Got my new HORSE :) (tack color question / bit question. PICTURES!)

[kkmrad94]

So I bought a horse (feels like this process has taken forever). He is 10 yr AQHA gelding. His registered name is Finesses Intimidator (http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/finesses+intimidator). He is about 15.2hh and very stocky.

He is a western broke horse but I would like to ride him in English tack. So here are my questions.

What color saddle looks best with a sorrel?
What kind of bit should I buy? (He was being ridden in a snaffle with short shanks).
What would be the best color to match with him?
How do you transition from western tack to english?

And here are some pictures:

Thanks for any help.

[Lilykoi]

I like brown English tack unless you are going to do Dressage, then black.
Bits are tricky, you will have to experiment. My filly was broke western with a very severe bit. She was used to no contact so I went from a HappyMouth rubber bit to a Myler comfort snaffle. She goes great in it with light contact. If your guy was ridden in a strong bit without contact, you will just have to start out mild and teach him contact (he knew it at one time) and go from there. I suppose if you aren’t showing, you could probably use a hackmore. Hopefully you have friends to borrow bits from and you don’t have to buy them to try them. Congrats, he is a good looking boy

[kkmrad94]

The bit I rode him in at her place he seemed happy with. He just stops on a dime with any contact at all (which I’m used to always having contact). So I am not sure what to do bit wise.

Thanks! He is a curious guy and likes people so far. Always wants to know what’s going on over the fence.

[Training_Cupid]

What color saddle looks best with a sorrel? a reddish-brown one similar to the horse (oakbark or tobacco, example: http://www.equinenow.com/english_saddle-ad-6689
What kind of bit should I buy? (He was being ridden in a snaffle with short shanks). I’d start with a plain eggbutt snaffle, and slowly increase contact with the mouth
What would be the best color to match with him? hunter green
How do you transition from western tack to english? my former AppQH adjusted pretty quick, she was a former ranch horse I started leasing and I just tacked her up english and started riding as I normally would, except kept the contact a little lighter than normal and gradually increased.

Good luck with him!

[kkmrad94]

Thanks for the advice! I think that he will adjust well I just wasn’t sure how to go about it.

I was torn between hunter green and navy blue but I’m leaning towards green now. I was also looking at getting a biothane halter bridle combination. He is very round and takes FQHB. But I need to find a saddle that looks like that in english. I was looking into a Kent & Masters but I haven’t gotten to try one yet.

[GotMyPony]

Since you’re posting in the Endurance & Trail forum I’m assuming you’re interested in a saddle for trail, not for show… If so, you might look at a Tucker Equitation Endurance, which is what I ride in. The tree is built more like a western tree but the rigging, leathers, etc., are English, and there is no horn. It’s very comfy for long trail rides and has lots of hooks for water bottles, sponges, etc. It’s available in a variety of trees - regular, wide and even extra wide I think. I’ve used one for 12 years and love it. It is heavier than a typical English saddle at about 22 lbs, but since my old western saddle weighed 42 lbs, it feels light to me FYI, Tucker has a “Generation II” version that has more padding but I’ve been told they don’t have the same feel for the horse as the “classic” version so I’d go with the one that is just “Equitation Endurance,” not “Gen II Equitation Endurance.”

Anyway, just a thought. Also Tucker has a trial program. Here’s a link.
http://http://www.tuckersaddlery.com/catalog18.shtml

[kkmrad94]

[QUOTE=GotMyPony;7726657]
Since you’re posting in the Endurance & Trail forum I’m assuming you’re interested in a saddle for trail, not for show… If so, you might look at a Tucker Equitation Endurance, which is what I ride in. The tree is built more like a western tree but the rigging, leathers, etc., are English, and there is no horn. It’s very comfy for long trail rides and has lots of hooks for water bottles, sponges, etc. It’s available in a variety of trees - regular, wide and even extra wide I think. I’ve used one for 12 years and love it. It is heavier than a typical English saddle at about 22 lbs, but since my old western saddle weighed 42 lbs, it feels light to me FYI, Tucker has a “Generation II” version that has more padding but I’ve been told they don’t have the same feel for the horse as the “classic” version so I’d go with the one that is just “Equitation Endurance,” not “Gen II Equitation Endurance.”

Anyway, just a thought. Also Tucker has a trial program. Here’s a link.
http://http://www.tuckersaddlery.com/catalog18.shtml[/QUOTE]

That actually sounds perfect. I was looking at getting a dressage saddle because I like how the seat puts me, and how cushy it is. But dressage saddles do not have rings on them and I don’t know how cushy it would be after a few hours in it… I do not have a lot of padding in that area so I need a seat that has some extra cushion. I am also partial to english stirrups! I will look into those. The nearest store with them is a few hours from my house.

[irish_horse]

There are some dressage-trail mix saddles, if you’re still interested. I have a Solstice, and love it. Plenty of rings, nice balanced position, cushy seat you can make even more comfy with a fleece if desired. Other brands are similar too, I am just not as familiar with them.

http://www.arabiansaddle.com/endurance.html

[Bells]

I have a Tucker - equitation endurance. Love it!

[Emilia]

I trail ride in a dressage saddle- the only saddle we could find that would fit our horse. I find it very comfortable. I don’t use seat saver, but it is definitely an option for longer rides (I used to use one with a western saddle).

If some dressage saddle fits you well and your horse (fitted by a professional fitter), then you can have rings put on later by a saddler in your area. Also, some tack shops may offer this service.

ETA: I used to own a Tucker Equitation Endurance briefly. It did not really fit our horse and it could not accommodate my long legs for some reason. I still like the idea of it though.

[GotMyPony]

OP, I wanted to add that the Tucker Equitation Endurance lets you put the stirrup leathers over the flap like regular English saddles do (where you can feel them against your leg) or under the flap so you don’t get any pinching. I prefer under the flap myself.

When you go to try them be sure you tell them your horse is stocky so they can help you find the right tree width. I got my first Tucker for my old QH mare and she needed the wide tree; my KMSH uses the “regular” tree.

[kkmrad94]

[QUOTE=GotMyPony;7742720]
OP, I wanted to add that the Tucker Equitation Endurance lets you put the stirrup leathers over the flap like regular English saddles do (where you can feel them against your leg) or under the flap so you don’t get any pinching. I prefer under the flap myself.

When you go to try them be sure you tell them your horse is stocky so they can help you find the right tree width. I got my first Tucker for my old QH mare and she needed the wide tree; my KMSH uses the “regular” tree.[/QUOTE]

For now I have just been staring at them since I don’t quite have the money for one. (Hay and shelter being top on the list). I am hoping to find one at the tack store a few hours away and trailer my horse there.

I rode him in a FQHB saddle this weekend which fit him fine and after our rides I checked his sweat pattern which was even, and made sure he didn’t have any sore spots. I did notice after our ride that on his shoulders he has some little white hairs coming through so I want to err on the side of caution when finding a long term saddle for me.

I believe he will need at least a wide tree if not an extra wide. He is very round! Thanks for the info GotMyPony, I have never ridden in an endurance saddle before so I didn’t know that.

[Another_Poster]

Dark green or navy should be his colors! With dark brown tack. My mare was sorrel and I had dark green for her and it looks great!

[CFFarm]

Actually, I think sorrels (chestnut if you’re with your english friends, lol) like grays, can look good in just about any color so pick one you like. I personally like navy blue.

[King_Creole]

I think your tack questions have been answered, so I am going to go with the color question!

I find earth tones look best on chestnuts. I used navy as my main color on my chestnut since everyone used hunter green. I also loved different browns on him. Oh and baby blue looked nice on him too.

[atomicfriday]

I really like turquoise on chestnuts. That being said my red dun always had royal blue which looked really nice too. Oddly enough I now have a black horse where any color would look excellent… But I use black and brown. Go figure.