Educate me on saddles

Where are you located? Ever try Coolhorse?
They are a local store that sells over the web also and have big stacks of used saddles:

https://shop.coolhorse.com/store/category/Saddles

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I’m near Chicago. I’ll take a look! Thank you!

Oh! The Horse Saddle Shop isn’t too far from me - maybe I can take a drive out there?

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That would probably be a great experience! Their used stock moves pretty fast, but I bet they have saddles that aren’t even posted on the site yet.

I ended up ordering two saddles from them, after confirming that they will allow me to drive them back to avoid return shipping costs. The trees are the same “size” per Circle Y, but the style is different between the two of them.

Here are the saddles:

https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/uscy8121.html

https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/uscy7831.html

If neither one is decent, then I’ll put the two saddles in the truck and haul her to their shop to try a bunch of stuff on and see what might work.

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Holy crap, the saddles will be here this evening! I know I’m super close to them location-wise, but +1 on shipping speed for these guys!

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They ship immediately. I ordered mine on Friday afternoon and it was here on Monday morning. Pictures are mandatory :slightly_smiling_face:

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I just checked my cameras, they’re outside my door! I won’t be home until late tonight though! Gahhh

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They’re out of the boxes and flipped up, ready to be tried on tomorrow! First impression is that they’re both not what I would call “nice looking” and they both have a LOT of padding on the seat. Darker one is softer. I hate lots of saddle strings and they both have soooo many but that’s an easy fix.

From my initial check with my cardboard cutout of her wither, the width looks right, the angle looks OK, but we shall see tomorrow!

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I am struggling here in Maine to find a saddle. I really want to truck my mare to the one shop that has what sounds like a very knowledgeable fitter, but their higher-end stock is Circle Y, and I really don’t want a heavily padded seat, which so many of them seem to have. The fitter that came to our barn recommended Bar J saddles by Stage Coach West, but every single one of their saddles has a padded seat, some double padded. :frowning:

Good luck testing the saddles today!

I believe both of those saddles have the exact same tree in them (medium Trail Flex2) but you could verify with Circle Y. So if that is true, they should fit your horse exactly the same. The main part of the tree is solid, but the Flex 2 has the “flex” at the front and the back of the tree to allow for free shoulder movement and free back end movement. I think that’s why I have had good luck with them fitting my horses. IMO.

I bought a trail saddle version (circle Y flex 2) last year to use for ranch horse with my horse. The seat is NOT as deep as my barrel saddles. Extremely cushy so I will say it is extremely comfortable!!

They do not have the rough out you were looking for, of course. I do feel my saddle is very “slippery” compared to my barrel saddles that have the roughout.

But see how you like them I guess!

They might be a pretty decent fit. If they are too small, then you would just need to find a WIDE flex2 tree, which is easy enough. But you might be okay.

One is a slick fork, so I don’t think they’re the same tree? It could be though! I did NOT like the way the slick fork one felt for me - I felt like it was hitting me in the back. The darker one was very comfy, but I felt like it sat down in the front? Without the roughout I don’t think it’s the one, either.

If it dips down in front, as you think and it may looking at that last picture, it may be too wide in the gullet?
Your horse has a long enough back to take such a minimal skirt, can wear a little longer skirt.
I know, more leather adds to more weight, so there is a trade-off there.
As how it feels to you, that only you can tell.

Bet you feel like some western riders trying to find an English saddle that fits.
Well, its may take getting used to the strange feel before you can determine what fits best.
Patience, after you try several more, you will know more what is best for both of you.

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Well I can’t see that either drops down at the wither. The angles look good and the saddles look balanced–but I am lucky to find a saddle that fits mine :grimacing:

You look to have clearance even though the pad on the darker saddle has lost its " tent" and has worked its way down onto her wither ( last pic).

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They might have a little different tree. HorseSaddleShop is great about communicating with Circle Y. They can ask and find out for sure on the tree. I feel like the darker saddle is a little bit too wide for him in front and that’s why it sits a bit downhill. So I’d take that one back. I feel like the lighter-colored slick fork saddle fits him a little better, and looks decent. Looks more even and doesn’t look downhill. Although I know you didn’t like it.

If you don’t like the seat feel, you can try to find out what tree is in that, and see if you can find a different style with the same tree. They do make the trail saddles with roughout - just certain models. The trail trees are different from the barrel racing saddle trees, but that could still be an option for you if you want the deep seat with roughout.

And I think the medium tree looks just fine for him. I would absolutely NOT do the wide Flex2.

Is this the pad you are going to be using? Or getting a different pad?

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Getting a different pad, i found this one in my garage. I have a plain colored 3/4" felt one on the way. It was an affordable one at about a hundred. Lordy some of the pads are pricey! They better make me breakfast for those prices lol

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Both had great clearance, which was a relief!

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As compared to? I’ve seen plenty English pads going for way more than $100 and for a lot less pad. :wink:

Quality is quality!

I think if I can find something in this tree size with roughout and a little less padding in the seat (I felt like I was in a tucker! Not my type of feel), we will have a winner. So this wasn’t a fruitless exercise!

But not $250+ like for the 5star stuff. Yikes!

But I agree on quality. I got a plain jane Cashel brand one. I don’t need anything super fancy :slight_smile: