I have started to see a lot more synthetic saddles now adays. I remember not too many years ago there was a huge scare where people were saying their horses were being rubbed or pinched by these saddles.
Is this still true?
Was it ever true?
What brands are good and which or not?
I love my Abetta endurance saddle, even if the stirrups are a little too far forward. None of my horses have gotten a sore back from it, and I kind of have to use it on every horse I ride. I have two different saddle pads I put on depending on how high the horse’s withers are. I even used it on a pony I was training. I know it isn’t a good idea to use one saddle on a variety of horses, but this is the only saddle I can use (other than a western that definitely does NOT transfer to different back shapes well) that keeps my hip from causing me pain. I don’t have the $$$ to buy a different Abetta saddle for every horse I own.
Where can I look at the abetta’s with the custom trees? Does anyone know?
How do you like the A/P Wintec English saddles?
Also wondering how the feel for trail riding? Do they do okay for sitting for long periods?
Well, I am leaning toward a big horn synthetic or a circle y synthetic. My friends have both and really like them. I also hear that the abetta flex tree is a okay synthetic saddle also. If I didn’t get a synthetic I would probably get a leather flex-tree. It’s just that I was thinking synthetic because it was cheap, so if she out grew it I wouldn’t be too broke to buy another one. If I got a flex tree I was hoping it would solve the switching saddles through out her growing years thing. I guess we’ll see. I plan to take my horse to the tack shop and meet the saddle fitter there. That way we can throw tons of different saddles on her and see which ones fit best. I can also test ride as many as I want. That way I won’t be stuck with something that hurts my bum. 
What does everyone think of big horn saddles? I am mostly interested in the western synthetic type.
So if I was looking at a wintec with/without the cair system. Just wondering what the difference is? One better than the other?
I bought an Abetta for my husband to ride in and am very impressed by its comfort (for both rider & horse) and low price.
Patchwork, my Fabtrons are only a year and a half old. I really like them and expect they will hold up pretty well.
Originally posted by patchworkpony:
One more question! Do the endurance abetta saddles use regular western girths?
Yes - mine does - it’s the western style endurance with no horn.
I do find that I could use a longer one than with my other western saddles… the one I have fits - but it’s near the end of the billets… I plan on buying a new girth for it before I do a lot of riding in it.
I will be new to this sport this coming year. I am a dressage saddle person and find that this saddle is one of the favorites of endurance riders, light and the set back stirrup bars place your leg right for the endurance also. I have a western abetta and only use it if I have to, which I usually find a reason not to.
Originally posted by nettiemaria:
I will NEVER buy another synthetic saddle. Very uncomfortable, I’ve had two - don’t like them, don’t want them, they hurt my butt, fit awful - I think they are cheap junk. Just my opinion
What brand or brands did you have?
Patchworkpony, I have a nice Wintec that does not fit my gelding anymore (grew) They are alright saddles, definetly for the growing horses. They are comfy if they fit you and your horse. Mine is a 16 inch seat with a med/wide tree and I am tring to sell it for $100
Well, I was thinking of getting one because I may be buying a growing horse. She is pretty narrow now, but looks like she could fill OUT when she stops growing UP. I don’t want to buy an expensive saddle when it may not fit her very long. I just wanted to know if there was anything wrong with them. You know like pinching or rubbing?
I have two Fabtron saddles and I love them, and I generally don’t like the less expensive saddles. They are very well made and attractive.
The nice thing about Fabtron is they have “fit forms” that you can get from a dealer and put them on your horse’s back to see which tree fits your horse best. The forms are made from a hard plastic and are supposed to be the shape of the bars of the saddle tree. It’s a great fitting tool.
Yeah, I used to work at a tack shop and we had those plastic forms. I didn’t know which company they were from. Ahh…I might have to borrow them now. How did your fatrons hold up? The used ones that I have looked at were pretty beat up. Leads me to believe they wear out fast!
Originally posted by lv2hnt:
We have had both Abetta and Big horn saddles. I prefer the Big Horn. We have one western saddle that fits a variety of horses. Very comfy for the rider, too.
I have heard that people prefer the Big Horn western saddle to Abetta also. I think I prefer the look of the Big Horn too.
Sounds like they aren’t too expensive.
Sorry, dressagejunkie I don’t know what horse I’m getting yet or their whither size anyway, so can’t buy a saddle just yet.
Where did you get yours? On line? Etc?
I was planning to do have her fitted for tree size and then keep an eye out for one cheap at a tack swap or on line.
I have both Big Horn and Abetta synthetic saddles. I love both of them and they have held up well. Just be sure to find one in a tree that fits your horse. Both brands are available in different tree sizes, although I have found that neither comes in a tree wide enough for some horses.
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