Please recommend saddle for achy old man

[jeano]

Saves a ton of weight, too, esp with a leather saddle. I just dont have the oomph anymore–back in my late 30s early 40s I could swing a 45 lb roping saddle up on a horse no problem. Nowadays I think one of my arms would fall off if I tried.

Depending on how wide the slot is on your western tree, you might feel like you end up with too much front to back wiggle room for those leathers. Then again, that wiggle room could add to comfort. The english stirrups could look pretty odd but endurance stirrups wont, and of course they come with narrow necks, or you can cut down the bolts on the metal ones and squeeze 'em down to fit better on narrow leathers.

[TWHrider]

Allegany Mountain Saddle

I had an Allegany Mountain saddle custom made for me and my issues and for my horse and her issues. I can ride in it all day. They are also a good buy.

[scrtwh]

I ride built-like-tanks foundation TWH’s and an ASB in a treeless fheonix dressage. I love it, but… it will magnify an imbalance the rider or the horse has, good and bad about that. My husband, who is an older, achey gent, used to ride in a bob marshall treeless and hated it. He just did not have the support that he needed for those longer rides. He now rides in an older dressage model that we have and it only fits my TWH gelding. We love the idea of an aussie. THat is our next saddle purchase for my husband. He wants support, comfort for him and his big boy.

[katarine]

Steele Saddles
Tuckers
Rocking R gaited saddle will fit any wide shouldered/short backed horse
Trooper style saddles

And a gaited horse

[Hannahsmom]

Friends brought me out trail riding for the first time this past week. I am an ex-eventer with achey joints, knee surgery, out of shape for riding, swollen ankles. I was trying to get in shape for riding the past several months and could only last about 45 minutes in my event saddle before I lost feeling in my feet.

They gave me a gaited Walker to ride and a Tucker saddle. AMAZING. I lasted 5 hours one day and 7 the second. The first day I rode in a western saddle instead of the Tucker and it was horrible. Ankles ached, feet ached, etc. The Tucker really helped. I had never ridden a gaited horse and although I missed my ‘normal’ gaits, I will admit that I have a ton of respect now for why riders like them. Cover the ground quickly, very comfortable, sane, strong. Can’t beat that rack for covering ground and rider comfort

[jeano]

Bwa haha. Welcome to the Dark Side of the Horse. Be very careful around racking horses, they are like crack cocaine for some of us.

I have Sadie to the point now where she will trot some under saddle, which is good for her back so I encourage it. It feels really odd to be posting while I ride her, but even her “hard” trot is pretty soft and smooth.

I went on a daylong trail ride once (back before I came over to the dark side) with a bunch of gaited horses ( I was on an Appy) and there was one speed racker in the bunch. Everybody encouraged his owner to show off when we were ON the paved road for a couple of miles. He was riding that horse in a Lane Fox like he was in the showring. When he let him go into the speedrack my mare was GALLOPING and not keeping up with that horse.

[Q.H.D.Q]

[QUOTE=jeano;4853041]
Saves a ton of weight, too, esp with a leather saddle. I just dont have the oomph anymore–back in my late 30s early 40s I could swing a 45 lb roping saddle up on a horse no problem. Nowadays I think one of my arms would fall off if I tried.

Depending on how wide the slot is on your western tree, you might feel like you end up with too much front to back wiggle room for those leathers. Then again, that wiggle room could add to comfort. The english stirrups could look pretty odd but endurance stirrups wont, and of course they come with narrow necks, or you can cut down the bolts on the metal ones and squeeze 'em down to fit better on narrow leathers.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Jeano!

[system]

The most comfortable saddle I’ve ever sat in (makes other trail riders laugh until they try it) is my Isabel Worth dressage saddle - it’s like sitting on a comfy chair and I can ride in it all day - and I’m an achy old arthritic woman, too!

[pnalley]

Well Exie4me???

Have you tried any saddles yet? Picked one out?

[jeano]

[QUOTE=shira5665;4895358]
The most comfortable saddle I’ve ever sat in (makes other trail riders laugh until they try it) is my Isabel Worth dressage saddle - it’s like sitting on a comfy chair and I can ride in it all day - and I’m an achy old arthritic woman, too![/QUOTE]

I think the Isabel looks comfy, but I make do with a wintec 500 dressage and a wintec 2000 AP for trail riding. With some additional foam tucked under my sheepskin seat saver, depending on which horse I’m riding.