Tucker Saddle Questions

[Malmare]

Hi!
I have two questions for you all.

First off, is it better to find an older Tucker as in pre-Circle Y affiliation?
I have heard pros and cons of Tuckers. Are the new ones more likely to have issues?
And secondly, does anyone ride in a bigger seat than what the company recommends? I generally like a more open seat but can ride in a 17" close contact or even my Frank Baines dressage saddle, and like a 16" Western saddle but can ride in a 15". I just wonder if the smaller seat helps hold you in better or ?

I have a 17.5 endurance model on trial and it seems fine. Fits both my horses and offers me balance and roominess. Perhaps more room than what would be normal for a Western saddle though. Hence my question. This was the only size the store had. The Tucker chart says I could ride in a 16.5. . .

Thanks!
Maryanne

[GotMyPony]

Both of my Tuckers have been pre-Circle Y so I can’t answer that question specifically in terms of issues. The only difference I’ve personally heard about in old vs. new has to do with saddle design, not quality. The newer models, called Gen II, are supposed to have gel cush material not just in the seat (like old ones) but extending further down, which I’ve heard (even from local dealer) gave you less feel for the horse. I haven’t heard any “quality” issues re newer models but you could probably do a general search on that topic and see what comes up. I do know that the pre-Circle Y Tuckers were made in US with US leather; don’t know if that’s true any more so that would be something to look into.

As for seat size, in an ideal world you’d be able to try a couple of different sized seats to compare… But I’d be less concerned about the number on the saddle and more concerned with how it felt to me.

[Malmare]

Thanks!

I did some research and the Gen II is a different fitting tree from the original one, as well as having the padding a bit down the side of the seat, which is not so on the ‘traditional’ Tucker tree. So I know the traditional tree fits my girls as they have a slightly scoopy back. This saddle has a padded seat but not under the thigh so that I can feel the horse. (And the horse can feel me!)

I could see the comfort and ability to move around if necessary in the bigger seat. And that keeps me from possibly getting pushed into the rise. . . I did get to sit in a 16.5 in another style in the store. Not too tight, but it may have a different rise to it.

[Malmare]

FWIW;

I returned to the store and with the salesman decided there was too much open saddle for me. They will get a smaller seat size for me to try. (Probably buy!) He had kinda sent that one along for me to try to see if it fit my horse, but I wondered . . .