Need a new Saddle...

[PintoPonies]

I need to get a new saddle. I want a good all purpose western saddle. Something for trails, game days, and stuff like that.

I like 3 way rigging, but it doesn’t have to be. Price isn’t an issue right now, cause I’m just looking, and will “save up”(basically start selling stuff out of the tack shed. lol!) to get the one I want.

Any suggestions?

[beau159]

[QUOTE=PintoPonies;8238325]

Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

I guess the BIGGEST question is: What saddle is going to fit your horse?

I would start exploring that factor first, to see what your options are going to be.

[Flash44]

Ditto Beau. If you look online at horsesaddleshop.com, they have templates you can download and try on your horse to get a good feel for what tree will work on your horse. They have a lot of saddles at different price points. I’ve purchased 5-6 saddles through them, great customer service.

I have Circle Y saddles with the Flex2 tree. Love them.

[PintoPonies]

[QUOTE=Flash44;8238879]
Ditto Beau. If you look online at horsesaddleshop.com, they have templates you can download and try on your horse to get a good feel for what tree will work on your horse. They have a lot of saddles at different price points. I’ve purchased 5-6 saddles through them, great customer service.

I have Circle Y saddles with the Flex2 tree. Love them.[/QUOTE]

I’ve already done that, I guess I was thinking saddle makers sometimes give options for seat size and what kind of tree. She needs a SQHB tree and I need a 15 in. seat.

When I was looking, I found barrel, trail, cutting, reining, ranch, roping, and pleasure show saddle, but I just need something I can do everything in (besides roping and cutting). Just a good general purpose western saddle. I don’t know where to look.

[Flash44]

I’d look at trail saddles. They tend to be more all-around without the silver and tooling that drive the price up, but you can’t rope in them.

[beau159]

@PintoPonies;8239241

She needs a SQHB tree.

In what type of tree? What brand?

Did you just do the templates, or did you actually try a saddle on her back?

There aren’t “standards” in the Western world of saddles. One saddle maker may call their tree semi-QH bars but it might fit like another makers full-QH bars.

Gullet sizes can be different. Bar angle can be different. The rock, the flare, twist, etc etc, can all be different. And that will affect the saddle fit. While it is a starting point, there’s a little bit more to it than to see my horse needs a SQHB tree.

http://saddlemakers.org/id193.htm

http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/tree-and-saddle-fitting/factors-that-affect-tree-fit/

Your best bet is to go to a local tack shop with your horse, and try on saddles. Then you can see how it fits your horse, and how the saddle feels to you.

If you don’t have a tack shop like that nearby, then look for online websites that will allow you to return saddles. Beware, and some will charge re-stocking fees. Of course, you will have to pay for shipping both ways.

[PintoPonies]

I understand, I have a sqhb tree saddle right now, but it does have a little more “rock” to it than she needs.

We don’t really have tack shops around here, unless you’re willing to drive a long ways. Which for the right saddle might be the best option, other wise I was thinking like you mentioned, just finding some online shops with return options if it doesn’t fit.

I’m just thinking about an upgrade. I have a synthetic saddle I picked up for $60 just get me by, so ready for something different.

[Pocket_Pony]

My first western saddle was a Specialized western trail version: http://specializedsaddles.com/. It was a great starter western saddle for me and I did some clinics in it and lots of trail riding. Very comfortable for me, adjustable/shimmable for the horse. I had gotten a bigger seat size because I thought Mr. PoPo might want to ride in it but since he never did (and my horse outgrew it, width-wise), I sold it to get my next saddle. I went through trial and error with the next couple of saddles I tried and now I have a JJ Maxwell, which I like very much. I don’t do much other than lots of trail riding and some cow clinics now and then (but no roping). I like this saddle because it is lightweight, as far as western saddles go, and the quality of the workmanship is lovely.

Saddle shopping is fun in theory but sucks in reality. There aren’t really standards to tree sizing, so the best thing is to try a lot on your horse to see what you both like. Good luck to you.

[PeanutButterPony]

For a really reasonable price, the Fabtron Lady Trail saddle is a great synthetic. I saw it recommended here and got one. Love It. It’s not stiff like the Abettas are, and felt broken-in from the first ride. You obviously wouldn’t rope in it, but it’s a great all around using saddle. I think Valley Vet does ‘trials’ of that style.

in the last few years the western folks caught on and their prices skyrocketed. Saddles that had been the $800 sort of saddle became the $1600 sort. I like older Crates saddles, and older Herefords and Simco. The only ‘type’ I’d say to avoid is a cutter unless you’re cutting- those horns are stabby and like to snag button up shirts

[RPM]

I love synthetics because they are lightweight, for me and the horse. I fell in love with a leather ranch saddle online, it weighed around 30 lbs. I bought a synthetic that weighed half that.

Weight is definitely something to consider with a western saddle.

Can you do reining in a barrel saddle, and vice versa?

Go with a saddle that fits your horse and you.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

I love my Fabtron Lady Trail. The stirrups are set underneath you, so you can post - not out in front of you, forcing you into a chair seat and behind the motion of the horse. And it has a nice high cantle, which is comfortable on long trail rides. I think it only comes in FQH bars, but I might be wrong. You can download their template, I think, and try that on your horse. Or if your tack shop is like mine, they’ll let you just take the saddle itself and try it on your horse.

[js]

Don’t know what your budget is but maybe take a look at this saddle. I really like it, gets good reviews. Cashel Western Trail Saddle

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/cashel-western-trail-saddle-12114?utm_source=paidfeeds&utm_medium=shopping.com&utm_content=tes&utm_campaign=2109747968&cm_mmc=paidfeeds--shopping.com--tes-_-2109747968