Reviews
On this page you can read some of the great reviews that we have received from happy Barefoot owners. If you bought a Barefoot saddle and would like to drop us a line about your experiences, please sent us an email and a photo and we would be happy to place it on this page.
Lets start with me and my stunning horse Balladyn, a Polish warmblood Wielkopolska (Trackener-Barok) born in 2000.
Saddle freak
I really love saddles and always wanted to try every kind of saddle (poor Balladyn). I’ve ridden jump-dressage-all purpose-spanish-endurance-western saddles, you name it.
Never could I say: "that\’s the saddle for me" and more importantly, a saddle my Balladyn. But then came Barefoot. Not only was it so comfortable for me to ride in, Balladyn really showed his appreciation by moving more freely than he had ever before. It felt as though I had a new horse.
So, up for sale went all my other saddles and I kept the Barefoot Cheyenne. In 30 years of riding, this has to be the best decision that I made for me and my horse.
To fit
That is rule number 1. A saddle has to fit! Balladyn is a horse with a difficult back (fitting a saddle). Not a standard back, but a high wither and broad schoulders. His size for a tree saddle was always between medium and wide. But not only that, Balladyn is a yoyo in his weight (takes after his owner - haha).
This time I wanted a saddle that would fit him and did not require a saddle maker to resize the saddle every half a year or so.
Treeless?
That would be a option, designed by a horse physiotherapist, and fits most horses, that MUST be good!
Tried it
After 30 years of riding, I’ve learned it takes a while to get used to a saddle, and reading about Barefoot, this could take days to get use to it. Luckily I climbed on the saddle and just rode away. No problems. And for Balladyn? Unbelievable! So so relaxed! Used his muscle and curved his back so nicely and had space for his shoulders! Much nicer front leg movement. I could feel him so much better compare to my other saddles, I could even feel his breathing!
Bareback
It really felt like I was riding without a saddle, so soft and so close. Luckily these saddles do have a pommel and cantle as well as stirrups for extra safety as my Balladyn can buck! I went for an outride and knew he will be crazy (as always), and he was! He did buck but this time I felt exactly how he \‘wanted\’ to move and had no problems in calming him.
Natasja Stanton, Loenhout
"This is one of my horses, Adel. He is a Gelder with an enormous good character.
I was looking for a new saddle for him when I came across Barefoot. I immediately ordered the London and my first impression when riding with it was "Wow, how soft and comfortable". Adel is also extremely happy with my new saddle, he moves freely and is just so chuffed with the close contact that we now have.
The saddle is flexible and it truly shapes with the horse. I'm naturally super happy with my Barefoot. From the first time I rode with a Barefoot I thought; 'This is it, this is the saddle that I will keep forever'. I immediately ordered another Barefoot saddle for my daughter and now another for one of my other horses. My daughter had a very poor sit with her previous saddle, but now in the London she has a perfect sit. I highly recommend everyone to try and buy a Barefoot saddle."
Hilde, BelgiumHilde, Belgie
Hello Natasja,
My daughter just loves our Barefoot saddle and sits so relaxed here on a 3 year old. The horse also loves our new saddle. Could it be because of a great saddle?? I really think so. Anyway, my horse finds it a lot my comfortable than a treed western that I borrowed for testing. I also use the Barefoot on my Paint and that goes so well. We are thus very happy with our purchase.
Regards,
Monique
Monique
Hi Natasja,
Here I'm am again. Since I could not wait to try out my new Cherokee saddle on my horse, I tried it on one of my other Haflingers. To my great surprise, it also fitted him. She is much broader than my younger Haflinger, but still it fitted perfectly. Since then, I've tried out my Cherokee on a number of out rides and must say that it is fantastic to ride like this. From the first time that I sat in the Cherokee saddle, it immediately sat great - so comfortable. I thus have no regrets with my purchase and eagerly wait in anticipation to try it out on my younger Haflinger. And who know, maybe then we buy another Barefoot saddle :-)
Regards
Erika
Erika
"In meantime we are totally used to the saddle, I also don’t have the feeling of sitting wide (I believe the pad also helps with this). I’ve also thoroughly tested this saddle for safety as Fjoeky has the habit of bucking a little. I can honestly say that I sit so much steadier in my Barefoot than a classic treed saddle. He is a bit like a diesel, but once warmed up, it feels great, especially when Fjoeky is forward.
As I told you on the phone, there are people who have to get used to this saddle, then the best test is to put your old saddle on the horse and feel the difference! You only want too ride treeless!"
Dominique, Belgium
"Natasja, first, I want to thank you for your advice, good service and super fast postage. When the London dressage saddle arrived, I was really surprised; it was much nicer than on the pictures. It really looks like a luxurious dressage saddle but then without a tree. The leather feels great, quality, beautiful and strong. The fur is black, which is nice with this saddle. What was my eye catcher was the high cantle. This really helps me a lot with my riding and it feels like I sit in the saddle. My Tinker horse Fastwin also really loves this saddle!
The freedom to move is great with a treeless saddle. Fastwin was really forward and happy. My pants size is 12 and the London size 1 is perfect and very comfortable. I also felt very secure riding in this saddle. First I did not know if I could ride a size 1 but it is big enough, I don’t have problems with the pommel during the raising trot. The saddle feels great and has helped my posture. I have a much better dressage posture. I do ride a lot of trails and even for this, the London is great. I can really recommend every one a Barefoot treeless saddle! Regards, Deborah and my big friend Fastwin"
Deborah and my big friend Fastwin
"I definitely love the Barefoot Cheyenne! It is so comfortable, like a sitting on a cushy couch! Here are some pics of my horse Zip in it with a black Skito pad. The seat is nice and narrow too, much narrower than my western treeless saddle which also makes it quite comfy.
Of course Zip likes it; he is barefoot (and naturally trimmed by me), bitless and treeless and always will be! Thanks again, it’s a really nice saddle, definitely very happy with it."
Natalie and her horse Zip, Florida, USA
"First I want to thank you for the great service and advices that you gave me. I’m very happy with my Barefoot London saddle. The London is a great saddle that lays very sturdy on the horse. Even when mounting or riding, the saddle does not shift around. It feels really secure. Even two weeks ago when my young horse thought it would be fun too buck a little, I hung on and saddle remained perfectly in place.
My daughter also sits very secure in the saddle. She feels safe, especially now that I have put on children’s stirrups. I don’t think I can get used to a treed saddle anymore. This saddle is so comfortable. During the past few months, I’ve been training her and she has developed a lot of muscles. If we had a treed saddle, I know that I would have had to change it as it would not fit her anymore. My Barefoot still fits perfectly. We are so happy."
Marleen
"In the beginning I had to find my seat. I had to find my own balance and after 2 weeks I was totally used to the saddle. My horse loved the saddle from day one (I believe). It fits perfectly! I love the part that the pad is cut-in by the withers, as my horse has very high withers.
My legs don’t stick out so much to the front as before. I feel that my horse moves much more freely and during the last few months we have improved so much more with this saddle! I never thought that it would have such an impact on my horse and myself. I feel my horse so much better and he also reacts so much better at my legs. Even to jump is not a problem at all with this saddle. All my friends that have tried this saddle with my horse, have found it so much different to a treed saddle in a better way! So it can be that you have to get used to a Barefoot saddle but I now know that I will never want to have another saddle other than a Barefoot saddle!"
Anne, BelgiumAnne, Belgie
"Here is a picture of my Tinker with the Barefoott Arizona. I find it a super saddle. Very sturdy and comfortable. The size is great and the cantle gives me a lot of support. Sometimes I think that I\’m sitting in a \’Lazyboy\’ chair on my horse!"
Hans and Tinker, Belgium
Here we have 3 of my horses with Barefoot saddles. Where is the fourth?
Oh over here, again an advantage of a Barefoot saddle. It really fits all horses. This is the Cheyenne on an Icelandic horse.
And here the Cheyenne that fits perfectly on a pregnant tinker. So you can see that the saddle grows with the horse.
The Nevada was my first saddle and it still looks great after all this time. Just look at the deep sit!
Nikki
"My horse 'Off the Peg' came out of racing with a number of physical and mental traumas. This included a piece of the spinous processes that was chipped off and causing pain on the vertebra. This had been repaired but the horse was still very sensitive and not tolerant of any saddle that fitted poorly. He had a habit of bucking and tensing up in his hamstrings and back when any pressure was near his spine. I did not think he would be a suitable horse for a treeless saddle. After we tried it on my other horses and they went so well - I thought I would give it a try. I was suprised that he stayed calm and relaxed. He was obviously completely comfortable in the saddle. He was able to lift his back and work in a correct outline."
Karen Portman (Riding Instructor), Johannesburg, South Africa
