FAQs
The Total Contact Saddle will fit any horse of any size or age, from Shetlands to Shires and everyone in between. Many customers choose the Total Contact Saddle when their horse is hard to fit, and it’s especially popular for horses who change shape – those whose weight fluctuates seasonally, those who are still growing, flat backed horses and short backed and older horses. Both the long girth strap and short girth strap fits all size horses, it’s purely your preference if you want to use a normal girth or a dressage girth. For more information, read our user guide.
You can do any riding you’d do in any other saddle! We have riders use their TCS for anything and everything from pleasure hacking to endurance rides, jumping and dressage to cross country. It’s a very gentle saddle that’s brilliant when first bringing your horse into riding, and provides beautiful connection and bond between you and your horse – no matter what kind of riding you like to do together.
The simple answer is that no it doesn't. To ensure that the Total Contact Saddle is completely safe for your horses’ spine, the TCS has been professionally pressure tested. Results show that there is less strain on your horse than would be experienced in any other saddle. The only pressure we ask you to be mindful of is your seatbones, if you have sharp seatbones please adjust the padding you use so your horse does not feel them.
The saddle has also been seen by a wide range of 'back practitioners' and specialists including osteopaths, equine physio, McTImoney practitioners, Bowen and others. Many are now clients, and recommend the saddle to their own clients with confidence.
If you have a high-withered horse, we would recommend using your Total Contact Saddle in conjunction with our specially designed Saddle Seat pad
The Classic Total Contact Saddle Pad is perfect, and specially designed to be used with your Total Contact Saddle. For riders who have a high-withered horse, or who would like a little more support, you might like to use our TC Saddle Seat pad. For detailed information on padding, please read our user guide.
No! It’s no more likely to slide than a tree’d saddle in fact less likely. Many people have moved to the TCS to solve this problem.
We’d always recommend mounting from a block, regardless of what saddle you might be riding in. However, many customers mount their horses from the ground when riding with their Total Contact Saddle. Mounting from the ground isn’t quite as easy with a TCS as there’s no pommel or cantle to hold on to, but it’s certainly possible! For more information on riding in your TCS, please read our user guide.
It's purely down to your preference what type of girth you
like to use. The shorter billet (Girth straps) is intended for those
that wish to use a longer/standard length of girth and the longer billet for those that wish to use a short/dressage style of girth, longer would also be the choice if you wanted to use a cinch but you may need a converter for the cinch to fit the buckles. The body on both the saddles are the same size. The only caveat is, if you don't have the flexibility to bend down and adjust a short under girth then you might want the short billet! Other than that both saddles fit all horses and humans.
The Premium saddle is made from the very highest quality saddle leather using the Butt leather from the hide, it is a bit thicker than the Classic and comes highly oiled and is also available in Tan. The Classic saddle uses a very high quality leather from the same hide and comes lightly oiled. Both saddles are finished in a textured print.
You can use any type of stirrup that suits your needs and fits your leathers. The stirrup bar attachment on the saddle allows for a range of stirrup leathers, and even western fenders, to be used. This includes the standard English style as well as Webbers. We suggest Webbers T Bar stirrups as they are flatter and create less bulk under the thigh.
The stirrup bars are further down the saddle than on a conventional saddle to eliminate unnecessary pressure, and as a result you will need stirrup leathers that are 4-5 holes shorter than you normally use. We recommend our T bar leathers which are perfect for your Total Contact Saddle. As a guide, we generally find that riders 5’0 to approx. 5’6 in height find the 24 inch webber the best length with still enough holes left for adjustment.
For an approximate guide
20" drop 12.5" to 17"
22" drop 14" to 18"
24" drop 15" to 20"
26" drop 16" to 22.5"
The Total Contact Saddle is supplied without stirrup leathers, but we sell a selection of branded leathers that match the saddle perfectly – you can see them here. For more information on choosing the right length stirrup leathers, please read our user guide.
Clients compete in a wide range of activities in their TCS! Do check the rules before you enter, just to be sure that you are allowed to compete in a treeless saddle.
Yes! We’re pleased to offer the opportunity for our UK based customers to trial a saddle for two weeks. Your trial saddle will be brand new and the style and colour of your choice, made just for you. You’ll pay a refundable deposit of £150 plus a non-refundable postage charge of £15. If (when!) you decide to keep the saddle, we’ll send you an invoice for the balance. In the unlikely event that you decide the TCS is not for you, simply return it fully tracked in perfect condition and in the original packaging at your own expense. Footnote We are excited to say we are offering trial saddles to the US now
We’d be only too pleased to help. Please send your questions directly to lisa@total-contact.co.uk. (Please check your spam as sometimes the reply email gets sent there!)
