Please tell me this saddle looks nice :’( I’m having a moment lol

[HorsesAreCool]

Sooo some backstory: I rode jumpers for many years. Then switched to dressage and did that for a good while. And now I’m going to Western with my mare, specifically gearing up for some specific classes which will require me to have a ranch cutter saddle. Training is going really well! (Been using my trainers western saddle for now). We’ve mastered the rope gate, side pass over multiple connected poles, etc. She’s almost fully transitioned to neck reining as well!

Anyway, at this point it’s time for me to get my own western saddle. Had a fitter come out and my horse is definitely not your more common western build. She’s got a bit of a shark fin wither that’s skinny, but is also very wide in her shoulder lol. TLDR it ended up being very specific in getting her the right fit.

While I have been in the horse world for multiple decades at this point, it’s mainly been in English. In the English world I know the more liked brands, which saddles look lovely, etc. I know my way around effortlessly.

With western, I feel insecure and feel like I’m… idk cosplaying for some weird reason even though I ride very well (dressage prepped me tons thank god). I got very overwhelmed looking at the different trims of the saddle I specifically need due to the gullet size (it’s a specific line of Jeff Smith)

This is the only saddle that caught my eye and instantly fell in love with. My mare is 16.3h and solid black, and I feel like she will look lovely with this very dark brown leather. Plus she will be happy since it’ll fit!

But after I ordered it I just keep overthinking like it’s “too much” or too “ornate” or like I’m going to look like I’m trying too hard… I have no clue honestly how I’m feeling. Not sure why I’m feeling so insecure about this. It’s so different from the English saddles!

Can someone please just help me get out of this overthinking funk? With how much I just spent on this thing, I should be happy and excited! Instead I’m just worried about being judged. God I feel like a teenager again lol

[SinMiedo]

Although I only dabble in the Western world these days, I grew up in it and aside from possibly the purely subjective areas (Western pleasure, etc) most people don’t even notice your tack unless it’s extremely unconventional or visibly unsafe. Especially in working events, the focus is going to be on the horse. Your saddle is absolutely gorgeous and if it fits, it’s perfect.

[steelerino]

I’m a jumper so don’t know how much my opinion matters but I think this saddle is BEAUTIFUL

[Ghazzu]

@HorsesAreCool

I just keep overthinking like it’s “too much” or too “ornate” or like I’m going to look like I’m trying too hard…

Nah.
This is “ornate”

[HorsesAreCool]

Haha thank you for the laugh! It’s crazy what you get used to. Going from my plain dressage saddle and my jump saddle, the western one I got feels soooo craaazy and out there. Then I see silver plated ones or the one in your picture and I’m like okay… I think my view is just skewed

[Aces_N_Eights]

I could tell, without reading, it’s a Jeff Smith. Lol
Have you ridden in a Jeff Smith yet? I ride Jeff Smiths, and I get along with them well. But I’ve heard a lot of women disliking them because they are wide. Something to consider before buying.

Anyhow, pretty saddle. I think it’ll look nice on your horse.

[f0rf31t]

I grew up riding western but not in the show world so I don’t know if my opinion would count for much, either, from a show standpoint but I think esp. the more ranch oriented disciplines my understanding is folks don’t care thaaaat much what your stuff looks like/what brand it is as long as it’s safe.

All that said: I love the color. I like a good dark brown over lighter brown any day. (I don’t mind a nice reddish brown either, the one and only English bridle I own that is currently stashed away b/c I don’t have horses at this stage of life but can’t quite bring myself to sell my old gear, was a cheap Henri De Rivel bridle I brought as a college student with not a ton of disposable income and it’s a color called Oakbark, think it’s darkened up some over the years but was a nice reddish brown when new. Never really liked that really light orange-y brown some western stuff comes in, gives me flashbacks to an almost brand new leather halter some folks at the barn made me borrow when I got senior photo type pics done w/my horse as a teenager. He was a 16.3 chestnut OTTB so that orange-y color looked bad on him IMO.)

Also - it doesn’t look all that ornate to me for western tack. I don’t see any rhinestones or silver, quit overthinking and enjoy!

[glitterless]

I find that dark oils look better on my grey, so that’s what I buy despite light oils being more popular. I’m sure this saddle will be gorgeous on your dark mare. Enjoy!

[Djones]

it’s pretty, you’re fine. Can you sit in it before you buy it? If it’s too wide for you it will kill you to ride in it, you just can’t change your anatomy to suit it. My husband cannot STAND to ride in either of my hardseat saddles, it just hits him all wrong.

[Bluey]

Generally women’s western saddles tend to be narrower by building up the front to the swells.
Mens seats are more minimally raised, extremes of that found in the Buster Welch cutting saddles.

That seat is more flat and wider, but as others have mentioned, some women do prefer that kind of seat too.
As for slick or padded seats, I had a horse buck me sky high once and on landing broke my tailbone and did some damage to the glutes on one side, so my behind just feels better on padded seats.
I also like a bit more natural sheepskin, with longer and thicker wool, unless the picture is not really coming thru as what is there.
I do like the nice subdued silver design of the conchos, very pretty.

Other than personal preferences, if it fits you and your horse, that is a very nice saddle and since you already like the saddle so much and it makes you smile, why not?

[Paint_Party]

I ride in Martin’s. The one I use most is a ranch cutter and I would have never thought I’d like it, or find it comfortable, because it is wider and flatter than my all-around show saddle that I loved.

So much depends on personal preference and anatomy (especially in the “Inverness” region).

I think this particular saddle looks nice. It isn’t foo-foo or over the top. Although in my dreams I’m riding a prancing palomino in that fancy saddle @Ghazzu posted.

[Montanas_Girl]

Jeff Smith saddles are very, very nice and hold their value well. It’s a little darker oil than what is fashionable right now, but no one in the working western world pays much attention to fashion, so if you love it, be happy!

[Ghazzu]

@Paint_Party

Although in my dreams I’m riding a prancing palomino in that fancy saddle @Ghazzu posted.

Many years ago, I had a client with a palomino ASB that she rode in parade classes.
It was gorgeous tack, but hella hard to keep polished.

[Christa_P]

That saddle looks very nice and not too fancy. Personally, I prefer the hard seats, every padded seat western saddle I’ve ridden in (not a huge number) has dug into my thigh right at the edge of the padding, YMMV. This is my current western saddle, I find it very comfortable, even on long rides, and it fits my TBs.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what brand it is. I bought a cheap, old western saddle on Ebay and the tree fit my horses, but the leather was not salvageable, so I found an Amish saddlemaker and had it rebuilt to my specs over 20 years ago.

[beowulf]

Pfft. Have you seen what barrel racers wear? No such thing as too ornate. It’s gorgeous. Enjoy your saddle.

[bugsynskeeter1]

You’re fine. Go enjoy your saddle. I see saddles similar at almost every show I’m at (NRCHA). Jeff’s saddle have good resale or trade in value. If you feel bonita and it fits your horses - that’s all that matters.

[FjordBCRF]

Ours is black and has similar tooling!! I have the matching fenders too. Yours is lovely