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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Are their different versions of this saddle? I was looking for something with shoulder flare and have had several people suggest this saddle, but the ones I have looked (by pictures) at don't appear to flare much at all and look quite narrow. |
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 No Name Nancy
Posts: 2715
 
Location: never in the right place | she has a new wide fit saddle and will send it to you on trial. Meleta's board name is wimpyb and you just need to get on her list for trial. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I just emailed her the same thing. I had the regular tree one and it was too narrow for my horse but it did have a ton of flare. I'm wanting to talk to her about the wide tree also. I know she comes on this board sometimes.. Hopefully she sees your post. I'm excited about the wide tree!!! |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| The original isn't as wide, then there's the freedom fit which flares. I don't know about the wide. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Oh okay, so not all the meleta browns are the freedom fit? |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Buckles - 2014-06-03 8:09 AM Oh okay, so not all the meleta browns are the freedom fit?
No, especially the older models are not, and they do still make an original tree. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I'm torn between this or a crown C. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Cactus CJ's have a lot of flare |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Guiness - 2014-06-03 8:13 AM I'm torn between this or a crown C.
They are like apples and oranges. Crown C trees are weird. I'd go with the Meleta in a heartbeat. Girls Gotta Jet, just tried a Crown C and a Meleta. She's going with the Meleta. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Nateracer - 2014-06-03 8:29 AM Guiness - 2014-06-03 8:13 AM I'm torn between this or a crown C. They are like apples and oranges. Crown C trees are weird. I'd go with the Meleta in a heartbeat. Girls Gotta Jet, just tried a Crown C and a Meleta. She's going with the Meleta.
I agree, totally different fits. I do like the way the Crown C rides a little bit better, but the Meleta saddle isn't far behind. I tried her freedom fit demo and it fit everything beautifully except the horse I needed it for. LOL It had enough flare for him but he needs the flatter bars of her new tree and it's only available in a 15 right now. When I ran across a good deal on a used one, I went ahead and bought it for when my 4 year old mare outgrows the crown c. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Giving this a bump, hoping that Wimpy will see this  |
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 Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I think she is away for the week. I'll let her know this thread is here. Her saddle is literally the only one that fits my impossible gelding |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I wish the wide one came in 14" |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Guiness - 2014-06-03 10:41 AM I wish the wide one came in 14"
It's going to eventually. They had to make some adjustments and it's not a priority for the tree maker, so nothing is being done quickly--that's what Meleta told me recently. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Nateracer - 2014-06-03 8:29 AM
Guiness - 2014-06-03 8:13 AM I'm torn between this or a crown C.
They are like apples and oranges. Crown C trees are weird. I'd go with the Meleta in a heartbeat. Girls Gotta Jet, just tried a Crown C and a Meleta. She's going with the Meleta.
I have a hard to fit mare and the crown C just didn't work for me or her, it threw me forward, set downhill on my mare and left dry spots everywhere. I got a Meleta and it fits like a dream for both of us. I needed the flare on the shoulder and the Meleta did that. Plus is super comfy and keeps me where I need to be during a run. Heck we even made a little money this past weekend in it. Looks like it's the saddle for me. :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Guiness - 2014-06-03 8:13 AM
I'm torn between this or a crown C.
Ride in both and then compare. That's what I had to do. I ended up siding with the crates. |
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 Chin Hairs
Posts: 1028
Location: Indiana | "Paging wimpyb, paging wimpyb.....
We have 2 and I love them, wimp's great to work with. Talk to her, she will help you and is very easy to talk to. And she won't sell you something that she doesn't think will work.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| I must have seen the older versions, not the freedom fit, probably why they were on the cheaper side. I have already tried the crates with equifit tree (not meleta) and it didn't fit my horse. Most of the ones that state for sure they are the freedom fit are priced higher, so I never inquired about them, I just can't afford one!
I didnt' realize Wimpyb was Meleta lol!
Edited by Buckles 2014-06-03 12:18 PM
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2930
Location: North Dakota | Just want to say that you should get in touch with Meleta. She is amazing! You can also send her pictures of your horse and she can make a suggestion on which saddle will potentially fit your horse the best.
I loved the way her saddle fit my horse. It was just amazing. However, it was my butt that couldn't get used to the seat.  So I didn't end up getting one. Super nice saddle indeed though! I would recommend it to anyone.
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Meleta is traveling right now to Wyoming.
I will send her the link to this thread and when she gets landed she will answer it.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Okay, so I looked up one on crates website that I had found for sale and I think it is the freedom fit. It is a 9231 |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Buckles - 2014-06-03 8:27 PM Okay, so I looked up one on crates website that I had found for sale and I think it is the freedom fit. It is a 9231
As long as it is a Crates and it has Meletas name on it, you should be good buying a used saddle. Not sure how they tell the new tree from the original but I doubt there are too many MB saddles with the new tree for sale used right now.
I did have a Meleta Brown made by a different saddle maker, not a fan of that one, the Crates MB saddles are the ones you want. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Nevertooold - 2014-06-03 2:36 PM Meleta is traveling right now to Wyoming.
I will send her the link to this thread and when she gets landed she will answer it.
There is another young lady on here looking for help with a saddle for her dad to ride with her. Please tell her about that too. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | sorrel horse ranch - 2014-06-03 10:01 PM Nevertooold - 2014-06-03 2:36 PM Meleta is traveling right now to Wyoming.
I will send her the link to this thread and when she gets landed she will answer it.
There is another young lady on here looking for help with a saddle for her dad to ride with her. Please tell her about that too.
I sent her a link to this thread. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Thank you! Those of you that do have on, is it comfortable enough that you could spend hours in it on the trail as well? |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Buckles - 2014-06-04 5:30 AM Thank you! Those of you that do have on, is it comfortable enough that you could spend hours in it on the trail as well?
I could. I have issues with saddles that are wide in the seat making my hips hurt--it's surprising how many barrel saddles are made that way. My Meleta saddle doesn't hurt me. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I have to say I felt a little perchy on mine. BUT that is why I'm inquiring about the wide tree because maybe it was just too narrow for my horse. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | I felt a little "perchy" in mine the first few rides as well. But I was coming out of a treeless. I've since dropped my stirrups a tad and worked on dropping my weight down to my heels. After a couple weeks I'm comfortable in it now and riding much better. Fits my guy like a glove. Oh and the one I bought is an old Meleta Brown by crates. Fits exactly like the trial version she sent me. I didn't need the wide. :) She is awesome to work with!!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 964
Location: Alberta, Canada | I ordered a freedom fit from Meleta a year ago. She is phenominal to deal with!
The shoulders DO have a ton of flare. I find it fits everything from my blocky 15HH cowbred mare to my racey 16HH appendix mare.
I'm not currently riding any of my competition horses in my meleta but I won't sell it. I find that it fits everything I put it on very well! I'm not sure about the new wide tree as I ride narrower horses. The only reason I'm not competing in it is because it has a touch too much rock for my good mare (BUT, I have rode it on her and I do get even solid sweat patterns) and my futurity horse is too narrow to fit it at this point. I fully expect him to be in it next season.
I do ride all my colts in this saddle. It's a very nice, well rounded tree and Meleta is absolutely amazing. I literally did all my ordering and communication with her via pm'ing on here! |
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 Cinnamon Honey One
Posts: 6549
Location: between here and there | Hi everyone! I had to run into town to get service and I'm so far behind. The original saddle is the Freedom and the new one is too. The difference in the two will depend on how your horse is built. The original one has plenty of flare in the shoulders, but made for a horse with the dip in the back or behind the shoulders. It has more rock in the tree overall.
The new tree is so new there has only been one sold and the others are being made right now. It is made for a flatter back with the flared shoulders still. Less rock in the tree makes it sit down better on the flat backed horses. I use it on my big gelding that is about 16-2 hands and huge all over. I ride him on the ranch for hours at a time. Hope that helps clear it up some! Pictures of the saddles will look the same on the original as well as the new saddle. I'll be in WY for about 3-4 mths. at least. If anyone wants to email or facebook me, I can send you pictures of horses the saddle is working well on.
Meleta |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | wimpyb - 2014-06-04 3:58 PM Hi everyone! I had to run into town to get service and I'm so far behind. The original saddle is the Freedom and the new one is too. The difference in the two will depend on how your horse is built. The original one has plenty of flare in the shoulders, but made for a horse with the dip in the back or behind the shoulders. It has more rock in the tree overall. The new tree is so new there has only been one sold and the others are being made right now. It is made for a flatter back with the flared shoulders still. Less rock in the tree makes it sit down better on the flat backed horses. I use it on my big gelding that is about 16-2 hands and huge all over. I ride him on the ranch for hours at a time. Hope that helps clear it up some! Pictures of the saddles will look the same on the original as well as the new saddle. I'll be in WY for about 3-4 mths. at least. If anyone wants to email or facebook me, I can send you pictures of horses the saddle is working well on. Meleta
Do you have any idea how long I held my thumb out waiting for you????? And you never came??? I'm jealous....I want to get away for several months :) |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I'm so excited to try the new saddle!!! I hope it will be available soon!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Buckles - 2014-06-04 5:30 AM
Thank you! Those of you that do have on, is it comfortable enough that you could spend hours in it on the trail as well?
YES!!! I rode in a MB standard tree and didn't like the way it felt on me, and rode in the Freedom fit and loved it!! I didn't have the typical saddle roll that you have on new saddles. I'm still in the demo trying stage and so far I really don't want to give this one up it fits soooo well!! LOL!! |
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I don't think Meleta will mind if I jump in here and start sharing photos :) She has been an unbelievably tremendous help with my horse. He is literally IMPOSSIBLE to fit a saddle to. Until I met Meleta :) She has spent countless hours educating me on saddle fit and looked at literally dozens and dozens of pictures for me.
Anyways, this is NOT the newest saddle. This is the one that has the rock to the tree. The one designed to fit a horse with a dip in their back. This horse also has extremely wide and extremely ROUND shoulders. The one thing I had to learn with Meleta's saddle is to slide it back off his shoulders. I was using a Caldwell on him that I thought fit great, but it was designed to sit over a horses shoulders, and it sored him horribly. Anyways. here are some photos. The thing I do appreciate most for myself is that the seat is more narrow then most saddles. I'm smaller, 5 foot 3, and average 130 pounds, so I would easly get sore in the pelvis and hips after hours of riding even though I've spent a lifetime riding. I don't get sore at all in her saddle. Though it does take some getting used to :)
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Thank you, really appreciate the pictures. This may not work for my horse if it has more rock, that's disappointing! He is pretty straight backed and why I am having such a hard time fitting him, everything just wants to rock back and forth as soon as he walks off.
Edited by Buckles 2014-06-04 7:02 PM
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Buckles - 2014-06-04 8:00 PM Thank you, really appreciate the pictures. This may not work for my horse if it has more rock, that's disappointing! He is pretty straight backed and why I am having such a hard time fitting him, everything just wants to rock back and forth as soon as he walks off.
Her newest saddle is designed for a horse like yours, with the flatter back. |
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Cinnamon Honey One
Posts: 6549
Location: between here and there | You are right Tiff and thank you for the replies and pictures! Buckles, this new tree is made for the straighter back with less rock. I can't downsize pictures on here to show you a couple examples, but if you send me an email, I'll be glad to send them to you! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 989
| I bought a freedom saddle from crates about 7 years back and Meleta was great to deal with. There were a few issues with the saddle and it went back for warranty work and crates was very good as well.
Unfortunately it had way too much rock for my horse and I sold it, but I am interested now there is a flatter one available! Have to keep my eye on it when they come out with a 13.5 or 14"! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| How wide is the gullet on the new saddle? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 802
| Puddy - 2014-06-05 1:22 PM I bought a freedom saddle from crates about 7 years back and Meleta was great to deal with. There were a few issues with the saddle and it went back for warranty work and crates was very good as well. Unfortunately it had way too much rock for my horse and I sold it, but I am interested now there is a flatter one available! Have to keep my eye on it when they come out with a 13.5 or 14"!
Yes me too!! It fits my impossible to fit mare like a dream, but I need a 13 in seat!!!! (Come on Crates make a smaller one LOL!!). Great saddle but mine was too big for me. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | bump |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | OMG, Tiff I can see why he was impossible to fit! LOL
Nice pony BTW! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1159
Location: alabama | i have a 14 inch I'm gonna sell because its a little too small for me. it fits all my horses too! |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | smcmil - 2014-07-31 7:48 AM i have a 14 inch I'm gonna sell because its a little too small for me. it fits all my horses too!
is this the one for the horse with a dip behind the shoulder? I'm waiting on the newer version to come out in a 14", last I heard they were still working on the tree shape |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1159
Location: alabama | wyoming barrel racer - 2014-07-31 8:32 AM
smcmil - 2014-07-31 7:48 AM i have a 14 inch I'm gonna sell because its a little too small for me. it fits all my horses too!
is this the one for the horse with a dip behind the shoulder? I'm waiting on the newer version to come out in a 14", last I heard they were still working on the tree shape
i think so?!? its not the newer wide one |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Bumping this thread up for our new Board Buddy.. {emricmacy}
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2017-08-21 1:04 PM
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Boot Detective
Posts: 1898
| I had one and sold it. It was a Crates. I was super impressed with the quality of the saddle but it was super heavy and the stirrups didn't stay "under" you the way I prefer. If I got really forward on a horse in a turn, trying to hustle one, the stirrups tended to get behind me. I let a friend ride it a few times to get her opinion and she felt the same way about it. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I know this is a really old thread but bumping it up, I'm looking at a Meleta Brown so just throwing my thoughts around about this saddle, I'm looking at one that is a 2010 model, so would this one have the rock to it? |
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