Kaytaz86, are you and husband watching The Man From Snowy River on the Movies channel?
Clancy just rode up. Legendary western-cowboy-looking man, hat and all … on a horse with an English snaffle bridle and – for all all you can see – English stirrup irons. He looks even better than Robert Redford.
Good image for any man who wants to go trail riding with his eventer wife! In case you wanna rethink the western saddle and cinch and hobbles … 
[QUOTE=RPM;8307243]
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. 
Aha! Thank you!!!
[QUOTE=Leather;8307487]
For comfort, turn the stirrups or have a “twist” added to them.Or get stirrup turners. /QUOTE]
Great thoughts!
Any input on the idea of breakaway stirrups? Safety is my #1 thing here, want to be sure that we minimize the risk as much as one can while strapped to a 1000 pound animal!
My husband loves his Tucker Gen II trail saddle. I highly recommend trying them out for him.
If you think you need breakaway stirrups, maybe consider spending some time in the ring working with your husband and the horse before heading out onto the trail.
TB’s can be VERY hard to fit in a western saddle, but I’ve found this little gem that’s light, pretty cheap, and fits my high withered TB very well. I also like that it’s a round skirt since he has a fairly short back. Worth a shot to see if it will work! I researched it quite a bit and the Fabtron’s got pretty good reviews!
http://www.bigdweb.com/Round-Barrel-Skirt-Trail-Saddle/productinfo/7102F/
[QUOTE=Kaytaz86;8306863]
I was questioning barrel saddles as well, as I thought they weren’t exactly designed for comfort. [/QUOTE]
I’ve ridden horses for about the last 25 years, exclusively in barrel racing saddles.
Never had a problem with comfort. I can ride all day in mine.
Whatever you end up choosing, make sure it (1) fits the horse (2) fits hubby.
[QUOTE=Kaytaz86;8308107]
[QUOTE=Leather;8307487]For comfort, turn the stirrups or have a “twist” added to them.Or get stirrup turners. /QUOTE]
Great thoughts!
Any input on the idea of breakaway stirrups? Safety is my #1 thing here, want to be sure that we minimize the risk as much as one can while strapped to a 1000 pound animal![/QUOTE]
OK I know he’s not seriously going to strap himself to the horse!
Get him boots with heels and teach him to keep his heels down. If he buys hooded stirrups make sure they have a leather tab to fasten the bottom of the hood to the treat of stirrup so his foot can’t get caught between the hood and the stirrup. Or don’t let him buy hooded stirrups.
[QUOTE=Kaytaz86;8308107]
Any input on the idea of breakaway stirrups? Safety is my #1 thing here, want to be sure that we minimize the risk as much as one can while strapped to a 1000 pound animal![/QUOTE]
No experience with the break-away, but I love my endurance stirrups with cages.
http://www.easycareinc.com/other_products/e-z_ride_stirrups.aspx
I wear Ariat Terrains while riding and found them to be a little too “sticky” with the roper stirrups on my saddle due to the treads, so I swapped them out for my EZ Rides with cages.
I find them much more comfortable than the roper style stirrups too.
[QUOTE=Flash44;8308221]
If you think you need breakaway stirrups, maybe consider spending some time in the ring working with your husband and the horse before heading out onto the trail.[/QUOTE]
I was thinking of them in the same category as a helmet…not that I’m planning on him falling off, but it’s bound to happen and I’d prefer to stack the deck in my favor.
Good to know, thanks!
No, not seriously 
He does have boots with heels, they were mandatory along with the helmet! Good advice on the hoods- definitely not something I’ve seen in the English world
Those cages look to me like a toe accident waiting to happen!
I don’t even like open trail stirrups (the western ones with the wider treads). Just something else to hit you in the stomach as you dismount.
OP, it sounds like this husband of yours is going to be the safest – and the happiest! – trail rider out there! You are doing a great job researching all this for him. I would get him whatever western saddle is comfortable for the horse and for him and take him out on the trails and have fun together! Sounds like you have a got a great horse in that TB.
Happy trails!
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