Abetta -- really "a better" saddle?

[Wellspotted]

Update

Wow - I just looked at the date this thread started. I can’t believe it’s been so long!

Last New Year’s I finally saw a real “live” western Abetta in a local tack shop. I was thrilled to see it, and have to admit I was even more thrilled when I discovered that I do not like it nearly as much as the saddle I bought instead, my Big Horn. I looked the Abetta saddle over in the shop and not only does it not have the nice feel of mine, it didn’t look at good. I have been better impressed with the Abetta endurance saddles I’ve seen but I am really glad I bought the Big Horn instead. It has padded stirrup treads, flexible fabric fenders, and a real suede seat. The seat is kind of hard, but for the amount of riding I do it is OK. So for my money, the Big Horn is the “betta” saddle!

[GallopHer]

I have to agress with Wellspotted. Though I like my 2 Abettas, I admit that my Big Horn has better workmanship and has held up better.

[muleygirl]

For those of you that said the saddle is too hard, you need to try out the new extra padded seats. I have a Brushpopper with the padded seat, and I think the Serenity and one other trail saddle comes with it. It is like sitting on a pillow. I used to have a Pathfinder, so I know what you are talking about regarding the other type of seat. I love the Brushpopper, but I wish they would make a normal western type saddle with a round skirt and the extra padded seat. I don’t like the dropped rigging on the other trail saddle they have. But they are great using saddles, and they don’t mold : )

[pines4equines]

Hay

I have an Abetta Endurance and I do love it. I came from the English world and I did not want a heavy western saddle to trail ride.

However, I had my local tack store help me fit the saddle which we did when my horse was very, very overweight. He’s lost weight and the saddle does not fit him well at all. I don’t want to pad it up to fit. He is slightly downhill and those pouch/hollows in front of his withers are a problem with this saddle.

There has to be a solution to a saddle purchase and the loss or weight gain of a horse. And please not that CAIR or whatever it is gullet system.

[rainechyldes]

[QUOTE=Wellspotted;2839913]
Do any of you use Abetta endurance or western saddles? I’ve been thinking of getting one but the only way I know to do so is to order one–none of the local dealers carry them.

Please, if you have any experience with them, will you let me know what you think of them?[/QUOTE]
Have read the entire thread. I 've tried Abetta’s , didnt care for them - but then I add the caveat of course that this is purely subjective on my part, I just found the twist too wide for me on the various models I tried of that brand.

[system]

[QUOTE=Tiempo;2839989]
I like mine, cheap, light and comfy.

I’m not using it much right now as it doesn’t fit my Paso very well, but it looks like it’s going to fit Tucker, our coming three year old paint , so it will likely be his come spring.

I plan to convert it to English rigging though, I hate tying that darn western knot.[/QUOTE]

I have (had) two of them. I just sold one through endurance.net. I’m replacing them with treeless, but I do love the Abettas. Like someone else said - cheap, light, comfy. Pretty much sums it up. Tons of rings to hang stuff till your little heart’s content. I love the cool-grip neoprene bottom - no fleece or fluffy stuff to get wet, crushed, and dirty