Shively MMX or Blue Ribbon "Classic"

[FrankieTwoSocks]

Hi everyone - I am new to this forum and looking for feedback on a couple saddles. Currently I am in the market for a new cutback, and am considering the Shively MMX and the Blue Ribbon "Classic". Thoughts? Comments? Feedback?

Thanks!

[twinmom]

We love our MMX - it is super comfortable and gotta love the sticky leather.

[mlinky]

You will have fans of both responding, but I think that you are going to have to try them and see which is the better fit for you and your horse. They are both nicely made saddles, with different feels.

[roadpony]

Mlinky has great advice. I have ridden in a couple of MMX's and loved them. I've never ridden in a Blue Ribbon, but there are plenty of people who swear by them. My new MMX arrived yesterday! :D I can't wait to ride in it tomorrow. :D Will let you know what I think.

[wstrngrl]

Definitely agree with mlinky; you're going to have to try them out. I have a Blue Ribbon (the regular one, not the "Classic"), absolutely love it. Very well made, fits me perfectly.

I've never ridden in an MMX, so I can't really compare them.

But things to consider: the bridle leather on the Blue Ribbon is pretty slick (with I like :p), I'm sure the pigskin is grippier, I'm not sure what the "Classic" is made from; and the MMX is known for it's "grippieness" (which I wouldn't like LOL)

The Blue Ribbon is about $1,000 less than the MMX, and I'm pretty sure the flat seat Blue Ribbon is a much flatter seat than the MMX...

The saddles really are so different that the only way to decide which one to get is to go try them out. See if you can find a friend, trainer, someone who has one of the saddles and will let you try it.

And don't just sit in it, you have to ride in a saddle before you'll really know if you like it.

[FrankieTwoSocks]

Thank you everyone for the quick responses and suggestions. I'm in the Seattle area, so there are limited resources to test drive the saddles - but great idea. All the companies I have spoken with back East only allow you try the saddles on your horse with a blanket - understandly so! The tricky part is that it is like buying a car off the lot without starting the engine - an expensive risk. It's reassuring to hear there are fans of both MMX & BR, that helps narrow the decision. I may order both, try them on, whichever fits my gelding the best - keep it, return the other. SusanH/RoadPony - I'd love to hear your feedback after you've had the opportunity to take your MMX for a spin. Also, are you open to sharing where you purchased it?

Cheers!

[canter]

I have not had the experience of riding with the Blue Ribbon Classic, but I can tell you that two other people (one is a trainer) who use my MMX as well as me say you just get used to your Ford (Barnsby) and then you ride in a MMX and it's like a Lexus. Mine is four years old (bought used here on Trot by the way!!!) and not a scratch on it. Excellent condition and I wouldn't have anything else. Just my two cents. Good luck in your test drives!!! Please let us know your final decision if you have the chance.

[mlinky]

If you do order both to try out, use a saddle blanket but also wrap your leathers (a polo wrap will do).

[magstomcat]

Hi everyone - I am new to this forum and looking for feedback on a couple saddles. Currently I am in the market for a new cutback, and am considering the Shively MMX and the Blue Ribbon "Classic". Thoughts? Comments? Feedback?

Thanks!

I have both ... the Blue Ribbon is in the basement and has been for years. The MMX is soft enough to allow you to feel your horse... sticky enough to get gustly and stay on. Will buy MMX from now on. Just an opinion.

[wclynn&chuck]

Make sure and try both---most people fall in love w/ the MMX. And a big plus--it really fits a horse well.

[Skyduck]

I bought the MMX a couple of years ago and use it on my 3 saddlebreds and I love it. It fits all my horses really well. I had a saddle that was bridle leather before and it was slick. I had my old saddle for years but sadly got too big for it.

[albert]

:D :D mmx:D

[SaddleSeat4Sure]

I love the Shively Saddle...I've ridden in a lot of different ones and that is the one I like the best. I had a blue ribbon and returned it!
Sheila

[JustStylish]

I have had the priveledge to own a Blue Ribbon, and ride in an MMX (I've shown in one several times) ...

The Blue Ribbon we bought when we bought one of our horses. He wears it well, but when he wears the MMX it makes his back swell slightly. The Blue Ribbon fits him perfectly.

It definitely all depends on your horse's size/shape, and the way the saddle feels. But ultimately if both saddles fit, i would have to say an MMX. I prefer it, except when I have suede pads on my show jods! (Makes it hard to get my legs around the horse, IMO) If you have the tendency to pitch forward, I don't think the Blue Ribbon would be for you, because it always made me pitch forward more.

[wstrngrl]

JustStylish - did you have a flat seat or a deep seat Blue Ribbon?

I can't imagine a flat seat Blue Ribbon pitching someone forward, especially not more than an MMX which has atleast a somewhat deep seat (though I've heard it's not a "full" deep seat); unless the Blue Ribbon is way too small for you.

The Blue Ribbon saddle I have has one of the flatter seats available. It may not look all that flat when sitting on a rack, but on the horse it sits pretty darn flat LOL My mom always says that if we get a gaited horse, she's riding it in my saddle because it's flatter than hers (flat seat Barnsby), so she'll be able to get farther back on the horse easier :p

[judine]

not only should you try it yourself - be sure to try it on your horse. I have had my Shively 2000 for years and love it but my horse's back does not :(

[roadpony]

SusanH/RoadPony - I'd love to hear your feedback after you've had the opportunity to take your MMX for a spin. Also, are you open to sharing where you purchased it?

Cheers! I'm going to love my new MMX!!! I'd primarily tried other people's 21" saddles. My new one is 22" (because of my thigh length) and it is sooo much roomier. My trainer says I look a lot better in the 22". It'll take a little time to get used to it, but nothing like when I bought a Shively 2000 several years ago. I'm very happy. :D

Since I don't currently have a show horse for me (my three year old and I aren't ready for each other yet), I felt it was a safe bet that my MMX will fit whatever horse I next show since I've heard from several trainers that MMX's tend to fit most horses.

I'm more than happy to share where I bought it. ;) World Champion Horse Equipment

Full disclosure... I work fulltime for Saddle Horse Report and get an employee discount at WCHE.

[Mikki]

I have never ridden in the Blue Ribbon but I have been riding in my MMX for like 6 years and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's very comfortable. My dad has even ridden in it. :)

[JustStylish]

Wstrngrl-
It's probably an equitation seat, if it i is, it's a very flat one. It's one of the last editions? of the saddle made. I've always considered it not to be, though because my mom has a really old Blue Ribbon that has an Equitation seat, and it's really deep :]

[roadpony]

Well... I got to ride in my new MMX again today... instead of a school horse, this time it was on a high powered three-year-old five-gaited filly that I'd never ridden before. I'm usually pretty tentative when I first get on a new horse. This time I felt really secure and blasted down the straightaway with abandon! I never even thought about the saddle the whole time... I love my saddle! :D

[Rider 10]

Yay Susan. I hope you'll be showing it off at camp this year. Renee will be most impressed!

[FrankieTwoSocks]

Thanks everyone for the testimonials, in summary, MMX appears to be in the lead with BRC coming in as a close second.

Also, feeback on size? I'm 5'7", 135lb give or take and have been riding in a 20" for years. Love it, but am told that with the MMX, should go for a 21".

FTS

[roadpony]

Also, feeback on size? I'm 5'7", 135lb give or take and have been riding in a 20" for years. Love it, but am told that with the MMX, should go for a 21".

FTSSaddle size should be based on measurement of your thigh (from hip to knee). I'm 5' 6 1/2" and went with a 22" MMX (my former Shively 2000 was 21"), but I have a long thigh.

[roadpony]

Yay Susan. I hope you'll be showing it off at camp this year. Renee will be most impressed!Rider 10, I'll miss you and everyone else I met last year at Renee's. I'm attending a different camp this year (Bobbin Hollow). I loved Renee's camp (as anyone who read my article could figure), but want to keep trying new experiences. The chance to get "sun and surf" with a January camp was too much to resist!

[Jrchloe]

For saddle rider sizing check out the Saddleseat Equitation web site on the advice column page and scroll down:
http://regaljada.tripod.com/saddleseatequitation/id10.html