Barrel saddle for WP/Ranch Pleasure etc?

[OneGrayPony]

The western saddle I currently own is a Billy Cook half-breed. My horse loves it, and to me, it’s like riding in a couch. I originally bought it to help give me confidence trail riding since it might take a pry bar to pull you out of it

However, I’d like to try our hands at Ranch Pleasure or possibly Western Pleasure - do I need a whole new saddle for that, just to try it? Is it the equivalent of riding a hunter course in a dressage saddle (or worse?) It does have some silver - would that be an issue for Ranch Pleasure? I know it’s not a “normal” saddle for the discipline, but I hate to give it up if I’m not sure that we are going to like it!

[craz4crtrs]

I say ride in it whatever you want to do, cows etc. The only thing is you can not rope in it. I have always discounted barrel saddles, but in the last year I have purchased two of them for a wide little mare. The first was a Cactus CJ saddle, but she grew out of it in the 6 months I was waiting from my custom wade. Then recently I found a Steinhoff Double C trophy saddle that is wide enough for her and fits me. Really comfortable saddles and while some people say barrel saddles put you in a chair seat, I have to disagree. I can get my leg on as well as my dressage saddle. I plan on doing my arena work in it and any cow work. Super secure. I love the wade for long trail rides and hill work, but I had found it disconcerting working a cow, my little mare dropped down in front and I felt a tad exposed. I then put on the bucking rolls, but don’t need them for trail. Only downfall beside not roping in a barrel saddle, is the tree is really short in the front and I have concerns that on really steep down hill rides that it may bump into her shoulder. She has a huge shoulder. So GO FOR IT!!

[Bluey]

Unless you are training and competing at the top, you can make whatever fits be fine.

At the top, the better saddles for that discipline may give you that edge, but otherwise, whatever is right for your horse’s back and you can ride with well is ok.

Many trainers have a preferred training saddle and keep special saddles just for shows.
I have always trained in my English saddle, then used the western one when necessary, that is not always working cattle.
You do get funny looks when you are sorting pairs in an English saddle, but if you do it right, your horse should rarely have to get out of a slow walk anyway.

Of course, roping will require a saddle made for that.:yes:

[OneGrayPony]

I doubt that I’ll have the opportunity to try roping for awhile. I also doubt that we’ll be too competitive for awhile, as we are just starting out, both as a pair and in these disciplines! I just didn’t want to get laughed out of the ring or commit a major faux pas!

[Plumcreek]

A bit of silver will not rule you out in Ranch Pleasure. I would work toward that class, because the pattern training will help any horse be better. Use WP classes to school your horse and work on ring experience. The straight Western Pleasure classes, unless with a remarkably open minded judge, are judged contrary to how most people would like their horses to go, and you will need way more money into your turnout and tack to be competative.

PS everyone, there were over 40 entries in open Ranch Pleasure class this weekend at Las Cruces NM AQHA show.

[OneGrayPony]

Thanks Plumcreek! I like the idea of the patterns and I think he’ll like the “not rail” aspect of it. Now I’m just trying to get the darned transfer completed because the AQHA is 90 days behind :-/ I put a rush on it, but there was still a showing lease on him so she advised me that it won’t be done until they release that. That gives us some more time, though!

[Plumcreek]

Check YouTube for my friend’s mare: Lavish Love. She just won a bunch of points in Ranch Pleasure last weekend and should again be leading the nation for high point. Good transitions, obvious fast vs slow gaits, and precision win that class.

[OneGrayPony]

She was the one I watched!

We can do most of the maneuvers now with the exception of a flying change (he’s just never had to do them, and I don’t have the space to school them). Obviously, if that’s the direction he is headed we’ll need to make everything crisper (he does a pivot foot and spin - slowly - in one direction but does not pivot the other way yet)!

I don’t expect us to be immediately competitive, but it sure sounds like fun!