Comfy, grippy, western or endurance style saddle for under 1k?

[allisontatman]

Looking for a soft seated comfy trail saddle for my TB. He’s currently content in an old barrel racing saddle with a 6.5" or 7" gullet. I’m not quite sure where to accurately measure it, but he doesn’t have a prominent either and former owner rode him in a wide tree English saddle. Def not a tank by any means, just not the typical tb build, looks like an appendix. My musts are low or no horn, padded comfy seat, and of course fits him. Prefer all or mostly leather, not over 20-25 pounds or so and decent leather. Not a fan of cordura. Like a round skirt but he’s in a short square skirt now and it’s fine. Would prefer rigging options. Any options that come close? Thanks! Hated an Abetta one, tipped me forward and couldn’t get my legs under me!

Eta: even though the barrel saddle fits him well, I think it does because of the higher clearance around the either, so a low fitting saddle prob won’t work

[49_er]

I have a Tucker Buffalo round skirted western trail saddle that is one of the most comfortable saddles I have ever sat in. It can take a regular western girth or the balance rigging. It is black leather and while it fit the quarter paint horse I bought it for it does not fit the new section D Welsh cob. Check it out on the internet. It might fit your purposes.

[arabracer]

I ride in a Circle y western saddle-higher cantle and extremely secure. It does have a horn,but you can remove a horn easily and cap it off with a piece of leather.A lot of endurance riders like specialized saddles,that way you can just order their trail master saddle minus the horse. I have added an additional gel seat which makes it even more comfy!

[7HL]

Not sure if this is the same Abetta you tried.

I use a Abetta Cordura Stealth Trail Saddle. I use a center fire rigging on it.

http://www.buytack.com/products-saddles/act/20557.htm

I have seen it called by a couple of different names by dealers.

I bought mine from a local Abetta dealer…

I have been using a SUPRA CINCH with my Abetta. It all weighs under 20#.
http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/buytack.html

http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/supracinch.html

My wife has a Tucker and loves it.

http://tuckersaddlery.com/EnduroBalancedSingleTie.shtml

http://tuckersaddlery.com/rigging.shtml

[GotMyPony]

I also have a Tucker but mine is the Endurance model - high-ish pommel, no horn. You can get western fenders, “trail fenders” (kind of western but more free-swinging) or english stirrup leathers that can be worn over or under the flap. You can get standard western cinch, the “center-fired” cinch or an English style girth (buckles). I have the Equitation Endurance with English stirrups and girth and love it. All Tuckers are very comfy and have lots of D-rings for trail riding. Mine is about 22 lbs and I think that’s pretty average.
I use mine for competitive trail and LD endurance (20-40 miles) and it’s always comfortable. IMO no saddle comes close to a Tucker for comfortable seat! Also, all leather and made in USA. Options are all black, all brown and a black/brown combo that’s very pretty. Pricier than the synthetics of course but worth the money and you can sometimes find them used - act fast on the used ones though! Good luck…

[qhwpmare]

Love my Fabtron Lady Trail flex tree saddle !

[GotMyPony]

Allisontatman - Look at http://nchorsenews.com classified - they currently have a Tucker endurance saddle on it, FYI. (Not mine, I just happened to see it!)