if your looking for something secure i would try a barrel saddle, they have a higher tree and deeper seat
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and also used saddles are great but sometimes after awhile a western saddle can start to conform to you
Thatās too bad. 
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Thatās a pretty rude post.
How do you know what someone does or does not do? Do you think the snarky comment of an anonymous poster is something reliable enough to draw conclusions from?
A Western saddle is not necessarily any more āsecureā than an English saddle, especially if your base is unstable. In fact, Iāve had MUCH worse crashes out of Western saddles than English ones, because even the best ones are going to sit your leg a little more in front of you than an English saddle, making you inherently less stable. A leg underneath your hip with your heel solidly anchored is what keeps you on the horse, regardless of the type of saddle. Please donāt confuse the saddle horn with security - it WILL move when the &^%( hits the fan. If you need to grab something, grab a (big) handful of mane, not the saddle horn. I speak from experience here.
As another said, you need a more reliable horse, not a different saddle, and the only way to get that is through the tried and true āwet saddle blanketsā method. You canāt change a horseās nature - an alert, sensitive horse will always notice more about its environment than a dull one. But you can, and should, teach the horse to respond more reasonably to the things it notices. The more they get out and see the world, the less dramatically they react to little changes. My 22 year old Half Arabian was always a VERY athletic spook when he was younger. After many, many, many years and miles, he still NOTICES weird things, but his reaction is more reasonable. The most dramatic behavior I get from him these days is a dropped ear, snort, and step sideways. Fifteen years agoā¦riding him was a lot more exciting!
Well Iām certainly not getting another horse. He is a gem but just needs more miles.He simply hasnāt been exposed to some things that my older, more experienced horse has. He has great brakes, is extremely obedient and wants to please. Spooky is probably the wrong word - he ālooksā way more than he spooks. He rates back to me even if he canters off a few strides if something scares him. Heās never ālost his headā and is more on the quiet, lazy side. I am very secure in my dressage saddle but itās not made for very long trail rides comfort wise so I am looking for something I can just sit and relax in more for LONGER rides. So no, I donāt need another horse, and that wasnāt what my post was asking. I was asking about saddles - so thank you for those who posted on that and didnāt jump to conclusions.
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Did you find a western saddle you and your horse both like?
Have you looked into the English endurance saddles? I have a Thorowgood endurance and find it quite comfortable for several hours of riding. They can be adjusted and also reflocked. Stubben has a very nice one that I lust after.
Thanks Cross Country - wow that saddle looks really nice and would free up his shoulders completely. I like it a lot. Will definitely check it out and do measurements too.
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I have a QH that sounds like heās built similar to your OTTB.
Iāve found that Crates saddles fit him well (the full QH bars, not semi). They have more flair at the front for shoulder room than some other brands Iāve tried. I use a 1" felt pad that is built up in the front. The tree is wide enough to accommodate his huge shoulders and the pad keeps the saddle off his withers. Youād probably like a reiner or equitation saddle.
FYI - the Crates company sold to Fabtron, I think, so Iām not 100% sure that the new Crates are the same as the old. Iād try to find a used one that you could try.
Also, I donāt think youāll find a Western saddle that feels like it has a narrow twist after riding in an English saddle, so you should be okay in that dept. Iāve been having back problems, so I recently took a break from riding in my Crates steer wrestling saddle and have been riding in my Stubben, because itās so much narrower. 
This is the pad I use:
Classic Equine BioFit Correction Saddle Pad
Gaited saddles (as mentioned above) are an option, too. Iāve used my trainerās gaited saddle on my QH.
Oh! I almost forgot - look at saddles with a Wade tree/slick fork, too. My aunt let me borrow her custom made ranch saddle with a Wade tree that fit my QH like a glove and was super comfortable for me, too. It had a slick seat and bucking rolls and I added a night latch, too. Only problem was it weighed about 45 lbs and I hurt my rotator cuff lifting it.
I would not recommend Circle Y for the build of her horse. Thereās not enough flair to give room for the shoulders. I had to sell my Circle Y for this reason. Otherwise, I like them well enough. I used to ride in an ancient Circle Y equitation seat.
Seriously? Why does that sound pompous, arrogant, and small-minded?
I agree that the horse doesnāt need a new, saddle. Unless the horse might enjoy a closer relationship with his person because she feels comfortable and therefore is riding him more often and with more positive results.
Clearly, if she feels more secure in a particular saddle, she will feel more confidence in the horse, which will help him to be more trusting of her and less inclined to be spooky, because she is relaxed. There are many trainers in the horse world. In my opinion, the best trainers understand the reciprocity of trust and its importance in any horse/rider relationship.
āBe careful of what you judge - you may understand it sooner than you think.ā
[I intend to keep this horse for life, so itās in his best interest & mine to fit him with a saddle that we both find very comfortable & functional.[/QUOTE]
What could be more important than that?!
What could be more important than that?!
A horse that is relaxed and confident. OP should ride the horse bareback and see whether or not the horse is still spooky. That will show if itās the saddle that is causing the problems or not.
