“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.”

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.

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.

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:

“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 ColvinWinner of Numerous Best Child /

Junior Rider titles for years

“My horses are as comfortable in this saddle as I am. They also jump better. That’s why I love

these saddles.”

Scott StewartTop Hunter rider and trainer

“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 BrennanTop Hunter rider and trainer

“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 WyldeShow jumping competitor and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist

“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 NyssenLeading Dressage trainer and

competitor

“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 IshoyMultiple Canadian Olympic and World Championships Team Member

Canadian Olympic Team Bronze and Fourth Place Individual-SeoulPan Am Canadian Team Gold

“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 HeapsEquine Physiotherapist, Equine

Touch Practitioner

" 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 BrassilIrish National Hunt Trainer

Producer of Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner - Cool Ground

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.”

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.

Cahir - 23 year old Irish Hunter

Montana - 9 year old TB Norte - 22 year old TB

Barney - 16 year old TB Harvey - 15 year old Selle Francais

Each of our saddle testers came to us with varied backgrounds.

These horses had been unable to perform properly due to significant back pain.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

1940’s Conventional Saddle Tree

1980’s Conventional Saddle Tree

Present Day Conventional Saddle Tree

If you wanted to develop a saddle to improve horse performance,how would you do it?

Start with an Olympic Gold Medalist with a sophisticatedunderstanding of a horse’s moving back.

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.

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.

What is SmartRide ™?9 engineered features allow movement along 18 axis of flexion

Rotating Cantle follows the oscillation of hips and back

An acrylic alloy base material is tuned with an array of carbon fiber reinforcements.

Horse Bending Left Horse Bending Right

Pommel tips rotate to free shoulder

Tree flexes to follow spine and facilitate bending

Tree flexes out to facilitate lateral

movement

Tree flexes to follow spine through turn

Pommel tips rotate to free shoulder

Tree flexes to follow spine and facilitate bending

Computer Assisted Design Technology and Manufacturing

We have developed our own tooling, enabling us to use

special materials and allowing our production to have

unmatched quality, consistency and symmetry.

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.

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

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.

The quality of equitation is evidenced by the various riderspictured throughout this presentation.

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.

The Models of Saddles we make at Tad Coffin Performance Saddles

All built with SmartRide™ Technology

A5 Jumping Saddle

TC2 Jumping Saddle

Dressage Saddle

Exercise Saddle

Tad Coffin Performance Saddles1151 Dairy Road

Ruckersville, Virginia 22968

Shop434-985-8948

Tad’s Cell434-989-3229

Tad’s Emailtadcoffin@aol.com

Shop Emailtadcoffinsaddles@gmail.com

Websitewww.tadcoffinsaddles.com