Best Saddle for Trail Riding?

[twofatponies]

[QUOTE=ponygrl25;4227510]
Wintec westerns are notorious for awful fit. I have a Fabtron that is comfy and fits pretty well.[/QUOTE]

Another vote for Fabtron - mine is a mix of synthetic and leather - and it was cheap, so I don’t fuss about it if I get it wet or scratched up or muddy.

I find it comfortable, and so does my horse, and it’s light weight.

I didn’t like Wintec’s english or western saddles - too light, and seemed squishy and insubstatial to me. I like to have a feeling of solidity and substance in a saddle.

[spirithorse22]

I used to ride for five+ hours a day 5x a week in a Denver Colorado Saddlery ranch type working saddle (high cantle, #4 dally rawhide horn, etc.) and that thing was like sitting in my second skin. Seriously. Soooo comfy. I’m trying to buy that saddle from the ranch owner right now, as a matter of fact! :lol: Puhweeze, mr. rrr owner? :winkgrin: But things you might consider negative: expensive, leather, heavy.

@Tiffani B;4225746

I am thinking of getting a second saddle to use for trail riding. I normally ride Saddle Seat and Western, but rode Hunt Seat as a youth, so I’m open to any type of saddle.

I’m looking for something comfortable, durable, grippy, easy to clean, that won’t be damaged by water or the occassional branch scraping it. I’ve looked at the Wintec saddles but have never ridden in one, and don’t know if there are other brands to check out that are as good/better. I would not be opposed to leather but I don’t want to be worrying about the saddle while I’m riding, so I think I’d prefer synthetic.

My horse is a 16.2 hand Saddlebred, but he has a fairly normal wither and back (no shark fins or slab sides LOL).