synthetic western saddles

[Nezzy]

I want your opinions. I already know there are some crappy synthetic saddles and most people prefer a ‘real’ leather saddle. but hear me out.

I have 2 horses and i like for both to get worked. I have a nice 15.1 appy who most people can ride if they know the basics. I ride him in an english saddle on the trail, and many people prefer a western on the trail. SO, i want to invest in a spare saddle for him and for those who ride him. He is an average size, no problems with saddle fit. He has nice withers.

I decided to go with a larger seat, probably a 17 inch, bc some of my friends are heavier, even tho they are short. But i don’t know which brand i should get. The Abetta, which used to cost about $350, are now $800 for a 17 inch seat. I really prefer to spend under $400. BUT- i want it to fit him for the most part. I want a ROUND skirt. I can find this with Wintec, Abetta, King Series, and Big Horn. not sure of any other brands.

What is most important, tthat it fits the horse and does not cause him discomfort.

So please tell me your experiences with these brands and what you have discovered. Thanks!!

[paintedtrails]

I think I’ve seen more Abetta & Big Horn than the others you mentioned at endurance rides.
Personally I have only had and ridden in the the abetta for a short time (trial from a friend and it didn’t fit my horse).

[SendenHorse]

I have the new close contact Wintec, and it works for me It runs 350 new at Schneiders

[wireweiners]

I’ve been looking at synthetic saddles for a while as I’m looking for something lighter. I really like the looks of the Fabtron or the Big Horn. They are a combination leather and cordura. The Abettas look plasticy and cheap to me. I don’t think you’re going to find a new one for less than $400. The Horse Saddle Shop has the Big Horn for around $650 iirc.

[Nezzy]

i have an Abetta from about 1999. it is still a good saddle that fits most horses, but the seat is a 15" and i want a larger seat. The King Series has synthetics for cheap, but i have not heard anything about them.

[crosscreeksh]

My second Big Horn just arrived today. The first was burned up in our barn fire last year. I ride English, H/J, but like a western saddle on hand for hubby and an occasional visitor. I can’t lift a solid leather saddle on my big horses!! I’m told by folks in the know…that the Big Horn is the only synthetic with an actual tree. I know it fit my QH, paint and WB’s fine. I’m no expert, but most of the other look like junk!! I got mine off ebay for under $300 + shipping ($45).

[imaginique]

Circle Y has a few. I just saw an ad from horsesaddleshop.com that Circle Y and Tucker saddles are on sale until tonight. But they are in the $600 range on sale.

[Nezzy]

i can afford to go over $400, but i was hoping not to. I am not against looking into a more expensive option.

[BeckyS]

King Series is JUNK. I would not use it on a horse, particularly if your friends are heavier.

That being said, I have a lovely half cordura, half leather Big Horn trail saddle. SO comfy. My saddle is identical to this and I purchased it for $200 (used): http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-Big-Horn-187-Black-Purple-Aztec-Print-Saddle-Complete-Set-/391740596115?hash=item5b358f1f93:g:bg0AAOSw-RFYshA-

You can find 17" ones used on ebay, but it does take a bit of searching. I’ve found better prices on FB groups and CL than on ebay. Seems like everyone knows these saddles are awesome on ebay and bids them up!

[enjoytheride]

I have a big horn half leather half synthetic endurance saddle. They are hugely popular among endurance riders and they make nice saddles. Abetta would be second in line. King series is junk.

[Frith]

Hi Nezzy,
I have an older Big Horn 205 saddle and a newer (last year) Big Horn Haflinger saddle. I really like the older saddle I purchased new in about 2004. The newer Haflinger is basically the same saddle, but I don’t think it is made as well as the older one. For example, the stirrup length adjustment is limited for a short legged rider. I have (I think, I may have shrunk a bit in the past few years) a 29 inch inseam and the stirrup is set at the bottom of the fender with not much room to move up, if any. I am also on the heavier side. Also, the newer saddle seems somewhat off balance and has a tendency to shift to the right. That could be me or him. I am still searching for a correct saddle for myself and said Haflinger and I have stopped using it.

The older saddle does not fit him either, but in the past I rode my 15.1 Appy in it for miles of trails. He had more of a sport or ranch horse conformation than Quarter horse build, if that makes sense (shorter back). I love that I can hose it off, drop it, and scratch it and not feel too badly about it. It is not heavy to lift, which I appreciate at my age. If it fit my horse, I would definitely be using it. I think enough of my older Big Horn not to sell it, even though I don’t have a horse that it fits. You never know.

I do not have experience with any of the other brands you mentioned.

*I just returned from the barn. I checked the model number on my old saddle. It is indeed a 205 with a square skirt. I want to mention that both these saddles are 16 inch seats. I still can fit in the old 16 inch 205 model and the Haflinger is roomy enough at my height (5’ 2" and weight……….cricket noise…). The problem with the stirrup adjustment could become a factor if you go with 17 inch seat?

Rebecca

[Nezzy]

Thanks, i am short and so are many of my friends.

[candyappy]

@Nezzy

i have an Abetta from about 1999. it is still a good saddle that fits most horses, but the seat is a 15" and i want a larger seat. The King Series has synthetics for cheap, but i have not heard anything about them.

I heard a few horror stories about the King saddles. I would stay clear.

If you know what tree width your horse needs why not look at used Abetta’s on Ebay or similar sites? I have 2 of the endurance saddles and am pleased. One is probably 20 years old and going strong.

[Nezzy]

I just had a friend help me measure his back, he is an average size, but unfortunately, he has high withers. I had never noticed before, bc his Wintec has adjustable gullets, but with Western saddles he def needs a high wither. So i am not sure what i’ll do. Tack swap on Saturday and i can look around. If i can’t find anything with high withers, i’ll have to abort the idea, and just make my friends ride in the english saddle.

[wireweiners]

You could always use one of the saddle pads with shims for high withered horses.

[Malda]

I have a Big Horn synthetic suede saddle. It works for me and my horse. I have short legs so I was able to remove the fenders and put in English style leathers with endurance stirrups. I find that I stick better to the saddle with the suede.

[wireweiners]

You can put youth fenders on an adult size fabtron for us shorties.

[RPM]

I used to have a Big Horn that I loved. I have short legs too and the stirrups could not only could be shortened enough for me, but shortened even more for my niece. And they had regular buckles instead of those horrible Blevins buckles most leather western saddles have. The only reason I don’t still have that saddle is that I moved away from where the family horses were and I needed the money (and had no place to store the saddle). I prefer synthetic western saddles because they are so much lighter than the leather ones (and being short I don’t want to have to sling-and-thump a heavy saddle up onto the horse’s back). I also like being able to feel the horse the way you can in an English saddle, and I loved the cordura fenders (flexible rather than stiff). I tried a King synthetic a few times but the stirrups didn’t go really short enough for me and the fenders were very stiff and, being synthetic, they stayed that way, even when we did the broomstick-through-the stirrups thing to get a bend in them when on the saddle rack.

I bought this Big Horn in about 2006 and used it for 6 great years, on a Quarter Horse, a Paint, and a pinto, all very different conformations. I don’t know if it would fit a high-withered horse, and I don’t know what the new models are like, but I loved mine, after trying different ones.I bought mine because a friend had the same saddle for her TWH and let me try it several times, so I knew what i was getting.

I remember hearing the Abetta saddle being compared to cement – very hard! They also looked cheap, which the Big Horn did not.

[BeckyS]

I sent you a PM on a saddle I found for sale.