If you could build your own saddle would you build it to fit your horse standing still or would you build it to fit your horse’s back in motion? SmartRide™ is a technically advanced saddle tree developed from a process of Top-Down engineering analysis, design and implementation. Learn more about SmartRide™ by accessing this presentation from Tad Coffin Performance Saddles.

1. “I have been involved with saddle design and construction since 1976 and have
a passion for discovering and developing the full potential of this equipment.”

2. I hold several central beliefs that are fundamental to how we approach saddle
design and saddle fit for horse and rider.
These beliefs are highlighted throughout this presentation, starting with the
next slide.

3. Belief #1
I believe that, of all the tools available to a rider, the saddle has the most
untapped potential to improve the components of good performance: relaxation,
freedom of movement, balance, straightness, ease of carriage, jumping style,
soundness and longevity.

4. Our saddles are being used nationally and internationally by riders in every
Olympic discipline.
Here is what some of America’s top riders are saying:

5. “When I ride in my Tad Coffin I
feel like I’m part of the horse
because the saddle moves with
the horse’s back. I love Tad
Coffin saddles.”
Tori Colvin
Winner of Numerous Best Child /
Junior Rider titles for years

6. “My horses are as comfortable in
this saddle as I am. They also
jump better. That’s why I love
these saddles.”
Scott Stewart
Top Hunter rider and trainer

7. “I’ve been using Tad’s saddles
for 16 years. I appreciate that
they are designed and built by a
horseman for horsemen. My
horses no longer have back
issues; these saddles give my
horses and riders the best chance
to win.”
Tom Brennan
Top Hunter rider and trainer

8. “Since switching to Tad’s saddles,
I have continued to see steady
improvement in the form of my
horses; they just feel and look
more comfortable - and they’ve
won a lot. Tad’s saddles are very
comfortable, balanced and
supportive without getting in my
way, and provide a great feeling
of closeness to my horses.”
Peter Wylde
Show jumping competitor and
2004 Olympic Gold Medalist

9. “The cutting-edge technology
behind this Tad Coffin saddle is
truly amazing. I have never
ridden in a saddle before that
allows me to have this much
“feel,” and even better, the
saddle allows the horse to move
naturally and perform at its
best.”
Jules Nyssen
Leading Dressage trainer and
competitor

10. “I have been competing in international dressage competitions, including
multiple Olympics and World Championships, for over 40 years. I rode solely
in one saddle. Recently, I was introduced to the Tad Coffin Performance
Dressage Saddle. After just 3 months, the SmartRide™ Technology has allowed
notable improvement in my horses' attitude toward work, their way of going,
and their musculature. It is remarkable. You do not need to sell the Tad Coffin
Performance Dressage Saddle, it sells itself! I would like to thank Tad Coffin
and his team for making a saddle that promotes the well being of the horse and
is a pleasure to ride in.”
Cindy Ishoy
Multiple Canadian Olympic and World Championships Team Member
Canadian Olympic Team Bronze and Fourth Place Individual-Seoul
Pan Am Canadian Team Gold

11. “Two National Hunt horses that I
work on, on a weekly basis here in
Ireland, have been ridden in a Tad
Coffin Exercise Saddle for the past
four months and within a short
period of time I have noticed
marked improvements in both. In
my opinion, this saddle has been
an essential ingredient in the
improvement of both horses.”
Gina Heaps
Equine Physiotherapist, Equine
Touch Practitioner

12. " I have American owners who requested I use a Tad Coffin Exercise Saddle on
their two horses. I ride both horses myself and at first, just used the saddle
only on them. The mare, I train for them, used to be very cold backed and buckle
badly when I first got on her, and then would take several very uncomfortable
steps afterwards. With the saddle, she is completely solid when you get on her,
and her first steps are normal. Previously, she was a "stabby" mover, but that
has improved dramatically, and she had some soundness issues that seem to be
no longer bothering her, and so far, she is holding up to the work
well. Although the gelding I train for them is generally a good mover, even he is
noticeably better when ridden in the saddle. Both horses' movement, at all gaits,
improve noticeably when ridden in the Tad Coffin Exercise Saddle."
John Brassil
Irish National Hunt Trainer
Producer of Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner - Cool Ground

13. Belief #2
I believe that performance horses share a common shape in athletic motion; a
dynamic posture that has specific motions and gestures that must be
accommodated by the saddle for a horse to perform at his athletic best. The
quality of this accommodation is the essence of “saddle fit.”

14. Note the similarity of posture and movement in the following five horses,
which are our “saddle testers”.
Note in particular their relaxation, expression, roundness, elasticity and
freedom of movement.

15. Montana - 9 year old TB Norte - 22 year old TB
Cahir - 23 year old Irish Hunter
Barney - 16 year old TB Harvey - 15 year old Selle Francais

16. Each of our saddle testers came to us with varied backgrounds.
These horses had been unable to perform properly due to significant back pain.

17. Despite their prior issues and age, none of these horses are on any medications.
They have not had any joint injections, nor do they receive regular chiropractic
or acupuncture treatments.
Their improvement is testimony to the benefit of our saddle’s ability to
accommodate the horse in motion.

18. Ski Pole (not a saddle tester)
This 3 year old thoroughbred was x-rayed for a possible broken pelvis the day
before these pictures were taken. The problem was severe back pain caused by
the typical exercise saddle.

19. Rider Testimonials
"All of the horses go better in these saddles and I recommend them to all of my
students. I would not ride or show in anything else!"
- Troy Hendricks
“My horses jump higher, move better and win more in this saddle.”
- Cynthia Williams
"My horses all go amazingly well in the Tad Coffin saddle. They're more free in
their shoulders and backs, more nimble through the turns, and jump better."
- Keri Guanciale

20. Belief #3
I believe that a saddle, specifically designed, engineered and crafted to
accommodate this dynamic posture and the needs of the moving back will not only
improve performance, but serve a spectrum of back conformations equally well.

21. The Myth of Tree Width and Custom “Flocking”
All of the horses pictured throughout this presentation are being ridden in our
standard models with no variations in tree width or panel configuration.
The attention to ergonomic shape, engineered movement, material selection and
construction methods allow the saddle to accommodate the widest range of back
confirmation with only simple changes in saddle pads. See our website for more
information.

22. The Evolution of the Saddle Tree
In the following slides, note the evolution of the conventional saddle tree over the
past 70 years (in comparison to the development of the phone).

23. 1940’s Conventional Saddle Tree

24. 1980’s Conventional Saddle Tree

25. Present Day Conventional Saddle Tree

26. If you wanted to develop a saddle to improve horse performance,
how would you do it?
Start with an Olympic Gold Medalist with a sophisticated
understanding of a horse’s moving back.

27. And then…
1. Assist this rider with an exceptional engineer and innovative designers.
2. Build a research and design facility, and include a control group of horses for
testing.
3. Give the team unconstrained access to the most advanced design and
manufacturing techniques.
4. Give the team all necessary resources and time to work through the development
and testing process.

28. The Result: The SmartRide™ Tree –
Engineered Like No Other Saddle Tree in the World
• Stan Yavoroski of Digital Systems Inc., a top American engineer, is part of our
team, and is intricately involved in the design, testing and evaluation of
technical aspects of the saddle tree.
• Hundreds of design and testing iterations have led to our unique and
sophisticated understanding of the relationship between a saddle and the moving
back.
• SmartRide™ is a top-down engineering analysis, design, and implementation
resulting in a technically advanced saddle.

29. What is SmartRide ™?
9 engineered features allow movement along 18 axis of flexion
Horse Bending Left Horse Bending Right
Tree flexes out to
facilitate lateral
movement
Tree flexes to
follow spine
through turn
Rotating Cantle follows the oscillation of hips and back
Pommel tips rotate
to free shoulder
Tree flexes to
follow spine and
facilitate bending
Pommel tips rotate
to free shoulder
Tree flexes to
follow spine and
facilitate bending
An acrylic alloy base material is tuned with an array of carbon fiber reinforcements.

30. Computer Assisted Design Technology and Manufacturing

31. We have developed our own
tooling, enabling us to use
special materials and allowing
our production to have
unmatched quality, consistency
and symmetry.

32. We have a unique ability to take a
concept, develop a prototype, test
it personally by riding and
measuring performance with our
control group of horses. We can
make adjustments, retool and start
the process over again, sometimes
taking just hours in between.

33. Rider Testimonials
“Today I rode in my new Tad Coffin saddle for the second time. Within two
minutes, my horse was doing the following: 1) tracking completely under and
moving his shoulder more freely, 2) snorting at the trot (never done that before
ever), 3) reaching for the bit (rarely does that). I was experiencing the
following: 1) feeling his movement beneath my seat, 2) able to get a response
from him by pressure from my inner thigh, 3) having a comfortable and
enjoyable ride from the get go! I am so looking forward to seeing the change in
my horse over the next few weeks. Tad, you are an engineering genius, and have
truly figured out how to make the horse and rider move as one. Thank you and
Peter the Apostle (my horse) thanks you!”
- Marie Wroten

34. Belief #4
I believe that all facets of good equitation, the rider’s seat, balance, feel,
symmetry, sense of rhythm and timing will improve when the needs of their
horse’s back are fully accommodated.

35. The quality of equitation is evidenced by the various riders
pictured throughout this presentation.

36. Rider Testimonials
“The design and quality of Tad Coffin saddles are consistent with the timeless
principles and goals of educated horsemanship. For me the beauty of Tad's
saddle design is that it allows the rider to develop without interference a most
natural seat while freeing from unnecessary constraint the all important back
muscles of the horse. Congratulations to Tad and his team!”
- Raul deLeon
Recipient of the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) Master Instructor Award.
FEI/IOC Clinician in Dressage and Jumping for the National federations of seven Latin American countries.

37. The Models of Saddles we make at Tad Coffin
Performance Saddles
All built with SmartRide™ Technology

38. A5 Jumping Saddle

39. TC2 Jumping Saddle

40. Dressage Saddle

41. Exercise Saddle

42. Tad Coffin Performance Saddles
1151 Dairy Road
Ruckersville, Virginia 22968
Shop
434-985-8948
Tad’s Cell
434-989-3229
Tad’s Email
tadcoffin@aol.com
Shop Email
tadcoffinsaddles@gmail.com
Website
www.tadcoffinsaddles.com