I think I will join Bluey in debunking the “security” of the Western saddle vs the English saddle. My horse used to prop, drop her shoulder, spin and bolt and believe me I came off of my high cantled, sticky suede seated, lock you in swelled saddles every blessed time. And hurt myself with the horn dramatically in the process more than once.
totally agree. The horn is particularly irritating as you try to ride out bucks. But the thing about english saddles vs. western- you can HANG ON with your knees on the english saddle so you can grip and stay on no matter where or how the horse goes. Western saddle, not, nothing holds you on but balance and low walls fore and aft, if horsey goes sideways or twists while bucking, off you come. I would also be a bit concerned about a “lock you in” type saddle on an unpredictable youngster- if you can’t shift your position as needed, as you easily can on a flat english saddle, you can easily unbalance the youngster and end up in a dangerous horse-fall where you can’t throw yourself free.
If you can’t stay on your horse, a saddle change won’t save you.
