Actually, on second thought, I do have a comment! I tried a Skyrider on Mac and found it very comfortable. It had a close-contact feel, and it put my legs in a balanced position. Ultimately I didn’t keep it because the angles weren’t right for Mac - too flat in the bars, although the width was good. So it might be an option to check out - I would assume your horse needs flatter bars. One warning, though, they are expensive saddles (well, about $3k), and you don’t often see used ones. Also, they only come in one tree shape, although the saddle maker did offer to shim the tree for me, which I declined. They are made on “Arizona bars” which Rod Nikkel doesn’t like (check out Adam’s link above and then get lost for hours and you’ll read about Arizona bars).
[QUOTE=aktill;7837429]
Avoid, personally http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/checking-out-a-flex-tree/[/QUOTE]
Good information. Some acquaintances were raving out the flex2 tree saddles so I tossed it out there. Personally, I wouldn’t ride or own a flex tree nor am I interested in treeless.
After going through several saddles with this mare I have now, I am tickled with what I am using now. I have put this saddle, the Courts, on wide horses in different shapes and sizes, and I am amazed how well it fits.
One thing I have learned this summer is about my Impact Gel saddle pad. I put in lots of hill and mountain miles this summer in hot conditions. The sweat pattern looked perfect and my mare was pretty happy. One ride when it was hot climbing a hill she really got over heated. I was surprised because I never have found the bottom end of this horse before. I then went back to a plain wool and she didn’t get so hot on hills. When she started shedding out I saw roaning or white mixed patches coming out on her coat, not under the bars but under the skirting , kind of random places. The gel was too hot for those kind of conditions, it actually kind of burned the hair. Can’t be good on her back at all. I won’t use it anymore because of that. Not for those long hard rides. Google it, other people have had issues too. Her hair should go back to normal next shedding. Just something to be aware of.
I agree on the cuteness, love bays with chrome. I really enjoyed my fjordieX.
Also check out Martins. Have adjustable rigging and come in different gullet widths. I tried on a couple, the 7 in several saddles were too tight in the shoulders, the 8 in was too wide and too straight in the shoulders. Maybe the 7.5 May have worked but couldn’t find one at the time to try. Wasn’t going to just order one for what they cost. Cactus also has some wider gullets but none to try here.
If you ever come down to Seattle there are a couple bigger western saddle shops near Olympia. Tack Room Too near Olympia carries, Martin, Cactus and some other brands. They also have a custom saddle shop in their store so could go that route too. I never made it over there to try on saddles, it’s a 5 hour drive over there for me. I worked with another custom shop 2 hours from me and they put some trees on her and talked directly with Courts about what might fit this horse. Courts have a lot of saddle models, some did not fit her at all, but their recommendation was right on for my mare. My daughters gelding actually fits perfectly in their light roper. I have that one that I used until my custom was ready. I have kept it for a spare. It may fit your horse, too.
Good luck on your search.
[QUOTE=KIloBright;7836942]
That saddle seem
s to sit low in front to me. maybe just the angle of the pic???[/QUOTE]
You’re right. I think this picture angle is off, too. But it always looks a little low. But if you get your hands under it, he has plenty of clearance. Even with a rider’s weight.
[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7836947]
Look at the Circle y Flex2 tree. [/QUOTE]
I ride in the Lisa Lockhart Flex2 barrel saddle. I bought it this past spring for my “tough to fit” horse (after about 8 other saddles) and it seems to fit him great.
Now, I have the WIDE version of the Flex2 tree. I heard that they stopped making it … so I’m not sure if you can still get it. This is my first experience with a flex tree and I honestly can’t tell any difference from a “regular” tree.
I’ve got a 14.5" seat size.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/r_beau/2014%20Horse%20Pictures/Red01_zpsb099cf1c.jpg
If you like a “flatter” seat while still having the short skirt of a barrel saddle, I would look into MELETA BROWN freedom saddles.
http://thefreedomsaddle.com/
I tried one of her saddles this spring and it fit my horse beautiful, but I couldn’t get used to the flat seat. (I like my DEEP barrel saddle seats!) So if you don’t want a deep seat, you might like it.
Not to mention she is a super lady to visit with. Very knowledgable and very friendly!
While looking into the Freedom Saddle, I came across a few suggestions to try a Whyoming Saddlery gaited tree saddle for big shouldered morgans.
Is anyone familiar with Wyoming Saddlery?
Here are pictures I got of his back today, now that I’m at the new barn where there is a BRIGHT, flat area to do so. https://www.facebook.com/ShayneBear91/media_set?set=a.831790893539551.1073741834.100001259450060&type=1&ref=notif¬if_t=like
So far I have learned that semi/regular qh bars are a no-go. WAY too narrow overall. Full QH bars that measure 7" from the underside of where the conchos are fit well but there’s not enough flare in the shoulders. 3/4 rigging is a must, full rigging makes for bad times without even getting the cinch all the way tight. Arab bars fit better in the shoulders but are tight up top and pinch. I cannot find a haflinger or gaited tree saddle anywhere locally so have no feedback for either (though am starting to think that I’m going to have to go with one of the two in order to get the fit in the shoulders…)
I still prefer a flatter seat, but don’t mind a higher cantle if the angle is still fairly open. I think I prefer rounded swells but could get used to the feel of something more squared-off. Still prefer a lower/shorter horn. And I am now more open to barrel saddles after sitting in a couple less restrictive feeling ones (the open angle of the cantle makes a HUGE difference!). And I really prefer leather…my “craft foamy” wintec is the only synthetic that feels okay to me - I REALLY disliked the cordura Big Horn I sat in, and I can’t stand the plasticy Wintecs (I have never seen another wintec made of the material that my old one was, it seriously felt like craft foam over nylon. Super weird, but it was grippy and didn’t squeak!)
[QUOTE=Ceylon Star;7858378]
Here are pictures I got of his back today, now that I’m at the new barn where there is a BRIGHT, flat area to do so. https://www.facebook.com/ShayneBear91/media_set?set=a.831790893539551.1073741834.100001259450060&type=1&ref=notif¬if_t=like
So far I have learned that semi/regular qh bars are a no-go. WAY too narrow overall. Full QH bars that measure 7" from the underside of where the conchos are fit well but there’s not enough flare in the shoulders. 3/4 rigging is a must, full rigging makes for bad times without even getting the cinch all the way tight. Arab bars fit better in the shoulders but are tight up top and pinch. I cannot find a haflinger or gaited tree saddle anywhere locally so have no feedback for either (though am starting to think that I’m going to have to go with one of the two in order to get the fit in the shoulders…)
I still prefer a flatter seat, but don’t mind a higher cantle if the angle is still fairly open. I think I prefer rounded swells but could get used to the feel of something more squared-off. Still prefer a lower/shorter horn. And I am now more open to barrel saddles after sitting in a couple less restrictive feeling ones (the open angle of the cantle makes a HUGE difference!). And I really prefer leather…my “craft foamy” wintec is the only synthetic that feels okay to me - I REALLY disliked the cordura Big Horn I sat in, and I can’t stand the plasticy Wintecs (I have never seen another wintec made of the material that my old one was, it seriously felt like craft foam over nylon. Super weird, but it was grippy and didn’t squeak!)[/QUOTE]
Ok, you have narrowed it down. Because he has an upright shoulder, thats good. The back sloping shoulder is harder, which is what my mare is. My other horse looks wider, but is built much like your horse.
This horse is such an easy keeper, so pudgy in this pic. 16 yr old AQHA gelding.
These two saddles fit him.
The Courts 4007man is their light roper. Very wide bars with some flare. Fits PJ perfect with a good pad. Not enought flare for my mare, but very little does fit her big shoulders.
http://www.courtsaddlery.com/#!competitor/c1y72
This is the saddle I had custom ordered. Fits me fits both my horses, and so far every really big shouldered horse we have put it on. With the custom order I special ordered a 16 in tree, finished size 15.5 in in the dark oil. Don’t let the qh bar description discourage you, there is tons of flare in the shoulders with lots of wither clearance.
http://www.courtsaddlery.com/#!mra/c17ii
This is my saddle fitting nightmare of a lovely AQHA mare. Long story, but this model fits her beautifully. A sweat pattern.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10603384_10203421323066969_7187138565917582485_n.jpg?oh=17a2f77e299f956a13de54874ac998b5&oe=54E015E1&gda=1424572501_a445ecf1755e28a8e59c027d94762e1c
Last February after she had been off a couple months after being spayed. Just a good picture of the saddle.
Also edited to add…my sis in law has a bigger horse than my mare but he has big shoulders too, even wider than my mare. She ordered the same Miss Rodeo America model and hers is a stock saddle 15 in, finished size 14.5 seat, and the stock color. Her grand daughter has the same type of horse as hers, big shouldered gelding. He was pretty atrophied behind the shoulders and after he was in a wider sadde, he filled it out and got too tight. She just ordered one just like this one in the picture.
Depending on the dealer, the price is usually lower than the list price. The BGC style tree has so much flair in the shoulders and fits these types of horses nicely. See if you have a dealer close by to see if you can deal with them. Courts are great to talk to, call them. They can recommend a dealer to you as well.
Good luck.
[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7859173]
Ok, you have narrowed it down. Because he has an upright shoulder, thats good. The back sloping shoulder is harder, which is what my mare is. My other horse looks wider, but is built much like your horse.
This horse is such an easy keeper, so pudgy in this pic. 16 yr old AQHA gelding.
These two saddles fit him.
The Courts 4007man is their light roper. Very wide bars with some flare. Fits PJ perfect with a good pad. Not enought flare for my mare, but very little does fit her big shoulders.
http://www.courtsaddlery.com/#!competitor/c1y72
This is the saddle I had custom ordered. Fits me fits both my horses, and so far every really big shouldered horse we have put it on. With the custom order I special ordered a 16 in tree, finished size 15.5 in in the dark oil. Don’t let the qh bar description discourage you, there is tons of flare in the shoulders with lots of wither clearance.
http://www.courtsaddlery.com/#!mra/c17ii
This is my saddle fitting nightmare of a lovely AQHA mare. Long story, but this model fits her beautifully. A sweat pattern.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10603384_10203421323066969_7187138565917582485_n.jpg?oh=17a2f77e299f956a13de54874ac998b5&oe=54E015E1&gda=1424572501_a445ecf1755e28a8e59c027d94762e1c
Last February after she had been off a couple months after being spayed. Just a good picture of the saddle.
Also edited to add…my sis in law has a bigger horse than my mare but he has big shoulders too, even wider than my mare. She ordered the same Miss Rodeo America model and hers is a stock saddle 15 in, finished size 14.5 seat, and the stock color. Her grand daughter has the same type of horse as hers, big shouldered gelding. He was pretty atrophied behind the shoulders and after he was in a wider sadde, he filled it out and got too tight. She just ordered one just like this one in the picture.
Depending on the dealer, the price is usually lower than the list price. The BGC style tree has so much flair in the shoulders and fits these types of horses nicely. See if you have a dealer close by to see if you can deal with them. Courts are great to talk to, call them. They can recommend a dealer to you as well.
Good luck.[/QUOTE]
Thank you thank you THANK YOU! 
Love the Circle Y Flex2 tree! But you absolutely have to get the correct fit for the horse. The templates at horsesaddleshop work great, I just bought another Circle Y saddle from them yesterday. Used the template to get the correct width and chatted with them about the various saddles that will fit my half arab mare. So I now have 3 Circle Y flex tree saddles and love them. I personally use the Monarch Arena Performance saddle on my AQHA competition mare, and she is real happy with the fit. It’s a beautiful saddle and puts me in a great position and I can also comfortably trail ride for 3+ hours. My trainer, who is also an AQHA judge, likes the saddle too. Here is a link:
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/monarch-arena-cicle-y-.html#.VGi4J_mjOw0
I ended up ordering the Circle Y Cottonwood saddle for the half arab mare, in the extra wide flex2 tree. Can’t wait to get it!
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/cottonwood-circle-y-saddle.html#.VGi4y_mjOw0
And my husband’s saddle is the Alpine in the regular flex2 tree
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/circle-y-alpine-trail-saddle.html#.VGi5DfmjOw0
So again, you have to get a good fit for your horse. Just because a specific tree does not fit your horse does not mean it’s a bad tree. It simply doesn’t fit. People rave about the Steele trees, but I had a saddle with a Steele tree and it really didn’t fit any of my horses good, so I sold it. Doesn’t mean anything is wrong with Steele, it just wasn’t the saddle for my horses.
Finally, you can get saddles customized for you from horsesaddleshop, just takes longer to get the saddle. I am 5’ tall and get fenders cut for my inseam, otherwise I am at the top hole, or even trying to punch more holes. But you can’t return a custom saddle.
In doing some reading about flex trees, I worry that I am too heavy for one? I will likely never be below 190lbs at the absolute lightest. My “happy weight” these days is about 215lbs and I have been up as high as 250 before. It sounds like a heavier rider can make the middle of the bars press into the horse’s back? I know I am definitely not a candidate for a treeless, but I’m not sure if flex trees have a similar weight restriction or not.
I finally nabbed enough cardboard to make stiff copies of the horsesaddleshop templates and my guy needs a draft tree according to them…son of a tiger! Can I just make him obese again and make the shoulder muscles go away so he fits back into a fqhb? Haha!
You might look at Crestridge saddles. I got one for Mac and just sold it. It was very comfortable for me but in the end the tree I got didn’t fit Mac. They are well made and not too expensive. They have extra-wide options, and minimal skirting so for a short-backed pony it might not be too long (not sure how short your pony’s back is).
[QUOTE=Ceylon Star;7862736]
In doing some reading about flex trees, I worry that I am too heavy for one? I will likely never be below 190lbs at the absolute lightest. My “happy weight” these days is about 215lbs and I have been up as high as 250 before. It sounds like a heavier rider can make the middle of the bars press into the horse’s back? I know I am definitely not a candidate for a treeless, but I’m not sure if flex trees have a similar weight restriction or not.
I finally nabbed enough cardboard to make stiff copies of the horsesaddleshop templates and my guy needs a draft tree according to them…son of a tiger! Can I just make him obese again and make the shoulder muscles go away so he fits back into a fqhb? Haha![/QUOTE]
Yep, my just-under-14h mare needs the draft (xwide) tree as well. The staff at horsesaddleshop are great. There is an online chat option or you can telephone them (although I had a hard time getting through on the phone). But they told me via online chat that the extra wide flex2 tree is wider than the arab wide tree, so they know their saddles. You can talk to them about the tree and your weight. My husband is 190 lbs on a good day, and his saddle has the Flex2 tree, so I don’t think your weight really is an issue. The flex 2 trees are explained in detail on the circle y website, and they do not look like that black rubber tree that another poster referenced. And here is a really awesome rider who is not supermodel thin:
Saddlesmith is not a higher end saddle but they are ok. Especially for a first western saddle. They do have a trail saddle in the draft bar. Fits some horses great. I never did try it on my mare because I didn’t want smooth leather and wanted an all around. I am still not sure a true draft bar will fit him. Billy Cook has a draft bar trail. Have you called the Horse Saddle Shop and talked with them?
Courts has a pretty nice trail saddle, pretty wide just really need to try saddles on. This saddle also comes in a larger seat size without special ordering.
http://www.courtsaddlery.com/#!pleasure/czs9
Once you figure out your template size, measure your horse in several places with a flexible curve. I did order a J Stead saddle, fit my mare beautifully, just not me. I needed a ladies saddle and the modified wade was just too flat more my pelvis. The quality was excellent. He sent me the actual tree to try after lots of tracings and pictures. He was right on. He makes lots of types of saddles so, you don’t have to buy a wade type. A Will James may be a better type with regular swells.
Also, there are reining saddles that fit wide horses well too with their lower profile and can get larger seats too.
Did you ever get your JJ Maxwell saddle PocketPony?
Not yet, still waiting! The waiting list was 10 months long, so it will be early spring…let’s hope this one works out. If not, I give up!
The Simco bulldogger
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