Parelli Fusion Western Saddle with a 17" hard leather seat. Saddle is Medium Brown in color (russet) and designed with the distinctive horse head logos stamped on it. This saddle features the bucking rolls. Saddle also has rope cinch (no substitutions) and rear flank cinch. Sold with Parelli breast collar as pictured (no substitutions). Used, but in good condition. Saddle has normal wear on seat, stirrups, and fenders. Saddle has marks from use and handling. Saddle may have areas that are darker from use, time, and cleaning. Hardware may have areas of tarnish from use and time. Please reference pictures for condition. 

Key benefits of the revolutionary Parelli FUSIONTM Saddle: In the process of researching and developing her ideas of "Fluidity" in riding, Linda Parelli found that saddles restricted both riders and horses from becoming more fluid and being able to use their whole bodies to move with balance and efficiency (let alone enhance the horse's ability to "collect"!) Determined to make positive changes, she brought together top designers who make saddles for both Pat and herself, resulting in the aptly named Fusion Saddle... a breakthrough in design fusing the best English and Western saddle making to develop the ideal tool for natural horsemanship. The Fusion Saddle has a western look, yet allows the rider to sit in an effective and balanced position and the horse to bend its body and flex its back. Not only does it offer instant results to horses and riders of any level, it is especially beneficial for higher levels of the Parelli program (Levels 3 and 4) where vertical flexion and engagement become an important issue. Strategically designed to help people sit on their balance point. The Fusion is light in weight (about 25 pounds). The Fusion makes riding with Fluidity easy: it encourages the horse to use his whole body because it doesn't trap the back and helps riders use their Balance Point. Promotes lateral and vertical flexion as most saddles restrict and flatten the back (even hollow it) due to the length and shape of the bars. They also position the rider too far forward thus overweighting the forehand and preventing the horse from using his hindquarters. Flexion has to come from zone 3* and if this is trapped, the horse will simply curl his neck and not be able to shift his weight. This usually causes more strain on the lumbar region and fetlocks and jars the joints, especially knees, stifles and hocks.

Horse Fit Criteria:

the first weight-bearing part of the tree sits back from the shoulders, at least 4 inches, thus allowing full range of movement of the scapula, yet not positioning the rider too far back • wide gullet, doesn't trap the spine and its ligaments, distributes weight to the ribcage thus allowing the spine to arch and round. A wide gullet or channel gives the horse room to use and build his muscles • • bars are not too long, not too short; allow the horse to flex his body laterally yet still distribute the rider's weight over a larger surface underside of the saddle is padded to protect the horse two cinches: front and back cinch which share the pressure instead of concentrating it behind the shoulders. The back cinch should fit snugly and also prevents side to side motion. The cinch hobble is short (2 - 4 inches) thus bringing the back cinch forward over the ribcage instead of around the belly. 

Bucking Rolls are a helpful security feature for some people, but they do shorten up the seat a bit. You may remove them once they are installed, and they leave 2 small screw holes. Not obtrusive at all. 

What sort of rigging comes with the saddle? Billet & latigo, back cinch and cinch hobble are standard.(NOTE: THE CINCH HOBBLE IS SHORT FOR A REASON. ABOUT 4. IS PERFECT. The back cinch should angle toward the front cinch in a V shape. D-rings and tie straps (nice long ones) aplenty. . It's ready to go straight out of the box except for the cinch itself.

What is the tree made of? Wood with light rawhide coating. Handcrafted, of exceptional quality and uniformity. 

*All used saddles have a $65 shipping charge applied.