"Best" Endurance/Trail Saddle, English Style?

[MysticOakRanch]

Posting for a friend who has been trail riding her mare in a dressage saddle - has some small fitting issues that seem to just be related to spending HOURS in the saddle several times weekly. She rides 3 or 4 hours/day on hills, and the dressage saddle just isn’t cutting it anymore - she needs a saddle specifically built for spending hours on a horse’s back. Does anyone have suggestions?

Horse has no “special” fitting needs - she’s a fairly symmetrical, 16 handish medium wide horse. Fairly sensitive skin, but overall, pretty stoic mare. None of us know anything about the trail saddle world - she doesn’t want to convert to a Western style, so - suggestions on other options?

[Guilherme]

Stubben Scout, their police/military saddle. Developed in 1948 by Stubben Switzerland for the Belgian government. It’s a “modern” design. It has 10 d-rings to hang stuff on. Very comfortable for me and the horse. The downside: the smallest seat size in the U.S. is 18". My wife, at 5’8", can ride it but is much more comfortable in her Stubben VSD/DL with a 17" seat. She also thinks the VSD/DL has a more comfortable seat for her. I have ridden her saddle on multiple occasions and find the Scout seat to be just more comfortable.

Remember that in 1948 designers of a police/military saddle would NOT have been concerned with the requirements of the human female conformation. There were no female mounted soldiers or police in those days (at least not in any significant numbers).

If the Scout doesn’t work the look at the VSD/DL. All the same advantages, including Stubben quality, and if you want some extra D-rings Stubben USA will make that happen.

G.

[sonata]

look into the thorogood endurance saddle. it does have the changeable gullet system and is reasonably priced. I have an older version and find it comfortable. I also found their close contact saddle nice. they are made in England and can be restuffed accordind to your horses needs. they are synthetic so you can easily hose them off to keep them clean

[irish_horse]

I trail ride hours in my dressage saddle, though it is an Arabian Saddle Company Solstice, lots of dees and a a super comfy seat (and sheepskin seat saver for me!). I have it fitted and adjust flocking every year.

Could a better pad help with the issues? I use either a Haf (brand) pad with Equipedic inserts, or the Toklat Matrix, woolback with pro-impact inserts. Both have been great for endurance rides and daily riding/training on hills, etc. I do slightly prefer the Matrix.

Best of luck finding something that helps!

[MysticOakRanch]

Has anyone heard of DP saddles? Apparently they make a flex tree saddle that does well for endurance and long trail rides. She’s trying out one of their saddles after Christmas.

Pad isn’t helping - she’s had the saddle reflocked a few times now, and is using a pretty high end pad that was suggested by saddle fitter. Basically, a dressage saddle isn’t really created to spend 4 hours/day on the horses back, especially when riding hills. It isn’t anything horrible - the saddle fits quite well, but isn’t really made for that kind of riding (especially up and down hills).

[AshleyandAnnabel]

I think Tucker makes the best trail saddles. I’d go with a Tucker Plantation Saddle (more dressage like), or Equitation Endurance saddle.

[silverdog]

I rode my Trakehner gelding in his custom fitted dressage saddle for one 25 mile LD. He was lame at the end but that had not a thing to do with his saddle. It is comfortable for me and fits him great. I use a square dressage pad - no extra cushioning. He never has back pain or any indication that it bothers him. I have a friend who rides 100’s in her dressage saddle w/o any issues either. That said, I just bought a horse that came with her custom Reactor Panel saddle and her back is in tiptop shape. At first I wasn’t sure for me (if I was to buy another, I might have it configured a tiny bit differently but it’s fine for now). Very comfortable and once fitted not a whole lot to worry about. To me it doesn’t sit into her back like a regular treed saddle might.

[IrishBirdcatcher]

I also give a positive recommendation for Arabian Saddle Co.

@irish_horse

I trail ride hours in my dressage saddle, though it is an Arabian Saddle Company Solstice, lots of dees and a a super comfy seat (and sheepskin seat saver for me!). I have it fitted and adjust flocking every year.

I thought the Solstice was a trail/endurance model and comes standard with serge panels? https://arabiansaddle.com/solstice-endurance-trail-saddle/

I have an Arabian Saddle Co. Ellipse Dressage saddle and it is super comfy and stable on the horse and has flexible billeting options (good if you have a hard time with girth fit). The company is small and the owners (also own Lovatt and Ricketts) are hands on; if I had a non-arab backed horse and wanted a designated trail saddle I think I would still call them up.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

I love my Prestige Atena. It’s full calfskin over memory foam (even the flaps have a thin layer) and extremely comfy. English type flaps and external block. Short girth. The old models have a very broad panel more suited to a wide/rounded back, but the Atena EVO is panels designed more moderately. Still more weight-bearing area than a traditional close contact, but more forgiving fit for different backs. If she wants to send me pics of the horse, I’ll be happy to tell her if it might fit. 14lbs without fittings and beautifully made. I call it the Butt Cloud.

[chicamux]

I really like my Ghost saddle, an english type of treeless saddle. I have owned a number of treeless saddles and the Ghost has been the best yet for my horse and myself. NOT for the heavyweight rider but definitely a big improvement over may other treeless saddles. I just can’t accept saddles that I cannot custom fit myself, left treed saddles years ago. I do like having a flexible saddle on my horse’s back Another make/model that I think would be good for endurance is the Startrekk Icelandic model. It has a leather “tree” and metal pommel arches that can be swapped out, similar to Bates/Wintec saddles. They make dressage and an All-purpose model also and each model has a slightly different shape to the “tree”.

[phantomhorse]

Another vote for Arabian Saddle Company saddles here. We use Rubicons and love them.

[akdraft77]

I love my Barefoot Tahoe (treeless). It is super comfy, super light, and my horse seems to really like it. I use a breast collar with it and safety stirrups. Has some ties all over so I can attach gear if needed.

[Neverdonefarm]

Probably jumped in late here, but I have a Tucker Gen II and will comment it is wonderful for trail/endurance riding. My only issue is the weight as I get older and have to toss it up on a 16H+ horse. So again, I am back searching for a lighter weight saddle, that I can post in, but still feel secure for that once in a lifetime Spook. Anyone hear of BUA saddles? They are new made in Ireland. Just not sure if they will hold up and are a little pricey $2,700.

[anon38350891]

I’m going to put in a plug for a very inexpensive saddle: the Abetta Cordura endurance trail saddle. It is lightweight, resilient, comfortable, tough, and above all inexpensive.

I’ve got a tall stocky close-coupled horse and the Tucker saddle was just too long for him - it hit weight on his kidneys. This little Abetta fits him well and has lasted us for 12 years of hard trail riding, and still looks new.

https://www.statelinetack.com/item/abetta-endurance-saddle/SLT901117/

[MysticOakRanch]

Friend got a DP - so far, it seems to be more comfortable to her horse then her dressage saddle.

[Horsecare101]

Has she tried an Australian saddle? I just switched from a heavy duty double rigged western to an Aussie and I love it!