Testimonials

"OSS Saddlery Reviews :

Reviewer Catherine Campbell Professional Trainer and Rider in Western Dressage and Western Dressage Equitation. 2018 Top 10 placing at WDAA World Championship show in Equitation. Owner of Cedar Creek Saddle Club, Director and Head Trainer of Texas Western Dressage, WDAA TTT Graduate and USEF Apprentice Judge Western Dressage.

“ The Difference ”
I first sat in The Difference saddle on my horse VisStok in July 2018.  I was hooked.  As an Equitation rider in Western Dressage my body position is the most import and influential aid I have while in the saddle.  Traditional western saddles have three main factors that prevented me or made it difficult for me to effectively ride my horse for the sport of Western Dressage. First of all, the positioning of the Fender and Stirrups pulled my legs forward if rode in anything than a high-priced Equitation saddle which usually is covered in silver and not within the less is more theory of Western Dressage fashion.  Secondly, the bulky seat and heavy leather of the leg area made riding with my horse and using leg laborious.  And lastly, Large pommels and horns made my arms and hand positioning less correct and less successful for my horse and I to communicate.  The Difference offers a stirrup point attachment directly under the balance point of the seat to allow a rider’s leg to come back and underneath their body.  No more fighting the pull forward into a chair seat position.  The twist in the tree is narrower than traditional western saddles without giving the appearance and feel of a Classical Dressage saddle with western stirrups.  To eliminate the bulk under a rider’s leg, the Difference has cut away the skirt under the fender to allow for the riders to put their full leg in play as an aid and position balancer.  For me having to avoid the horn and large pommel often meant either my horse suffered or my position suffered, which let’s face it, meant that we were both in a needless tug of war around the saddle.  The OSS saddle designs a super small and narrow pommel topped with a small barrel style horn that gives the rider space to have a proper arm and hand position.  Although I have been a professional Western Dressage trainer and rider for 8 years, I have been a riding instructor in Equitation for 20 years.  The Oss Difference saddle makes learning proper Equitation attainable for riders who have struggled in the past.  It’s my choice for my personal horses, my client’s horses and my students.

“ The Hipster ”
As if The Difference could be improved upon!  But it has happened.  Same great balance and features of the original OSS model, The Hipster has new accommodations for both riders and horses.  The new tree design helps a rider with narrower hips.  Think children, men and women with narrow hips and seat bones.  This new tree has also opened up more customization for the horses as well.  As a rider with narrow seat bones I thought The Difference was the narrowest seat I could get in a Western Saddle and I’m more than happy with it.  But when it comes time for my next saddle, I will treat myself and my horses to The Hipster."