Best western saddle for posting trot on "big mover"

[4horses]

I’m looking for a new western saddle. I mostly just trail ride, but my horse has a “huge” trot. She has no sitting trot at all, and is so uncomfortable I always end up posting.

She is a registered Paint horse, but has some Thoroughbred blood, and the big strides that come with it.

What would be a good brand of saddle to try on her? Something that puts the rider in a more classical position?

The other issue I have had, is she is so difficult to saddle fit. I’ve tried a dozen english saddles and none fit. I haven’t bothered with Aussie saddles, as they would probably have the same fit issues as the english.

She goes best in a wide tree western by Fabtron.

[Flash44]

Are you able to regulate her stride at all? You should be able to collect her a bit and get her to lift/round her back a bit, which will make it more comfortable for you.

[NoSuchPerson]

I would think a slick fork, like a Wade, would be the best option. Nothing up front to get in the way of your posting.

Like Pocket Pony’s new JJ Maxwell saddle. (Pictures in a thread just a few below this one.)

[Bearskin]

Try the Harmony Western Dressage saddle. Here’s their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WesternDressageRidingGear?pnref=story

[Thoroughbred_in_Colo]

A saddle with an “equitation seat”. They are usually designed to allow the rider to have a longer leg and sit in the proper shoulder-hip-heel alignment. Circle Y saddles are very well made and have a great balance point. The older ones are very reasonably priced. The saddle in this picture is a SQHB Circle Y equitation saddle. Really easy to post in and very comfortable overall.

Horse in the picture was 7/8 thoroughbred and nothing fit her except that saddle, which I borrowed from a friend to get her started. You may want to try a FQHB saddle if your horse goes well in a wide.

[beau159]

Technically you don’t even need a saddle to post, so I guess I am a bit confused on why the saddle would matter so much?

Of course, I can understand if the saddle is made in such a way that it puts you in an extreme chair seat, or something to that effect, that it will affect your balance.

Personally, I find the long strided horses easier to post to, than the short-strided ones.

Can you post pictures of your horse? That might give us some better insight on what type of back she has and what type of saddle might fit.

Wondering the same thing as Flash44: Are you able to gather-collect her to make her trot more manageable?

[CHT]

If you are just trail riding, consider an Abetta trail saddle. I have the Arabian tree one for my Arabian (she is extra wide across her back). I find it much easier to post in than my other western saddle. They both allow a proper hip/heel alignment, but the abetta just has less to it and gives my thighs more room to post.

[Silk]

An equitation seat show sadle (Circle Y is my favorite) or a reiner (has more free moving fenders, ir leathers) will allow you more movement in the saddle and allow for a more balanced “English-type” seat and posting. For a really hard to fit horse, I prefer a wider saddle and a pad to adjust. My bou has a high withers but is also pretty wide. I use a FQHB on him with a shimmed pad to allow for wither clearance. I find I can post pretty easily in any western saddle except the deep bear trap types. However, the flatter the western saddle, the easier it is to post.

[Quelah]

Both equitation and reining saddles are usually pretty built up in front, for different reasons, but they are, IME. Reining saddles don’t generally put your leg underneath you in a “dressage leg” position, again, IME. You can certainly look at pics of them online and see where the fenders hang. Honestly what might suit you best as far as having room to post (I think that’s what you’re after?) is a roping saddle.