I mostly ride dressage, but trail ride every week. I’ve been trail riding in my Wintec Isabel, which I love, but on 2-3 hour rides, it gets uncomfortable. I’d like to get a trail saddle, preferably lightweight, synthetic, and not very expensive. The one I tried (sorry, don’t know what brand) fit my horse okay but the seat was very wide and flat and uncomfortable for me. The Isabel has a narrow twist, and that is very comfortable. Is the twist referred to in trail/Western saddles? Or something equivalent to it? And which saddles are most likely to fit me? I know I’ll have to try them, just trying to get some direction.
Well, its not synthetic or inexpensive, but the Tucker River Plantation is the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden in, and I very much prefer a narrow twist in a dressage saddle. All of the other trail/endurance saddles I’ve tried were too wide for my comfort and felt bulky under my leg, but the Tucker is perfect.
narrow twist
Be careful with the Tucker saddles most have a wide fit although the plantation is better its still not narrow. some western saddles do have a narrow twist but don’t depend on the product description you have to try them for your body.
A saddle that is extremely comfortable with a genuine narrow twist is the Plantation Pleasure saddle by Custom Tree and Saddle Company. Steelesaddle.com
This is not a cheap saddle but I had two ,one is a least 15 years old, used a lot and still a very comfy ride. The best thing is you can try one for free and then they will make one just for you. You can find them used in fact i just sold one on craigs list in two days. They hold their value, got what I paid for it new.
Also what about the Wintec endurance saddle?
If your horse’s back can take the rocker/flair in the trees (many Arabs can), Crates trail saddles have a fairly narrow twist. They even make an Arab specific tree as well as a couple of ladies specific saddles. They’re not cheap new, but you can often find them for $600-900 used. I’ve had a couple and loved them all. Even the wide tree version that I have now (big old paint horse) has a fairly narrow twist.
Australian saddles (authentic) have a narrow twist.
The Abetta’s didn’t seem to bad but I would try one before you buy.
I have a River Plantation by Tucker and it is sweet on your buns.
Like you I prefer a narrow twist in my seat.
That’s funny, I rode in a borrowed Wintec Isabell for a year before I bought my saddle, and I felt like I was riding a barrel in it. However, it WAS too big for me, so that may have been part of the problem - I was borrowing it from a girl who is 8" taller than me.
I ended up with the Thorowgood synthetic endurance saddle, which runs about $700 brand new, and I absolutely love it.
Thanks for the tips, everybody!
Big horn makes an “endurance” saddle (no horn) that has flocking in memory foam against the horse and in the seat. I bought mine because it sat me in the correct pelvic position and didn’t make my femur heads feel like they were being ripped out of socket.
