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SMART Saddles

After years of experiencing saddle related problems and experimenting with a wide range of expensive saddles with different flocking on many horses, SMART™ Saddle designer and founder, Dr Anne Bondi, found that although some of the problems could be alleviated, they were not solved.

Many people experience problems with saddles and it is common to hear of frustrated riders spending large sums on saddle after saddle that for one reason or another just does not work.

Two examples of problems that lead to saddle fit issues are:

  • Horses change shape constantly throughout their lives. A weekly fluctuation of 3 kilos in weight is perfectly normal; even small variations in weight will immediately affect saddle fit.
  • A traditional treed saddle may well fit in theory on a static horse, but this becomes a problem as soon as the horse actually moves.

What causes the problems?

Smart Saddles Horse Saddles UK Smat Pro Jump Saddles

  • The tree points
  • The stirrup bars
  • Scapula push
    a) Causing torque
    b) Causing rolling
    c) Causing sliding
  • One-sidedness
  • Girthing

Badly fitting saddles can lead to...

  • Resentment of being saddled or girthed
  • Reluctance to stand still for mounting
  • Reluctance to go forward or rushing
  • Pawing, plunging head down
  • Above bit in transitions
  • On the forehand, lacking swing in the back
  • Reluctance to stretch the top line or work deep
  • Difficulty with some higher level movements e.g. canter pirouette
  • Tense or hollow outline, bridle lameness
  • Teeth grinding, poll tilting and tail swishing
  • Crooked, unlevel or stiff
  • Loss of rhythm
  • Disunited / breaking canter, or favouring one lead
  • Resistance, nappiness or spookiness
  • Stumbling or stilted going down hills
  • Short striding, or difficulty in lengthening the stride

One gets used to a wide range of routine problems encountered in the training and development of the horse under saddle.

The SMART™ was developed in a quest to improve equine welfare and performance.

Benefits of a SMART™ Saddle

  • Flexible fit - Our unique Easy-Fit system combined with the fully flexible nature of the SMART™ Saddle ensures one saddle can be adapted to fit several horses easily and allows for changes in shape through the season. The SMART™ Saddle is designed to flex with the horse through the stride cycle, it is also possible to easily interchange the SMART™ Saddle between horses.
  • Impact absorbing - SMART™ saddles are designed to protect the back from pressure and trauma by using a patented shock absorbing system. The moulded seat ensures symmetry and security for the rider.
  • Allows movement of the shoulder and back without causing tilting, rocking or torque.
  • Eliminate saddle fitting issues from you training goals - Without saddle fitting issues, move forward in training/competition/enjoyment.
  • Scientifically proven to improve symmetry and reduce peak and overall pressures
  • High Performance - SMART™ saddle designs have been thoroughly researched and tested with Tekscan & Pliance pressure mapping systems and state of the art Biomechanical analysis systems. – Read more about our research and development process.

The below pictures illustrate the difference a flexible saddle can make.

Smart Saddles Horse Saddles

The first image shows the pony’s usual way of going in its own saddle.
The second is taken immediately after, ridden in a SMART™ saddle fitted by a Smart Saddles Approved Advisor.

SMART Performance

Smart Saddles have worked with many experienced riders throughout the development of the SMART saddle range. Even those who do not believe that their horses are experiencing saddle issues at all have been surprised at the improvements to performance that working in a SMART™ saddle has demonstrated.

Smart Saddles Horse Saddles UK Smart Pro Jump Saddles

The SMART™ saddle design is unique, not only because the saddles are fully flexible but also because they are designed, manufactured, used and fitted by riders. We not only understand how the saddle is constructed but also understand the performance demands of both horse and rider.

Award winning saddle design

SMART Saddles are very proud to have had their SMART™ Saddle Range recognised with The Queens Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2021. The ground-breaking SMART™ saddle design has provided horses and riders at all levels with a modern solution to their saddle fitting woes and is believed to be the only brand of saddle to have earned the much sought-after award.

Further information on the prestigious Queen’s Award for Innovation can be found here: https://latestnews-solution-saddles.blogspot.com/2021/04/unique-smart-saddle-range-wins-queens.html

 

UK

Each SMART™ saddle is handmade in Derbyshire from premium materials, carefully sourced from around the UK.

SMART Saddle designer,
Dr. Anne Bondi BHSI

"I believe that the natural progression to the flexible saddle concept is the biggest step forward in horse welfare in my lifetime."

Dr. Anne Bondi

The Queens Award for Enterprise: Innovation, 2021, for the patented SMART Saddle Range.

‘’I am immensely proud of our skilled and dedicated team members, every one of whom has played an integral part in the success of our saddle designs and the continued growth of the company. Most of our team are horse owners and riders themselves, so truly understand our quest to promote the welfare and performance of the ridden horse. As riders, we also know what good customer service means to our clients and how to deliver it. These are the core principles that our reputation for excellence is built on and we look forward to continuing our research programme and bringing more innovation to the equine industry.”

Following on from her background as a highly successful rider and trainer in both dressage and eventing, as well as a Senior Examiner of the British Horse Society, Anne has been awarded a doctorate for her novel research of horse, saddle and rider interaction.

Anne teaches world-wide, giving lectures and presentations to a wide range of groups including equine healthcare practitioners, saddle fitters, coaches and equine science students, sharing her passion for this complex but fascinating subject.

Penny Lawn

Penny Lawn

"I'm loving the way the new SMART Elite Jump saddle allows me the flexibility to use it on any horse, especially the narrower stamp. It gives me a more close contact feel and my horses all the freedom they need."

~ Penny Lawn, Event Rider and SMART Ambassador

Edison

Edison

"Ed (Edison) has all of a sudden become very grown up and made the journey to Blenheim Horse Trials for his first three-star in the eight- and nine-year-old class. It doesn’t seem five minutes since popping round his first novice three seasons ago and wondering if he would cope. Well, cope he certainly did — he has gone from strength to strength and he maintained his 100% clear cross-country record by jumping a stunning double clear at Blenheim in his treeless SMART saddle. It’s a fabulous event with a big atmosphere and he coped beautifully. I’m very excited for what next season holds for him."

~ Simon Grieve, Eventer and Horse & Hound blogger

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