Thoughts on this saddle

[Draftmare]

I am feeling a bit torn on this saddle…

Its my friend’s McLelland’s reining saddle. It seems to fit my mare well, but I am not so sure I am in love with it for me. The seat doesn’t really “hold me” like I am use to western saddles doing, and the seat is super duper slippery. So slippery that when I went to get on the first time I just about ended up sliding off the other side. :eek:

Here is what it looks like on her:

without pad from the side

without pad from the front

After our ride girthed up with pad:

from the side

from the front

Does it at least look good on her? Any suggestions for a super slippery seat?

[js]

I think it looks okay but you need a thicker pad or another one on top of that one. It isn’t unusual for western saddles to have 2 pads underneath or a very thick one. You could try some saddle tight spray on the seat to help you stick better.

[rememberthenight]

It looks like full rigging is going to interfere with her elbow in the picture before your ride, but the afternisnt so bad. . An elbow relief girth will help slightly but I think you should look for 7/8 rigging. This saddle does need a better saddle pad than what you put on her, and a sheepskin seat cer can fix the slickness. But you would get used to it eventually. It looks like a nice saddle, but I am afraid about her elbows.

[Bluey]

Reining saddles come in different kinds because not everyone likes to ride the same way.
Many tend to be best a bit larger than you need and slick, so you can move in them as you need, for little adjustments.

In reining, you are not stuck in there in one spot only and that is harder to get used to for those that want to be stuck inside a saddle.
The trainer I started learning reining explained that and that he has English riders take right off correctly because they are not so set in trying to stay in one single spot, like many western riders try to do.
Now, for working cowhorse, you may use a little deeper seat, that will help you stay in the saddle better in the wild turns on cattle on the fence.

My ranch saddle is a 14 1/2" seat, the reining one is 16" and both feel right for the intended purpose.

I agree that the saddle in the pictures seem to need at least a larger pad, that one looks almost too small.
If that saddle doesn’t feel right to you, try another type, there are all kinds of reining saddles out there.

A good reining trainer can look at you and have an idea of what kind of saddle should fit your built, your leg and bottom best.

[2enduraceriders]

How about a picture of you sitting in it? It looks like a fairly big saddle. If it is too big for you it will not matter how it fits the horse you will be unbalanced and will end up making her back sore.

[Draftmare]

Saddle pad and girth are both much too small, I was just jury-rigging things together to try the saddle. My plans are to do western dressage and trail riding in this saddle, and maybe get a little confidence boost after a year full of falls off of my green bean while riding in my english saddles. She is a draft cross so we won’t be doing any reining. Maybe some open shows.

I like the saddle, but I don’t know if I love the saddle. Going to try it again today. I am use to more equitation type western saddles and of course my dressage saddle with it’s super deep seat. Do I really need a thicker pad? I already kind of felt like I was sitting a mile up off her back.

[js]

Yes you do need a thicker pad, I would be afraid it will make your horse sore if you don’t use one. You will get used to how it feels, it will just take some time.

[Beverley]

If you aren’t ‘in love’ with the seat, trust your instincts. Nothing wrong with a suede seat. If I were doing WD I’d probably go with a reining saddle as my preference, if I had to get a new saddle. (In actuality I’d probably just make do with my current ranch saddle.)

[Draftmare]

I don’t know enough about western saddles…what makes a reining saddle a reining saddle? Is it just the flatter seat? I have owned three western saddles throughout the years but they were all western pleasure show saddles.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=2enduraceriders;7962566]
How about a picture of you sitting in it? It looks like a fairly big saddle. If it is too big for you it will not matter how it fits the horse you will be unbalanced and will end up making her back sore.[/QUOTE]

It’s a 16 inch seat. I have a couple of pics I will try to upload in the morning. I am normally a 16 inch in everything I have sat in. I rode in this saddle again today and felt much more comfortable and secure after changing my stirrup length.

[Beverley]

Difference between saddle types includes the slope of seat and cantle, cantle height, range of motion of the stirrups and how they hang, width of the seat, and such. Reining, pleasure, trail, cutting, roping, barrel, all a little different. Hard to describe, easier to feel, even if you are looking to buy used, just to go a tack shop and sit in different types and see what you think.

[Draftmare]

Is a reining going to put me in better alignment and a better spot than other types?

[Beverley]

Well, it does for me, for that purpose, but it really is a matter of personal preference. For comparison, you might also want to sit in a barrel saddle.

[craz4crtrs]

I had a reining saddle for many years. Harder seat and slick. Fit a lot of horses. Just not my mare. You may want to look at an all around, sturdier tree. Have you ridden in a partial rough out saddle? I have had several and will never go back to a slick seat. The right barrel saddle or ladies all around you may be very pleased with. Lots of used Billy Cook models around. Your mare may be drafty but she is short backed. An all round or barrel saddle may fit her shoulders and behind her elbows. Lighter weight and shorter skirts.

Also, the right saddle that fits your horse, a 3/4 wool felt pad should be all you need for a pad. 1/2 inch with a nice blanket on top would be nice too. If you go to a thicker pad, no more than a one inch. If you have to shim or put special pads on, the saddle doesn’t fit your horse.

[Draftmare]

This saddle is going back to my friend. I like it, but I don’t love it. If money is going to be spent I want to love it. This saddle does have rough out jockeys and fenders, they just need to be roughed up again. My neighbor has a Stallions Tack saddle that fits us both amazing and puts me in really good alignment as well as gives me the secure feeling I want. I just wish Stallions Tack wasn’t such junk.

[js]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;7964230]
This saddle is going back to my friend. I like it, but I don’t love it. If money is going to be spent I want to love it. This saddle does have rough out jockeys and fenders, they just need to be roughed up again. My neighbor has a Stallions Tack saddle that fits us both amazing and puts me in really good alignment as well as gives me the secure feeling I want. I just wish Stallions Tack wasn’t such junk.[/QUOTE]

I don’t normally advocate buying junk tack but if the Stallions Tack fits you both exceptionally well; as long it’s safe and won’t fall apart while you are riding it and doesn’t have a crooked tree or nails sticking out, why not get one? They are cheap, not a huge investment that might serve you and your horse for a little while at least.

[Draftmare]

If I could find one locally that I could really poke and prod to make sure that it is sound I would maybe consider it. The reviews of them online are pretty bad as far as them holding up over the long run.

[Flash44]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;7964230]
This saddle is going back to my friend. I like it, but I don’t love it. If money is going to be spent I want to love it. This saddle does have rough out jockeys and fenders, they just need to be roughed up again. My neighbor has a Stallions Tack saddle that fits us both amazing and puts me in really good alignment as well as gives me the secure feeling I want. I just wish Stallions Tack wasn’t such junk.[/QUOTE]

U r wise. Good luck, the saddle hunt can be frustrating and expensive.