Speak to me about saddles..

[RubySlippers]

I have ridden western off and on for years but mainly stayed with english disciplines but now that I mostly just trail ride and ride for fun I would like to think about buying another western saddle. In the past I had a saddle that was a no name but decent saddle and I knew nothing about it other than it fit myself and the horse.

I now have a rescued TWH who is still gaining topline muscle but had a pretty wide barrel but her withers are still pretty high. She is still gaining muscle so that may change.

Biggest question is what is the difference between full QH bars and semi? Which would best fit a horse with a wide barrel but high withers?

Also which brands tend to be lighter? I don’t want to put 30 pounds or more saddle weight plus me on her back. I may go synthetic but if I can find an inexpensive leather saddle I would be fine with that. I just want to find something she is comfortable in.

[mestle]

Hi,

Full QH bars are generally wider than semi BUT there is no standardization in sizing so there will be variance from one brand/style, etc. to another. Your best bet is to try a few that you can borrow or have a saddlemaker look at you horse and maybe give you some recommendations. You can use pads to some degree to help with one that is a little wide as long as it doesn’t rest on the withers but one that is too narrow will not work at all.

[Hermein]

I bought this leather Fabtron*:https://www.valleyvet.com/group_images/32306_A.jpg

It weighs about 22 pounds. It’s sort of like the Australian saddles in that the bars are covered and padded. Very comfortable for me & the horses I’ve had it on.

However, it’s not a saddle you’re going to use to work cattle or other heavy duty stuff.

It also may be a little too plain for showing, but another thing I like about it is that you’re not going to go crazy cleaning all the tooling and silver.

*Fabtron usually makes synthetic saddles.

[RubySlippers]

Not looking to show so a trail saddle is fine. I will probably buy used to keep the cost down.

I’m actually able to borrow an Abetta and can probably get my hands on a Kimberly Synthetic Aussie saddle. I’ve had Aussie saddles that I loved.

I have an English Wintec that I love but never had a Western. Are they decent quality? What about other synthetic brands?

[cloudy18]

Wintec Westerns are junk. Not like the English ones as far as quality. Stick to brands like Abetta, Big Horn, Fabtron, I’m sure there are more.

[Hermein]

Check out Craigs List and eBay. Zillions of used saddles, but often, the sellers don’t have a clue about sizing. Make them take some measurements of the seats, the space below what English riders call the pommel. Also, there seem to be many consignment saddles you find at feed stores, etc.

[Dani]

[QUOTE=cloudy18;8900971]
Wintec Westerns are junk. Not like the English ones as far as quality. Stick to brands like Abetta, Big Horn, Fabtron, I’m sure there are more.[/QUOTE]

I disagree. I’ve had a Wintec that was far better than any Abetta I’ve ever used or seen. Abetta saddles, from my experience, are better off in the garbage than on a horse.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

No experience with Wintec, but I agree Abettas are cheaply made and uncomfortable.

I have a Fabtron that I love because the stirrups are placed correctly. In fact, this is my second Fabtron. The first didn’t wear out, it just didn’t fit my new horse. I would advise a ralide tree, though, not the flex tree.

Also no experience with Big Horn. A couple of friends have the Circle Y synthetic saddles and I find they put me in a chair seat.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=RubySlippers;8900577]

Biggest question is what is the difference between full QH bars and semi? Which would best fit a horse with a wide barrel but high withers? [/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, there is no standard in the western industry.

One brand may call their tree a full QH but it may fit like another brand’s semi QH. You can “kind of” compare saddles based on the type of tree (full vs semi) … but not really.

Unfortunately it’s just a ton of trial-and-error. There are so many other factors that go into a saddle (gullet width, rock, twist, flare, etc) that you can’t simply rely on full vs semi.

Here’s a couple websites to educate yourself more:
http://saddlemakers.org/id193.htm
http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/tree-and-saddle-fitting/factors-that-affect-tree-fit/

If a horse is wider, you may want to start your search for full QH bars.

[QUOTE=RubySlippers;8900577]

Also which brands tend to be lighter? I don’t want to put 30 pounds or more saddle weight plus me on her back. I may go synthetic but if I can find an inexpensive leather saddle I would be fine with that. [/QUOTE]

If you want a lighter saddle for a horse with high withers, a barrel racing saddle may actually do well for you. Typically, they tend to have a lot of wither clearance (although there are exceptions).

Yes, of course the most important thing(s) is that it fits your horse and fits you.

[wireweiners]

[QUOTE=pAin’t_Misbehavin’;8901594]
No experience with Wintec, but I agree Abettas are cheaply made and uncomfortable.

I have a Fabtron that I love because the stirrups are placed correctly. In fact, this is my second Fabtron. The first didn’t wear out, it just didn’t fit my new horse. I would advise a ralide tree, though, not the flex tree.

Also no experience with Big Horn. A couple of friends have the Circle Y synthetic saddles and I find they put me in a chair seat.[/QUOTE]

Why do you prefer the ralide tree over the flex tree? I’m getting myself a new saddle for Christmas and I’ve narrowed it down to a fabtron lady trail, a big horn or a circle y.

[Bluey]

Here is a saddler’s opinion of some flex trees:

http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/checking-out-a-flex-tree/

Interesting what he has to say about them.

[fordtraktor]

I have a medium tree wintec Aussie saddle I need to rehome. It is in fantastic condition but I haven’t ridden it in 6 years, and rarely before that, so it is probably time. Pm me if interested. It doesn’t have the adjustable tree but fit my wide appendix with withers great. I also have a circle Y show saddle with QH bars from my childhood, and I don’t think it does withers particularly well. Fit my QHs great but they had low to medium withers at best.

My mom had an abetta, it was horrible. she sold it and got a wintec Aussie. It just felt bad to ride in…huge twist and didn’t fit the horses well at all. Huge tendency to slide.

[Dani]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8904044]
Here is a saddler’s opinion of some flex trees:

http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/checking-out-a-flex-tree/

Interesting what he has to say about them.[/QUOTE]

This is what the saddle maker I just ordered a saddle from said too. I was suspect of this and asked when I saw one in his shop.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

[QUOTE=wireweiners;8904031]
Why do you prefer the ralide tree over the flex tree? I’m getting myself a new saddle for Christmas and I’ve narrowed it down to a fabtron lady trail, a big horn or a circle y.[/QUOTE]

I had a Fabtron Lady Trail for a year or so, with a flex tree. When I started, it fit fine and I loved it! But over the year, it stopped fitting so well. The horse developed hollows behind his shoulder that I had to shim. He’s a light grey so I don’t know if he also developed white hairs.

And the darn thing always rolled when I tried to mount, no matter how tight I snugged the girth. One time I did it up so tight Conjure nearly fainted (seriously) and it still wasn’t stable.

Also over the year the seat became hard as iron, which it wasn’t to start with.

I still like Fabtron, and I understand you can order the Lady Trail with a ralide tree now. But I went for this model because Solano, the horse I bought this saddle for, needs semiQHB and the Lady Trail only comes in FQHB.

When I get around to ordering Conjure another saddle, I might go for this one here..

[QUOTE=Bluey;8904044]Here is a saddler’s opinion of some flex trees:

http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/checking-out-a-flex-tree/

Interesting what he has to say about them.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that link, Bluey. Very informative!:yes:

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Bluey;8904044]
Here is a saddler’s opinion of some flex trees:

http://www.rodnikkel.com/content/saddle-tree-blog-from-shop-and-desk/checking-out-a-flex-tree/

Interesting what he has to say about them.[/QUOTE]

I do agree that the type of tree and quality needs to be taken into consideration; but of course, also realize that not all flex trees are the same.

I happen to have the Circle Y Flex2 tree in my saddle and I love it so far. Truthfully can’t tell any difference between it and a traditional wood tree. Fits my horses great.

Of course, I don’t consider the Flex2 a “true” flex tree. Maybe a combination tree?
https://youtu.be/SBuiOj7L3wE

[RubySlippers]

I did ride in an Abetta that I would have liked had it fit me. I couldn’t reach the stirrups even on the shortest hole and it wasn’t my saddle so I couldn’t cut new holes.

I’m not sure if a flex tree would be the best long term choice but might.be good starting out. She is still moving a little hollow through the back so I’m trying to correct that as well.

I’ve got an Aussie I think I might try this week and they offered another western saddle I could try out too. I have some options which is good.

[Noviento]

National Bridle Shop sells western saddles made for Tennessee Walking Horses. http://www.nationalbridle.com/tennessean_saddles
The Horse Saddle Shop has a selection of gaited horse saddes.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/gaited-horse-saddles.html#.WA6cNjKZPGI

[Luseride]

I love my Dakota barrel saddle for trail riding. It fits more horses than not, weighs about 17 pounds and is almost twenty years old and we use it almost every day. For the price I can not beat the quality for the price.

We have used it on TWH, MFT, SSH, and a Paso Fino with good fit and comfort for the horse.

[RubySlippers]

Something like this is tempting because it is still similar to Aussie which I love but western cinch and styling. It isn’t as light as I would really want but wouldn’t be terrible as I’m not a heavy rider.

http://www.horse.com/item/australian-outrider-outback-saddle/AKA09/

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

I don’t know. I am really not a fan of Australian saddles, so can’t offer an opinion on that one. Everyone I’ve ever sat in put me in a chair seat.