"Months! I spent months searching for a dressage saddle to fit my wide-shouldered, narrow-bodied saddlebred. When I finally tried the Ansür saddle, he loved it. His trot was bigger; his shoulder was looser; his back was no longer sore. Success! When I bought my new horse, a 17 hand Dutch thoroughbred cross, the same saddle fit, and he also loved it with the same results. I never imagined the same saddle could fit two such different horses and with improvement in both of their gaits and comfort."– Lucy F.

My Ansür is my first choice on the trail, even for very long rides.Judy R. and Combate de Plebeyo, Reserve World Champion Paso Fino Pleasure Gelding.

Thanks again to everybody who gave me their opinion on the Ansür. I bought one and received it last week, and I was happy from day one. The quality is absolutely wonderful, totally even stitching, superb leather, all together better than a lot of famous brand names. *

Now I would like you to know, how it has helped my horse:

1. He does not move away anymore, when I come with the saddle, figure why.
2. He moves with a lot more freedom in his shoulder.
3. His back is nice and loose, just swinging.
4. He is not trying to come behind the bit anymore, like he used to. I think, since nothing pinches anymore, he does not have to brace against anything.
5. He is getting the correct canter lead (which he had trouble on) now every single time.

Now why do I love the saddle.

1. Naturally, because my horse loves it.
2. It lets me sit in the correct position without me fighting for it, like in my old saddle.
(*Mind you, I have to do some stretches before I get on, my horse is 18 hands and pretty solid build).
3. Very comfortable on my butt.
4. I can sit the trot and canter way better and deeper. I suspect it is because his back muscles (in canter) don't need to push up against the saddle, that way pushing me up, they just gently lift the saddle.
5. The saddle is very easy to lift on a big horse, because it does not weigh a lot.
6. And one more, very important thing, it does not allow me, to collapse in a hip, sit crooked or what not. I notice my mistake right away and because of it, I can fix it very quick.

And there are a lot more things I like about this saddle, but it's time to go and feed my guys.

Petra, B.C., Canada

Photo Credit:http://www.danarasmussen.com/

Karen Rohlf and Ovation, her-6 yr-old  Holsteiner/Paint ... started and ridden exclusively in the Ansur...  the only saddle he likes!.www.dressagenaturally.net

I have been riding in the Ansur Classic since 2004. I never thought I would, as I am very particular about biomechanics and the Ansur seems to break many of the standard saddle fitting ‘rules’. But as I have learned, many normal methods of doing things have room for re-examination!

I became addicted to a feeling of closeness on my horse after remembering how to ride bareback. After that, I found it frustrating to put regular treed saddles between my horse and me. I became acutely aware of their feelings of restriction. I also became frustrated with a treed saddle not being able to adapt to the ever-changing posture and muscle development in my horses.

At the same time, I knew that my horses needed more protection from my boney seat bones while riding bareback. The Ansur seems to be the perfect solution. I have enough protection for my horses, yet still feel like I am riding a horse, not a saddle. I can literally feel the muscles of my horse warm and engage through the Ansur.

Recently I again, tried many treed dressage saddles with custom fittings from experts, thinking I ‘should’ have one. But it became very clear how much extra movement those saddles add to the system. I didn’t like that I felt the horse less, and some artificial sensations from the saddle more. My horses also complained.

I love that it can go on any horse and with just a little thought of what kind of pad to use, there is almost no way it can’t fit! I have a grey horse that is so sensitive, he will get a rub from a fly mask, (or seemingly anything that touches him twice in the same place) and he has never gotten a rub from the Ansur Classic, even on his withers. Like many first time Ansur users, I couldn’t believe it was allowed to sit on the withers, but my horses never complained, so I stopped worrying! I also get a dry line down the spine, which lets me know that they are not getting too much pressure there.

The bottom line is the ‘weird looking saddle’ that I thought would sit in the back of my tack room is the only one I use now! I do believe that no one piece of equipment can be the perfect solution for every horse and rider at all times, but I do know that my horses and I sure are happy with it!

Karen Rohlf: Dressage trainer and Natural Horseman. Author of book/DVD: Dressage, Naturally: A guide to the basics of dressage from a natural perspective. And the Results in Harmony Video Series

After purchasing an Ansür Classic, Hammer and I scored a test winning 78.5% from judge Nan Williamson - at our very first show! I know the freedom and comfort that he now feels, has facilitated our training. He moves freely from the shoulder and even earned comments including 'shows lift' and 'lovely steps' on our comment sheet - increasingly difficult achievements for this aging, heavy 17h Hannovarian.

Thanks to everyone at Ansür for your hard work. Our first win on our first try is a testament to the effectiveness of these saddles.Thanks,Leslie and Hammer

Tuscani Aramis, my 8yo Welsh Cob stallion, and I, have been riding in the Ansür Classic for 6 weeks now and we both LOVE it!! He has never had a more supple back, impulsion, and relaxation until the Ansür. Thanks for making a wonderful saddle! Barb V., Stagecoach Cobs, Elizabeth, Colorado

Hi there,

I've had my classic saddle for 5 months now and the progress I've made with my 24-year old Appaloosa is just unbelievable - it has really given him a new lease of life.

Where before I would spend 45 minutes schooling and begin to see results in the last ten minutes, I now have my horse working in a round outline from the moment I sit on him. This has allowed us to benefit from all the time we're dedicating to our work, rather than just 25% or so of it.

At times I've thought my horse's days were numbered, and now (though I'm not sure my Ansür is entirely the cause of this!), we are competing in dressage and doing some local jumping classes. You'll see from the photo just how well Fred is looking.

You'll be interested to know that we now have 5 Ansürs on our yard with another due to arrive in the next week or so. My vet has also commented on how improved my horse looks and I have forwarded your website info to him as he feels other clients may be interested.

Many thanks - Sian

Here is a photo showing how the Classic holds up, 3+ years later with daily use and how training with it has allowed this 4 year old to bloom! He's on his way to qualifying for all the year end awards and championships and will be heavily campaigned in '03 wearing it!! – Debbie

Laurentino and Cynthia schooling

I purchased one of your saddles about a year and a half ago. After riding many horses in the Ansür, as well as having many of my students ride in them, I have noticed that every single time I add this saddle into the equation the result is one or all of the following:

The horses relax their backs almost immediately.

The riders have to fix any crookedness in their position, and can, due to the fact that the saddle will let them know if they are hanging on, leaning, or riding crooked in any way.

The horses become more rhythmic and calm.

The riders can sit the horses better due to the absence of the rebound effect that a saddle with a rigid tree gives. (Many of them were shocked to find themselves jumping around in the saddle when they fist sat the trot in the Ansür...they were expecting all the extraneous movement that they were dealing with before...and on big warmbloods, you just don't need extra movement to sit!)

The riders do not get tossed around on a fractious horse, due to the fact that the horse does not have a rigid tree to act like a paddle to launch the rider off of his back. (All the horses so far have quit being fractious, but there is the occasional horse fly!) (This was one worry that I had in the beginning - would my students be able to ride this saddle if something violent occurred...but they can ride better in the Ansür!)

The horses seem to be able to bend better in the body, especially in all of the into the bend movements like haunches in, halfpass and pirouette. (I suppose the ease with which they are progressing is due to the fact that the saddle is not restricting them... But I would love to take the credit!)

The horses are not resenting being saddled up. (The new ones we started never even showed a tad of discomfort, even on the first ride! And the old guys that came from other places gave up the biting and growling habits they had upon saddling.)

The riders are being able to keep quiet seats and legs, and as a result the horses are more light to the aids. (The riders just plain give up all the old bad habits and just sit there quietly on this saddle...the horses love it!)

The riders are finding the true rhythm and movement of the horses.

We are all wondering why everyone is not riding in this saddle! – Cynthia

p.s. I didn't tell you, but I have 7 inch Titanium rods in my back making all movement in my lower back impossible. The Ansür has enabled me to ride without pain for the first time in ten years. I ride a Holsteiner stallion with a ton of movement, and constantly get comments about his supple back and my supple seat.

"My horse ('Magic') had the funniest reaction to it. When he saw the saddle he knew it was not his bareback pad, and immediately he wrinkled his nose, pinned his ears back and stared at me with half closed eyes. Not good! So I went ahead and put the saddle on him and he stood there for about 2 seconds, Then suddenly his eyes got all wide and he actually turned around to look at the saddle on his back... At first he was holding himself very rigid, until he discovered that the saddle actually would yield to his movements. The same thing happened again, from one step to the next he started to reach out and forward with long strides. And that was all she wrote, from then on we had no problems, no more defensive behavior. The canter work is just lovely and balanced. The saddle provides a superbly unrestricted seat, and my heels are actually under me.

On behalf of 'Magic' and myself I would like to thank the developers of this saddle, saddle makers, and of course 'Bronze'! Without the saddle we would not have been able to show again."

Sabine

...18 months later:

"I purchased my Ansür saddle in January 2000. I am very pleased with it, matter of fact we recently won a reserve championship for 4th level at our last show. Not too bad for a Paso Fino cross that had problems making it through a 2nd level test not even a year ago. The saddle has made all the difference in the world. People that know me and my horse constantly remark on how he is reaching forward now and how relaxed in the back he has become. We are working on piaffe and passage now, which is a piece of cake for my horse now. He actually likes being ridden now and shows great enthusiasm."

Sabine

and still later:

"Hi there,

......before I found the Ansür, I was riding my horse in a bareback pad and had resigned myself to not being able to show. We, here we are now, working on our debut in F.E.I. How about that" – Sabine