Steele Saddles...

[Shermy]

I need a saddle for a horse that has very little withers, as stated in previous thread.

This one caught my eye, plus I like how they determine fitting and have a decent return policy if it doesn’t fit.

I trail ride, so need comfort for long rides. Would get a demo to make sure if was comfortable, before I ordered one.

http://steelesaddle.com/product/steele-outlaw/

Any thoughts? Seems like Steele are well built.

Would a Cedar tree be as good as a normal one? Makes it lighter, so is an upgrade. Considering it.

[Stushica]

I have a friend with This one??

She had it custom built so it’s not an exact match but she has had nothing but great things to say about it and anytime I’ve groomed him he hasn’t been sore before or after a ride.

A friend did point out to her that the under side panels seemed a bit hard, and I agreed, however she uses a good pad and her horse sure doesn’t seem to mind. Honestly when I give it some more thought I’m not sure they’re any more firm than other western saddles, they just lack the fleece that make’s us think “squishy”.

She did upgrade to the Cedar tree for weight as well.

[Flash44]

I had a Rocking R Mounted Shooting Saddle which has a Steele tree, and the saddle was a poor fit on my wide shouldered mutton withered qh. Had to sell it and got a Circle Y with the flex 2 tree.

[GotMyPony]

My husband had a Steele and he loved it but I found the seat very uncomfortably hard. On my witherless QH mare I used a Tucker saddle and it was very comfortable for me and her; she used the wide tree.

The Steele seat is not padded, while the Tuckers have a Gel padded seat; some people like one/hate the other, and vice versa. They are both good quality, around the same prices, and have lots of rings for saddle bags, sponges, etc.

Here’s a link to the Tucker catalog. They also have a trial program so I’d recommend you look at or try both a Steele and the Tucker to see which suits your horse and your butt the best. http://www.tuckersaddlery.com Click on the “view our catalog” link to see all their Western and Endurance saddle styles.

[SuckerForHorses]

I’m not sure if Steele Saddles are the same thing as Steele Tree Co?

If they are, the Steele trees tend to have quite a bit of rock (if you’re looking at the regular ones, not mule or gaited trees).

[QUOTE=Flash44;7742413]
I had a Rocking R Mounted Shooting Saddle which has a Steele tree, and the saddle was a poor fit on my wide shouldered mutton withered qh. Had to sell it and got a Circle Y with the flex 2 tree.[/QUOTE]

[Shermy]

[QUOTE=GotMyPony;7742666]
My husband had a Steele and he loved it but I found the seat very uncomfortably hard. On my witherless QH mare I used a Tucker saddle and it was very comfortable for me and her; she used the wide tree.

The Steele seat is not padded, while the Tuckers have a Gel padded seat; some people like one/hate the other, and vice versa. They are both good quality, around the same prices, and have lots of rings for saddle bags, sponges, etc.

Here’s a link to the Tucker catalog. They also have a trial program so I’d recommend you look at or try both a Steele and the Tucker to see which suits your horse and your butt the best. http://www.tuckersaddlery.com Click on the “view our catalog” link to see all their Western and Endurance saddle styles.[/QUOTE]

I love my Tucker! I have a WIDE, which is the biggest they make in my model. My horse is 5 yrs, 3 mos old, so still will prob get wider, so I think even if I would change to an extra wide, different model, I may be in this situation again, down the road. May be anyways, but if I got something custom, it may hold longer.

Steele has a few options, one being a padded seat, would go that way.

I just have to get the right time to tell my hubby I need yet another saddle. This horse has already gone thru two last year. When I first got my saddle, I hauled him, he was a Medium, so what I ordered, then about 5 mos later, he outgrew that, I got the same saddle in a WIDE, had to pay a restock, no huge deal, but my hubby isn’t horsey.

Needless to say, I am NOT looking forward to that conversation, but I guess is part of getting a young horse (my first).

I found a custom saddle that I can use that fits him, BUT I would hate for it to show extra wear, since it isn’t mine. So, I still wanna get a saddle that fits, in case caught in rain, or something.

I have heard good things about Steele and like their fitting process and their loaner program.

Saddle shopping is really overwhelming, I just hate it!