Synthetic saddle question and about retailer...

[goneriding24]

I’ve been looking at synthetics because I have to be able to lift the thing onto a horse’s back. Due to my injuries from the car wreck, I need a lightweight saddle. My son had an Abetta that was great but the prices have skyrocketed.

So I found one at saddleonline that looks the ticket but is a gaited tree. What is a gaited tree? Wider, narrower, what?? Would that fit my Mr. Leo, a half Aye-rab. This place has a money back guarantee, too. http://www.saddleonline.com/Western-Saddles-Synthetic-Saddles/c2_27/p5758/15-18-Gaited-Western-Synthetic-Horse-Saddle-Tack/product_info.html

I’m a little wigged I’m into the Billy Cook stuff but they are too heavy and the prices are too up there. I need something to saddle Mr. Leo, to keep him familiar with being saddled but lightweight so I can handle it. As an aside, given some time, we think Mr. Leo’s back is improving with time off and MSM. Nothing else has worked but somehow things are going well.

Anywho, if you don’t want to post here, shoot me a pm and let me know what you think or if there is a better spot to look. :yes:

[GallopingGrape]

saddleonline is all cheap india made crap… go with a reputable dealer, and find name brands. Abetta, Fabtron, etc. You can get great deals used… good luck to you, let me know if you need any help!

[goneriding24]

Thank you. I’ve been checking out the name brands just now. Where could I find some good used ones?? Ebay?? I’m so out of the loop on this stuff. I don’t want to spend a lot of money, I may not even get on Mr. Leo for the next year, just need something to keep saddling him.

[Leather]

Good thread on “gaited” saddles.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum//showthread.php?t=172636

Agree with GallopingGrape–buy a brand name synthetic rather than the one you posted.

[SouthernTrailsGA]

no, no, no … imported junk…

Stay with a Bighorn, Abetta, Fabtron, Southern Trails or even one of the new Circle Y Synthetics are reasonably priced.

A Gaited Saddle generally comes in two sizes, not all manufactures carry both sizes, but there is Medium and Wide from many, some brands only offer one size in a Gaited Tree, this is a shame because all Gaited Horse are not the same.

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[SherlocksPonies]

Due to health issues I also cannot lift most western saddles …so, I went with the synthetic Big Horn trail saddle…here’s a link so you can see good pictures:

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/big-horn-synthetic-saddle.html

Obviously there are other Big Horn types and sizes there as well and you can look at them and the pix and the specs on them to see if something else suits you better. That site also has wonderful fitting information and great folks to help you with all your questions. (No, I don’t work for them! I’ve just bought two saddles from them!). You can find Big Horn saddle deals on several sites, and I’m sure you can even find them used as well.

I certainly can attest to being able to now lift it without serious problems AND it is a realllly comfy saddle for both me AND my new horse! Can’t say enough good things about it.

So, don’t give up! It’s not like having a great brand of leather saddle, of course, but at least you can lift it!:yes:

[quarterhorse4me]

I hate the weight of my cutting saddle but quite frankly all those synthetic saddles feel like crap when you are in them. They fit so poorly and lack substance, I worry that I am going to slip off with them. I would rather spend the money and at least get a used Circle Y flex tree or something with a fiberglass tree if I had to compromise on weight. To me there is no compromise I will hoist my 30 plus pound saddle up for as long as I can.

[Huntertwo]

I love my synthetic Abetta Endurance saddle. I’ve owned Fabtron, Tex Tan, Original Bob Marshall Treeless and still went back to my Abetta.

Far from feeling like “crap” riding in it and it fits my mare.

[Huntertwo]

@quarterhorse4me;6378139

I hate the weight of my cutting saddle but quite frankly all those synthetic saddles feel like crap when you are in them. They fit so poorly and lack substance, I worry that I am going to slip off with them.

That’s a pretty generalized statement. Have you tried EVERY synthetic brand ever made?

I’ve tried a Wintec and yes, it felt like crap and fit even worse. But there are some good synthetics out there.

[quarterhorse4me]

I’ve tried a Wintec and yes, it felt like crap and fit even worse. But there are some good synthetics out there.[/QUOTE]

I have a Wintec and I have tried the Abetta. My girlfriend sucked it up and went with the Circle Y after trying the same two. We use them for riding the beach here so as not to ruin our good saddles. I think it is great that many people like them and I understand the weight issue; they just aren’t right for me.

For a couple of years I went with a flex tree saddle because they a lighter but I like a good old wooden tree saddle.

[SouthernTrailsGA]

[QUOTE=quarterhorse4me;6378139]
I hate the weight of my cutting saddle but quite frankly all those synthetic saddles feel like crap when you are in them. They fit so poorly and lack substance, I worry that I am going to slip off with them. I would rather spend the money and at least get a used Circle Y flex tree or something with a fiberglass tree if I had to compromise on weight. To me there is no compromise I will hoist my 30 plus pound saddle up for as long as I can.[/QUOTE]

I have heard this before and do not understand it, A Synthetic Saddle made my an American Company will use a Tree made by Ralide or Steele Brand and will Fit the same as an All Leather Saddle on the Horse. For the most part they fit the rider basically same as many all Leather Counter parts from the same Company.

The use of Synthetic Skirting verses Leather has no affect on how the Saddle will fit the Horse or Rider.

You did mention Wintec, they are not American Made and have cheap trees in them, thus maybe your problem with Synthetics.

Of course not everyone like all Brands of Synthetics, many people feel Abetta are not comfortable and Fabtron are great, then other feel Fabtron are not comfortable and Abettas are great… to be fair the same can be said about any brand of all Leather Saddle.

Bighorn has many models, not all of then fit the same to each person, same way with Abetta, some have Fluffy Seats,. some standard, I talked to one person who said the old fashioned thinner seats were may more comfortable then the fluffy memory foam seats.

To say all Synthetics fit poorly and make the rider feel lie crap is a Total Injustice…

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[goneriding24]

Kevin, I lurve your saddles!!

Another poster sent me an pm about his/her arabian saddle and it’s so close to what I’m looking for! Just too small a seat for moi. I like Abetta’s and they did fit me well those years ago. I’ve not sat in one since and with my aging body, I don’t know if they would fit me now.

Today I’m trekking into town and checking some local tack stores.

Also, I know this may not be a popular idea, but, with Mr. Leo’s back problems, which seem to be improving, I’m wondering if a treeless saddle would work for the saddling session, but not for my riding. I’m too heavy for treeless, if I understand right. But for saddling it might be a good idea?? Right now, I only want to saddle him, let him stand around saddled or even do in-hand trail classes (on my property) just to remind him he’s a well broke horse, he better not forget that!! I was thinking the ‘softness’ of the treeless wouldn’t bother his (hopefully) recovering back?? Thoughts?? Eventually, I’d have to buy a ‘real’ saddle anyway.

We’ll see what I find in town… Thanks for all replies!!

[qhwpmare]

Love my Fabtron Lady flex tree saddle. Part leather, light and comfy.

[SaddleOnline]

Goneriding24- Thank you for considering us!

We design all of our products in-house, and then yes, they are custom made for us overseas in India, but unlike other “brands” our saddles are a high end import. You wouldn’t know they were an import if we didn’t tell you

We stand behind our saddles, and we do have a money back guarantee if you get the saddle and it just wasn’t what you were looking for, or if it doesn’t fit your horse.

For what you are planning on using the saddle for, I think a lightweight, inexpensive synthetic saddle sounds perfect! The saddle you were looking at has a gaited tree, with a 6 3/4" gullet. If you would like, you can fax us a wither tracing/ back measurements and we would me more than happy to let you know if that saddle would work for him, or help you find one that will.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions

Best of luck in your search, and we wish your horse’s back a speedy recovery!

[aktill]

If the saddle in the original link has a hollow or all-fiberglass tree, don’t even consider it.
http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=13861

I struggle to see how an entire saddle can be made overseas for less than the price of a cheap tree here.

This is where I’d go for a budget but quality synthetic:
http://www.aboutthehorse.com/secure-web/html/deals.html

[SouthernTrailsGA]

[QUOTE=aktill;6379592]
If the saddle in the original link has a hollow or all-fiberglass tree, don’t even consider it.
http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=13861

I struggle to see how an entire saddle can be made overseas for less than the price of a cheap tree here.

This is where I’d go for a budget but quality synthetic:
http://www.aboutthehorse.com/secure-web/html/deals.html[/QUOTE]

Here is a pic of a Fiberglass Tree from India, notice the cracks that I circled, also notice the flaky looking paper at a few various point around the edges of the bars? that is their version of Rawhide covered trees…lol…

http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/8b85f08214d3fd3ae91f5f15c6b4356f.jpg

This Tree came from a saddle ridden in only a few times. a saddle from another vendor that is not in this thread, but the are actually one of the largest and most famous Importers of Saddles into the US… I will not mention the name unless sent a PM, sorry

How can they make Saddle so cheap? The trees are hollow fiberglass, not the high quality Fiberglass that we cover out trees with either, weight of the tree is less than half of an American made tree, if it is a leather Saddle, the leather comes from Water Buffalo taken from the Ganges River behind the shops of most all the Manufactures, the manufactures are in Kanpur India. I will not even go into how and with what they use to tan the leather… then of course the going rate is about 5-10 dollars a day for the workers. That is why many Import Saddles have a lot of hand tooling and wild colors, which looks fancy.

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[SouthernTrailsGA]

[QUOTE=goneriding24;6378844]
Kevin, I lurve your saddles!!

Another poster sent me an pm about his/her arabian saddle and it’s so close to what I’m looking for! Just too small a seat for moi. I like Abetta’s and they did fit me well those years ago. I’ve not sat in one since and with my aging body, I don’t know if they would fit me now.

Today I’m trekking into town and checking some local tack stores.

Also, I know this may not be a popular idea, but, with Mr. Leo’s back problems, which seem to be improving, I’m wondering if a treeless saddle would work for the saddling session, but not for my riding. I’m too heavy for treeless, if I understand right. But for saddling it might be a good idea?? Right now, I only want to saddle him, let him stand around saddled or even do in-hand trail classes (on my property) just to remind him he’s a well broke horse, he better not forget that!! I was thinking the ‘softness’ of the treeless wouldn’t bother his (hopefully) recovering back?? Thoughts?? Eventually, I’d have to buy a ‘real’ saddle anyway.

We’ll see what I find in town… Thanks for all replies!![/QUOTE]

Thanks GR24,

Sorry about your accident and Mr. Leo’s back.

Actually with the correct padding and a good brand of Treeless, I do not know anyone is too heavy for a treeless saddle, have several people i know that ride in them.
Problem with treeless a good brand is going to be very expensive, even a good brand used might run 500.00

If you are looking for something just to work him out and not ride about any saddle that fits his back would suffice, even a 75.00 totally ragged out used saddle.

Have you tried Ebay, Craigslist or some other online used saddle sights, here is one I can think of off-hand http://mysaddletrader.com/SearchForSaddles.aspx or http://www.usedsaddles.com/search.htm?cat=r8jkm9dv

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[newhorsemommy]

[QUOTE=qhwpmare;6378906]
Love my Fabtron Lady flex tree saddle. Part leather, light and comfy.:)[/QUOTE]

Same here! I have the regular tree, but I LOVE this saddle! And my gelding is “kind of” gaited. He’s a STB cross, so he does a slow pace. With a gaited horse, you need to make sure that there is enough clearance that the horse’s shoulders can move freely (actually, this is probably true of saddle fitting in general). The Fabtron FQHB fits my gelding well.

[goneriding24]

[QUOTE=SouthernTrailsGA;6379834]
Thanks GR24,

Sorry about your accident and Mr. Leo’s back.

Actually with the correct padding and a good brand of Treeless, I do not know anyone is too heavy for a treeless saddle, have several people i know that ride in them.
Problem with treeless a good brand is going to be very expensive, even a good brand used might run 500.00

If you are looking for something just to work him out and not ride about any saddle that fits his back would suffice, even a 75.00 totally ragged out used saddle.

Have you tried Ebay, Craigslist or some other online used saddle sights, here is one I can think of off-hand http://mysaddletrader.com/SearchForSaddles.aspx or http://www.usedsaddles.com/search.htm?cat=r8jkm9dv

.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the links, Kevin.

Somewhere I thought I read that heavier riders had problems with a treeless. Mounting was the main thing, I believe. I’d have to look it up and reread.

Like you’re thinking/saying, I’m thinking a cheap treeless (there are some on Ebay) just for saddling him and keeping Mr. Leo in the loop. At any rate, it will be a long time before he can be ridden but he sure seems a lot better after I started him on the MSM/glucosamine…incredibly better.

I went by some tack stores today and didn’t really find anything. Seemed to be almost the same as online but with higher prices.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice!! :yes:

[Riding_is_fundamental]

We have a gaited western saddle, and I think it is different in that it is smaller- doesnt affect the shoulder as much and smaller skirt so it doesnt interfere with the motion of the horse. It is lighter than other western saddles I have seen. (just from my limited experience). I wouldnt think it would affect a non-gaited horse in a negative manner (but I am certainly not an expert).

Have you considered looking at endurance saddles? They are lighter like an english saddle, but more comfortable and roomy. I ride english, my husband rides western. I love the weight of my saddle vs his. Especially lugging it to and from the trailer - lol.

Also look at the options on stirrups - they seem to vary greatly in weight.

Good luck! And hope your riding again soon!