Are there any drawbacks to a monoflap saddle?

[ButterflyIris]

I'm getting one on trial today.
Are there any drawbacks to a monoflap such as the Frank Baines Reflex?
I can see the positive being closer contact with the horse. This might be nice for me because my horse is so wide... a little less bulk might be a good thing.
I can see one con being that if the leather wears out on the monoflap then there is nothing underneath. (I'm reaching here)

thanks!

[PaulaM]

I just purchased my first Monoflap saddle and I love it. Mine is a Schleese ConneXion. The only thing I have found to date is those straps on my saddle pads all had to come off as there was no place to attach them on the new saddle. But the close contact feeling is well worth it. This is what my saddle looks like:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rmeehan/Horse/003.jpg

[cosmos mom]

I have an Arc De Triomphe monoflap and I love it! Can't imagine any drawbacks!

[ButterflyIris]

I just purchased my first Monoflap saddle and I love it. Mine is a Schleese ConneXion. The only thing I have found to date is those straps on my saddle pads all had to come off as there was no place to attach them on the new saddle. But the close contact feeling is well worth it. This is what my saddle looks like:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rmeehan/Horse/003.jpg

Wow! That is a NICE saddle. thanks!

[lstevenson]

The only thing I have found to date is those straps on my saddle pads all had to come off as there was no place to attach them on the new saddle. But the close contact feeling is well worth it.


Yes, it can be hard to find a saddle pad that you can attach to the saddle in some way. But after looking for a while, I found one which is long enough that I can put the billets through the flap.

Otherwise I love them.

[Fergs]

Yes, it can be hard to find a saddle pad that you can attach to the saddle in some way. But after looking for a while, I found one which is long enough that I can put the billets through the flap.

Otherwise I love them.

The Roma dressage pads (I got mine from Horse Froogle) work great in this sense, although you still will have to cut the front straps off. I thought the pad looked HUGE when I took it out of the packaging, but it's long enough that the billets go through the bottom straps. It also shrunk to a more normal-looking size after washing and drying.

I LOVE my Amerigo Vega monoflap. Love, love, love!

[lizathenag]

I don't use any of the straps on my saddle pads anyway-I either find ones without (like the poly pads) or cut them off. When my saddle pads slip it is either I am doing something funky with my position or the girth is too loose.

the downside to mono flap and long billets in general is it is difficult to tighten the girth mounted. . .(and least for this old stiff girl)

[partita]

I recently bought a FB Reflex too. I discovered the saddle pad thing too, but I usually cut the straps off anyway. Another drawback is that you can't attach sidereins at the appropriate height. You must use a surcingle over the saddle. I'm still playing with padding inbetween as I don't want to scuff up my new saddle with the surcingle. I may just wind up developing a new habit of lungeing in the surcingle, then switching to the saddle immediately after.

[Traum]

My very first dressage saddle was an older Courbette monoflap. I found it in the back of an old western consignment shop for a hundred bucks :D THis saddle was from before Courbette became known as an 'off brand' :) I loved it! It fit the shark fin TB like a glove and I think because of those withers, pads didn't slide around too much. I'd get another monoflap with no hesitation :)

[MyReality]

There is no drawback... make sure you like how the billets come out and attached.

[eponacelt]

The saddle pad thing is the only downside I've found. My old guy has a really nice Childeric that I LOVE. My youngster has a Schleese regular saddle, and while its comfy, and he's about a hand shorter than the old guy, I really appreciate how LIGHT my monoflap Childeric is. Much easier on the old back than lifting the behemoth Schleese. OK...its not that bad, but when you compare the two, I'd rather ride and use the monoflap any day of the week.

[PiaffePlease]

I love my monoflap and, like others said, the only drawback I find is that the you have to find a pad long enough. Ive actually never had a problem, all the pads Ive used with it have worked.

[Sabine]

I also have the monoflap from Schleese and it's amazing....the pads that work best IMO are thinner and have a marked rise throughout the withers area-and must be cut wide over the cantle area so they lay nice and flat. The idea is to have the saddle fit the horse so well that no additional padding (via pad or sheepskin stuff) is needed and that gives you a great closeness to the horse- which is really fun to ride.

[Amchara]

I don't have a dressage monoflap saddle, but I do have a XC monoflap saddle (Jeffries Flyover).

My monoflap has two D-rings on either side near the pommel that I can run the would be billet straps on a saddle through and between. Works like a charm. Maybe a saddle fitter could be found to add these if it bothered you that much?

[BaroquePony]

I have an early Sommer monoflap that I love. The flap is a very thick leather and the billets are completely free underneath so I have no problems with side reins or saddle pads.

Only drawback is that the flap is a bit stiff when tightening the girth, and a little trickier when tightening it while in the saddle. Not much of a drawback for the superior ride of the saddle.

[luise]

I just got a used Devoucoux Makila. yummy. In terms of the saddle pad issue, I would like to get a Barnsby sure grip pad. I have the jump version for my XC saddle, and it is amazing. Has a grippy surface underneath to keep the pad in place on the horse, and a gel-like pad on top to keep the saddle in place. No billet or girth straps are needed. http://www.barnsby.com/accessories/barnsby_dressage_grip_pad/?RangeID=

[BaroquePony]

Does anyone in the US sell the Barnsby pads?

[ESG]

PaulaM, your saddle is gorgeous!

BI, I loff my JC Racinet monoflap. Haven't had it long enough to discover any downside, but I don't think I will. Heavenly!

[luise]

Does anyone in the US sell the Barnsby pads?

http://premierproductsonline.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=ESPD

[BaroquePony]

Thanks.