Saddle for casual trail rider on TB and a budget

[Penthilisea]

Hi all,
I’m trying to sort out what type of saddle to purchase for my TB and I. I’ve been having fun taking himk out on little trrail walks but I feel nervous when he shies. I’ve gotten on horses i’ve never met and gone for miles- no problems- I just want something a little deeper then my AP saddle for my security. I don’t have a lot of spare cash, and don’t really care about aesthetics. I want my horse to be comfortable (normal TB conformation- no shark withers but not mutton withered either. ) and to feel secure.

I’ve heard Aussie, Wintec, Western, Barrel etc and I am confused. I am not planning to go anywhere strenuous or fast, or for more then a n hour or so.

So- fit and price are my #1 concerns I guess. Any suggestions for someone trying to transition into a trail rider?

[MBRA518]

Originally posted by 42 Spots:
Lucky you. These are supposed to be really nice pads that go for $200+. They come with a lifetime guarantee. Even the used ones on Ebay go for around $150+. Do a search on the forums and read the positive opinions.

Thanks for that - I never thought of searching the forums (I know duh LOL) I found lots of positive feed back - looks like it may even help my sore back on a long ride issues… can’t wait to get out and go for a long ride and test it out.

[ArabianDreams]

Originally posted by eclipsefarm:
I trail ride the TB’s and one Arab I have in Wintec 500 dressage saddles. They are without CAIR. For me, they’ve been worth their price and much more. There are no worries with the synthetic about scraping it up or splashing in the water. I’ve had good luck with them fitting a shark withered TB to a mutton withered Arab. I spend hours in those saddles and stay comfortable. The only modification is using fleece covers over the stirrup straps. However, I have been the outcast with most everyone riding western. Those people seem to wonder how I could be comfortable or secure in a dressage saddle, but that’s what works for me. I have a Circle Y but don’t like to use it on sticky trails because I feel too locked in. Likewise, I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable using it on a spooky horse.

I also love the Wintecs.
I use a Wintec Western (Synthetic) for trails and Endurance. It is considerably cheap.
My dad has an Australian Stock Saddle, and I LOVE it. ( He does too ) It is an amazing saddle, though slightly more expensive.

[Bogie]

I bought an abetta western saddle for my husband to trail ride in. It’s comfy, secure and not too much $$$. I think we paid $260 new. I like their endurance saddle (no horn) but it’s slightly more.

[Pocket_Pony]

I ride Miles in my Thorowgood Griffin dressage saddle. It is synthetic so will hold up to weather and bushwacking and whatnot. Amazingly, it is my cheapest saddle and Miles loves it the best. They make different types of models for different types of horses - broadback, TB, regular.

[spookhorse]

I’m so sorry to hear about your friend but I must say, this kind of thing can happen with any kind of saddle… people have gotten hung up in english saddles too.

Aussies are very personal saddles for the rider, you must get them to fit you or you will be cramped and have a hard time bailing. My boyfriend got bucked off the Standie mare the other day and had no prob getting out of the saddle He’s ok and she’s ok. I have never had a problem getting out of my saddle to bail and I have had a horse fall under me as well…

Also, a hint about Aussies, if you are putting one on your horse for the first time- free lunge or otherwise let the horse get used to it without a rider first. Aussies feel different on a horse’s back, they sit off the spine so some horses don’t know what to do about it at first. But I’ve never met a horse that didn’t like it once they figured it out

But anyways, when you are trying a new saddle, it really would be better to do it in an arena or other riding area and not near roads or things you can get hung up on. I realize that not everyone has an arena, etc, but do try to have common sense about where you’re working. Any horse with any new saddle can take offense at the new sensations they create!

[Penthilisea]

I am in looooove with the Paragon Ritequest saddles. I even bought a few more at ebay prices (75-125) to resell locally since it’s so hard to find a hornless large comfy trail saddle around here!

[Simbalism]

I still use my Pessoa A/o for trail riding. I must admit though that a deeper seat would be more secure when going up and down steep hills. This past June while on a horse camping trip, a friend let me try her Tucker Plantaion style saddle. It was great!!! So comfortable and it seemed to fit my Tb mare well. However, my budget just has not been large enough to buy one. I was going to suggest an aussie endurance style saddle no horn. Most styles of aussie saddles come with or without horn.

[shakeytails]

What about this one? http://www.nationalbridle.com/Shopping/product.asp?cata…ory_name=1-14&page=1 …Granada Paragon in case the link doesn’t work. I’m considering buying one for Mr. Shakeytails for Christmas. He barely knows how to ride but doesn’t like the feel of a western saddle. Maybe he’s picked that up from me as I feel much more secure my cut-back (saddle seat) saddle than any western saddle, but he really does need more security than my saddle offers! This one looks pretty comfy and inexpensive as well.

[AngelCat]

Cool! Glad you finally found something! Let us know how you like it.

[Lou_Maguire]

Being an Aussie, I’d like to sound a word of warning. I love my Aussie stock saddles and ride miles after cattle in the mountains in them. If they keep you in like a previous poster said, I think then fit is not right. HOWEVER…there are lots of cheap imitiations out there. The previously mentioned brands are. They are NOT made in Australia.Note that it staes they are an Aussie saddle, but doesn’t say where they are made.This really pees me off.
They are generally made in India out of crappy Indian leather. I have never heard of the brands mentioned, and having a practiced eye, can pick a ring in a mile off. And we do not use teak trees.
Some of these saddles might be OK for a while, depending on what you are doing, but if they disappoint you, don’t blame the fact that they are an Aussie saddle.
A REAL Aussie stock saddle will last you for years and years.My husband has one that is 30 years old, has had many river duckings, and is still going strong.
IMHO, you are better off getting a good second hand Aussie saddle then a cheap new one. I’m happy to help with brands if anyone wants it.

[spookhorse]

I went with an Aussie 7 years ago and never looked back! Just bought another one off eBay for use on the new mare

My old one is from the Australian Stock Saddle Company and the newer one is from Toowoomba. I got each of them used, paid $300 for the first and $355 for the second. I lucked out and got stirrups, leathers, girths, overgirths, and breastcollars with both of them for those prices!

I have fit the older one on many different horses. You can move the stuffing around (you do for normal maintenance anyhow) to fit backs and withers better if you change horses or they gain or lose weight. Aussies are great for people and horses with bad backs and if you get the proper fit for you and your horse you will be way more comfy than in any other saddle! I knew as soon as I sat in my first one that it was perfect for me

As for horses I’ve fit with the one saddle: 16.3hh slb sided TB, 15.3hh average TB, 12.2hh Welsh type pony, 14hh rounded TWH (think big pony). Also fits my new 15.3hh pacer standie mare with little work. Soon as the new saddle comes I will work on them to figger out who gets what saddle and make adjustments if need be. Belle (TWH) is very round and gets fat so has little wither, Sam (standie) is round too, but has more wither.

[Penthilisea]

Hmm. Looked at it in person and I don’t love it.
I think I may trade it for a different saddle.
Oh well, the search goes on.

[Penthilisea]

Ok- I already have a fairly deepish wintec AP saddle- I want something with a high cantle, no horn, but a serious pommel. Synthetic too. I’v been looking on ebay at the trekkers and such but I have a very small budget. Where’s a good source for used (as long as the tree isn’t twisted and it has a billets I’m happy) saddles like this?

We’ve been doing a lot of outside work for the past month, both in hand and under saddle - I just don’t feel BRAVE in the saddle- my thighs start to shake and he knows I’m nervous and his head goes up and he starts finding things to get snorty about.

Things he’s seen a trillion times before, things we looked at in hand yesterday with no issue, things he’s been ridden past by a different rider before even!

I guess I’ll never get away from dressage- I need to have relaxed draping thighs. Sigh.

[ELL]

I adore my Bates Caprilli all purpose. Though I’m not a saddle guru, it has the deepest seat of any all purpose saddle I tried. I found it very much like the dressage seatwise, without giving up my beloved knee rolls. And the changable gullets are wonderful! I’ve been in mine for 3 years now. I also have the wintec version–#500 I think (for rainy days) it’s seat is almost as deep but not nearly as cushy.

[nightsong]

Whatever fits your HORSE best. Western and australian saddles are built for a very different body type from the average Thoroughbred, I would go for a saddle built for a discipline that is MOSTLY thoroughbreds (like jumping, close contact).

[horsephoto]

I had a used Crosby dressage saddle on my last horse, a very high withered, narrow appendix qh. It was very secure, extremely comfy, and I even went over small jumps in it. It was great for trail riding and if I remember correctly, it was $300-400.

[spookhorse]

Actually, the normal “average” aussie fits high withered horses… My older aussie fit my 2 high withered skinney TB geldings the best, and I used it on a 3rd similar built TB gelding. I had to push the stuffing around a bit to get a good fit on my little low withered and chubby TWH mare that I use it on now. It would not fit my fat TB mare without alot of work. My new (used) aussie off eBay fits my Standie mare nicely, she has a good wither and shoulder.

[AngelCat]

Awesome! Let us know how it rides…

[Teeberry01]

I’m a big fan of Fabtron’s leather/ cordura trail saddles. Was even able to find a great fit for a large Appy that is biult more like a TB. They can usually be ordered thru a tack shop for way below retail, and they do have some hornless endurance styles.