At what point do you say this is good enough?

[Draftmare]

This is more of a rant, of frustration.

My SO found an old roping/working saddle at, of all places, an antique store. Thinking it might be worth something to resell (I use to buy and sell saddles all the time) he picked it up for me. I was actually rather impressed with his find, and really liked it despite it probably needing new fenders and some other TLC. Tree is solid, leather is in decent shape. I compared it to my other western saddle and the gullet looked wider and more open, so I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it on my mare.

I found that it was much easier to slide my hand down the front than it was in the other saddle, and that the tree was making solid contact with her back all along the length of it. Things were looking really good until I mounted up. I again found myself with the same situation, having a really hard time sliding my hands down the front, especially on the left side which is her bigger shoulder. She was moving okay in it, though I didn’t ride much as the stirrups are stuck in a really long position. Going to try it again tomorrow, maybe ride in both saddles and see how that goes.

I took some video of both, but am having a hard time telling much difference.

Her walking and some trot before my camera died in the work saddle: https://goo.gl/photos/LLmZuWy1dsJnkQgy8

Her walking and trotting in the other saddle (I suggest you mute the video): https://goo.gl/photos/vhS29XNUyTwQxtCj6

I guess I am just kind of at my wits end. I don’t have more money to really throw at the problem at this point. I would like to make one of these work. At what point does one just give up and say this is good enough for now? :no:

[js]

Ride it, if your horse goes well in it and doesn’t get sore then stop worrying. I sometimes think we over analyze to the point of thinking there are problems when there possibly aren’t. Western saddles fit and distribute weight much differently than English saddles, so what you are thinking is a problem may not be as much of an issue as you think. That said there are pads with shims, you might need to shim the side that is under developed, and find a saddle that in you feel fits the over developed side.

[Bluey]

That is so hard to see for me, but the silver laced saddle seems to be perched on her, doesn’t sit around her shoulders well, almost rocks a little from side to side and stays a hair too forward on her.

The roping saddle found it’s spot a bit further back as soon as the horse moved and stayed there quietly.

Hard to tell how it will do with a rider on either, that may change things.

[goodhors]

Are you trying to run your hands under saddle with another rider in the saddle? Or trying that while in the saddle yourself? Not clear to me.

If you are sitting in saddle AND trying to run hands under saddle, any saddle will feel tight because your full weight is over those shoulders.

Much better for you to stand on the ground to check shoulder fit with a rider in the saddle. Or have a knowledgeable person check shoulder fit under saddle with you mounted on horse.

[beau159]

Really hard to judge saddle fit from a poor video. Sorry!

[Draftmare]

Sorry, here are fit pictures of the ranch saddle: https://goo.gl/photos/HyDCQQTAeXyaG1539

And here are pictures of the show saddle:
https://goo.gl/photos/9UQF7UgwmYAVBEWL6

I personally like the show saddle better…and I kind of think she goes better in it…but not 100% sure.

I am thinking I am going to try and see what a 1 inch wool or felt pad might do under either of these saddles. While I love my pad, it is memory foam and squishes down pretty flat.

[Bluey]

You are the one that feels how it sits there and how the horse moves, so whichever you think your horse goes along best is the one you should pick.

We sure can’t say from here, both seem to be close to the same, the roping saddle seems to be less clearance under the gullet, but looks can be deceiving.

You can also check that they don’t bridge a bit in the middle with you on them.

[RPM]

Is either one of these a draft-horse saddle? I know that there are western saddles made especially for draft horses. I also know you said you couldn’t keep throwing money out on saddles – I understand that perfectly!

I don’t know enough about saddle fitting to give feedback on your two saddles. Lots of people here know a lot and will keep chiming in with their knowledge.

[merrygoround]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8484525]
That is so hard to see for me, but the silver laced saddle seems to be perched on her, doesn’t sit around her shoulders well, almost rocks a little from side to side and stays a hair too forward on her.

The roping saddle found it’s spot a bit further back as soon as the horse moved and stayed there quietly.

Hard to tell how it will do with a rider on either, that may change things.[/QUOTE]

Agreed

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8490998]
Sorry, here are fit pictures of the ranch saddle: https://goo.gl/photos/HyDCQQTAeXyaG1539

And here are pictures of the show saddle:
https://goo.gl/photos/9UQF7UgwmYAVBEWL6

I personally like the show saddle better…and I kind of think she goes better in it…but not 100% sure.

I am thinking I am going to try and see what a 1 inch wool or felt pad might do under either of these saddles. While I love my pad, it is memory foam and squishes down pretty flat.[/QUOTE]

By looking at the pictures alone, I like the looks of the ranch saddle better.

Not that the show saddle is a “bad fit” by any means, but it seems like the ranch fits that left shoulder better.

And yes, there is something to be said on how YOU feel the horse moves/rides in the saddle.

Honestly, I would go for more of a 1/2" or 3/4" (at the most) wool pad. I think 1" would be overkill and more padding than you need. IMO.

Personally, I’m not a fan of your pad, but I’m pretty picky.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8491010]
You are the one that feels how it sits there and how the horse moves, so whichever you think your horse goes along best is the one you should pick.

We sure can’t say from here, both seem to be close to the same, the roping saddle seems to be less clearance under the gullet, but looks can be deceiving.

You can also check that they don’t bridge a bit in the middle with you on them.[/QUOTE]

Oh, I know. Like I said in my OP I am just kind of “over it” and frustrated with how hard this is turning out to be. Plus my budget is next to nothing right now. Would really like one of these to sell!

At least neither one appears to be bridging.

[QUOTE=beau159;8492515]By looking at the pictures alone, I like the looks of the ranch saddle better.

Not that the show saddle is a “bad fit” by any means, but it seems like the ranch fits that left shoulder better.

And yes, there is something to be said on how YOU feel the horse moves/rides in the saddle.

Honestly, I would go for more of a 1/2" or 3/4" (at the most) wool pad. I think 1" would be overkill and more padding than you need. IMO.

Personally, I’m not a fan of your pad, but I’m pretty picky. ;)[/QUOTE]

The ranch saddles does seem a wee bit wider. If I did keep it I would have to get new fenders for it. Not sure how hard that is going to be, or if I would even be able to find matching fenders. Circle Y has made such a wide range of leather colors over the years, and this is an older saddle. Pre-2000s at least.

So, here is my weird observation about the two saddles. In the show saddle she is more willing to move out and do lateral work. In the work saddle she is more willing to collect up. :no: Makes deciding between the two hard.

I started out really liking my Toklat pad, but now I am feeling a bit more neutral about it. It has the memory foam inserts so is squishes down pretty flat. I wish I had gone for the Poron inserts. Darn things are around $160 for just the inserts though. I bought it because it has the option to add shims, and my mare is slightly downhill so I usually ride with front shims in it so that the saddles don’t slide forward. It is also machine washable, which is one of the reasons I have always shied away from wool and felt pads.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8492988]
It is also machine washable, which is one of the reasons I have always shied away from wool and felt pads.[/QUOTE]

I simply wash my 5 Star wool pad with a pressure washer that I hook up to the hose at home, or else I take it to the car wash and use the mat holders. Use some soap, then hose it off. Cleans up pretty easy.

[Bluey]

We have washed felt pads by letting them dry well, then using a curry comb gently, then a brush, then shaking and hitting them on something.

That keeps them from having caked sweat and dirt.
If they do get very nasty, we may wash them with a hose after brushing them.

Not all felt pads are the same, some seem to drop dry stuff easily, some are harder to clean.

We have never used soap or a pressure washer on those, interesting idea.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8493982]

We have never used soap or a pressure washer on those, interesting idea.[/QUOTE]

They claim you aren’t supposed to, but I’ve never had a problem. Been doing it for years. Cleans them up so well.

I probably do the pressure washing about 3 times a year.

In the meantime, I do what you do with a soft rubber curry to work off extra hair/dirt before each ride when the pad is dry.