Client Testimonial



Dearest Angela and Ken:

The November day your saddle arrived I was in Germany that week with Michael Klimke. The first day I returned and every day since, I have ridden Renaissance in your saddle. The change in this horse has been immediate. He is much more willing and free within the shoulder. Mounting and basic tacking is no longer an uncomfortable event. His back, loin, and hip no longer palpate positive for inflammation or tenderness.

J.T. Burnley
Fulton, KY


Hi Ken and Angela,

I just wanted to let you know that Heather and Harmonie are LOVING the saddle!!! We can't believe the positive changes that we have been seeing in Harmonie since we got the new saddle. We are just so grateful that we didn't have to spend a fortune in vet bills!

Nancy H.
Ormond Beach, FL



Angela and Ken, Thank you for all of your help on Sunday. It was very nice to meet you, and listening to what you had to say about saddle fit was enlightening. I especially appreciated the time you took with us, I never felt that I had to hurry, I always felt that you would listen to me and answer any questions I had. I truly noticed and appreciated the change in the feel of my saddle after your adjustments, and I believe my horse will benefit significantly.

Martha H.
Sarasota, FL


Hi Angela, More than wonderful! The saddle arrived TUE and I tried it out on YD - what a total difference... I finally feel I have a place to sit without disturbing the horse - that the saddle is part of me. I feel I'm in th right spot and that there's nothing between the horse and me. It seems the horses are quite happy too... Can't wait to ride Monday...

Kris O.
Springfield, KY


(VET REFERRAL)

Ken,

I rode Morgan yesterday with the saddle in the "new" position, and she seemed freer in trot than before, and lifted her tail - which has been glued to her rear end for ever! I haven't ridden Virginia yet, not wanting to make her back sorer, but now that I have the saddle pad, and shims, I look forward to a gradual improvement.

M. Brewer
Villa Rica, Ga

UPDATE:
Ken,

The saddle and pad fitting have proven to be really beneficial and I am so pleased with the way she is going. I seem to have no resistance and she is going so immediately forward on trot command that I am having trouble not getting left behind.

M. Brewer


Ken and Angela,

I am so glad you were at the Turning Point Dressage Show in September! I knew my saddle needed something, and I figured it was re-stuffing. Your expertise allowed me to spend much less money than another saddle fitter might have cost, as you recommended a special shim pad, therapeutic foam inserts, and girth instead of remaking my saddle, which fits me very well. Better yet, I got the opportunity to try exactly what you recommended at the show and see the difference in Magic’s performance. I felt the difference in how I sat in the saddle, and I experienced the “stretch” in Magic, as he relaxed in a more comfortable fit. I look forward to receiving my new pad and girth I ordered to see the long-term benefit! I must say, Magic was completely taken by your “horse-side manner” in scratching his neck!
(And for your readers, let me also say that Magic is totally blind, but he trusted Ken instantly, as he certainly has the “touch” that my horse just loved!)

I look forward to hearing from you. Best,

Lynn


Angela and Ken,

I want to thank you guys so much for what you have done for me. I started riding Sugar again in the dressage saddle that Ken adjusted for me on Friday 9/10 after she had a month off. She is like a completely different horse. Typically she's quite a handfull after she has not been ridden in a while and I had been having to fight with her so much before her saddle was fixed. The first day I got on her she was AWESOME, and I have ridden her every day since then. I have not had one bad day with her. She moves so good now and does not fight me or pull on me at all. She collects with ease when I ask her to and I don't have to fight with her at all to keep her collected. She doesn't feel rushed at all and actually feels completely relaxed. She has never felt that way before. I think this is the best she has been since I got her a year and a half ago. I am so happy with how she is now and I thank you guys so much for that. I will definitely call you whenever i get a new jumping saddle. I also didn't at any point feel like Ken was in it just for the money. He spent almost 4 hours with me and wanted to make sure the saddle fit her perfectly before he left. Once again I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the way Sugar is now and how glad I am that I called you guys. It has made all the difference in the world. Thank you so much for everything and I will be getting in touch with you again as soon as I find a new jumping saddle.

Austell, GA


Hi Angela-

Siebe doesn't seem as bothered with tacking up now - he used to fuss a lot when I would put the other saddle on. And I definitely sit with more balance now and am not losing my stirrups - don't feel like I"m falling into a hole to the left anymore! Once we really get back to work, I'm sure I'll feel even more of a dramatic difference.

Newnan, GA


Hey guys,

I just wanted to let everyone know that Holly is doing awesome! I have been riding her 4 to 5 times a week and she just keeps getting better and better. She is becoming a totally different horse. Yesterday we had a break through!!! I have been working with Holly to relax her back and come down on the bit and to enjoy being worked. Well, yesterday I actually felt her lift up her back while being on the bit! It was the most amazing feeling ever! At first I thought that she was getting ready to buck me off but then I realized that all the time, effort, and money I put into helping her was actually paying off. We only got this feeling at the walk and for only about half the ring but it makes everything worth it. I just wanted to thank you guys for helping Holly and I reach this point. This is the first time in a long time that I actually cant wait to go out to the barn and ride! It is nice to see that everything we have all done for her is actually paying off! I just thought yall would like to hear how she is doing! Thanks again for all of yall's help, time and effort put into Holly.

Marietta, GA


*UPDATE*
Holly was awesome this weekend!!! I was so proud of her. I really just wanted her to get some more experience at horse shows and honestly I did not care how we placed. I was more worried about me being happy with how she rode. On Saturday in the Green horse cross rail division Holly won all three class so obviously we got division champion. Overall it really was not bad for her first full course at a horse show in 2 years! She did such an incredible job, was relaxed and was moving beautifully. So we ended the day off with winning the flat class!!!

Marietta, GA


You guys are fabulous! That did the trick with Mickey, the saddle stays put, and no more pushing into the withers or rocking. Thank you thank you thank.

Newnan, Ga


I am very excited. I had a LOT of reservations as I have a very bad lower back and hips (since I was 14 years old and my dad is a chiropractor, but this is a chronic and lifelong condition). Many of my previous saddles would leave me crippled the next day after cantering. So, I was very nervous ordering a saddle not knowing how my body would react. Well, I cantered today and was so balanced. I was able to sit the canter better than I ever had, AND MY BACK IS LOOSE AND WONDERFUL...NO STIFFNESS AT ALL. I can't tell you how relieved I was...I was so nervous and apprehensive. Thanks again for everything.

Alpharetta, GA


Just wanted to let you know...i LOVE my new saddle! You know, i've used my (saddle brand deleted) for every horse i've trained...i was so used to it, i had no idea what a difference a good saddle would make...i finally got tired of Paula nagging me about it (i also have learned to listen to her judgment)...i decided that it had to be good for the horse to have a saddle that fits. I NEVER dreamed that a properly fitting saddle would help ME so much. Every time i ride in it, i seem to fit it better and better, today i was sitting a trot that i used to find impossible..the security it provides me is allowing my aids to go thru FI. The best way i can describe it is, we're better "connected" than ever!

Calhoun, GA


Dear Angela & Ken,

You do go over and beyond the realm of "just customer service." That is why I want only you to work on my stuff. I know you'll do a great job, and do what is best for my horse.

Mansfield, GA


Angela & Ken,

I was so amazed at how the saddle broke in almost immediately. When I unpacked it and just moving it around to check it out, it certainly had the dreaded new saddle 'squeak' and I wondered how long I would have to ride in it before that would go away. Once I girthed it up and started to ride it never made another 'squeak' and was like I had ridden in it quite a lot before. It tipped me forward just a bit at first but by 20 minutes into the ride the panels seemed to settle and I felt balanced. Danny worked great in it as well. I just love this saddle!

Horse Shoe, NC


Angela,

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the saddle fitting clinic at Palmetto Ridge on Saturday. I learned quite a bit, and was very happy to see the changes in Bo with the wider saddle. (I even ran home and tried our two widest saddles on him, but unfortunately they weren't quite wide enough, and rocked a bit too much and would probably pinch his shoulders-previously I would have said they were good enough, but after feeling how happy Bo was in the extra-wide, I don't want to ever put something that's too narrow on him again).

Bishopville, SC


Wow, you guys really busy and I think it's great for you and also that people are becoming so much more aware of the problems saddle create. Denise tells me that Margaret's quarter horse has never been happier since he got his new saddle - she told me his whole personality has changed. I need to push more people your way too - now I'm riding again I can start boasting about the saddle again!

Newnan, GA


Angela

I was talking to Sheila this morning and she told me about her saddle and that she just loves it and can't believe the difference it has made in her horse. Thought I'd pass that on.

Newnan, GA


I wanted to let you both know how very much we appreciate your help and the significant time you spent with us on Monday. The education and enthusiasm you bring to what you do was very refreshing.

Stone Mountain, GA


May / June 2002 issue of Georgia Arabian Horse Association

      I knew my saddle wasn't going to fit my new gelding, Amir (El Tareef). He had extremely flat withers, was very wide across the shoulder, and had a table top of a back. I kept telling myself it was okay; I didn't need a new saddle yet. My current saddle would do, at least until we got serious about showing.

      Although his saddle did not slip forward, it did slide to the left and I was constantly adjusting my position while riding. Since this was the same problem I had with the other horse I was riding, I naturally assumed this was related to my riding and was just something I was going to have to live with. I had constantly been instructed to put more weight in my right stirrup - read on! My unbalanced riding resulted in miscues and confusion while trying to train my young, green horse. He was trying to understand what I was asking, but there were mixed signals all over the place, literally!

      Amir was also developing a "hitch" in his trot, which seemed to be coming from the shoulder area. "Conveniently", these developments occurred as Angela Brock (Douglasville, GA) Master Saddlers Association (MSA) Saddle Fitter, was visiting the farm with her husband Ken, for a halter seminar! Angela looked at Amir and took the first reading in January, she saw he was higher on one shoulder than the other - quite common I am given to understand. Angela confirmed what I thought about my too-narrow saddle pinching him at the shoulder, hence the hitching. Angela also asked me if I tended to ride on one side of the horse. When I replied "YES", Angela assured me it was Amir's symmetry (not my riding) and I was anxious to learn more - could this actually be fixed? But still I held fast that I couldn't manage a new saddle yet.

      It was now a month after Angela had first looked at Amir, and he had developed some soreness where I was constantly twisting on him, trying to rebalance my position. His reading had changed also and he was now developing through his left side. Another interesting and "light bulb" discovery was that while Amir pushed the saddle off to the right while standing still - once he was in motion, for whatever unexplainable reason, the saddle pushed off to the left - without me on board! No wonder I was always hanging on and climbing up-hill! Angela temporarily fixed this by using shims (similar to the material that the Swedish orthopedic beds are made of), to compensate for Amir's muscular deficiencies, so I could feel what a correctly balanced saddle felt like. For the first time in years, I was riding straight!

      More importantly, and this was what sold on a new saddle, the hitching in the trot stopped immediately with a change of saddles! Amir's movement was so much bigger, and lighter, that it took me by surprise. As I settled into the saddle I realized I was feeling the gait that I had admired while longing Amir but didn't feel I was getting under saddle.

      It took us a couple of weekends of saddle testing (had to make sure I was comfortable in the saddle) and I placed my order for my new saddle. I was truly convinced by my experience that I had to find the money to replace my saddle. It was the only way I was going to enjoy my horse, and compete to the level I wanted to, without causing long-term damage.

      And now I'm counting the days (hours and minutes) until the new saddle arrives!

Paul Ankersen
Chapel Farms Arabians
Newnan, GA

UPDATE: June 03, 2003
      I've been having some really good rides. My saddle is doing great - more than anything Angela, you have no idea how it feels to ride straight and balanced and I really feel like I am riding my horse, not hanging on. I can literally wrap myself around him...awesome!