I am looking to get a fairly inexpensive but lightweight western/trail saddle… I had a friend tell me to stay away from Cordura because of the rigging and stirrups not feeling like they are in the “right place.”
Can anyone attest to that? What is the ‘correct’ rigging location that I should be looking for?
I’m considering Abetta, Wintec, and this Fabtron would be really nice if I could get it more affordably: http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/lady-trail.html
(I spent the big $ on a treeless, but sometimes miss the horn and ease of the western cinch in the winter!)
I like some of them, lightweight, easy to clean, and the fenders are supple, not like a leather western where the stiff fenders can make your knees and ankles hurt. I don’t care for the Abetta, and the Wintec western is pretty dreadful, but the Fabtron and Big Horns can be quite nice. My favorite has been the Big Horn for fit and longevity, just plan on buying a fleece seatsaver or some sort of tush cush, they can have hard seats. Crest Ridge makes a super nice cordura saddle too
Big Horns are very nice. They are well built and last a long time. The come in many types of trees. As far the stirrup fenders, you can move them more forward or more backward to suit you better.
I have a Big Horn with a Walking horse flex tree. My Fiance has a Big Horn with a Gaited horse flex tree. And my Niece has a big Horn with a full QH regular tree. All of them are different, but all of them are well made.
Mine and my Fiance’s have a super padded seats. No need for a seat saver. Even my Niece’s is padded enough for her. We tend to do 10-20 miles on a ride. None of us have been sore from the saddle.
I just tried out a friend’s Big Horn FQHB Flex Tree for a week…unfortunately, the seat was a little too big (16" and I need 15.5 or 15) and I couldn’t get the stirrups short enough for me 
It was a great and comfortable saddle tho! Just a bit more expensive than I can do too…
Im looking at getting a Wintec. I used to know somebody who owned theirs for 20 years, and they wont give it up…
The Wintecs are pretty good. I have a Wintec Wide AP, and a Wintec 500, and I’ve owned both for years, and they’re still in the same condition i bought them in.
i’ve tried several synthetic saddles in the last few weeks and really like the big horn, waiting for an after christmas sale or something to get it
[QUOTE=yellow-horse;3755033]
i’ve tried several synthetic saddles in the last few weeks and really like the big horn, waiting for an after christmas sale or something to get it[/QUOTE]
that would be nice!
Mandalea: I like the english wintecs, just not the western–very plasticy, stiff and just yucky
I have yet to see a synthetic Western saddle that was worth a d*mn. They do not sit correctly on the horse. The skirts are flimsy, allowing the tree to poke the horse. The stirrups are hung too far forward, and the seat puts the rider’s butt too far back. Impossible to get in balance with the horse.
There may be good ones around, but I haven’t seen them. You couldn’t give me a synthetic Western. Spring for a decent leather Western saddle. Better resale value, anyway.
[QUOTE=mandalea;3754994]
Im looking at getting a Wintec. I used to know somebody who owned theirs for 20 years, and they wont give it up…
The Wintecs are pretty good. I have a Wintec Wide AP, and a Wintec 500, and I’ve owned both for years, and they’re still in the same condition i bought them in.[/QUOTE]
Don’t know the model…but I would NOT get a regular Wintec western…cost around 240. or so. It will hurt your horses back!! I’ve got one that I’m tempted to throw out as I would never pass it on to anyone!
Thanks…I’ll pass on the Wintec for sure!
Looks like I’ll just have to keep watching on ebay for good deals!
No big Big Horn saddles?
[QUOTE=yellow-horse;3755033]
i’ve tried several synthetic saddles in the last few weeks and really like the big horn, waiting for an after christmas sale or something to get it[/QUOTE]
I just saw this on a website…I guess I missed this news!
"We regret to inform our customers that on October 24th Big Horn closed their doors. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, we hope you will be able to find what you are looking for with one of our many other great products "
Big Horn was bought out by American Saddlery. I talked to a Big Horn rep two weeks ago at a big saddle sale at a tack shop. I was worried about our warrenties. He assured me that Big Horn will stay the same. All warrienties are honored. He said the two companies are just a half a mile from each other in TN. Chattanooga I think? I’m not sure exactly what city he said.
He said it was a good move on both of their parts.
I sure was relieved!
Stay away from wintec western- years ago they were well made, comfortable, and fit horses. Now days, they are plasticy, hard as a rock, and have yet to fit any horse I have tired. The english ones are much nicer than the western.
I have an old abetta endurance that has been a decent saddle throughout the years, somewhat comfortable, fits most horses that are on the narrower side, and has held up very well. The only thing I don’t like about synthetics is that the blevins buckle hits me right in the knee through the cordura fender, which is why I’m switching to leather.
Could it be due to the riggin?g?
[QUOTE=Beasmom;3755807]
… The stirrups are hung too far forward, and the seat puts the rider’s butt too far back. Impossible to get in balance with the horse. QUOTE]
Is it the rigging position that can mess with the stirrups, or does that just depend from saddle to saddle? The main difference I have noticed is 7/8 rigging on the corduras and full double rigging several big horn and fabtron models.
Very nice cordura saddles at Montana Mountain Horse. They have a try the saddle tree first program, which was very helpful and reasonable. Very helpful folks. We got a very nice cordura & leather saddle from her.
[QUOTE=paintedtrails;3757689]
[QUOTE=Beasmom;3755807]… The stirrups are hung too far forward, and the seat puts the rider’s butt too far back. Impossible to get in balance with the horse. QUOTE]
Is it the rigging position that can mess with the stirrups, or does that just depend from saddle to saddle? The main difference I have noticed is 7/8 rigging on the corduras and full double rigging several big horn and fabtron models.[/QUOTE]
Has nothing to do with rigging position. It has everything to do with a crap tree covered with crap materials, with little thought given to the comfort of horse OR rider. Synthetic saddles, IMO, are for tourists, weekend riders and first-time horse owners. Once you get serious about riding, a well-made, well designed saddle is imperative. I’ve ridden Wintec dressage saddles that I liked, but they’re about the only synthetics I can stand. The engineering is good on them. I can’t say the same for the cordura Western saddles I’ve seen.
I prefer 3/4 rigging on my stock saddles. I might feel differently if I roped – most roping saddles are full rigged, maybe 7/8. For the horse’s comfort, 3/4 is preferable. It sets the girth back in the girth channel, reducing the chance of cinch sores. JMHO.
I am generally not a synthetic person but have heard good things about Big Horn, mixed about the Abetta, and bad about the western Wintecs. A couple of fellow boarders have had a Big Horn and a Wintec. The person with the Big Horn is very loyal to it and it seems to fit her horse well. She’s done endurance with it for years. The person with the Wintec often was sore, as was their horse. Looking at the tree, it looked quite narrow… even for a semi.
Agree with Beasmom on the trees.
Ok, just checking on the riggng thought.
My biggest reason for going synthetic is the weight…I just can’t lift a 30lb saddle onto a 15.3 horse with bad shoulders. I’m also wanting a flex tree, as I have actually tried one on my horse and know that it fits him well.
I’ve had good luck with my Fabtron. The only things I messed with was to swap out the cordura fenders for english leathers. As with a lot of western saddles on the market (and I’ve sat in 2-8K ones with the same problem, so it’s not just because it’s a cheap synthetic), the stirrups were hung farther forward than I would like. It’s easy enough to swap out the fenders.
