Some people say that the (non-traditional)
Sports Saddle is like a bareback pad in some respects. It functions
much like a traditional saddle while eliminating un-welcomed
pressure points, typical with a solid-tree saddle. The bars
(trees) are often responsible for producing pressure points
at the shoulders or loins due to saddle bridging. The pressure
points negatively affect both equine performance and rider
satisfaction.
People often seek out the Sports Saddle because
they enjoy the benefits of riding bareback, such as the ability
to feel the horse under them and the ability to better communicate
with the horse. But the rider will be sitting on a much softer seat.
Many riders have said that with the Sports
Saddle they can feel the horse prepare to spoke or move out quickly
before he actually does it. Riders are usually surprised that they
can feel the horse breathe under them. The treeless saddle molds
to the contours of the horses back and ribs in much the same way
as a bareback pad, but the construction and padding on the Sports
Saddle is significantly more functional and substantial.
The Sports Saddle is made of two durable layers
of closed cell neoprene and the rest of the saddle is built upon
and into this foundation. This foundation is extremely soft to ride
in, and especially so if ridden with the Skito Equalizer pad, which
consists of two pads made of a breathable open cell foam with a
thick poly/wool fleece underside. This combination is unmatched
in its level of comfort.
So, it's not necessary for the rider to sit
on a hard, solid tree foundation. The Sports Saddle functions like
a traditionally treed saddle while serving the rider with comfort
and solves many a horses back problems due to the bridging affect
from treed saddles.
The Sports Saddle also provides the functions
of the traditional saddle. Each Sports Saddle model has a solid
pommel and a cantle, which are not connected by a bar, as in treed
saddles. The rider is sitting on padding instead of a solid tree.
The stirrup rigging is bonded into the foundation providing the
balance for the rider without the saddle slipping unlike the bareback
pad.
A secure western girthing system like the traditional
saddle is used on the Sports Saddle. Most of the Sports Saddle models
include front and rear D rings and a crupper for utility on the
trails. The Sports Saddles are very secure and can handle saddlebags,
cantle bags, water bottles etc
People use the Sports Saddle in many riding
disciplines such as barrel racing, endurance and competitive riding,
pleasure and trail riding. The Sports Saddle is also used to start
young horses, which was Bob Marshalls original intent with
the Sports Saddle.
The Bob Marshall Sports Saddle is becoming
increasingly popular with riders. One customer from Florida called
to order a Barrel racing saddle at her trainers recommendation.
She said that approximately 50% of all the riders where using the
Bob Marshall Sports Saddle for barrel racing and that the horses
seem to be able to move and bend better around the barrels and are
making better time in the ring.
Trail riders are finding that their horses
are more comfortable and so are the riders. For people who keep
an open mind the (non-traditional) Sports Saddle could be the kind
of saddle they've been looking for all along. |