Hello Yvonne, you’ve been with Hidalgo longer than many others. Tell us a bit about yourself, especially about your equestrian background, and of course when—and especially how—you first came across the leather tree and specifically Hidalgo?

My background… I’ve been riding since I was 6 years old, and ever since then it’s been clear to me that this is my calling. After finishing middle school, I went to the equestrian vocational school in Lambach, and after my training I worked in various jobs. But none of these jobs made me happy, so about 6 years ago I decided to become self-employed. I now finally work in my dream job and am a mobile human-and-horse trainer in Styria. In my work, I came across poorly fitting saddles almost daily, and since I wasn’t a saddler, I had to rely on them—though in the end you are often left alone. Expensive saddles are sold that, after half a year of training at the latest, don’t fit again. Through a stroke of luck, I met my trainer Harald Kalcher and with him the Hidalgo system. I was immediately fired up about the saddles and overjoyed to have found something I could adjust myself. The leather tree was the icing on the cake. From then on, I knew that none of my horses would ever again have a head iron on their back that would sooner or later begin to cause pressure. With every horse I get to bring a Hidalgo saddle to, I’m delighted, because I know it has the best saddle on its back that it could possibly have.

Where do you see the biggest deficiencies in the saddles you encounter when visiting clients? What problems or difficulties do you face frequently?

In most of the saddles I see, the head iron doesn’t fit (usually too narrow), and the length of the saddle is also very often an issue. Clients often call me saying, “I’m on my fourth saddle now and it still doesn’t fit.” Many horses tolerate poorly fitting saddles surprisingly well. They can’t reach their full potential with them, of course, but only a few horses actually resist. You usually see it in the atrophied muscles, mostly the trapezius. What I also see very often is an incorrect balance point of the saddle. Most saddles tip backwards, which is extremely uncomfortable for the horse.

A common rumor is that leather tree saddles feel “spongy.” As a trainer, what is your experience with the feeling of the Hidalgos? Is it a major adjustment for many riders? Do seat deficiencies become very noticeable?

I absolutely love the feeling of the Hidalgo saddles. The horse’s movement is transmitted incredibly well, and I don’t know any seat more comfortable than that of our Spanish models.

I’ve often experienced riders struggling at first with the seat. Their legs are all over the place, and for some, maintaining balance is a challenge. But that doesn’t surprise me at all. I recently sat in a very expensive dressage saddle from another brand and felt extremely restricted in my movement—like sitting in a child’s seat. It’s no wonder that riders lose their sense of balance and true leg position. If it already feels so horribly stiff for me as a rider, I don’t even want to imagine how it feels for the horse underneath. But because horses almost always move better in a Hidalgo saddle than in the previously “fitted” one, the owners end up buying it and essentially learn to sit anew.

On the other hand, the leather tree is described as very direct, with aids coming through clearly. What has been your experience with how horses react to the leather tree?

I can absolutely agree with the directness. That’s exactly what I love about the Hidalgos. Horses that get this saddle on their back for the first time loosen up noticeably within a few minutes. Especially the shoulders become much more relaxed. After all, no metal is pressing anymore.

What is your personal favourite model and why? And which model is most popular among your customers?

I like all the Spanish models, especially those that bring the leg position a bit closer and therefore are more direct to the horse, like the Barrocco and the Cordoba. What I love about the Spanish models is, first of all, the large contact area for the horse and, of course, the ultra-comfortable seat. The gallery gives you a secure feeling, which is especially helpful when training young horses. They are true all-round saddles. Perfect for dressage because they transmit the horse’s movement and my aids so well. I also always feel like the saddle places me beautifully upright. They are very comfortable for trail riding—for both horse and rider. Even small jumps are no problem. My customers also mostly buy Spanish models, and the bestseller is definitely the Valencia Spezial.

Is there a horse–rider pair that has particularly stuck in your memory?

Actually, I remember all of them. I always follow up to check if everything still fits, and when I’m in the area, I check again myself. I have many clients take photos of their horse’s back so I can compare after a while. What makes me happiest is seeing how well the muscles recover. I’ve seen so many horses whose trapezius muscle under the head iron had almost disappeared—and half a year later, there are no more “holes” in the sweat patterns. That’s the greatest joy for me: seeing how well the horses are doing with our Hidalgo saddles!

Web:
http://www.yvonne-hochstrasser.at/

Phone: +43 (0) 664 2788255
Email: yvonne.hochstrasser@gmail.com

Yvonne offers saddle tours in Carinthia, Burgenland, Styria, and the southern part of Lower Austria, Vienna, and further regions upon request. Many saddle models available for trial.