Reining saddle for trails?

[paulaedwina]

In the Hunter forum there’s a “diamond in the rough” thread. In it is a picture of a horse with an intriguing (to me) saddle. It looks like a Western saddle, but it has considerably less bulk. For the lack of a better description, it looks like the Western version of a close contact saddle! I asked the poster and s/he said it is a reining saddle.

So I did a bit of research and the reining saddle apparently does fit very close, has a deep seat, but not an exceptionally high cantle or horn. I read a description here http://www.horsetrainingvideos.com/article3.htm mind you I know nothing about Western saddles or the value of this article.

I am intrigued. I bought and tried an Australian stock saddle (no horn) specifically for trail riding and competitive trail riding. I sat in it once and sold it. Coming from a dressage saddle that Aussie was just too much bulk. I did not like that I couldn’t feel my horse with my leg. So I’ve come to terms with using my dressage saddle (synthetic Wintec 500). However, climbing up and down steep embankments in and out of the farm pond has educated me on the value of polleys/swells and cantles. I’ve been whining that what I really want is my dressage saddle with polleys and a higher cantle.

Have I found it in a reining saddle? Does anybody have one? Can I get it without the giant stirrup leathers and the wooden type stirrups?

Paula

[oldpony66]

not sure, but interesting topic. what about those “western dressage” saddles that they are now marketing? perhaps they would have a more dressage-y feel to them?

[paulaedwina]

I had no idea that Western Dressage saddles existed. I googled and found http://saddledomain.com/Pam-Grace--The-Dance--1850-Western-Dressage-Saddle-by-Circle-Y--1850.html

What the heck is it? If I had my way it would be my Wintec with polleys and a cantle, no horn, no giant stirrup leathers, and no wooden stirrups.

Wintec has a stock saddle http://www.statelinetack.com/item/wintec-pro-stock-cs-saddle-black/SLT900625/ that comes close, but I can’t tell if it is a close fit. And I am not feeling the suede butt. Also I can’t see where the irons go. I’m intrigued by it.

Paula

[leilatigress]

UGH on the Western Dressage saddle. Looks like they put blocks on a barrel saddle.
I will swear by the Wintec stock saddle as it has been a god send for a fellow rider in the barn. She’s a western convert like me and loves her dressage saddle. Hated the dressage saddle for trail riding though and bought the Wintec and loves it. Her horse is a shark finned TB that was hell to fit.

Western saddles of any type are going to have more leather between you and the horse. Reining saddles are heavy and the high cantle will keep you in the seat. I’ve sat in a few Aussies and a few Endurance saddles and honestly I prefer the endurance saddles. I do adore the Wintec stock saddle and for the price it’s not bad. I would however highly recommend a trial before you buy as trying to sell one of those is difficult and you’re unlikely to have much of a market.

[oldpony66]

well the stirrups you could always change out, not a big deal.

and yes, where DO the stirrup leathers go on that wintec? I used the magnify feature and there’s just a little tiny crescent where I think they go, but it seems terribly high up.

Do any reining saddles have polleys? I would think that some of the newer dressage saddles with the giant knee blocks/rolls might be about the same thing, and they would have the deep seat.

[paulaedwina]

Reining saddles, as far as I can see have, have swells and horns. Leilatigress, there’s the question of the discussion -where do the stirrup leathers go on the Wintec stock? I think the knee blocks on a dressage saddle are too low to work like Polleys though.

I like how my Wintec 500 dressage saddle fits Fella so I guess if I can get the same thing with polleys and a cantle for trail riding I’d probably be happy. I have a hook up for a trial - the Original Horse Tack Company http://www.theoriginalhorsetackcompany.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y is in my area and that’s where I got the Wintec 500.

Now I just have to wait for a tax refund or something!

Paula

[coymackerel]

This page summarizes the different types of western saddles: http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/differences-between-saddles.html

And here are some reining saddles http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/reiningsaddles.html

[Petstorejunkie]

Paula, I trail ride in this I bought it new for about $900
I love it because I have a balanced seat in it, and it has a narrower twist.

[paulaedwina]

Oh my gosh those are beeeyooootiful! They are very heavy though aren’t they? The equiflex endurance is 27lbs for example. Why is that? The flex tree is good on your horse’s back? The spine is protected? Too bad the only saddle sizes they have are 16 and 17. I need a 17.5 at least.

Gorgeous!
Paula

[coymackerel]

27 pounds is on the lighter side for a western saddle. Also seat sizing is different than english saddles - you generally take a saddle 2 inches smaller in western, although as with all saddles this varies.

[paulaedwina]

So if my butt wears a 17.5 English it can wear a 17 Western?

Paula

[UrbanHennery]

If your butt wears a 17.5 English it can probably go in a 16 Western.

My saddle was the one you were referring to in the Hunter thread. It’s this model, although mine originally had a suede seat and is about 10 years old.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/classic-reiner.html

It really isn’t that much leather under you, compared to most/many Western saddles. That said, it does weigh 36 pounds so it’s not nearly as light as a dressage saddle.

I love mine, but I’m a Western girl and pretty happy to ride in anything with minimal skirting and less than 40 pounds. :lol:

[coymackerel]

This is the western saddle I have. Not a reining saddle but still considered close contact. Also I use an 18 inch dressage saddle and my Fabtron is a 16 inch.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/fabtron-ezrider-trail.html

[candysgirl]

Try looking at endurance saddles. They’re designed to be lightweight and good for trails.

That said, I do endurance in my little close contact Stubben Siegfried II that has zero padding or knee rolls or anything to it. Use whatever you want that fits you and your horse.

As for the reining saddle, you probably can’t find one without the big stirrups and fenders, but you can replace them with something else.

[PRS]

I ride in a Sensation Hybrid…Called a hybrid because it is a dressage style saddle with a western style pommel and a higher cantle. This saddle is hands down THE most comfortable, secure saddle I’ve ever ridden in. http://www.freedomtreeless.com/G3HT.html Sensation also makes a western model: http://www.freedomtreeless.com/G4WS.html Lots of endurance riders are moving to treeless saddles now that newer technologies and advanced designs has made them possible and I’ll bet my saddle doesn’t weigh much more than 10 pounds.

[paulaedwina]

Interesting all. UrbanHennery and Coymackerel your saddles look like that have a lot less business underneath your butt than the Aussie I tried.

I did look at endurance saddles, but the ones I saw had no polleys or swells, and a shallow seat. Was I looking in the wrong place?

PRS, how does your horse go with treeless? How is his spine protected?

Paula

[jadewolf]

Here’s the western saddle I’ve been using since the mid-90’s to trail ride in: http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f329/jadewolf420/images/horses/western.jpg

It’s a Big Horn leather / cordura saddle. Lightweight (about 15-18lbs, I’m guessing), not too bulky, and comfy to sit in. Mine’s a 15" with semi-QH bars (I typically ride a 16.5" or occasionally a 17" English saddle). It’s also fairly easy to clean up, too. The synthetic fenders & skirt are nice in that even after wading through pretty deep water there’s not much leather to ruin (unless you go deep enough to submerge the whole seat). It doesn’t get as much use these days (I’ve migrated into the eventing world), but I’ve tenaciously held on to it through the years because it’s just such a workhorse of a saddle.

I found mine locally at a place called Ruff’s Saddle Shop in Umatilla, FL near Ocala. But I’ve seen them for sale online: http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/big-horn-saddles.html I paid about $350 for mine new, but that was probably in 1995. Looks like they run more like $500 now.

[paulaedwina]

You guys are brilliant. I am feeling much more confident that I can find myself a close contact, secure (polleys/swells, and a high cantle), trail saddle.

BTW I went to the website you linked, dixie, and am realizing that I was not looking at the right kind of endurance saddles! There are endurance saddles on that website like Petstorejunkie’s.

For example this one http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/big-horn-endurance-saddle.html and it’s 18lbs!

Paula

[Hawkeye_horses]

If you go with a reiner, be sure the tree fits well. Some of the makers have had issues with twists in the trees.
My favorite reiner was one of the Bob’s models…expensive but worth it, if you can come up with the initial outlay, and they hold or increase their value, depending on what you initially pay.

[paulaedwina]

I think I like the ones that Petstorejunkie initially pointed out http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/bhendurance1.html as well as the Wintec stock http://www.statelinetack.com/item/wintec-pro-stock-cs-saddle-black/SLT900625/

I like the former because of the smooth seat (I don’t especially like suede butts), but I like the latter because it looks to have regular English style stirrup leathers and irons. These are the 2 styles I’ll focus on I think. Tell you what: I do not know the first thing about fitting Western style saddles. What are quarter horse bars for goodness sakes!?

Paula