I want opinions on the most supportive & comfortable trail saddle available. Something that is deep & comfortable.
I love my Bob Marshall endurance saddle for long rides. I use it with a Skito pad, and it is super comfortable.
I use my dressage saddle for shorter trail rides, but anything over ~ 2 hours, the Bob Marshall is my go-to saddle.
I ride in an Arabian Saddle Company Solstice. Deep but not too deep, COMFY.
I have ridden 50 mile endurance rides in it, and 25 milers, and taken dressage lessons in it.
I mostly trail ride in it. Flat and also very hilly. Nice saddle. I rode my arab in it, now my Rocky Mt horse. Both are wide’s. My saddle is now over 10 years old, very very good condition.
http://s1122.photobucket.com/albums/l531/purpleorchid102/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ20
The black horse (with red pack) and the chestnut horse are wearing the same saddle. I use a black sheepskin seat cover. It is a nice sticky saddle, with or without the sheepskin.
Eli Miller
I love the Fabtron Lady Trail w/flex tree.
Stubben Scout.
This is a montage of photos of a Scout currently for sale. It is identical to mine, except that this one is black and mine is honey (a light brown).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnUIAcXsT8s
Very comfortable, very well designed, very well made. Generally not cheap, but in this case you get what you pay for.
G.
I ride in a Tucker Equitation Endurance saddle; tree is like a western but no horn and it has English girth and stirrup leathers. Lots of rings to hang things and very comfy for me and - lucky me - for my horse. I know that because I do LDs and CTRs so back is checked frequently and thoroughly and never any problems.
Supportive and comfortable are both incredibly subjective.
I can’t stand Tuckers and feel unsteady and above the horse in them, other people think they’re the bees knees and would probably hate my favorite saddles.
What about a nice, deep dressage saddle with knee and thigh rolls?
I have an Allegany Mountain Trail Saddle and I really like it. I just got it in July. I had had a previous AMTS but it no longer fit my horse so I had another made to fit him.
My cousin just received a Steele saddle. She and her horse were having fit issues and she LOVES this saddle and she is sitting straighter and so her back is feeling better.
If I ever buy another trail saddle it will be a Steele.
Thanks to all for the advise. I just looked at the Steele saddles. They look like they have a definate “Sweet spot” for the seat making them very secure looking which is what I’m looking for. I might call to see if they have any used ones.
Several that you all mentioned look like great saddles. thanks
[QUOTE=Whitfield Farm Hanoverians;6629856]
Thanks to all for the advise. I just looked at the Steele saddles. They look like they have a definate “Sweet spot” for the seat making them very secure looking which is what I’m looking for. I might call to see if they have any used ones.
Several that you all mentioned look like great saddles. thanks[/QUOTE]
My wife had a Steele Plantation saddle for many years. It worked well for her on her Walker. I tried it and found it uncomfortable. It was very well made and is a good choice for those who find the style comfortable.
Good luck; I think you’ve made a good choice!
G.
I too owned a Steele saddle. I ordered it direct and when I took my first ride, it was uncomfortable. The saddle was too wide in the seat - hit me where my thighs meet my legs. I am a short woman and that might be part of the problem. I didn’t care - sold it on ebay.
Lots of people love Dixieland saddles. I find them very well made and heavy as lead.
Lots of people love Tuckers- they are heavy too, and set you way up off the horse’s back. I rode in one for a few years, but I wouldn’t go back to one.
Crestridge saddles are nice mid range saddles but they kill my seat bones.
You gotta sit your tush in it to know.
Well I finally decided on the Tucker Big Bend saddle.http://www.tuckersaddlery.com/catalog8.shtml
Made for those that might have a little more “junk in their trunk”! Cantle is 2" wider but still has narrow twist/stride for thighs. Gel, cushy seat. Mine is dark brown with tooling. Just ordered it today & should have it Friday. Can’t wait & hope I love it.
That being said, I looked at the saddles everyone mentioned & of them all the Allegeny Mountain Saddles looked like top quality for a low price. I mean truly top quality. Wonder how they do it? I just need a saddle now, not in 2 1/2 months so went on with the Tucker. Hoping I love it when I get it. Thanks everyone for the advice.
