The Rodrigo Pessoa Saddles line was partially designed by a master craftsman who wanted his son, Rodrigo, to learn how to ride on a perfectly balanced saddle. While being a show rider himself, Rodrigo designed the more advanced saddles.

Some compare the Pessoa Rodrigo saddle and all its perfection to the balance of a fencing sword. For the horse riding enthusiast who wants to compete at a high level and who demands precision, the Pessoa saddle is a must have!

This saddle brand is crafted with the love and care a man would give his son. The Pessoa saddle is highly recommended for those horse riding enthusiasts who want to attain a certain degree of elegance and grace while riding. Calculating riders turn to Pessoa saddles more so than the rough rider.

Features and Benefits

The features and benefits of Rodrigo Pessoa Saddles vary greatly, but are known mainly for their great performance over fences and on flats. Their Pony saddle is one of the most popular saddles for youngsters because of its quality.

Many Pony saddles are overlooked by master designers and are therefore designed cheaply and with little thought. However, like with all Rodrigo Pessoa Saddles, the Pony Saddle exhibits perfect attention to detail and is as balanced and effective as its larger show-grade siblings.

Drawbacks

Rodrigo Pessoa Saddles have a long history of greatness, yet, this long history is perhaps one of their largest drawbacks. This line of saddles is extremely traditionalist and doesn’t incorporate many of the riding technologies that supposedly make riding easier and less strenuous.

While this very well may be the case, it is important to note that many great riding teachers advocate for Rodrigo Pessoa Saddles. Many still believe that learning and riding on a traditional saddle is the best way to learn proper form a become the strongest rider possible.

These same advocates believe that the bells and whistles included in modern saddles actually prevent effective movement and cushion the rider to the extent that he or she becomes ineffective.

Of course, over the years the Rodrigo saddles have been tweaked, their designs improved, but the craftsmen, including Rodrigo, have always stuck with a traditional philosophy about how saddles should be made. To them, pockets filled with air in the saddle are blasphemy.

Summary and Recommendation

Before you buy this saddle you should determine what your riding philosophy is. You can do this in conjunction with your riding teacher or an experienced rider that you know and trust. There are two camps.

Either you believe that you should take advantage of all the developments that the saddle industry has to offer, or you are more traditional; you believe that the long history of excellence behind Rodrigo Pessoa Saddles and the years of tweaks to the design are enough and, in fact, will make you a better rider.

 If you are in the later camp, than this is most definitely the saddle for you. This line of saddles is storied and filled with years of a tradition of excellence.