Cashel Soft Saddle?

[Hill]

Anyone own one, use one, rode in one once? I am thinking about purchasing it for my older and slightly sway backed horse. I have an English saddle that I was able to have reflocked to fit him by a saddle maker near my home, but I was looking into something lighter and easier to use. Even with the reflocking he needed a shim pad and a thick foam pad to really make things fit perfectly. He doesn't seem bothered in any way I'm just looking for a lighter alternative and bareback pads don't seem to have enough padding. He's got high withers and isn't a real comfortable bare back ride! :)

Sigh, it makes me miss riding my witchy mare (who now belongs to my husband) her wide flat chunky back made bareback a breeze! Of course the witchy attitude made bareback LESS of a breeze!

[cloedoll]

Well, the Cashel Soft Saddle does not have a tree to distribute pressure evenly, so I do not think this would be the best choice for a horse with a sway back. Also, I have heard it isn't really meant for everyday use, it doesn't hold up - this is just from the majority of reviews I have read. For the monthly trail ride or something, I think it could work, but not any more than that. Also, you could buy a bareback pad and use the pads you normally do underneath it (as long as they are longer than the bareback pad). I would stay with a treed saddle and proper padding for a sway backed horse, but that's just me. If you could maybe borrow one, I think that would be good, but I would definitely try before you buy. :)

Here are some interesting reviews/links on it, you might wanna check it out:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/cashelsoftsaddle/
http://lorienstable.com/log/CashelSS-archive.shtml

Also, here is an article on sway backs:
http://lorienstable.com/services/fitting/swayback/

I have lots of links of random tack stuff, I'll look through them as well to see if anything would be helpful.

I hope this helped a bit! :D

[Annasmom]

well I have never ridden in one but I haven't heard good things about them. My friend has a baretek pad and they are really awesome. They look awesome, and really help you in a correct position I haven't tried the english one she has the western but its worth a try.

http://www.baretek.com/

[Cat]

I have one and enjoy using it for a relaxing trail ride. If you want to use it as something to use inplace of a bareback pad, but with more padding, I don't think you will be dissapointed. For relaxing rides its comfy and great, but for schooling purposes where you are going to do a lot of concentrated work, then you may want to stick with an english saddle.

Most of my trail riding this summer has been in a cashel and I bought mine used and it still looks great so I have had no problem with it holding up. The only times I ended up with dry spots was the one time I cinched it too tight and when I did a lot of posting. Better to sit the trots in this thing, but its so cushy that sitting the trot really isn't a problem.

[Hill]

I guess I should clarify... my idea of "riding" is a stately walk through my neighborhood and parks associated with living in a fairly equestrian friendly neighborhood! He's in his 20's and I've had several knee surgery's and been hit by a car damaging my knee again... we're not doing heavy schooling or anything requiring more than maybe a few trotting steps when he "Spooks"! :)

I'm glad to hear the different opinions though!

[Cat]

Sounds like it would work for you then! And how CUSHIE it is - I know my butt just loves it.

[cloedoll]

Well in that case, it could work wonders for you two. :D

[Blue]

I've always wanted to try one out, I've read a few reviews and several of them said that it feels bulky under your leg...but I guess you never really know 'til you try it out! =]

[moka]

When my boy was overweight and I had no saddle that would fit him, I bought a cashel soft saddle from someone who only used it once. I used it almost everyday. Since we were trying to loose weight, first we did take it easy but because we were going up and down steep mountains it was easier with the cashel then bareback.
I also think that the horse was more comfortable in the cashel then he would have been in any saddle at the time.
It is easy to clean however it is foam and some animals like to chew on it so I have heard. Never had a problem with that.

[Buckpoco]

I bought one and quickly sold it at a tag sale. It was so off balance, threw my legs forward. I didn't like it at all and sold it for half price...but some people may like it.

[Happy Horselover]

I'm not a fan of "treeless" saddles if they have stirrups as there's a lot that can go wrong with that, but it sounds like it may be perfect for the OP.

[twofingers]

I have one and use it For quiet riding or just playing around. I did move the stirrups because their location was a bit off for me. I found that with a cashel you had better have a good seat and balance and not relay on the stirrups because after a while the saddle will slip.

[mustangluver]

I have been using one cause I can not find ANYTHING else.
I have been using it to break my mustang and also use it on my 19 yr morab (with a little sway back)

its light, comfy really cushy. The only thing I did not like is I was getting pinched by the stirup parts, so I used vet wrap to cover hte buckle and I was fine.

I have not found it slips around at all, I do use a break plate with it on my mustang but not on my morab.

I like the fact I can wash it off really fast (I hate sharing pads and saddles and girth) and I can put it anywhere and not worry about breaking a tree.

YES!!! you do need good balance you FEEL every movement on there but as I have been riding and then riding other horses in a saddle.. I feel *dead* I like the movement I can feel the energy and know whats coming. I def. want a flex tree saddle but I will use this more often then not. I did not like the cashel at first, because you need your balance but the more I rode in it the more I liked it!!