Also consider the Tucker River Plantation.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/plantation-saddle.html
Most comfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden in. I thought I would like the Equitation Endurance better, but I sat in both side by side and much preferred the River Plantation. They are similar, but the River Plantation has a higher cantle and narrower twist.
I’ve been trail riding in the Kimberly Synthetic for several months now and I’m happy with it. It doesn’t put me in a chair seat and the seat is english style, not western. I get sore hips from riding in western style seats. But I last a max. of two hours in that saddle, then my rear-end gets very sore. I’m saving up to buy either the Kimberley Economy Outback or Kimberley Stock saddle. I tried the Longreach Endurance and was unhappy, it pushed me to the back of the saddle.
Good luck!
[QUOTE=Keg-A-Bacchus;5901679]
LOL Oldpony! Well the only reason I am really interested in maintaining my dressage seat is so that I can 1) School lightly in it and be using the same cues/weight as I would in my regular dressage and 2) Not have to fight back and forth for position every time I switch saddles. I’m currently looking at the Kimberly Synthetic Stock and the Kimberly Synthetic Endurance. Anyone have any opinions on these?? I ride in a 17.5" dressage…should I go smaller with a 17" or larger with an 18"? Pony has a shorter back FWIW. Thanks! So frustrating not being able to just go to a store and sit in the them! :([/QUOTE]
This interests me, too, as an English rider all my life. I could never get along with Western saddles until I rode in a good one - a Vic Bennett custom. My knees always got locked and I sat just plain wrong. The Vic Bennett was a whole new thing. It is a bit of an academic question since I probably could not lift it up onto my tall horse.
I also cannot ride in an Australian saddle - I cannot post the trot without getting hit in the front of the crotch. Perhaps a very large Aussie… I suggest testing it out at the trot before making a decision.
BTW - how does one gallop in a Western saddle (when you have always used the forward seat)?
I hate a western saddle and feel very insecure in them. I am not sure why but the horn drives me nuts too. I hit my wrists on it constantly. I have a OTTB who although well behaved has a big spook on the trails that can and does unseat me in my Crosby. I decided it was time to get something that would offer a little more security. I got the Down Under Kimberley Australian Synthetic Endurance saddle (No Horn!!). I also looked at EquiRoyal Pro Am (looks like an English saddle with a horn). I didn’t want to spend a ton as it is only something I do on occasion and I spend so much on my show saddles. I just purchased it (ebay) so now I am anxiously waiting to try it out. I read a ton of reviews and couldn’t find a bad one. I hope I’m not the first!!
I adore wade tree saddles! I’m trying to find a dressage saddle that fits me like my wade. The stirrups hang quite straight from most wades and bucking rolls provide a lot of security but are more forgiving than a swell should you come into contact with them. A lot of wades also have pre-turned stirrups which are much easier on your knees. Most wades are not cheap, but lose very little value for resale. When I was shopping for one I found a lot of wades that were 30+ years old and selling for the same pricd as a compareable new saddle. I also like how much hardet it is to get caught up on a wade hirn versus a normal horn. I could talk all day about why I love wades!
