I am considering a new saddle and wondered if anyone owns, or has used, the Clinton Anderson Saddle, and what are your thoughts on it. Would also like any opinions on other brands. I am strictly a trail rider so I am not looking for anything heavy duty like a ranch saddle. In fact the lighter the saddle is, the better. I am looking to spend no more than $1,600.00 and am not looking for anything custom, I have a 15.2 hand 3 yr old Paint. She is more on the tall slender side vs the short,stocky QH type.
I love Bob Marshall Sports Saddles and have three (two endurance, one Western) right now. But I’m also a big fan of David Genadek’s saddles (you can find them used on his website and on Tacktrader). www.aboutthehorse.com They are also known as Black Rhino saddles.
If I had the money, I’d order a Watt Brothers saddle:
http://www.ranch2arena.com/wattbrosintro.html
But, I’m going to have to win the lottery for one of these. :lol:
I have both a Tucker and a Circle Y …both are under 25 lbs and uber comfortable…bought them both from Bedford Tack in Tenn. Great customer service and prices . both retailed for much more than I paid.
I found that all saddles sit differently so be sure to try one first before buying (on the horse) Some pitched me forward based on its padding and mine!! while others placed my leg in a poor position.
Sorry I don’t know of anyone with a CA saddle.
Hay
I ride in an Abetta endurance (basically a western saddle iwth no horn) and really like it. It’s very lightweight, even lighter than my English saddle.
I ride in the American Beartrap ranch saddle from american saddlery. I also have a
textan and I ride in a friends Ray Wayne saddle. Out of the three the Ray Wayne is
the most comfortable to me.
Does anyone use an ortho-flex saddle?
[QUOTE=pines4equines;3546651]
I ride in an Abetta endurance (basically a western saddle iwth no horn) and really like it. It’s very lightweight, even lighter than my English saddle.[/QUOTE]
I have the same saddle and really like it. It weights 11 pounds, is totally fabric so you can hose/pressure wash it off or ride in the rain without worry.
I paid $550 for the first one and bought 2 more as spares after trying it.
I like a treed saddle ONLY because it gives a secure seat without over tight girths. I also run a good pad and washable blanket and keep them clean.
I do not like croupers or breast collars and find the Abetta sticks even on steep hills again without an overtight girth.
For the money it is hard to beat.
Years ago I had an Ortho-flex (an older Patriot model). I’m a short woman and found it made me feel like I was sitting up waaaay too high – there was no close-contact feel. I prefer treeless saddles as they seem to allow me the most leg extension with that close-contact feel.
The Clinton Anderson saddle with no horn but steep poleys?
How many hours in the saddle will you be riding?
I have a Crates brand reining saddle that I trail ride in. It’s good for about 3 - 4 hours at a time, but that’s about it. It has nice flexible / easy moving stirrups, narrow twist (western saddle with horn), and the Equi-fit tree that allows it to fit a variety of stock horse types.
I can also vouch for Fabtron saddles. They are half leather and half cordura. Very lightweight.
I cannot recommend the typical Circle Y saddle for stock horses. The tree is just not a good shape to keep the shoulders freed up without pinching and bridging. Circle Y does make some good saddles but be sure to try them on your horse with a knowledgeable saddle fitter before committing to one.
I’ve always been interested in the Clinton Anderson saddle. If you decide to buy one, let us know. I would be interested to know who makes that saddle for him. Is it a Steele brand tree?
I know nothing of CA brand saddles
I put in 65 miles in five days last week in the rugged Lee Metcalf wilderness in MT, on a Tucker River Plantation saddle. I was tired but not sore. Saddle weighs 22 lbs. Cushioned stirrups on narrow stirrup leathers means no sore knees. Ample tie strings, crupper ring. Funky pommel that’s easy to grab if needed but not a horn to get hung up on. Paid 1375 for it new.
I have an Abetta Endurance I don’t love, but my SO has used it on our MT trip and likes it ok. Paid about 400 new? I like the Fabtron synthetics much better than the Abetta, which I find to be hard and cheap feeling. I own one, I can say that 
I love my hard seat Rocking R Lady Trail saddle- I have a thousand plus hours in mine. It’s heavy though.
I don’t know anything about the CA saddle, but I love my Dakota Saddle and my Barefoot Arizona Treeless. I have hundreds of hours in both… I would agree with the other poster on the Circle Y’s… They are wonderful saddles, but be sure to check the fit first… try it out, ride in it. Even the widest of the Circle Y’s are hard to fit on wide horses…
[QUOTE=CanterQueen;3552942]
Years ago I had an Ortho-flex (an older Patriot model). I’m a short woman and found it made me feel like I was sitting up waaaay too high – there was no close-contact feel. I prefer treeless saddles as they seem to allow me the most leg extension with that close-contact feel.[/QUOTE]
Ditto to almost everything CanterQueen said. I have an older Endurance Cutback and feel like I’m “perched” when using this saddle. I much prefer either of my two Bob Marshalls or my Sensation saddle.
The Lazyboy Saddle…in my opinion.
I have a 14.1 hand Morgan and was trail riding in an Arab saddle because she is hard to fit. Well, after many hours on the trail, it would get uncomfortable.
I decided last year to start looking, and the saddle had to fit us both well. I though this was going to take as long as it did the last time I purchased a new saddle. I went to a 2 tack stores, forget the first one, know one who had any experience to assist me. The store right down the road had just the man I needed! Told him I had a Morgan, height, no square skirt because her back is short, light weight, her barrel and chest size is all horse & stocky. I am not small, so had to fit me and her…
Tells me 2 saddles could work. I buy the Big Horn Trail saddle with flexible tree. Oh my gosh! Lazyboy seat!!! WOW!!! You behind will thank you. Great for me and my horse. Light weight under 30 lbs., and about $1200. You can have Full QH bars or not. One of my trail friends went up a month or so later and bought one for her quarter horse…
Check it out! If you are in NY, I’ll email you his store name.
I have a Tex-Tan flex tree saddle with full QH “bars” that I use for my hubby when he rides my QH. He says it’s a comfy ride. I find it puts me up a bit high from my horse, maybe any treed saddle might do this, I’m not sure.
I ride in treeless Bob Marshall saddles for that close-contact feeling – you just can’t beat it. I love BM saddles, but they’re not for everyone, and I won’t put 200 lb. hubby in one on any of my horses. Treed for him as I think they distribute weight better. IMHO. :yes:
CA saddle maker
Clinton’s saddles are made by Martin Saddles unless it has changed in the last year or so.
I have a Crest Ridge Crusade that has the most secure seat I’ve ridden. I have a BIG Spotted Saddle horse that I use it on. He gaits just fine in it. It’s not super heavy (around 25 lbs or so).
I also have a Rocking R Ladies Rancher saddle. VERY nice custom saddle for under $1000. I use it on my stocky little paint gelding. It’s a bit heavier, but not ridiculously so.
