Ansur
Mach 2
Dressage Saddles
Manufacturer: Ansur
Model: Mach 2
Category: Dressage Saddles
Purchase: I purchased this saddle used through a private party for $550 including shipping. I came across it on a classified and could not pass it up...no where would I be able to find an Ansur saddle at this low price, nor could I for a while afford what they usually go for ($2,000+). I was getting tired of "musical treed saddles". I had gone through many and it was time to stop and smell the hay :) These treed saddles were not fitting my horses like they should and causing them pain :(
Likes: This saddle is gorgeous! It is an older model and is at least 10 yrs old. The person who sold it to me said that it was one of the "First-Made Ansurs" by the company and so it had "Peter's Tack" on it instead of Ansur. The leather is soft and smells great. It is well taken care of and lovingly used. I love how I have better contact with my horse, yet I still have support to really ride. My horses love it. It fits an Oldenburg and an Arabian (2 totally different body types). This saddle "makes" you sit up right and keep your balance, no mistaking the correct position.
Dislikes: It does take some getting used to if you're not used to REAL close contact. Luckily I am because I've ridden bareback, so it was no surprise. The stirrup "bars" are actually round rings and you can't use webbers with the saddle, you have to use regular old fashioned stirrup leathers with the buckle. The "pommel" it has isn't cutback for high withers, so I have to use a riser pad for my Oldenburg. (on this particular model anyway).
Quality: This saddle is EXCELLENT quality. The leather is soft and cushiony. It's as soft as glove leather, yet has some ripples for grip. There is no channel, because of it being treeless and it has a "foam-like" shock absorbing base and pencil thin knee rolls attached the flap of the saddle itself. The billets are not V-design, but are further apart to almost look/act in a V-design. There are padding pieces you can purchase from Ansur to improve fit on different horses...but this saddle is very versatile being that it's treeless, you have more to work with. It does have a "pommel" and cantle to help you remember the correct position, so you're not just sitting in a flat saddle.
Summary: I would happily buy another as a show saddle. This one will be my schooling saddle and someday when I can afford it I'll buy a brand new one from Ansur (also need a spare for when mom rides with me ;)
This saddle is excellent if you're serious about learning an independent seat. I don't feel claustrophobic in it like I do in treed saddles. I can feel the horse better and there's less "Miscommunication" in this saddle.
Rating: 5
Author: Angela
Date: 0000-00-00
Usefulness Rating: 5 out of 5.
3 reader(s) voted.
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