Review: Zaldi Endurance saddle Endur-Light

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The Zaldi Endurance saddle Endur-Light:

Several months ago, someone posted a Zaldi Arze Adjustable endurance saddle for sale on the Endurance Tack facebook page.  I loved the look and weight (one kilogram!) of it.  Fully adjustable (or so they say) to the horse, although the person selling it on Facebook was doing so because it wouldn’t adjust to her horse to her satisfaction.

I have been familiar with Zaldi for years, since I lived in Spain, and I knew I could get this saddle, because my sons travel to Madrid to visit their father and Spanish family twice a year.  I decided I wanted this saddle… lightweight, very cool looking.

Finding a Zaldi endurance saddle

After doing some research, I contacted a tack shop I knew from my years in Madrid, EQUUS.  They did not carry this saddle, but they are a Zaldi distributor, so we exchanged a lot of emails before I got stuck on the fact that Zaldi would not adjust it to my mare.  I understood that it was “fully adjustable,” but I assumed that, given her measurements, they could do some of the work for me.  What I had not understood is that the screws that can be tightened to maintain the desired setting are for the height of the saddle, front and back (at least, that is what I now gather).  The saddle itself simply adapts to the horse by means of a jointed tree (I think.)

Communicating with Zaldi

I contacted Zaldi (as they recommend) for advice.  Email sent from their website got no response, but oh the miracle of the modern age, Twitter.  They responded to my tweet in a few minutes, and shortly after, to my message on their Facebook page.  They were not very encouraging from the git-go about me buying this saddle, as it is “for professionals.”  I told them I had ridden in flat races in Madrid (and other places), and the person was more enthusiastic, but after giving them my mare’s measurements, and consulting with the saddle makers, s/he said the Arze regulable might not adjust to my mare, and that the Zaldi Endurance saddle Endur-Light (Endur-Ligera Plus) would be a better option.

The Zaldi Endurance Saddle Endur-light

Well, I didn’t like it as well, from the picture, but at least it was cheaper!  It was 2.75 kg (4.41 lbs) without stirrups (the same ones as the Arze), and definitely not as cool looking, but I thought it was a good idea to listen to the experts, so I tried to find pictures or reviews on the Internet, to no avail.  So… here is a review, after 4-5 hours of riding: 45 minutes the first day, 30 minutes the second, and a 12.25 mile (19.7 km) training ride today (I was in the saddle about 3 hours and 20 minutes–I only time the forward parts, not the lake and grass breaks).

Above you can see the saddle sitting on my mare’s bare back.  I measured her with Zaldi’s medidor dorso (back measure; I downloaded the image and printed full size… it’s way cheaper to buy one, but I was in a hurry).

Sizing

She measured 30cm, but I ordered 31, because I wanted to be able to use my Skito pad. I also took lots of pictures.

They ask for one from the front, one from the back, and one from the side.  They also tell you to measure your leg length for saddle sizing, and I did, but I knew I usually ride in a 16.5″ English (15″ Western) saddle, so even though my leg is long (17.5″!!) I asked for a 17″.

Customizing

I didn’t care too much about color, but you can choose, because they make the saddles to order.  You can also choose between leather and synthetic.  Mine is black and red synthetic (why would you want a leather endurance saddle??)

My sons brought me the saddle Wednesday.  Sadly, they didn’t have time to get the nearly 200 euros of value added tax back at the airport 🙁 If you have one of these shipped to you, you don’t have to pay 21% tax.   Zaldi is only wholesale, so you cannot order from them, but Viva Iberica sells Zaldi saddles with discounted shipping (they quoted me 108 euros for shipping the Arze–which costs around 1200 euros–and that is less than the 21% taxes).

Saddle review:

Out of the box (or bag, as it were), the saddle is bulkier than I expected (having ridden in 250 gram racing saddles; it would probably look small to most people), but light.  The stirrups come separately, and they are heavy.  (700 grams each)  I liked the idea of the cage for safety, because I get off and jog beside my horse, and it’d be nice not to worry about having a heel on my footware, but… more on stirrups later.
They sent the stirrups attached to the fenders, but they are really two pieces.  The fender attaches to the saddle, and the stirrup attaches to a separate leather (well, synthetic strap).

Above left, front view of stirrup strap attachment to fender.  Above right, inside view (I think they attached it incorrectly. I will run it through that slot when I get up the energy).

Stirrups and fender

The fender-stirrup setup is actually very comfortable. The strap is a mess, especially for a short person (I will probably get shorter straps eventually, to make it easier to change lengths), but it is exactly where it cannot possibly rub the rider or horse.

You can see how the stirrup hangs in the picture above.  If I were any shorter, I’d definitely have to cut or change the stirrup straps (I am 1.59m, or just about 5’2.5″).

Even though the setup is super-comfy, it’s not ideal.  I would like to be able to change the stirrup length from astride (I do that all the time), and the stirrups are so bulky that it’s a pain to mount with them (you just cannot mount facing backwards, as I was taught to do; no room for the stirrup to turn around, at least not unless it’s under the horse’s belly… not the case for a small person on a 15 hand horse!)
I do like the fenders, though, so I might have to live with not being able to adjust the stirrups as I trot along.  I will probably get lightweight, small stirrups eventually, to replace those giant cages.

Girth

When I bought the saddle, I did not think much about the girth situation.  The girth straps (billets) hang at an angle (see picture below), which make a V-strap, aka humane or equalizer girth ideal.

At least for a 900lb (~400kg), 15 hand (152cm) horse, you need a dressage or other short girth.  I used my 28″ dressage girth for my first ride (a Wintec chafeless elastic, with little elastic and no straps), and a friend’s Professional choice dressage girth yesterday and today.  The Professional choice was better, but not good.  I know exactly the best girth for this saddle, a 32″ V-strap (humane) dressage girth with elastic.

Finding a V-strap girth

Well, it turns out there are not many of those, and the ones that exist, are NOT CHEAP.  I really need to design a new girth 😉  Most of the few girths with the V-strap system have no elastic, and the few with elastic were leather.  The UK seems to have many  more options, but I didn’t want to pay shipping.  And really, because I am not 100% certain the girth will work, I didn’t want to pay $200+.

V-strap girth options:

I almost bought a Frank Baines girth on ebay (it had most of the features I want), but decided that, as a poor grad student with 1-2 years to go, I’d better get something cheaper.  I ended up with an Ovation girth, the Airform Humane; not enough elastic, but looks okay to start with.  (I found a 32″ on amazon; hoping they weren’t lying about the length..)
What I’d love is a double elastic girth modelled on racing girths, but with the V-strap systen on the ends.
Edit: This girth was suggested by a kind person on facebook.  It looks great, just what I wanted, and it comes in lots of sizes.

Update 1:

The Ovation Humane girth works very well, but 32″ is too long for my mare; she needs a 28″ (a 30″ would be ideal, but I cannot find that length, and better a bit short than a bit long).  You want the buckles to be low enough that they do not interfere with your leg at all.  The 32″ girth left the buckles where I could feel them on one side, especially when riding without stirrups.
It’s possible that any elastic ended dressage girth would work, as long as the straps can separate enough.
You can loosen and tighten the girth from the saddle, if you are willing to bend down.

What’s it like to ride in?

Comfortable.  When you get on, it seems very narrow.  This would not be the case if you’d been galloping race horses! but compared to most other riding saddles, the fact that it’s basically just the tree with no skirts, makes it feel different. Because the seat itself is amply padded, it feels a bit perched on the horse for a minute, and then you forget about that (my friend also rode in it).  I love the close contact it permits; I feel a lot safer with my legs against the side of the horse.  It also permits me to do some lateral work and leg yielding as we go down the trail.  We trotted and cantered today; it’s comfortable to sit in at the canter.

How about mounting?

I was a bit worried about it rolling to the side when using the stirrup to mount, because it has no skirts, etc.  I rarely get on from the ground, being lazy and preferring to find anything to make it easier, but I tested it yesterday, and the saddle held.  It might not be very stable for a really tall horse, but it did fine with my average size mare and short me. I do not tighten the girth much, so this is important.

What does my hard-to-fit princess horse think about it?

So far, so good.  No humped back, no soreness, no acting like she can’t trot because the saddle is pinching.  Of course, we’ve only done one short ride, and the saddle hasn’t had a chance to settle to her yet, but it’s working so far.  I will update this blog if that changes.

Verdict: Zaldi endurance saddle Endur-light

A good saddle and recommended purchase, if you like small and light, and can deal with its girthing system.  The price is good, midrange for endurance, but a well-made, comfortable saddle.  I strongly recommend contacting Zaldi (as they too advise) before purchasing any of their saddles, because they can guide you towards something that should fit your horse.  (mind you, I fully intend to get the Arze Regulable someday.  It’s lighter, and you can change the hang of the stirrups as well as the angle and height of the seat.)
I will undoubtedly change the stirrup setup, and probably get lightweight, small stirrups at some point.  Other than that, I really think it will turn out to be an excellent purchase.

Update 2:

Although my mare never expressed discomfort with this saddle, and it never left suspicious sweat marks, she did get white hairs along the sides of her spine, just where the saddle sat.  She is, truly, a difficult horse to fit.  At the moment, I am using the saddle with a taller Morgan gelding, pictured below.

Stirrup update:

I did end up changing the caged stirrups for the ones in the picture below. They are heavy (in fact, they weigh more than the saddle and fenders), but they are what I had sitting around unused, and they are comfortable.

See my page on other cool horse sites for places to shop for girths, pads, and other accessories.

Update 3, 2023

This saddle has now done hundreds of miles, many in endurance rides. The latest was the Fire Mountain 55 this last Saturday. I rode my (leased) gelding Jazz, and we won!

The saddle seems to fit every horse I’ve put it on… all 15 hands +/- 1″, high withers. It has left white marks, but they NEVER get sore with it. I don’t love it, because whereas it’s great for trotting and cantering, it’s not the most comfortable for walking. So, great for competition, not great for trail rides.

It’s minimalist for endurance riders. If you want a more secure feeling saddle, don’t get this one. With this one, it’s yoru balance and legs that keep you on the horse. But if you don’t mind that, and are riding at speeds higher than walk, it’s great.

I’ve put lightweight stirrups on it that work well. You can see them in the picture of Jazz below. they are made of some sort of synthetic material. No idea where I got them, they were sitting in my tack trunk.

Jazz requires a mohair girth, and I cannot get one with V-straps or elastic. This means the girth is NEVER tight enough (he puffs up), so some sort of breast collar is a must.