The Max Benz saddle range
Max Benz are widely known across the world for their beautifully handcrafted custom-made saddles. The Max Benz One Herakles could be considered the "little brother" of the custom range, with the top quality you'd expect from the legendary Max Benz Master Workshop but for an off-the-shelf price tag. Its little sister, the Max Benz One Kenzie, features a unique and stunning design with an elegantly curve saddle flap and two tone colouring.
A very attractive saddle, the Max Benz' have several unique and innovative features including a tree that is slightly longitudinally flexible, allowing movement to flow across the saddle.
A very attractive saddle, the Max Benz' have several unique and innovative features including a tree that is slightly longitudinally flexible, allowing movement to flow across the saddle.
innovation design
value for moneyThe "little brother" of their custom-range, the off-the shelf Max Benz One Heracles offers custom quality without the price tag.
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Unique treeMax Benz trees feature a a slight longitudinally flexibility for superior movement to flow.
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Optimal contactA specialised design allows for optimal contact surface and pressure distribution.
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Features
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Max Benz One Herakles
16.5" and 17.5" Black and Chocolate Brown The Max Benz One Herakles features specially designed, flock-filled panels, offering optimal contact surface and pressure distribution for superior feel and comfort. The front is cut in such a way it guarantees the greatest possible shoulder freedom, whilst providing support for the knee rolls, which are on velcro and adjustable. The mono-flap design, narrow twist and sticky leather encourages rider stillness whilst providing easy communication with the horse. And the easily exchangeable gullets means the Max Benz can be adapted to almost any width at the wither. All saddles come with their own set of 5 gullets. Introductory Price: $3850 |
Max Benz One Kenzie
16.5" and 17.5" Black and Chocolate Brown The Max Benz One Kenzie features an elegantly curved saddle flap and shapely knee roll. The colour contrast design, with a choice of noble black with champagne highlights or a stunning two tone brown, gives the saddle a unique look and eye catching appearance. Like the Herakles, the Max Benz One Kenzie has flock-filled panels, giving the rider superior feel and comfort. It features a mono-flap design, narrow twist and sticky leather, giving the rider security while providing the ultimate communication with the horse. A saddle with a special design for fine riding, the Max Benz One Kenzie is ideal for dressage through to working equitation. Introductory Price: $3850 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best saddles for horses with big shoulders?
Horses with big shoulders often also have a forward girth groove which can be more problematic than the shoulders. When placed in the correct position on the horse, a suitable saddle allows the girth straps to hang perpendicular. If the straps have to be pulled forward to girth up, the saddle has no hope of staying back off the shoulders. Many saddles have been designed to alleviate shoulder pressure and restriction. Some saddles such as the VH Signature Saddles have the tree point angling backwards, allowing greater shoulder freedom but resulting in the girth points on these saddles being further back. This is due to the fact that the further most forward girth strap can only be as forward as the tree point. These saddles must be placed and balanced correctly because if the whole saddle is behind the shoulder, not just the tree point, they will never stay in position. This is why it is so important your saddle fitter is either extremely experienced or knowledgeable on particular brands. There are other saddles that do the opposite, with tree points that flare out and angle forwards. This not only allows the shoulders to move freely but it also enables the girth straps to be very forward, hence keeps the saddle off the shoulders. Discovery WB tree and Max Benz One saddles are examples of such saddles. Max Benz also has a uniquely shaped front panel, allowing the horse’s soft tissue more room, but still excellent support for the moveable knee roll. Yet another unique solution is found in the Ryder Baroque saddles which were developed specifically for Friesian horses and have short tree points which are then flexible.
What are the best saddles for young horses?
Young horses are going to develop and change, and how much depends on the breed, workload and age. For most people it is sensible to use a saddle with changeable gullets if the horse is under 5 years of age. such as the Discovery Saddles or Max Benz One Saddles. This way the gullet may be changed at any time and over a large range of sizes. They also have generous panels and gussets to allow a lot of adjustments to be made through the flocking by your saddle fitter. After 5-6 years of age, depending on breed and development, many riders choose a custom-made saddle from the VH Signature or Ryder range of saddles. These saddles can be pressed in or out 1 size either way by your saddle fitter, 3-4 times throughout the saddle’s life, which along with their wool-flocked panels, allows for great adjustability.
What are the best saddles for horses with atrophied back musculature?
The most suitable saddle for a horse with atrophied back musculature will depend on the reason for the atrophy, so history is very important. It may be due to a recently ill-fitting saddle, a past injury or illness, or past poor training. All of this needs to be taken into consideration along with the horse’s age and level of current work, nutrition and rider expertise. Also important is the position of the atrophy. Is it just around the wither area, the entire saddle platform area, only towards the back of the saddle or perhaps the whole topline of the horse? The position helps piece together the reason the atrophy has occurred. Max Benz One saddles have excelled with these horses due to their incredible panel design, maximising the weight bearing surface without impeding any important structures. They also have super clearance around all aspects of the wither – which often is a very problematic area for the horses with marked atrophy. Max Benz One saddles are like Discovery saddles in that they have changeable gullets. It would depend on the location of the atrophy and the shape of the horses back as to whether the WB or TB Discovery tree would be the best. Sometimes it will be necessary to wait and do some in-hand work to build up the muscles before selecting the best saddle. Often this is recommended if there is severe atrophy, and a custom-made saddle is being purchased. A big advantage of custom-made saddles, such as the VH Signature Range and Ryder range, is not only can the tree be made to measure, but the panels can also be made to whatever depth is required so extra flocking can be put in to make up for the loss of musculature and removed when the muscles re-develop.
What are the best saddles for horses with a forward girth groove?
Horses with big shoulders often also have a forward girth groove which can often be more problematic than the shoulders. When placed in the correct position on the horse, a suitable saddle allows the girth straps to hang perpendicular. If the straps have to be pulled forward to girth up, the saddle has no hope of staying back off the shoulders. Many saddles have been designed to alleviate shoulder pressure and restriction. Some saddles such as the VH Signature Saddles have the tree point angling backwards, allowing greater shoulder freedom but resulting in the girth points on these saddles being further back. This is due to the fact that the further most forward girth strap can only be as forward as the tree point. These saddles must be placed and balanced correctly because if the whole saddle is behind the shoulder, not just the tree point, they will never stay in position. This is why it is so important your saddle fitter is either extremely experienced or knowledgeable on particular brands. There are other saddles that do the opposite, with tree points that flare out and angle forwards. This not only allows the shoulders to move freely but it also enables the girth straps to be very forward, hence keeps the saddle off the shoulders. Discovery WB tree and Max Benz One saddles are examples of such saddles. Max Benz also has a uniquely shaped front panel, allowing the horses soft tissue more room, but still excellent support for the moveable knee roll. Yet another unique solution is found in the Ryder Baroque saddles which were developed specifically for Friesian horses and have short tree points which are flexible.
What are the best saddles for horses with high shark-fin withers than extend a long way back?
There are lots of options for these horses, depending on the width, length and shape of the horse’s back. Jeffries make a tree specifically designed for these horses – the Xtra, but the Jeffries Sport is also very good. Max Benz One saddles excel in wither clearance, especially laterally, and have super generous back gussets to help with the balance in these situations. Discovery TB tree saddles are great for these horses and have the changeable gullets as do the Max Benz one saddles. Of the Ryder saddles, the Zara and Molineux are amazing for these horses, the choice depending on how much shape they have in their backs.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SADDLES FOR WORKING EQUITATION?
Working equitation riders need to have security and freedom. The Max Benz One Kenzie saddle has been specifically designed with this in mind. Discovery saddles are also incredibly popular for this reason and both of these saddles have the knee rolls on Velcro, which can be changed for different activities. Discovery saddles are also available in All-purpose which are making a comeback with this incredibly fun, multi-discipline sport.
What are the best saddles for riders with narrow hips?
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to seat and twist width.
Generalisations suggest females prefer a wider seat and more narrow twist than males due to the difference in pelvic shape, but this is not always the case. Also, people often feel totally different things in the same saddle as others, so it is important to just get in and try as many saddles as possible, remembering that the balance of the saddle is incredibly important in these situations. If a saddle is down in front the rider will be sitting in a totally different place compared to if it is balanced or even up in front. Even as little as a few mm’s can make a saddle the rider’s favourite or most hated saddle! Riders need to be aware that the seats of saddles usually also reflect the fit for the horse, unless they are built up so much off the horse to allow a completely different shape seat. This is not a problem if the rider has a lot of leg to spare but may be problematic for short legged riders riding very round, wide horses and wanting a very narrow twisted saddle. It all comes down to rider preference along with horse comfort, but we are confident we have a saddle to suit. The best plan is to come and try them for yourself.
Generalisations suggest females prefer a wider seat and more narrow twist than males due to the difference in pelvic shape, but this is not always the case. Also, people often feel totally different things in the same saddle as others, so it is important to just get in and try as many saddles as possible, remembering that the balance of the saddle is incredibly important in these situations. If a saddle is down in front the rider will be sitting in a totally different place compared to if it is balanced or even up in front. Even as little as a few mm’s can make a saddle the rider’s favourite or most hated saddle! Riders need to be aware that the seats of saddles usually also reflect the fit for the horse, unless they are built up so much off the horse to allow a completely different shape seat. This is not a problem if the rider has a lot of leg to spare but may be problematic for short legged riders riding very round, wide horses and wanting a very narrow twisted saddle. It all comes down to rider preference along with horse comfort, but we are confident we have a saddle to suit. The best plan is to come and try them for yourself.
What are the best saddles for Off the Track Thoroughbreds?
Four saddles instantly come to mind when looking for a suitable saddle for the OTTB.
The Discovery TB tree is designed specifically for thoroughbreds, not only in the shape and angle of the changeable gullets but also in the shape of the generous panels. They allow ample adjustability and packing, distributing the rider’s weight evenly and without any pressure at the back of the saddle. Available in dressage, jump and all-purpose.
The Max Benz One saddles are brilliantly designed to give great wither clearance – not just at the very front and top where everyone is so used to checking but also laterally and back at the stirrup bar area. These also have changeable gullets, a unique tree, cleverly designed front panels to alleviate soft-tissue pressure behind the shoulder area when the horse’s leg comes back (or body moves forward over the leg) and super back panels that perfectly suit horses where the back muscles slope away from the spine. Changeable gullets can be really beneficial for these horses as they do sometimes make tremendous transformation / development when transitioning from racehorse to their new disciplines.
Wembley Pro saddles are proving to be great on TB's as they have lovely width at the gullet head and some shape to their panels, similar to the Discovery TB saddles. They also have changeable gullets and are available in dressage and all-purpose.
Finally, whilst not boasting screw in /screw out gullets, the Jeffries Sport saddles are super for tb’s with a tree designed based on the average TB back which can be pressed in or out one size by qualified saddle fitters. The age, development and condition of the horse is also a consideration in terms of whether this would provide enough adjustability. They do have lovely deep panels allowing for ample flocking but if looking at buying and fitting a saddle to a young horse straight of the track with a view to it lasting its entire ridden career, Max Benz and Discovery may be better options. If it was an older horse that had finished growing and had been let down the Jeffries Sport should be a safe bet.
The Discovery TB tree is designed specifically for thoroughbreds, not only in the shape and angle of the changeable gullets but also in the shape of the generous panels. They allow ample adjustability and packing, distributing the rider’s weight evenly and without any pressure at the back of the saddle. Available in dressage, jump and all-purpose.
The Max Benz One saddles are brilliantly designed to give great wither clearance – not just at the very front and top where everyone is so used to checking but also laterally and back at the stirrup bar area. These also have changeable gullets, a unique tree, cleverly designed front panels to alleviate soft-tissue pressure behind the shoulder area when the horse’s leg comes back (or body moves forward over the leg) and super back panels that perfectly suit horses where the back muscles slope away from the spine. Changeable gullets can be really beneficial for these horses as they do sometimes make tremendous transformation / development when transitioning from racehorse to their new disciplines.
Wembley Pro saddles are proving to be great on TB's as they have lovely width at the gullet head and some shape to their panels, similar to the Discovery TB saddles. They also have changeable gullets and are available in dressage and all-purpose.
Finally, whilst not boasting screw in /screw out gullets, the Jeffries Sport saddles are super for tb’s with a tree designed based on the average TB back which can be pressed in or out one size by qualified saddle fitters. The age, development and condition of the horse is also a consideration in terms of whether this would provide enough adjustability. They do have lovely deep panels allowing for ample flocking but if looking at buying and fitting a saddle to a young horse straight of the track with a view to it lasting its entire ridden career, Max Benz and Discovery may be better options. If it was an older horse that had finished growing and had been let down the Jeffries Sport should be a safe bet.
What is the best saddle for more than one person?
If more than one person is sharing a saddle, you should definitely be looking at changeable knee rolls, which allow for different leg shape and length. All Discovery saddles, Max Benz One and any of the custom-made saddles, including VH Signature saddles and Ryder Saddles, may be made this way.