Can i use mecate reins with an Aussie style saddle? I’m thinking of the Tucker Equitation style, without a horn. Or do you need a horn to make this combination work?
If it won’t work, are there brands or styles of Western saddles that have a more forward seat? I find that the insides of my thighs hurt after sitting in most trail saddles as I just can’t find the chair seat position.
Thanks!
Yes. I have an Australian fender stock saddle (no horn).
It’s easy to make a velcro strap that attaches either through the opening in the pommel or any dee rings that might be on the front, e.g. to attach a breast collar. Or, you can coil the end and tie it up with the saddle strings in the front, if that saddle has any.
If it’s the rein style itself, with the slobber straps and rope reins that you want, and not the free end that you get with a regular mecate, you can always just get some rope, cut it to the desired length, and make yourself a set of single loop reins without the free end. Then not having a horn doesn’t matter.
[QUOTE=katiehorse;6959513]
Can i use mecate reins with an Aussie style saddle? I’m thinking of the Tucker Equitation style, without a horn. Or do you need a horn to make this combination work? [/QUOTE]
Nope, works fine. I rode a mecate reined hackamore with a dressage saddle for almost a year with no issues. Run the trail of the rein through your belt on your off-side and you won’t have any problems.
In a word, yes. There are two issues though…seat shape, and how far from the center the stirrup leathers are hung. Seat shape affects comfort, and where the leathers hang in relation to the low point of the seat affects the balance/chair seat issue.
If you measure from the point where the leathers cross the bar to the point where your seat bones touch the seat, that should be roughly the length of your foot. Technically it’s more from where the ball of your foot rest on the stirrup (which can vary greatly in width), but the first one is a rough measurement.
I had more money than sense…
I bought the reins at a local horse show when they caught my eye. A friend of mine is going to show me how to use them–gee I hope I can get the hang of them! Nosuchperson and Aktill, thank you for your ideas!
Any recommendation on Aussie saddle brands? My preference is for a used expensive brand rather than a cheap new one.
I tried the “tuck it in your belt” approach but it bothered me.
My stock fender was made by Mark Howes at Double H Ranch Saddle Shop. It is heavenly.
With respect to non-custom off-the-shelf Aussie saddle brands, the best are made in Australia. Unfortunately, if you have a wide horse, it’s tough to find an off-the-shelf saddle made in Australia that comes wide enough for your horse. I think that is beginning to change, as QHs get more popular over there, but still not as easy to find wider saddles. If you’re looking for used expensive, look for Syd Hill, Toowoomba, maybe some of the James Saddlery saddles.
I have had 2 saddles from Down Under Saddlery in Denver, one cheap synthetic, one more expensive from their mid-priced “Down Under” line. I was very happy with both of them.
If you look for “Australian saddle” on ebay, you get a huge number of hits. But, if you check the box for “Used,” it really narrows down the list and you will find a number of your “used expensive brands” there.
However, lots of Aussie saddles will put you in that chair position, too, so it’s not a sure cure.
NSP, I checked out the Down Under line and they look very nice, I guess I was worried about quality with a lower price point. I am hoping to buy one decent saddle and have it last for a while. And I hadn’t considered horse shape at all, so I appreciate that thought! That might have saved me a pile of money!
Run the trail of the rein through your belt on your off-side and you won’t have any problems.
I have trouble with this, too. I can’t comfortably have my belt tight enough to where the mecate doesn’t work its way back through and end up a dangling danger.
I generally make a small coil and tie the coil to my saddle strings.
[QUOTE=katiehorse;6959513]
If it won’t work, are there brands or styles of Western saddles that have a more forward seat? I find that the insides of my thighs hurt after sitting in most trail saddles as I just can’t find the chair seat position.[/QUOTE]
Did you mean you can’t get out of the chair seat position? The chair seat is not a desirable riding position.
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