I grew up eventing, and love my English tack. However, we have a husband horse on trial, and, pending nothing going wrong tomorrow, will buy him. I would like to get safe, comfortable gear for horse and hubby, while hopefully not breaking the bank. I feel like a western saddle with be more comfortable for him, but have NO IDEA what to look for in terms of fit for hubby or horse.
Horse is a 16.1 hh TB, with typical TB withers. Hubby is 5’10, and carrying a bit of extra weight these days- just under 200#.
I see western “trail” saddles- is this what I should look for? Or is there another type that is suitable for a beginner doing casual riding? I’m a die-hard leather fan, but thinking that synthetic might not be a bad choice so hubby doesn’t have to clean tack (:D) and to save a little money. I’ll certainly look for used leather, too.
This horse is mildly girth-y (although has dramatically improved in the week we’ve had him, so maybe they just yanked it up on him…) so I’d like to get something that is really comfortable for him. I’ve seen that they make converters to allow you to use a dressage girth, and I have a lovely double-elastic with rollers girth. Is there any reason not to go this route? I feel like it’s easier to tell that the girth is done and fastening than messing with western rigging, but maybe that’s my background?
And saddle pads? Where to begin on that one?!
Horse is going very happily in a loose ring snaffle, so we’ll still with that, but will need to purchase a bridle. I could go English or Western with that, if anyone has a strong suggestion?
Any other thoughts or ideas? Even just website resources so I can educate myself would be awesome.
Thanks!
Is your husband an experienced rider?
Has the horse worn western tack before? Will the horse be comfortable with a western saddle?
16.1 seems a bit tall for me for a 5’10" guy but if this TB is quiet, used to western tack, and a been-there-done-that bombproof horse used to carrying beginners quietly on trails – if husband is not an experienced horseman – then maybe it’ll work.
A trail saddle is a nice one. Usually has just a single cinch. I’ve never heard of a converter to convert a western cinch to English-style buckles; I have seen converters to convert an English girth to western rigging. Western cinching is not hard to learn; get whoever you buy the saddle from to show you. It’s a bit like tying a necktie, so your husband may catch on quickly. Some people just buckle the one hole and loop the end of the latigo out of the way; I prefer tying off.
Why a western saddle? I’m assuming your husband is not an experienced rider. A comfortable English saddle can be just as comfortable as a western one, but as you know your husband would then need either breeches and tall boots, or jeans and half-chaps, because of the leathers.
There are some good synthetics out there. Fabtron makes a nice trail saddle; I’ve never tried one but they look good. Big Horns are nice too. Wintec westerns used to be horrible but may have improved in the past few years. A leather saddle should have a more comfortable seat, and sometimes the weight is distributed better across the skirts and tree of a leather saddle; synthetic saddles do not always have the most comfortable trees for the horse. I would advise letting your husband try any saddle, at least in the store, preferably on the horse.
An English bridle with snaffle is fine for western riding unless you’re showing. If the horse is happy with the loose ring, stick with it. You can use a snaffle with an open western bridle (no cavesson) if horse goes OK without a cavesson.
There are some good trail pads out there. Again, ask the dealer where you buy the saddle which pad he/she recommends. And be sure you pick a reputable, knowledgeable dealer and not just your local feed store, unless your local feed store has knowledgeable salespeople.
A 16.1-hand TB would be one of the last things I’d look for for an inexperienced rider who just wants to trail ride, but as an eventer you probably have more TB experience than I do. I’d go gaited, provided I could find a good, bombproof gaited trail horse that had been bred and trained to be bombproof and smooth and not just colorful; but I would also look at QHs, Paints, and other good WTC horses. But if you go gaited, your husband won’t have to learn to post or sit the jog. I love TBs, they’re just not my first pick for a husband-safe trail horse! And unless the 5’10" rider is a young athlete, I’d also go with something closer to 15.1 than 16.1. There aren’t many mounting blocks out on trails, and you can’t let down western stirrups as easily as English leathers. Although they do make western stirrup extenders for mounting; I’ve never tried those.
I’m just gonna assume your husband knows what sort of underwear to wear! There have been enough threads on it that I assume everyone on COTH knows. 
In my experience guys want to embrace the western look when they’re beginners. Encourage that by being as authentic as you can afford. A leather saddle with a western cinch. They’re not any harder to fasten. A leather headstall. He might need more brakes than a snaffle can provide but a beginner also might not have enough control to manage a stronger bit. I’m 5’9" and 16 hand horse isn’t too big in my opinion. You will trail ride in a western saddle with generally longer stirrups. More comfortable and easier on the knees. Remounting on the trail isn’t a big deal either. Rocks , logs, even ditches or ruts on the trail are everywhere.
Go for a trail saddle. They’re designed for hours of comfort in the saddle. I have a Martin and a Circle Y and like them both very much. I use a 100%_ felt pad but there are many to choose from.
Rackonteur-
Yes, hubby is very inexperienced. A TB was NOT what I was looking for…however, this guy is pretty darn quiet. I’ve had an experienced friend ride him with me, and he just doesn’t care about much- goats running at the fence line? Stopped, looked, head might have been a touch higher than his withers. My mare throwing a classic TB fit next to him? No reaction. A semi passing at highway speed? what semi? Tractor with a full hay wagon passing us, and then unloading? Can I eat the hay? The only TBs I’ve known are OTTBs, and he’s a grade WY horse they hunted off of (I really wonder if he’s full TB, but I don’t really care). And I guess given that at 5’ I ride 16hh, I don’t think of an inch bigger being that bad for him. I like that he has a bigger horse to accommodate his inexperienced bodyweight movement, and we can both mount him from the ground if needed. I always use a mounting block or rock if possible to save their backs, but it’s doable.
Horse had been ridden exclusively western until I threw my jumping saddle on him to try him, so no concerns there! I’m thinking western because I think he will feel more secure, but also, out here in rodeo-land, I think I’d have a very hard time finding him a decent English saddle…and boots breeches, etc…
Good advice re: synthetic vs. leather.
Underwear…ooh boy! He’s just doing mild trail riding at this point, but good point, glad I have resources!
Thanks!
saddleup-
Thanks! I did wonder about brakes, but at this time, brakes do not appear to be the issue on this guy- it’s the go button that’s broken 
Good to know I’m on the right(ish) track with a trail saddle. I will look into cinch options.
I would get a barrel saddle, deeper seat, fenders move a bit more for a comfortable let, lighter in weight. Dakota is a good mid-priced brand.
Western bridle with a browband using a snaffle, make sure it has a throat latch. Makes the bridle more secure.
Your TB sounds awesome and very appropriate! You gotta post pics, you know that, right? 
Your husband may in fact want to look authentically western, but if you can get a helmet on him he’ll still look fine IF you can get one on him. I have two female friends who do serious all-day trail riding. One always wears a helmet; the other one only wears a helmet if she’s schooling at the barn, for some reason. Both are experienced, good riders.
[QUOTE=Rackonteur;8305330]
Your TB sounds awesome and very appropriate! You gotta post pics, you know that, right?
Your husband may in fact want to look authentically western, but if you can get a helmet on him he’ll still look fine .[/QUOTE]
I’ll work on the pictures! Helmet would have been non-negotiable with me, but thankfully he’s smart and safety conscious, so no issues there. (And if anyone gives him grief about it, they’re going to wish they had a helmet on when I’m through with them ) Funniest moment so far was when I turned around to see hubby steering horse right into the middle of a mud puddle. Horse went, very calmly, then started to paw! “Babe- kick him and get him out of there now!!!”. :lol:
OP, the trail saddles are specifically designed for comfort for horse and rider. If you go used, don’t go too old, they are no where near as comfy, and they are really heavy. Trail saddles are somewhat “deep” so your husband will feel pretty secure. My trail saddle feels like a couch.
Horsesaddleshop.com has templates you can download and put on your horse to give you an idea of what type of tree will work best for your horse. The staff is great if you want to call and get recommendations.
I don’t know if a barrel saddle will be as comfortable - they tend to have a very high, upright cantle and not as much padding. But you can always get a tush cushion.
A lot of people trail ride in endurance saddles - they are super comfy.
I suggest a synthetic saddles such as a Wintec, inexpensive, safe, durable, require little to no maintenance, best of all–light weight… about 16 pounds
We have had ours that are used in competitive trail for about twenty years without a piece ever breaking on any of them
[QUOTE=Kaytaz86;8305436]
I’ll work on the pictures! Helmet would have been non-negotiable with me, but thankfully he’s smart and safety conscious, so no issues there. (And if anyone gives him grief about it, they’re going to wish they had a helmet on when I’m through with them ) Funniest moment so far was when I turned around to see hubby steering horse right into the middle of a mud puddle. Horse went, very calmly, then started to paw! “Babe- kick him and get him out of there now!!!”. :lol:[/QUOTE]
:lol:
I’m cheap. Pony rides in the English bridle that I have, full cheek snaffle, and he goes fine in it, didn’t buy anything different.
Saddle is a very old Big Horn made out of leather with rigging I’m not too fond of, might be 3/4, tends to put the saddle too far forward, or I do, but if I watch it when I put it on it doesn’t shift, it’s full QH bars, THAT you will have to watch for with your TB withers, make a wire template, having the gullet sit on the spine is no good at all. Saddle is very comfy for DH. Got it off CL, its pretty worn, could use new strings, new keeper and a new latigo. I do like Rackonteur and do a full hitch tie off.
The pad is a Weaver, great thick thing from TSC, which is not as stiff as the felts. From what I recall we used the Navajo blankets back in the day, so a regular dressage type pad would work also if you wanted to see what was going on with the saddle more.
I’ve just been introduced to the converters, on another thread someone posted them, I’m not sure I can get good use out of them for my guy as he is a pony and I don’t have much girth to work with but for a nice large TB you should have room for the dressage girth and the converters to make a good fit without banging into the pad and making itchy wrinkles. I’m probably going to replace my string girth with a tiny bit shorter fleece ringed girth because the fleece sits under the rings so they don’t dig into the pony’s sides, and that seems to be an issue with him.
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You are getting some good advice, OP. I will just add that if you buy a used saddle (or a new one), be sure it still has the stirrup hobbles. A new saddle should come with them but for some reason some used saddles don’t.
Since you said your husband is carrying a little extra weight (who isn’t, these days? ), I wouldn’t go with a barrel racing saddle. They seem to be made for young females who aren’t carrying a single ounce of extra weight!
When my DH wanted to start riding, I picked up an Australian Saddle (with poleys / without horn – they come both ways, with and without the horn). He’s been quite happy riding in that. Pretty much exclusively trail riding.
I recently started riding western with the idea of using it as a saddle for trails and goofing around in.
I ended up with an old equitation saddle, though I am told its built more like a trail saddle. It’s very comfy. I would look for a leather trail saddle for your husband - older, but not too old. As with English, it’s better to buy a good used saddle than a newer crappy one. I waited to find a hell of a deal and paid about 600 less than I should have for my saddle.
Bridles don’t really matter and I use my English bridle with my western saddle often - both my bridles are bitless, so it depends on whether I want something with a bit more breaks (English hackamore).
I ended up switching from a neoprene cinch with a nylon latigo to a shaped alpaca wool cinch with a leather latigo. I found leather is the way to go if you plan on tying your latigo.
I then added a breastcollar, because I a) liked the look of it and b) it helped keep everything more secure on the trails.
I started off with a run of the mill pad but now that I am riding more often I’ve decided I want a pad with better wicking. Western pads are WAY hotter than English.
I’ve heard bad and good things about western wintecs, but for me the bad reviews put me off of them.
Hope this helped!
[QUOTE=Flash44;8305552]
Horsesaddleshop.com has templates you can download and put on your horse to give you an idea of what type of tree will work best for your horse. The staff is great if you want to call and get recommendations.
I don’t know if a barrel saddle will be as comfortable - they tend to have a very high, upright cantle and not as much padding. But you can always get a tush cushion.
A lot of people trail ride in endurance saddles - they are super comfy.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Flash44! I will definitely look at those templates. I was questioning barrel saddles as well, as I thought they weren’t exactly designed for comfort. I’ll look into endurance saddles as well.
Um… whatsa string hobble? Thanks!
A stirrup hobble is a little leather (or synthetic) strap that buckles around the bottom, narrow part of a western stirrup strap between the wide “fender” part of the strap and the top of the stirrup. They keep the stirrup in place and also keep the parts of the stirrup strap neat and in place.
Here is a picture:
http://www.smithbrothers.com/stirrup-hobble-straps/p/X3-11279/
And here you can click on the pic and see them in place:
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/used-billy-cook-reining-saddle-usbi3078.html#.Ve8ktBFRHmI
[QUOTE=Preposterous Ponies!;8306504]
I ended up with an old equitation saddle, though I am told its built more like a trail saddle. It’s very comfy. [/QUOTE]
My favorite Western saddle is an old equitation saddle. SO comfy!
For comfort, turn the stirrups or have a “twist” added to them.
http://www.cowboyway.com/HowTo/TurnStirrups.htm
Or get stirrup turners.
