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Trail Saddle and Security

Endurance and Trail Riding
#1

I’m 45 and got dumped this past weekend when a stupid Canadian Goose stepped into my horses path as we rounded a corner at the trot next to a lake. Freaked him out. He slammed on the brakes and spun left and I went right. I’m still sore. I was riding in my dressage saddle, which is a great saddle, but doesn’t offer much help in keeping me in the saddle for that kind of spook, spin and run. God it hurt, but other than a sore left hip and a huge bruise where he clipped my right thigh making his getaway, I’m okay.

I’ve been debating about getting a traditional western saddle, something light weight, to ride my greener horses in. I’ve been looking hard at the Tucker Saddles and have been gravitating towards the Equitation Endurance since it has English rigging and I wouldn’t have to buy new girths and pads, but I’m not sure how secure it will be, though certainly better than the dressage saddle. http://www.amazon.com/Tucker-Electronics-TUCKER-Equitation-Endurance/dp/B002KSMMG0

Any thoughts? Definitely go Western? With horn; without?

#2

I know all about those Canada geese flying up! I ride along a lake too and hate them. If they are on the ground we herd them away. At least my horse is used to the whole flock flying away, it is the rogue ones that get you!

That saddle looks mighty comfy, and I’d definitely get something without a horn for trail riding. However sometimes I think with a spook like that there is not much you can do (glad you are mostly OK!), and if your current saddle fits you both it is a better situation.

I ride my arab in a dressage saddle too (Solstice model, so dressage/trail style). I love the large knee blocks that have saved me on many spooks. I had an Abetta western that I thought was great, but when I switched to the Solstice I realized I’d never been truly secure in that Abetta saddle, my new one felt like such a difference.

Is there a trial saddle you could try out? It so much personal preference, and also a good trail ride, not just a ride in the arena, is the test…not that I want your horse to do a big spook! But maybe more circumstances to test it would arise.

Good luck! I hate saddle shopping.

#3

Thanks for the reply. My dressage saddle is an Albion Legend medium-wide tree and I love it. Seems to fit multiple horses with just padding adjustments. And you’re probably right, in that type of situation, I don’t know if a trail saddle would have kept me there any better, but I would hope with a bit more saddle/pommel in front of me, maybe it would? Trying to sort this out before I go down this path and spend a decent sum of money. Planning to buy used if I do.

#4

FWIW, I feel less secure in western saddles 'cause my leg isn’t on the horse as much.

#5

I just got a Tucker River Plantation which is similar to the Equitation, in fact I went back and forth trying to decide which one for months!
http://www.horseloverz.com/TUCKER-River-Plantation-Saddle-pr-224180.html
I’m 45 and feel so brittle anymore, even though I ride a 14.1 pony the ground is so far away. No joke, part of why I got the saddle is the security, I liked the higher cantle/pommel on this over the Equitation. I got the english stirrup leathers and I have no problem posting in it. I’ve come to deal with the western style rigging, I just use a square pad and I had to get one new girth, that was about $35. After the Tucker (even a used one), a $35 girth was not really an issue! I wouldn’t let girths and pads factor in to your decision!!!

Like you, before that I was riding in a dressage saddle, and before that an A/P english. This is heaven in comparison. The only thing with the River Plantation is it does put you a tad more into a western style seat (the “chair seat”) but I have enough wiggle room to adjust how I’m riding. For me, I’m actually more comfortable with a slight chair seat, helps my knees and ankles. My feet aren’t going numb like they used to. That’s just me though…

FWIW, for me the no-horn was a must. I don’t want to get hung up on a horn, and I don’t want to get hit in the gut with a horn going uphill. I have no practical use for a horn either. But that’s an individual thing… you think you’ll use it?

Glad you survived the Canadian Goose attack! Here I have to survive crazy mama grouse attacks which can be equally surprising, despite their smaller size!

#6

Glad you are OK. Here in Oregon we are famous for our ducks, but they always seem to suddenly fly up out of the water when I am crossing the creek on my spookiest arab. Saddle security is my top priority too. I have never been hurt in 10 years and 4000 miles of endurance riding adventures, and I use very secure saddles. The three I have now are: Arabian Saddle Company Solstice, Arabian Saddle Company Rubicon, and Frank Baines Enduro. All three are sticky buffalo leather with deep cushy seat and knee rolls.

#7

I have been through MANY, MANY saddles!

I will say from my experience that the Australian saddles with the deep seat and poleys are the MOST secure. Plus they are light weight and close to being “English” style.

IMO the Tucker you posted the link to doesn’t have a deep enough seat.

#8

I ride one of my horses with a Stonewall endurance saddle. It has a high cantle & pommel (no horn) and I got a seat perhaps a tad bit small. But it helps hold me in place without restricting me at all. That high cantle saved me once when horsie took an unscheduled leap forward followed by a spin to see what it was behind him that startled him. It was so fast & so forceful that I would have been off in a dressage saddle for sure.
Over the years, various western saddles have saved my rear from leaving the saddle when stuff has flown.
I second trying to find one to try out first. My Stonewall took a while to get used to and I did have a chance to try one first.

#9

I vote for no horn, since I’ve seen some scary moments when the rider got stuck on the horn, and some guys who had very unpleasant contacts with their horn.

I had a Fabron endurance that was great, and now I ride in a Bandos Trail saddle (treeless endurance) that is also wonderful.

#10

I’m going to get a new trail saddle when I have the $$$ .I’m debating on either a Allgenany Mountion Trail Saddle or a Crest Ridge Saddle all custom . About the same price as a Tucker (maybe a little more but hold their resale value alot more).

Oh,and they are custom .

http://trailridingsaddles.com/

http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/

#11

Same here.

My friend’s Tucker River Plantation is my favorite trail saddle ever. So comfy and very secure, without feeling perched above the horse, still plenty of contact.

Have you tried an aussie? They are very secure, with the deep seat and poleys. I don’t care for most of them, as many put you in a chair seat, but my husband rides in one and has no problem keeping his leg under him.

#12

I don’t like Aussie saddles. They feel to top heavy to me, but then again, last time I was in one was years and years ago and it’s wasn’t a particularly great one. Food for thought.

#13

Which is why I’m asking. Just checked out the Wintec Pro Stock Saddle as a possibility. Uses a dressage girth.

#14

I had a Tucker equitation saddle and couldn’t get rid of the thing fast enough. I’m probably the only person alive that doesn’t care for Tuckers I guess.

Currently ride in a Big Horn cordura western saddle with a horn although I like hornless as well. It’s light and I feel secure in it. Never got the hang of Aussie saddles either, have owned and sold a few.

#15

[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;6073035]
Which is why I’m asking. Just checked out the Wintec Pro Stock Saddle as a possibility. Uses a dressage girth.[/QUOTE]

I have a friend who uses this saddle, and she loves it. She had the Cair removed and replaced with wool flocking.

#16

I had a Wintec Pro Endurance back when I had Arabs and loved the equisuede material. They’re not cheap and there are almost none around used but looks like they wouldn’t flip me out of the saddle easily either. State Line Tack is including the Easy Change Gullet System for free which is appealing as I have 4 horses under saddle and two are green, with two more youngsters in the wings. I really need something secure and versatile.

#17

Sorry you had a fall. For years I rode in a dressage Passier Baum with a sheepskin cover. It really ups your stickability!!! I have a similar cover for my Abetta endurance saddle and I stick like glue.

http://horsesdacor.com/jmsenglishsaddleseatcover.aspx

#18

Ditto on the recommendation for a fleece seat cover, or super simple solution is to ride in full-seat breeches or tights.

#19

I honestly do not see how a sheepskin cover or fullseat breeches would have kept me in the seat of a dressage saddle during this kind of freakout - being thrown suddenly forward, at speed and then to the side, on a big 16.2 hand horse. I’ve ridden in both and just can’t see it. Sorry. I wish it were that simple as I’d really rather not spend the money on a new saddle.

#20

Saddle security is as personal as saddle fit and preference. That being said…I used to ride in a western saddle and I have suffered some VERY impressive bruises from landing on the saddle horn or pommel during some “airs” my horse performed in his younger days. I now ride in a Sensation Hybrid treeless saddle…it is hands down THE MOST secure feeling saddle I’ve ever ridden in. It has soft luxurious leather and a very close contace construction. I have sat out spooks and spins that certainly would have seen me hitting the dirt in a western saddle. I demoed and purchased mine from Melissa at www.freedomtreeless.com
http://www.freedomtreeless.com/g3ht.html
Each saddle is made to order so you can get your choice of leather colors and texture and any modifications you may need. I love my saddle and so do my horses.

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