Abetta Saddles - Trail Saddle for Husband

[FatCatFarm]

My husband has expressed an interest in trail riding with my daughter and I want something reasonably priced in case he quickly loses interest but also secure for him. I was looking at the Abetta saddles but they only go up to 17" in the seat and from shopping saddles this weekend, he probably needs a 17.5" seat. So I was wondering if the Abetta’s are roomy at all or tend to run small?

Any other suggestions? Would prefer a cloth, suede or equisuede type seat. Have also been looking around for a good used 17.5 - 18" seat Wade saddle but even used, they’re pretty pricey.
Thanks!

[Guilherme]

One wayto “kill” interest real quick in a new rider is to give them a saddle that’s “cheap.”

Rather than look at low end, new saddles I’d go for a used, better quality piece. It will be better designed, better constructed, and more comfortable. If he looses interest you’ll likely sell it for close to your purchase price (assuming no material change in condition).

We’ve used usedsaddles.com on a couple of occasions with excellent results. That’s, of course, if you can’t find one in a local tack shop. Supporting local tack business is good for everybody, don’t you know!!!

Good luck in your search.

G.

[muleygirl]

My husband is very picky about saddles, and I have an Abetta Brushpopper with the extra cushy seat that passes his approval. He is a big guy, 6’2" and 245lbs, and he fits fine in a 17 inch seat. I would not call Abettas cheap, they are more inexpensive than some since they are synthetic, but my experience has been that they have held up fine for me. I also have a Bighorn synthetic, which I like, but the seat is nowhere as pillowlike as the Abetta. I live where it rains a lot in the winter, and I ride outside, so synthetics are what I use so I don’t ruin my leather saddles.

[FatCatFarm]

I hear you Guillherme, but I wince at shelling out around $900 for a saddle his backside may never grace more than twice. Still, I haven’t ruled it out.

No Muleygirl, I don’t consider the Abetta’s cheap and have found cloth seats to be helpfully grippy and I don’t want him sliding around in the saddle. Also, he’s had some tailbone pain when riding a motorcycle so a cushy seat is a bonus.

Thanks for the replies.

[oldpony66]

Is there any chance you could borrow a saddle from someone for a few months?

I totally get what you’re saying, I bought my husband a horse and a saddle. Horse is now in a new home, saddle is on the rack. I only spent about $300 for it, and it wasn’t the saddle that got him, it was the fact that “the horse has a brain” that put him back on his motorcycle. Control freak. He was doing really well, too.

Ah, well. One other thing, I used to have tailbone pain and I went to a chiropractor who realigned my tailbone (I didn’t know they could be out of alignement?!?!) and in one visit, it was fixed. It went out one more time and I had it fixed and I’ve been great since. Has your husband had an injury or does he know why the tailbone hurts?

[Golden_Pony]

Also check out Fabtron saddles.

[EmmyTheHemi]

Had an Abetta “endurance” model a few years back. Not a fan. Even with a “tush cush” arrangement.

I found riding in it too uncomfortable, and the fabric slightly slick. It also bridged on the horses I had at the time. I eventually relegated it to being all my babies’ “starter” saddle. If they trashed it hanging out on the cross ties or in their stalls or in their early round pen experiences, no great loss. Donated it to a therapeutic riding program that was thrilled to have it, since it was roomy, lightweight, and easy to clean.

If I had a do-over, I’d go for a slightly higher quality used saddle with more resale value.

[sschuessler]

I have an Abetta western saddle, arab tree model. I ride in a 16" seat and it fits me and I am not all that big (5’7" and 140 lbs). I think it is super comfy and you can pick these things up for really cheap on ebay or craigslist. but, I love mine and trail ride in it all summer!

[Huntertwo]

I love my Abetta Endurance saddle. Wouldn’t consider it cheap nor slippery. I found it true to size, without being roomy.

I’ve had a Fabtron, Bob Marshall treeless, Tex Tan, and still went back to my Abetta.

I will say though - it did feel uncomfortable at first on the behind ;), but the more I rode in it, the more comfortable it became.

In fact, if you click on the link in my signature line, my POA is tacked up and ready to go in it… You can see the texture on the seat which is good for grip.

[FatCatFarm]

No, I really can’t borrow one. Thanks for the feedback on the Abettas.

Huntertwo, that seat looks really comfy to me and I like your few spot Appy. :)Some of you may recall my incident a couple of months ago with the gelding I was riding and a Canadian goose. I wound up doing an unplanned dismount and landed hard. I then went out and bought myself a Wintec Pro Stock which I love and came in really handy this past weekend when the same green gelding was acting stoopid out on the trail. No slipping around in the saddle at all.

[FatCatFarm]

[QUOTE=oldpony66;6166431]

Ah, well. One other thing, I used to have tailbone pain and I went to a chiropractor who realigned my tailbone (I didn’t know they could be out of alignement?!?!) and in one visit, it was fixed. It went out one more time and I had it fixed and I’ve been great since. Has your husband had an injury or does he know why the tailbone hurts?[/QUOTE]

If only I could get him to go, but being typically male, he is uncooperative. It’s a great idea though and I’ll mention it to him. Thank you.

Will also look at the Fabtrons.

[chicamux]

Go buy a saddle that fits the HORSE and is big enough for the spouse. You can always add a seat saver to the saddle but your horse is the one who needs to demo the saddle.

Bonnie

[katarine]

The Bighorn endurance saddles are comfortable and support the rider’s lower back well. For a newbie I’d definitely get a 5" cantle.

[fairtheewell]

I have an Abetta Serenity…17"…I’m 5’10". I absolutely LOVE it…It fits a variety of horses and was about $400 new via Amazon.

[FatCatFarm]

I love the Abettas as they are something I wouldn’t mind hanging onto even if he doesn’t stick with it; or it should resale well. My only concern is will it be big enough? He is 5’11 a bit portly and does not have a flat backside/definitely some junk in his trunk. When he sat in a few western saddles this weekend, the 16" Abetta (only size available and it was an older one), looked 2" too small to me. He sat in several leather Big Horn 17’s and didn’t really have any wiggle room and IMHO needs an 18 to keep his crotch from being squashed up against the pommel. I found a nice used 18.5" Tucker western trail saddle which will probably suit, but I’ll have to sell it if he doesn’t stick with riding. The horse is not a hard to fit horse. I’m more concerned about keeping my greenhorn of a husband comfortably in the saddle for just a nice leasurely walking trail ride.

[candyappy]

The tucker will have a good resale value. I think for men especially you need enough " room for everything" . I like Abettas, but do they make an 18" seat?

[FatCatFarm]

No, that’s the problem, they don’t and I just don’t feel comfortable going with a 17". I’ve placed a bid on a used 18.5" Tucker on eBay. It may be just a tad big but I doubt it. And like you and Guilherme said, it will at least hold it’s value well. So many of the cheaper saddles are now outsourced to India and there just isn’t as much attention to detail. I would feel especially bad if he took a spill due to poor saddle construction.

[fairtheewell]

I bet you could find a really nice Circle Y out there…they are great saddles for trail riding or anything else for that matter.

[Guilherme]

Tuckers are good saddles. So are Steele Plantation Saddles.

G.

[FatCatFarm]

I’ll be checking those out to as the Tucker is already bidding up to more than we want to pay.