Recent Customer Review about the Imus 4-Beat® Elite

"Hey Ladies, it has finally stopped snowing here and I’ve had a chance to get on Nick with my new saddle several times. I love it!  It fits him like a glove. Importantly, I feel very secure in the saddle.  It allows me to feel “wrapped around” Nick and doesn’t slip or slide no matter what we’re doing.  I’m glad I bought the Elite version.  Nick is 16.1 and getting the saddle on him isn’t a problem with this lighter saddle.  Thanks so much.  I’m really happy and look forward to years of comfortable riding.  Keep up the good work!"  Melissa 4/12/18

Gaited Horse Saddle Fitting and Equitation (VIDEO)

A big topic of discussion is the best gaited horse saddle and tack for your gaited horse. Brenda Imus advocated for the sound training and riding techniques of the gaited horse. She developed a gaited saddle that has unique features that allows horses to move with complete freedom of movement, which is the cornerstone of developing an evenly timed 4-beat gait in good form. Gaited horses require an unusual degree of freedom of movement from back to front through their back, neck and poll. This presents a variety of challenges when fitting a gaited horse. In this saddle fitting video, Brenda Imus discusses gaited horse saddle fitting,  conformation, different types of saddle trees, and how equitation affects your horse's movement. Discusses features of the Imus 4-Beat Gaited ® Saddle. (22 minutes)

Video: Bitting the Gaited (and non-gaited) Horse

In this video Brenda Imus demonstrates the dynamics of commonly used bits for both gaited and non-gaited horses. Informative and easy to understand, Brenda breaks down how different horse bits function in your horse's mouth when you take on the rein and explains why a bit should not be used to 'get gait'. From the Gaits from God 3 Part DVD Set HERE

Click Here for More Information About the 2nd Generation Imus Line of Bits

How to Check for Saddle Fit

Does your gaited horse spook a lot?  Do you have a problem with rushing, or is the horse herd bound or barn sour?  Perhaps you hate that uncomfortable    pace, but can’t seem to train him to the smoother gait you expected?  Your problems may all be a result of your horse responding to a saddle that is causing pain. When I first started working with a wide variety of gaited horses, it became increasingly apparent that many common problems originated with discomfort experienced as the result of improper saddle fit, and dynamics.  These are two separate, but related, issues.   

Saddle fit – especially for Western style saddles – can be a problem because many...

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Clarification about the Imus Line of Bits

We are often asked to clarify what exactly we improved about the Imus Line of Bits

Important Note:  Phoenix Rising Saddles is the sole distributor of the Imus line of products. Our 2nd Generation Imus bits cost more to produce than what the imitations retail for. Other companies sell cheaper imitations of the older style bit made overseas and sell them under the name "Comfort Gait Bit" or "Training Transition Bit" and some of them even have the name “IMUS” stamped on them. All authentic 2^nd Generation Imus bits have the registered trademark 4-Beat® log engraved on them to assure authenticity and can be purchased only through Phoenix Rising Saddles. If you have one of these bits and it has failed, we recommend contacting the original place of purchase to inquire about a warranty.These are not authentic Imus bits and Phoenix Rising Saddles has nothing to do with the manufacture, sale, or profit from the knock-offs.

• They are now precision engineered and made in the USA with the highest quality material available
• Re-engineered internal workings to strengthen working parts and facilitate the smoothest movement
• Lengthened and slightly flattened the copper roller to cover all moveable parts in the mouthpiece.  This completely covers the bushings to keep the bit completely pinchless, and prevents damage to structural integrity from torque. (pictures of lookalike bits often have their mouthpieces and copper rollers edited to look this way, but the bushings are actually exposed)
• Made bushings internal on the cheek-pieces to strengthen and prevent loosening and pinching
• Removed the side D's to make the bit lighter and less bulky.  If you would like to have the benefits of the mouthpiece while working off a non-leverage snaffle setup, you can do this with our 2nd Generation Imus Training Transition Bit™
• Manufactured with their original purchase-to-shank ratio, which is key to effect the proper sequence of actions with the bit
• Manufactured with proper angles of lower shanks
• Backed by a 5 Year warranty