Equitation 3

Having spent many years designing a “specialist” dressage saddle to feed my desire for perfection in this discipline. I have been guilty of ignoring the needs of others and their desire to enjoy other aspects of equitation. So here is our multi purpose saddle and it is certainly no “compromise”!

Featuring the same high quality innovations and built to the same standards of our top range saddles, including the Superflex® tree and heat sensitive panels.
In our opinion, not enough thought has gone into the design of multi purpose saddles, in general.
This is why, as the designer, I avoided the description title “general purpose”. A "GP" to me says compromise and those that know our products will have discovered that this has never been part of our design strategy!

The Strada Esprit d’ Equitation Saddle’s unique design, offers a seamless interface between horse and rider. This is the result of many, painstaking years of research into the bio-mechanics of horses movements.
 The design embodies simplicity and function. Unlike most other manufacturers, we design and make our own trees. The importance of flexibility and fit can never be over emphasised.
The frame within the saddle, most importantly, must be the same shape as your horses back - which ultimately means, evenly distributed pressure. It also allows the back muscles to work free of pressure points which is important to build natural working muscle.
Strada saddles are light in weight and feature the unique Superflex® tree, designed to follow the movement of the horse. It is made from a combination of high quality birch ply, leather, carbon-fibre and kevlar. The flex of the rails of the tree allows the saddle to stay in contact with the horses back as it has uni-lateral movement, (up and down and independently.)
Strada trees have no metal components other than the attached stirrup bar. There are five different tree types that reflect the different shapes of modern sport horse through to fitting older breed types such as the Iberian, Lusitano and Arab. By fitting with a tree type, we eliminate all saddle-woes - no gullets causing pressure or muscle wastage, or sitting too high in front, lifting at the back, rocking, etc. Your horses weight may vary through the season - but their true ‘shape’ is always there.
Next, our panels, made from heat sensitive materials, that at body temperature, automatically adjust with pressure and release - much like the feeling of firm, unflexed muscle. For example, sit relaxed in a chair - push on your thigh muscle - the way this compresses and releases under pressure is much the same as our panels. Allowing the movements of the horses back to have continuous and correct panel contact, keeps the horses back muscles health and strong and gives a great feeling to the horse and rider. The panels will never require alteration or re-packing and are specially designed and made by Strada Saddles.
The stirrup bar position, girth attachments and weight of our saddles provides comfort and freedom of movement for the horse. This allows the rider to sit easily and effectively apply riding aids - so after 18 years of manufacturer we present our products to our customers with confidence.

The fitting system of Strada Saddles, is based on shape and width. We’ve identified that particular shapes and characteristics are specific to certain breeds - and reflected in 5 different trees to suit these shapes - below is listed as a guide. Requesting a fitting session, best determines the exact one for your horse:

S tree fits typical warmbloods, TB/warmblood crosses and large-boned TB's

W tree fits small/fine TB's, lite endurance Anglo-Arabs

I tree fits flat shaped backs of some Arabs, Iberians and some warmbloods

C tree fits Stationbred, pure Arabs, Clydie crosses and some Iberians

IC tree fits muscular shouldered Warmbloods, Stationbred, Lippizana, Lusitano, and Iberians

Once the tree shape is determined for your horse - a saddle is made. We don’t hold stock - saddles are made to specification. Varying leather types, thickness and flap lengths are available. You have the choice of a dressage, jumping, multi-purpose or endurance saddle - each have elements that are specific to their requirements.

“We must never allow mindless tradition to stand
between logic and progress”