dressage rider seeks suggestions for western saddle

[lorilu]

So I recently, finally, bought a real trail horse. He’s a little guy, Lusitano, a bit on the thin side, and not very broad at all. I imagine he will fill out some. Excellent mind,just what I need.
I do have a dressage saddle that fits him (3 tree, 17 inch seat), but I would eventually like to get a western trail type saddle… no doubt I will try our hand at some western dressage.

I know about the “bars”, and know enough about saddle fit to be sure it fits the shoulders well. My question is about the length. Horsie has a bit of a roach right over his loin. I will probably get a 15" seat (I ride in a 17 or 17.5 dressage saddle).
I really do not like round skirts, but if I must…

Brand/style suggestions? Not looking for synthetic…

All suggestions welcome!
L

[Bluey]

I like the look of slightly rounded skirts better, but that is a very personal thing.

If you are heavier or use a larger saddle, the horse’s back is more protected from rubbing behind with the larger, more square skirts than the cut back, rounded ones that may dig and/or rub a bit more behind.

So, since people tend to be larger today than they used to, many use the square skirts more than they did before:

http://www.cowdogsaddles.com/saddles-tn.php

You can see there how the new saddles are more and more starting to show up with square skirts, as demand for them increases.

[js]

The round skirts reduce the weight of the saddle. Many western saddles weight in excess of 30 lbs. It’s a lot of saddle to lift up on a horse. I’ve pretty much always ridden in barrel racing saddles, so mostly round skirts. Never had any issues and having a lighter weight saddle is welcomed. If your horse has a shorter back you may need to go with a round skirt as they are usually shorter in length.

That said, brand depends on how much you want to spend. Cashel makes a nice trail saddle that is light weight and gets good reviews. They have square and round skirts. Circle Y is a good brand, gets a bit more pricey. The link below has several brands of trail saddles to give you an idea.

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/trail-saddles.html#.Vm6_sDZdGUk

[Obsidian_Fire]

If you want to go custom I suggest John Fallis in Wilder, Idaho. Look at his catalog if nothing else. His saddles are the closest to a ‘dressage feel’ I’ve ever gotten in a western saddle. You could also order the endurance style saddle which is quite basic but would meet the needs of a trail rider.

[beau159]

@lorilu;8439372

I know about the “bars”, and know enough about saddle fit to be sure it fits the shoulders well. My question is about the length. Horsie has a bit of a roach right over his loin. I will probably get a 15" seat (I ride in a 17 or 17.5 dressage saddle).

A few more websites to educate you further on western saddle fit:
http://saddlemakers.org/id193.htm
http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/tree-and-saddle-fitting/factors-that-affect-tree-fit/

If your horse does have a bit of roach on his back, you are especially going to want to pay attention to the rock.

Not to mention if he IS going to fill out more, you may want to use your English saddle for the time being until he does fill out more. Of course, that will change the fit when they fill out.

Can you post pictures of your horse’s back? Might give us a little insight to make suggestions.

[lorilu]

Thanks for the article links…Seems that most of my knowledge base from dressage is appropriate here as well.
I will say the first link is VERY hard to read with that patterned background!!

I expected comments regarding skirt shape and saddle length as it applies to the back, but… I guess I’ll just see what is out there. We have quite a good selection of saddle shops in this area, and a nice consignment shop.

I will probably give it a few months though, as I do expect him to fill out with some correct work.

thanks all

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=lorilu;8440480]
We have quite a good selection of saddle shops in this area, and a nice consignment shop.[/QUOTE]

I was in Ocala one day to drop off a saddle for repair at Tack Shack and ducked into Good Apple Equine to drop something off for consignment for a friend. I was pretty impressed at the selection.

[Pocket_Pony]

IME there’s way more to fitting western saddles than there is dressage saddles. Regarding seat size, you could probably go from a 14" to a 15" in a western saddle, depending on saddle style and manufacturer. On Rod Nikkel’s website, you’ll also see how thigh measurement relates to seat size versus just measuring from the horn to the cantle.

You need to sit in a lot of saddles to figure out what you like. Will this just be for trail riding? You might want a specific trail saddle with a padded seat.

The person above who spoke about the weight of a square skirt versus round skirt was right on. The more leather, the heavier the saddle, there’s just no way around that, so if you want a lighter saddle you’re looking at a rounded skirt.

With your horse’s back conformation it would probably help you to do a back map and take it to some tack stores to get an idea of fit before you try to bring a saddle home.

I cannot recommend their saddles, but they do have a good explanation of how to do a back map: http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/build-a-back-map.html

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;8441745]
IME there’s way more to fitting western saddles than there is dressage saddles. [/QUOTE]

Having fit both English and Western saddles myself, I strongly agree. I think Western saddles are much more complicated because it’s harder to see what’s going on underneath all that leather, and you can’t make modifcations like you can to an English saddle.

[QUOTE=lorilu;8440480]
I expected comments regarding skirt shape and saddle length as it applies to the back, but… I guess I’ll just see what is out there. [/QUOTE]

Honestly, skirt shape usually has very little to do with saddle fitting. Unless you do happen to have a horse with a very short back, then a rounded skirt can help it not to “poke” into their hip. The skirt should not have much to do with weight disbursement; that’s the responsibility of the tree.

As far as saddle length, you didn’t say if your horse has a long or short back, so it’s hard to make suggestions without the information! But even still, if you are looking at around a 15" saddle (or smaller), the tree length will be fairly standard. Of course, there are differences in whether you get a roping saddle or a reining saddle or a barrel saddle, etc. But there are plenty of saddle makers who put the the same tree in different styles of saddles; the tree is the same (as far as bar angle and such goes), the outer appearance (and maybe seat) is different.

@lorilu;8440480

We have quite a good selection of saddle shops in this area, and a nice consignment shop.

That really is your best bet, taking your horse to a tack shop and trying them on.

Unfortunately, there is no standard in the Western world. Just because one saddlemaker says their saddle is semi-quarter horse bars, does not mean it fits anything like another saddlemaker’s semi-quarter horse bars.

It’s all trial and error. This will apply for your skirt shape and your saddle length too. You may find a saddle that fits his shoulders wonderfully, but maybe the tree is too long for him. Won’t know until you start trying on saddles.

Plus, if you do go to a tack shop, that will give you an opportunity to sit in the saddle as well and see how it feels to you. While it is important to fit to the horse, it has to fit the rider as well.

[csaper58]

[QUOTE=Obsidian Fire;8439876]
If you want to go custom I suggest John Fallis in Wilder, Idaho. Look at his catalog if nothing else. His saddles are the closest to a ‘dressage feel’ I’ve ever gotten in a western saddle. You could also order the endurance style saddle which is quite basic but would meet the needs of a trail rider.[/QUOTE]

I also recommend Fallis saddles for dressage riders trying western. I got mine used from, www.stansgarsaddle.com click on Balanced Ride. You can call and speak to Gary, he is very helpful.

There are usually some Fallis, and Foreman balanced ride saddles on Ebay.

This is John Fallis’ web site. www.fallisbalancedsaddles.com/Plain-Basket-Partial.html

the ‘Julie Goodnight’ Circle Y saddles are also very nice.

NOTE: Most of these saddles will have a flank girth. If your horse has not worn one before, he may object to it at first.

[PassagePony]

If you can, see if you can’t haul your horse to the shop that has the saddle and try it on, then get to sit in it. A 15" seat is not that big, better to try it out in person than to guestimate and be wrong then have to send it back and try all over again.

An all leather western saddle is nice but, it is going to be heavy. There are some rather nice western saddles out there that are leather and synthetic, give them a look before deciding.

As what Csaper58 said about the flank girth. If you have a round pen, best to put the saddle on and the horse be allowed to get the feel of it before you take that first ride out.

[SuckerForHorses]

If your horse does have a bit of roach on his back, you are especially going to want to pay attention to the rock.

Perhaps a gaited horse tree? TWH seem to have that sort of roach shape

[SuckerForHorses]

but…as a lifelong western rider, can I just add…

that all summer long I trail rode my Arabian mare in my dressage saddle because I like it much better than my western saddle and we don’t ride on nicely groomed paths - most of the time we’re breaking our own trails :lol:

Don’t tell too many people…I’ve never been an English person… :lol:

[Lori]

I just had a custom saddle made for my by Dale Chavez Saddles. They will build to your specifications. My saddle is smaller with shorter skirts to fit my POA.

[wondering]

I bought my lusitano when he was a scrawny 5yo. Instead of buying multiple dressage saddles while he grew up and matured he was ridden in a Meleta Brown saddle. The tree points flair out. They aren’t regular bars, and not a hoop tree. Something in between. My lusitano matured and it fit as he grew and filled out. It also fits my t-bred cross. The barn I was at used it on everything from the Icelandics, to the warm bloods and t-breds.
Crates stopped making them about a year ago. You may be able to find a used one. Or contact Melita on her website/Facebook page.
Good luck

[beau159]

[QUOTE=wondering;8445474]

Crates stopped making them about a year ago. You may be able to find a used one. Or contact Melita on her website/Facebook page.
Good luck[/QUOTE]

This I had not heard. That’s sad to heard because her saddles are so nice and fit horses so well.

I tried one of Meleta’s saddles just last spring (through working with her … great lady to work with, btw!!), and it fit my horses just beautifully. But I couldn’t get used to the flatter seat, myself.