Design
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My focus has always been on saddle fit for the moving horse, so I've been most impressed with adjustable panels saddles and treeless saddles. I studied treeless saddles when they surged in popularity a decade ago - and saw some great ideas and plenty of bad. As with anything, they evolved, all for the good - of the horse and the rider. Treeless can't work for every horse and every rider (despite the occasional claim,) but they can be an excellent option for a difficult to fit horse. I've now been riding a Ghost for 5 years and have done multi-day 50's and 75 mile rides in great comfort for me and my horse. Many customers report immediate improvements in their horse's attitude and way of going and some riders have eliminated pain they thought they were stuck with forever. A recent success is endurance rider Becky Bianchi and her amazing completion of the Old Dominion 100. She's since completed the NE Triple Crown (OD, VT100, NE 100). We have multiple Tevis completions as well. |
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For thousands of years, people rode bareback or used lambskin or wool blankets. Treed saddles weren't common until the middle ages, when horses went to battle with knights sitting tight in saddles with high fronts and rears, to prevent being tipped out of the saddle by a lance. Early nomads rode for days on their treeless saddles, two cushions on both sides of the spine, held together with leather straps and covered by decorative saddle covers. Images date from approximately 300 BC.
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Ghost saddles are a modern version of these ancient saddles. It has been completely redesigned by a team of leading Treeless Saddle experts. It is an extremely versatile saddle which fits a variety of horses. The Ghost saddle is very stable even on the most difficult to fit horses and has very good spinal clearance and weight distribution created by the use of soft Sympanova panels which creates airflow and breathability. These panels have special foam inserts, which can be added to, if necessary, with additional shims. These panels are movable in position to create the best fit for each horse.
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The base is made from layers of flexible The twist is narrow and the seat is |
The sliding V on the girth rigging is positioned wide for stability and can move to find the best position for the horse and adjust through the stride without disturbing the stability of the saddle. We also have a new, simpler option called the Puro or Cavallin rigging with two wide spaced straps that increases stability. |
Panels (available in two styles) attach via velcro and can be positioned for the individual horse. Closed panels have a neat appearance, but panels with an opening are perfect to allow adjusting rider balance as needed. |
Construction:
The base - the core of your GHOST saddle - is made from layers of strong and flexible material.
- Micropell (synthetic leather)
- Montecchio (fabric from Nylon and Polyurethane)
- Carbon (reinforcements around the stirrup- and rigging)
- Biothane Granite (belting)
- Steel (2mm inside the arch) standard, thinner steel available for broad horses although the the 2mm can be forced wider in those cases
- Stainless steel for rings and studs
The saddle can be used with either traditional English style leathers or fenders that slip onto a 2.5cm /1" leather or western style fenders.
Ghost Treeless Saddle features:
•The Ghost has more "twist” to the seat than other treeless saddles which means less stress on the hips.
•It has a very close contact feel.
•The supportive seat allows you to sit in the correct shoulder-hip-heel position without force.
•Stirrup and girth rigging are built into the side plates of the base, not hung over the spine.
•The panels can be adjusted and also filled with different or extra material.
•Thigh rolls in either a GP or dressage angle offer support and rider security without getting in the way.
•The girth straps are adjustable in position and make the saddle very stable.
•It is light weight (5 - 5.5 kilos, 10-11 pounds)
•There are no hard parts, the saddle is flexible to adapt to the shape of the horse throughout the stride.
•Two stirrup positions to support either a GP or dressage riding style (or a shorter or longer foot).
•Manufactured in Europe (Italy) from environmentally friendly leather, no child labor involved.
•The seats are interchangeable to any style you like as long as it is the same size base.
•A choice of materials including Nubuck, Oiled Nubuck, leather, wool, sheepskin and two synthetic materials are available
•Available in three sizes, Standard (adult ~18"), Piccolo (small adult ~17") and Bambini (child ~16")
•Very well priced for quality, workmanship and design.
Demo and purchase:
We have a 14 day demo program so you spend enough time riding in the saddle to make sure it works for both you and your horse. Once you have demoed a Ghost and seen for yourself how amazing they are, we can put together the perfect order for you via phone or email. Or use the product selection on the saddle pages. Demo models come with a return shipping label.
A non-custom saddle can be returned in NEW condition (please wrap stirrup leathers and remove girth from rigging after each use) with response via email or phone within 14 days for full refund less shipping and $100 restocking fee. If you have ordered a customized saddle (other than black/brown, leather or oiled nubuck, standard or economy models), I will be happy to help you sell it.
Ghost is willing to customize various items like extra D rings or even flap length. I recommend an extra pair of D's in the front for breast collar attachments as I always suggest attaching them as low as possible. I will default this request in my orders, so if you don't want the extra rings, let me know. And if you want more, just describe and we'll get them put on. Keep in mind that customization in design, color, or materials means the saddle can't be returned, so I highly recommend demoing to make sure the saddle will work for you and your horse before going too crazy with options!
NOTE: Prices are subject to change based upon the Euro to dollar exchange rate.