMT
I have a brown Libra Hackabout saddle and a Black Torsion close contact for sale if they are any use to you?
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 9, 2011 16:52:48 GMT
Spotti mine will be 14"' then if that what it says on Robbies site...all 3 have been childs models and the fit is just fine.
J is slightly bigger than I am i'd say and is fine and of course my OH rides [rode] on them okay. If your worried about length I'd really not buy the 16" onwards as thats only the seat size the total length is quite a bit longer. The kids ones underside length is about 19inches by my weigh tape (it's curved slightly so not an exact science).
As for the arch (which is fiber glass or plastic in the newest one) I have no idea I think they are just one size, never been given an option regarding this. You could opt to stuff the pommel, like the cantels on the kids versions, if you needed to adjust it, I was told this years ago when making my initial enquiries about them. Measure the arch in the fitform and then I'll compare to mine. Not sure if I will have time or I could have brought one up for you try.
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Post by nagsequestrian on Aug 9, 2011 18:20:27 GMT
The barefoot pommel inserts work in most Torsion/Barefoot style saddles  |
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yann
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Post by yann on Aug 9, 2011 19:20:54 GMT
The arch in the fitform is one size fits all, the purpose is mostly to provide a wrinkle to stop the saddle pressing down on the withers. You can take it out and stuff it, but I can't imagine it will be causing any issues on a horse Faith's shape. Interestingly A. with B. on our yard went from a Fitform to a Freeform and regretted it, I do think the stiffness does mean they're less forgiving on some horses even if it makes them better at spreading pressure. No rush for giving it back, glad it's working  |
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Post by spotti on Aug 10, 2011 8:25:11 GMT
Nags - could you PM me with some details and maybe a picture of your saddles please? If they're suitable then I might be interested Otherwise I'm tempted by the 14" Torsions on Robbies... *modified to add: Thanks for all your help guys . I'm such a worry wart and I hate getting things wrong, hence the million questions about everything! |
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Post by spotti on Aug 10, 2011 8:55:46 GMT
Just been on Robbies and it seems that they will return things as long as they are undamaged, unsoiled, unused and have not been personalised in any way...so technically I could order one, try it on in a pilllow case or something so it doesn't get dirty and then if it doesn't fit then I could send it back. Right?
Argh, I'm so tempted but I just don't want to get it wrong!!!
Am I being too much of a worrier? Should I just press the 'add to cart' button already?!
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and I am in love! AND Faith actually moved!!! We only wandered around the yard but she was willing to move and even bent when we turned around - she never normally does that!
. Might have to nosey on the website (could be dangerous!)
), what size is the child's Torsion? I'm a size 8, rather little and quite light - do you think that would be ok for us?
), I prefer the childs saddle (14 or 15" I forget which) as found the 16" too roomy and you slid about whilst the kiddie ones holds you in nicely (great when Murph bucks) 
but I don't want to dive in too soon and get it wrong and then be back at square one again (I've been there before!). Yann has very kindly said we can keep riding in the Fitform until he needs it so we can at least still get out and about until I take the plunge and buy a saddle of our own.
