Another vote for a dressage saddle in your situation. I’ve ridden both western & english, mostly for pleasure/trail riding. I like both, but really like the dressage saddle because of its secure seat, closer contact, and no horn. Right now, I’m riding a Wintec Pro synthetic dressage saddle (with wool flocking, rather than CAIR) that fits me & my horse nicely. The quality is among the best of the synthetic saddles. I’ve ridden my used one hard for about a year and it’s holding up fine. The trees in these saddles tend to fit medium to narrow horses best and have the interchangeable gullets. See if you can find one to try on trial.
Well I got my saddle. It fits my horse perfectly. Though the back seems a little low… but then I’m used to a barrel saddle and it hurts my back, so maybe this is a good thing. I just took it for a quick spin there last night (too dark/icy to ride far) so I’ll hopefully get out for a long ride this weekend.
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 second the Abetta endurance. Synthetic, secure seat, easy fit.
Another vote for Aussies and downunderweb!
Hannah
Oh yes- speaking of dressage… I have had dressage riders ride in my Aussie and liked it very much. Felt familiar to them but with increased safety. It’s really hard to fall out of an Aussie, LOL. You have to do it on purpose!
For the life of me I can’t imagine anyone having a hard time bailing out of an Australian stock saddle.
You’re certainly more secure in a stocky than any other saddle but dismounting is not difficult in the least.
The poley pads shouldn’t make the slightest difference to your ability to ditch yourself - it’s not as if you want to launch yourself over his head.
Most of our horses are Thoroughbred and the stock saddle suits them fine. It was actually developed around “Walers” a famous Australian equine export which were mainly Thoroughbred based.
The Australan saddle originated in rough working conditions where there was a lot of waste timber lying around. In the early days cattle were grazed in ringbarked forests and fallen trees were a common hazard. Stockmen needed a saddle which would keep them secure in the event that they needed to make a sudden or unexpected leap at speed.
The stocky enabled them to do it. Even the police forces eventually adopted it because fugitives from the law riding in stock saddles had a huge advantage in that they could gallop off downhill and over obstacles in a fashion the troopers could only dream about.
So the Australian saddle was sired by the Thoroughbred and and mothered by the environment.
