What are your thoughts on saddles that help the rider stay secure (not to be confused w/safe - just looking to maximize the ability to stay on the horse) in situations, such as: spooks, bolts, log jumping, up & down steep hills, and training newbies (god only knows what moves they come up with). Any discipline of saddle is ok… as long as it also serves well on long trail rides.
Suggestions and experiences?
My vote is something like a Wintec or Thorowgood synthetic suede dressage saddle with an Oh Sh** strap on the front.
I find I don’t actually feel as stable in a Western saddle. My horse is wide, and my legs are short for my height. A western saddle adds too much bulk for me to feel secure. Plus, it really hurts when you spear yourself in the gut with the horn after ole Blaze does a few yahoo hops.
Are you looking for yourself? I think what feels most secure varies so much, and often feeling secure (so staying relaxed and confident) is more important than the specific saddle type. Within reason, of course–clearly a western saddle is going to provide more security than a flat-as-a-pancake old-school jumping saddle! :lol:
Generally speaking, look for something with a deep seat and rough leather rather than smooth (or the synthetic equivalent) at least in the seat area. Western-type stirrups will keep your legs from moving as much, but they can also make many English riders feel trapped. If you go English, a grab strap helps a lot. I also know a lot of English riders who like Aussie saddles as they kind of combine the best of both worlds, but they can be difficult to fit to both horse and rider IME.
Personally I find western-type saddles (no horns, though–they just get in the way when riding greenies IMO) to be the most secure and comfortable on long trail rides. I ride mostly English on shorter rides and for schooling, but for long rides and taking green beans out on the trail I use an Abetta western-style endurance saddle that I really like.
Whatever you and your horse are most comfortable in is the best.
A saddle with a high(er) cantle will hold the rider in place in the event of a quick turn, but might not be the best bet if riding a bucking bronco as it would hold in the rider when they most needed to bail out.
A higher cantle, and pommel, makes it easier to stay in the saddle while going uphill or downhill.
A saddle with a low(er) cantle is easier for bailing out in the event of an emergency, but won’t hold in the rider as well for those quick turns.
Endurance saddles are made usually with close contact on either an English or western style tree, with or without a horn, but of paramount importance: they are designed to be comfortable for both horse and rider for l-o-n-g rides.
I <3 my western style endurance saddle (it weighs 17 lbs.). Bought it used for $250 because I needed something right away to fit my horse, figured I’d replace it as soon as I found something I liked better. Fifteen years later (and a couple of saddles later) I have never replaced it because I’ve not found anything I like more than that saddle. It’s not impressive in any way–no one ever compliments me on my pretty saddle–but I can ride all day and am ready for more afterwards.
I think you have to find what works best for you.
An Aussie saddle might be a good choice to try. Very comfy and secure.
I used to feel more secure in a Western Saddle or my deep seated Wintec Pro Dressage, until I change disciplines somewhat and rode in a close contact for a few years and greatly improved my seat and riding. Now I can no longer ride in “bulky” saddles that put too much bulk or “stuff” between the horse and I. My legs also have to be in the proper position which they were NOT in my old Western saddle. Regardless of having the pommel to grab onto, I never felt balanced or that my feet were under me.
The closer I am to the horse, the safer and more secure I feel. I ride in my close contact on the trail. It’s like a comfy chair to me.
So you have to find what works for you.
I ride in a treeless endurance and feel very secure. I think that being able to feel your horse so well prevents a lot of problems, because you know that the horse is gearing up to spook or starting to tense up as soon as it happens. I don’t like riding with a horn - to me it’s a dagger aimed at my stomach. My son prefers one. You do need to have a relatively balanced seat to ride treeless, or so people tell me. It works fine for us.
As long as we’re separating “safe” from “secure”…
A western bear trap saddle with a high back. abetta makes one but I’m thinking more of the old style heavy treed. I had a Hereford as my first saddle purely b/c that’s what my mom found at a garage sale when I was 10!
But the only thing it lacked was a seat belt.
I thought I was secure in my suede western saddle until my (now gone) arab suddenly bucked, spooked, unseated me and disappeared (unfortunately not for good).
I now have a Solstice which gives a very close contact but has a deep seat and is very balanced. And hopefully a quieter horse.
Bob Marshall Treeless saddle.
You’re stuck! 
Seriously though, even in the endurance models, you stay in the saddle! I used a western model for barrel racing and I was always comfortable and secure.
I’ve sat in some very secure dressage saddles as well. I LOVE close contact saddles more than any other kind, but I wouldn’t call them the most secure.
Wade with bucking rolls and a nightlatch.
My thigh has hit those rolls so hard it’s been bruised down to the bone, but I haven’t come out of it.
I ride a BMSS now and I still say the bear trap western saddle is tighter.
Portuguese bullfighting saddle
I also ride in a Solstice. I have had many spooks, spins, bucks, etc - very secure. Very soft comfy saddle.
I have yet to ride in an endurance saddle, or treeless which I didn’t feel perched, and to me perched is not secure. This is on my horse, and others horses too.
I do not do western, I am not into horns. Had too many bad experiences with them so don’t ever use them. Or at least especially not for trail riding.
Another vote for Bob Marshall saddle!
I use to think I was a crappy rider, kept coming off my horse when she’d spin & shy at something. This was while I was riding in my expensive custom made dressage tendency saddle. Finally switched over to a Bob Marshall saddle & LOVE IT!!! My mare has become a new horse, she immediately lowered her head & is a nicer ride. She’s more relaxed and moves out better. Once I began riding her in the BMSS life became pretty darn good for both of us!! Don’t get me wrong, she still has her ditzy moments & will shy at things but now I go with her in this saddle & can feel her tensing up under me. I feel like I’m in this saddle not perched on top of it. I have the suede seat cover & that helps too for sticking power and on cold windy days when she’s fresh I’ll also wear my suede chaps, talk about velcro, lol!! Best thing I ever did was get a BMSS, my horses are happy & I’m happy:)
I used to ride in a western barrel racing saddle that has a very deep suede seat with rough out fenders and jockeys, I thought I felt secure in that saddle. I now have a Sensation Hybrid treeless saddle and it is hands down the most secure feeling saddle I’ve ever been in. The treeless design takes close contact to a whole new level. I know when my horse is going to spook before he does! Since the saddle flexes with my horse I seem to sit into him rather than on him when he spooks. He has done some impressive teleport manuevers and I’ve been right there with him.
I’ll ditto the treeless comments above. I feel much more like I am with my horse rather than on my horse in my treeless.
I agree, ride treeless, Barefoot Sierra, and I can FEEL what my horse is going to do before he does it. Something about just having padding between the horse and you, instead of wood, to feel so much more of your horse.
Treeless may not be for everyone (what is), but it makes for a VERY secure and comfortable saddle for rides, really long or short. I have never hit my “saddle time limit” for comfort. I can spend all day in the saddle and be very comfortable. It works for my horse too.
I like a Beval Natural, not much between you and your horse, you really get a lot of contact. Beval is a great quality saddle, but be warned, the seat of the natural is not a cushion, but you fan definitely feel where your weight it, I love it, but not everyone can ride one. I use a Natural for youngsters and an Antares for everything else.
Love my Bob Marshall Endurance saddle. I don’t feel perched at all. I am not a fan of Western saddles any more-they kill my seat bones and knees, and there’s no feeling the horse, especially after riding in the BM. Also, horns scare me a little. I also ride in a treed English saddle, but the BM is more secure, or maybe that’s just my perception. They often have a wider twist though, so that may make some people feel insecure.
I’ve managed to fall out of pretty much everything, but I’ll take a close-contact flat jumping saddle any day over a deep-seated high-cantled horned western saddle- you can’t hang on with your legs in a western saddle, and you can’t easily bail if you need to in a western saddle.
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