SADDLE REVIEW
PDS Escapado Part of the Carl Hester collection, the PDS Escapado is designed for close contact and rider comfort, offering support without constricting or forcing position.
I
n eighteen months Steven the
racetrack. It took him a while to establish
handy out on the trails when he shies at
Standardbred had changed his
a quality trot, but once it and his lateral
quails flying out of the grass!”
shape, blossoming into a muscular
work were established, the canter came
Initially Skye was going to train up her
gelding with a well-developed topline.
naturally.” Skye gave him a chance and she
It was time to find him another saddle.
gave him the time – and he responded.
I’ll continue working with him, and
His owner, Skye Wassens, explains that
When looking for a replacement saddle
I’m looking at getting another one.
her Kieffer Europe no longer fitted him.
she wanted to ride in one for at least a
Steven’s been enjoying his work, he’s so
“I needed one which accommodated his
few hours. “With The Saddle Hub there’s
tractable, sensible and very comfortable
massive shoulder and very round barrel,
a fourteen-day trial. You can take it out
in his Escapado. It worked out so well
and all my other saddles were unsuitable.”
on long rides, ensure it doesn’t slip back,
buying it through The Saddle Hub.”
Skye, who lives in Beechworth, Victoria,
and get a saddle fitter if necessary.”
The Saddle Hub has a wide variety of
is an Associate Professor at Charles
The PDS Escapado is especially suited to
top quality second-hand saddles, so why
Sturt University and an internationally
a wider, lower withered horse like Steven.
wait? Visit www.equestrianhub.com.au
recognised ecologist. “I have a property
It also has knee rolls. “I’d never ridden in
and browse through their fantastic range.
with my partner, I occasionally go away
them before which was another reason I
All saddles come with a two-week trial,
on field work and the rest of the time I’m
wanted to trial it. I got used to them after
finance options, and a courier right to
based at home with the horses. They’ve
a couple of rides and they’re certainly
your door. Terms and conditions apply.
Standardbred and move him on. “But
always been part of my life,” she says. “My family and I rode a variety of breeds. We also had donkeys which had no withers and very straight backs causing saddles to slip forward, so we rode them bareback or on an old exercise pad!” These days she trains in Three-Phase Equitation (3PE) and in classical dressage which, she explains, focuses on creating natural self-carriage by working with the horse’s biomechanics. “And I’ve begun 3PE because it’s good for green horses and keeps their minds on the job,” she adds. Steven will be starting 3PE very soon wearing his Escapado. “He’s pacer bred and when I got him in 2020 he was just out of training. He never made it to the
ABOVE: The PDS Escapado is a great fit for both Skye and Steven. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 69
