I’m a former h/j/ and dressage rider, now riding western pleasure/formation/western dressage-want my own saddle. Definitely under 1K, all leather. What to look at and what to stay away from. I only ride once a week, for about 1.5 hours, on a tall, not quarter horse size horse. Thanks!
Can you post pictures of your horse?
What type of English saddle fits your horse?
High withers? Mutton back?
Really, really hard to give you any direction with the information you have provided.
Not my horse-I’m horseless, but taking western lessons, on a variety of horses, the one I ride most is half TB. Tall and long.
Doesn’t the stable where you take lessons have saddles? I’m not sure it’s worth it for you to get your own at this point. And it’s not necessarily going to be easy to find one that fits multiple horses.
If you do not own or at least lease a horse, I would not advise you to buy your own saddle. Especially if you are riding several different horses, I guarantee whatever saddle you buy (especially for under $1,000) is not going to fit them all.
If you are taking lessons, you are usually going to be using the trainer/barn/horse’s own saddle that fits said horse. That’s what I would suggest – use the saddle you are being provided with for the lesson.
