I’ve seen a lot of people riding in Wade trees lately but have never had the opportunity to ride in one. How do they ride compared to say, a barrel saddle or a dressage saddle? I’m currently riding in a Wintec dressage but would like something with more security. I’ve ridden stock seat quite a bit and own a nice barrel saddle but it doesn’t fit me well enough for >15 miles. I feel like I’m competing with the saddle and can’t really feel my horse or use my seat as effectively as in the dressage saddle. Does a Wade tree allow closer contact at all? Sort of a “narrow twist” compared to other stock saddles?I’d like to find that “forever” saddle for me and my QH, one that’s secure if he cuts loose bucking, (he can be a little “expressive”), but is comfortable for 25-50 mile rides for both of us. Any thoughts or experiences?
I ride in a wade, and until my current job, was riding in one 6+ hours/day on a variety of horses. I have slightly less contact in it than my dressage saddle, but my dressage saddle is very old and has extremely minimal padding on the flaps and about as much padding on the seat as my PDN jumping saddle. I am currently in the process of finding a dressage saddle that fits me like my wade. My wade was the first saddle I sat in that felt “right.” I sat in it, my feet slipped right in to the stirrups, and I slid instantly in to a secure, relaxed dressage type seat without thinking. Its the first saddle I’ve owned that I didn’t feel like I was competing against it. Despite how bit it is, and my fairly large bucking rolls, its so easy to “forget” its there. I feel extremely secure in my wade, can ride as many hours as needed, and have never had a horse come up sore and I’ve used it on stocky foundation quarter horses, ISRs, my half-arab (I think, she’s grade), my shark fin withered oldenburg (with a little extra padding to keep it off his withers), and a bunch of Missouri Foxtrotters. Some of them can have a pretty wide twist so I think its important to sit in one before you buy it. I could, would, and have talked all day about how much I adore my wade, and have ridden in several others for comparison, so feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.
I can’t comment on a barrel saddle but I have ridden in both a wade tree and a dressage saddle. They are comparable in the positioning of your legs. You’re a lot less apt to get “chair seat” in a wade tree saddle than other types of western saddles. The movement of the leg is a little more free than other western saddles, however, in that I’ve never found a western saddle that compares to a dressage saddle. I can’t help but feel like a western fender is bulky and they just don’t feel as good to me. The stirrups in a wade tree take some time to get used to. They are heavy and I have trouble keeping my feet in them sometimes. But the hard seat is actually very comfortable. If you ever notice, cowboys that spend a ton of hours in the saddle every day prefer these hard seats over the padded ones. Somewhere along the way the trail riding industry has tried to promote the idea that padded seats are more comfortable, when in reality, they are not over extended periods of riding time.
Bottom line: if you like a dressage saddle, the wade tree is the way to go with a western saddle, in my opinion!
It’s sure worth a try.
Please note that if you search ‘wade saddle’ on ebay you will find lots and lots of not-wade saddles. Real wade saddles have a slick fork (no swells), and a LOW horn, usually a post horn, in order to have the force from the rope lower and thus not twist a saddle as hard.
The lack of swells is what kept wade saddles from being popular- a ‘form fitter’ or ‘modified association’ saddle has big, or medium, swells that help hold you in the saddle.
Thus, wade saddles come with bucking rolls which screw on and help hold you in place if the horse bucks, but they are not nearly as effective at that as big swells. (Take a look at rodeo saddle bronc saddles- no horn but big, swept back swells.)
Barrel saddles are very lightweight, but they are designed sort of like a jumping saddle, with the stirrups hung forward, because you need to stand up over the horse’s withers while it gallops. When you sit in a barrel saddle, you need to sit tight, usuall y with your feet out in front of you. The ones I’ve seen do encourage a chair seat.
The old western saddles had hand-ground seats. This takes time and money. When mass manufacturing came along, they simply added some padding and suede to a seat to make it tolerable. If they make the tree right in the first place, a hard seat saddle can be all-day comfortable. I have an OLD 1940’s Form Fitter that I can ride all day, stirrups hung underneath my leg and a well made seat. They still make saddles like that (stirrups hung under and good seat) but they tend to be more expensive than a production made western saddle.
You might try McCall, they are a production saddle (like, say, Circle Y or Simco) but they do build good Wade tree saddles.
aAlso look at Ranch World Ads, there are lots of used REAL wade saddles there, reasonably priced.
I didn’t answer the rest of the question: yes a wade tree allows for closer contact. The twist can be a little wide. There are wade trees specifically designed for women (the lady wade by McCall comes to mind) with a more narrow twist.
I am a die-hard english rider, but finally found a hand-made western saddle with a hand made ground seat that is very close contact. Take a look at http://www.rwbowmansaddleco.com/B-LightTrail_Saddle_5LBF.php
It’s a slick or A fork, they also make a wade, but it’s heavier than I wanted. Really nicely made! My mare is a Haflinger so I got the 7 1/2" tree and I’ve never felt “closer” to her.
Golden Pony, I’ve seen your Wade… its a gorgeous saddle! RW Bowen makes a nice product.
Thanks guys! I do feel like I’m in a bit of a chair seat in my barrel saddle. Which is fine for slow work, but not long-term work at a trot. I’m 5"2’, 110lb, and my horse is 15.3hh. In the barrel saddle I feel like I can’t use my thighs effectively at all. There’s nothing but saddle in the way and I can’t feel my horse. I’m not sure if this is a twist width issue or what. I don’t feel like I need much in the way of swells. I think bucking rolls will be enough. Just a little something to shove back on when he trys to squirrel around.
Any recommendations on where I could find a Wade with a 14" seat? I’m assuming they are measured the same as other stock saddles.
