Thinking about getting a western saddle but... Pics added post 29

[mvp]

You have horses named Red and Poco and no western saddle? How is that possible?

A used western saddle is a great investment, IMO. Those bad boys will outlast an English saddle by decades.

In general, subtract one inch from the seat size you like in an English saddle to get your size in a Western saddle.

Otherwise, the discipline the saddle was built for will dictate the shape of the seat and placement of the stirrup bars. FYI, roping saddles will be Heavy.

Then look around for info on the approximate measurements of a semi-QH, QH and Full QH bars; through Arabian tree in there as well. Those widths are usually measured at the conchos in front that hold the skirt of the saddle to the tree, just below the swells. Western saddle makers have a richer vocabulary for the curves included in a tree. There is also a wider margin of error for fit in a Western saddle. I think you can be safe in choosing a tree that looks wide enough for your horses.

I like the show saddles made in the 1980s and 1990s. They are deep, well-balanced buckets. They are also pretty and no one cut costs on leather, silver or sheepskin as saddle makers do now. My MacPherson (an old, Los Angeles, CA maker) lets me ride as I would in a dressage saddle. In addition to a MacPherson, I’d buy an old Blue Ribbon, Broken Horn (still made in Baldwin Park, CA), or Circle Y.

[Kitari]

If it helps Red’s full name is Annabella Red (Pro: AnnaBeya Red Or how it reads if your lazy lol)

[drawstraws]

If you’ll just be trail riding, you could think about getting what’s categorized as a “work saddle” or “trainer’s saddle”. They ride more like a western pleasure saddle but don’t have all the silver - a lot of them are rough-out leather instead of smooth. The seat will be more comfortable over a long ride than, say, a flat reining saddle. Two other brands to look at are Kathy’s (I have one of their work saddles and love it!) or an RS Trainers (www.rssaddlery.com). Lower price than some of the other brands but good quality and I’ve never heard anything say anything bad about them or their customer service. They’re hard to find used though, apparently once you have one you don’t get rid of them.

[cllane1]

Kit, there’s a 15" Billy Cook for sale in the Bulletin Board this week for $500 (no idea if that’s a good price or not). Bet they’d let you try it. Condition looked good in the photo.

[Kitari]

Bah, it does look nice but the timing is horrible!:lol: I’m waiting til the holidays are over. I didnt even bother checking the BB on my scouting looks because most of what I see are usually “western saddle, comfy” or something along those lines with no pictures. Talk about my luck right?:lol:

[Hinderella]

When I bought my Western saddle on eBay, I looked at Circle Y and Billy Cook, but ended up with an old Simco. The leather was dry, but with a lot of Tanner’s oil started to look pretty good. It is too wide for my pony, I would say it’s full quarter horse bars. But I use a nice thick Cashel pad underneath a regular wool woven saddle blanket, and it fits well and she’s comfortable.
I enjoy using it for trail rides, for days when I just want to play around, and on days when it’s raining It’s also nice to have around for those days when you’re giving pony rides to someone’s kids, they feel safer in the Western saddle with something to hold on to, even at a walk.

[cllane1]

@Kitari;6021708

Bah, it does look nice but the timing is horrible!:lol: I’m waiting til the holidays are over. Talk about my luck right?:lol:

I know the feeling, trust me!

[vtdobes]

I bought this saddle last spring for my Morgan mare after it was recommended by a western saddle fitter. She is so much happier in this than the old narrow one I had…I really felt bad since it was obvious that the new one was so much more comfortable for her!

http://www.reinsman.co/catalog/store.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=1319552020&PNAME=4132-+Comfort+Fit+Trail

I do plan to show her with this also in some of our local open shows. Pretty comfy too

[Kitari]

Ok, on  and no pad to show the fit, also took a picture of the gullet measurement. Pics aren’t the best and the ponies are hairy, but it should help. Thoughts?

Poco (Forgot the rear shot but it looked like springs)
right
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152328.jpg)
left
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152243.jpg)
left
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152314.jpg)
right
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152321.jpg)
top
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152257.jpg)

Red
left
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152023.jpg)
right
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152056.jpg)
left
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152041.jpg)
top
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152049.jpg)
rear
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152103.jpg)

Spring
left
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15151755.jpg)
right
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15151825.jpg)
right
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15151817.jpg)
top
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15151810.jpg)
back
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15151833.jpg)

ETA forgot the measurment photo
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-15152729.jpg)

[Beverley]

Actually, better to have saddle on w/o pad to check fit.

I may have forgotten the question- the side to side measurement of 8 inches or so looks ok- but on all three horses I might have concern over clearance of the gullet- hard to tell for sure with the hair:) but- when you are sitting in the saddle you want to be able to get at least two fingers vertically between withers and center of gullet under the horn.

So if it were me, I’d be looking for a semi qh fit, with a taller gullet.

Don’t know that this helps, but here is my 15 inch seat saddle on my 16h appendix quarter horse w/shark fin withers:

https://picasaweb.google.com/100310658467918237790/LukeSaddleAugust2010#5586225873373304018

This was a custom saddle but this saddlemaker does his own trees and guarantees them to fit everything or he’ll take the saddle back whenever (astonishingly, it fits both this guy and my 14 h mare with lower withers pretty much the same way). But I would basically call it what is sold as a ‘semi qh’ tree.

[sirbeastmom]

I know they’re on the lower end, but I rode in a Corriente barrel saddle and really liked it. It was my wrangling saddle, and I stayed comfy in it eight hours a day, six days a week, for four months.

That said, western aficionados roll their eyes when I mention it.

I ride in a McCall now, which is $$$, but so loverly. My western peeps consider it very respectable.

I also like Colorado Saddlery saddles. They’re mid-range and built to last. At least the older ones are.

[OveroHunter]

Corrientes are very inexpensive compared to other saddles, but I have had mine for years and the quality is great. It fits most stock horses very well and never rubs, even after long rides. It is also extremely comforatable. You have the oil the every living crap out of it when you buy it new, but that was the only downside to it. It is made by the same people in Mexico who now make Billy Cooks. There are definitely nicer saddles out there, but for the price, it is a great deal.

[Foxtrot_s]

Where are western saddles made - are some made offshore?

[Kitari]

 the only thing is it was old (plus IMO) the fleece on the bottom was in good condition, but the leather was DRY dry dry. no major cracking on the saddle itself, the off billit looks like it needs replacing, the cinch strap it needs one. I did take a picture of a potential problem spot that I’m not sure of for you guys to edumacate me on. Its priced at $350 for the saddle, the saddle blanket, and the stand it was on. I didnt have my measuring tape on me but eye balling it it looked to be 15.5-16" and it looks narrower than my abetta.

Unfortunately there really is no option for me to try this saddle and return it if it doesn’t fit. So if it leaves with me whether it fits or not, its mine. They said if they knew the owners they could let it leave providing I leave credit payment info, but they didn’t know the owner. Its really the only saddle I really liked, there was one other than seemed ok to me, I took pictures of it too.

[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17120842.jpg)
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17120851.jpg)
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17120909.jpg)
Problem spots
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17121651.jpg)
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17121107.jpg)

This was the other saddle. It was a 16"
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17122007.jpg)
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17122014.jpg)
[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/2011-12-17122040.jpg)

[Beverley]

My instinct just from looking at photos is, pass on both. First one, no, not worth $250 IMO- enough visible stuff I’d be worried about what you can’t see. Second one- not gonna fit in withers though the saddle itself is nice.

[ReSomething]

Pass also. When I had a shark fin horse I made a form out of a clothes hanger and you’d be amazed how many nice english saddles got passed on right now because the form went up into the gullet too much. We did the same thing for the pony because it was easier than asking sellers who knew nothing about bars etc… We made it out of heavy fence wire for the pony. We just placed it over his withers and bent it down to make the outline of his back. Of course it would have been better if you could buy adjustable dress maker’s dummies for horses but you can’t.

Beverly’s saddle is really nice looking, with what look to be real oxbow stirrups. Those are sort of an acquired taste, I think, but still the whole rig (and the horse!) look really nice, and well fitted if you know what I mean.