Crest Ridge vs Steele Saddles...

[Shermy]

Hubby just grunted and rolled eyes. So, was a ok from him, LOL.

I am moving forward on a new saddle…

I looked around, seems I am torn between Crest Ridge and Steele. Same base price.

Steele Saddle seems like would be closer in seat to my Tucker. I would get the padded seat option. Like the Tucker, would be padded, but not squishy.

May do the Cheyenne roll too. Not totally decided, but leaning towards it.

This one catches my eye…

http://steelesaddle.com/product/steele-outlaw/

Would do the cedar tree too. So, because I am added some extra options, would be a little more $$$, but I am not too worried about it.

Crest Ridge, I am not exactly sure WHAT model I would get.

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

The Crusade says fits horses w/little withers. Looks like a nice saddle, but I have a 5" Cantle now, the Steele is 5", this one is only 3.75". The Wade is 5", so if they think some other models work w/a downhill horse, I may go w/a higher Cantle.

These seats seem like the squishy kind, a friend has a saddle w/a seat like that and I found it comfortable, so kinda think as long as saddle fits me, I would be good w/either.

Steele - you send in pics, order a demo, have for up to 3 weeks, take a lot of pics, then they make you one, can take 6 weeks. Would assume would be pretty customized, send in measurements and they ask info they need. So, will take longer, but will prob have a nice saddle once it is all over.

Crest Ridge - send pics and measurements, they send you what they think w/work, if it does, it is yours, if not, you have 7 days to send it back, so sounds a little more trial and error, but could get a saddle fairly quickly.

If was a normal to fit horse, would prob go Crest Ridge, but since Chex is downhill and broad, kinda feel Steele may work better in getting an end product that works.

I think both will be good quality saddles, it is just hard to decide…

Anyone ridden in both brands? Opinions?

[aktill]

Given an entire saddle tree doesn’t weigh 4 lbs in most cases, not sure how lighter wood can SAVE 4lbs. Saving weight on the tree itself seems like a bad plan.

[Shermy]

OK, TY! May save my money and not do that option

[Pocket_Pony]

You’re going to save on the weight by having less leather on the saddle. The Steele saddle you showed looks like a lot of leather and would significantly add to the weight of the saddle, I think.

[Shermy]

My Tucker is prob at least 30 lbs, I live, so weight isn’t a huge deal. I really didn’t think about the tree not weighing a lot, so it isn’t a huge deal.

Isnt the Steele pretty tho?!? I think would be “worth” the leather weight

[craz4crtrs]

Just a thought here…since I have been through a custom ordered saddle that did not fit me…at all, do you know what type of seat fits you? Narrower twist with slight build up in front, wide flat twist…wide padding at the twist, narrow padding? Have you sat in any of these saddles?

I bought a Paul’s Custom Saddle in I think 2005 or 2006. Fit me ok, fit my horse. Not perfect but worked ok. Different horse, thinner when I got her but after a year, the Paul’s was too narrow in the shoulders. Ordered a modified wade custom and it fit her, did not fit me. Hated the shovel cantle, too straight for my hiney, hurt my back, seat too wide and flat. Whole thing tipped me forward. Found out my pelvis is slanted up in front and needed a narrow twist…as narrow as possible on a wide tree. My dressage saddle is the same way, goes up in front and fits us both great. So did research and worked with an on site saddle maker. Tried on trees and discussed seats. Either their custom saddles or a they order Courts saddles. They talked with Courts and we decided which saddle would be wide enough for her and fit me. Custom ordered and it took 4 months. Love it and so does the horse. I have been riding in it almost a year. Happy every time I sit in it.

So, make sure you know what fits you too.