Western saddle fit for rider question

[Scribbler]

I put a friend’s western saddle on my mare today. Fit the horse and made her happy, and I felt very balanced in it. Saddle had a flat seat and it was easy for my leg to hang under me.

The only hitch was that the seat felt like it was drilling into my seatbones and that this would hurt on a long ride. This was an older saddle with a hard seat but I think the problem was shape not materials.

I feel like if the saddle seat dropped off towards the side more, it might not catch me right there. What would be the technical term for that? A narrower seat?

I rode western predominantly as a teen and had a saddle that seemed effortlessly comfortable back then, but it wouldn’t fit me or my current horse now. Over the past decade since I returned to riding I’ve clocked up the most hours in a dressage saddle I also trail ride in, and jump saddles. I think I’ve only ridden in a Western saddle once and it had a sheepskin seat saver!

But this saddle today felt so natural to both me and the horse, I figure I need to get one now. Just wondering how to narrow my parameters on seat configuration.

[Huntin_Pony]

I don’t know the answer to your question, but I do know what you’re talking about. I bought a western saddle with a hard seat last year and the first time or two that I rode it I was concerned about the same thing.

I have been riding it regularly (well, as regularly as possible given the weather this winter!) since and it has turned out to be comfortable after all. I think part of the answer was simply time and part was to “sit on my pockets” slightly. That dressage position where I feel directly over the triangle of seat bones/pubis seems to be just a little too “vertical” on the bottoms of the seat bones. Relaxing my lower back ever so slightly towards the horse’s tail changes the feel of the seat by a noticeable amount while still being an effective position for riding.

YMMV and good luck!

[NoSuchPerson]

I know exactly what you mean. I have one of those saddles and I keep thinking that if I could just peel the leather back and plane an inch or two off the edge of the tree right there, it would be perfect. But, I used to have another hard seat saddle that was very comfortable, so I think you are correct in thinking it’s the shape of the saddle, not the hard seat.

I don’t know what the solution is other than to just sit in a bunch of saddles to find the one.

[Scribbler]

Ok, I will start shopping. Maresy has a nice English topline, basically like a fat thoroughbred, high withers and broad back (she’s a big Paint) so getting something with enough height in the withers is our other challenge :).

I will also try the saddle again and see if its really a problem. I felt really balanced in my dressage inspired seat, though, and don’t really want to lose that feeling.

[NoSuchPerson]

Some time back, someone here wrote a glowing review of the Fabtron Cross Trail Saddle, saying it was the closest in feel to her dressage saddle of any western saddle she had ever ridden in.

I have no idea why I remember that. I guess it’s just another of those marginally useful nuggets of information that continually float around in my brain and is occasionally triggered by something someone else says. :lol:

[beau159]

@Scribbler

I put a friend’s western saddle on my mare today. Fit the horse and made her happy, and I felt very balanced in it. Saddle had a flat seat and it was easy for my leg to hang under me.

The only hitch was that the seat felt like it was drilling into my seatbones and that this would hurt on a long ride. This was an older saddle with a hard seat but I think the problem was shape not materials.

I feel like if the saddle seat dropped off towards the side more, it might not catch me right there. What would be the technical term for that? A narrower seat?

I rode western predominantly as a teen and had a saddle that seemed effortlessly comfortable back then, but it wouldn’t fit me or my current horse now. Over the past decade since I returned to riding I’ve clocked up the most hours in a dressage saddle I also trail ride in, and jump saddles. I think I’ve only ridden in a Western saddle once and it had a sheepskin seat saver!

But this saddle today felt so natural to both me and the horse, I figure I need to get one now. Just wondering how to narrow my parameters on seat configuration.

I believe the technical term would be what the TWIST of the saddle tree is doing. But it could also be influenced by the GULLET of the saddle (which changes through the tree, front to back).

Sadly, there is absolutely no standard in the western industry and you won’t find sites that list parameters for those specific things (if gullet is listed, it’s for the very front of the tree – but that does not give you any information what the rest of the tree does).

It’s a lot of trial and error!!!

Now I believe that Julie Goodnight markets her saddles as having a more narrow twist, but I’ve never sat in one myself so I couldn’t tell you.

[deb_SS]

I am wondering if people find synthetic western saddles any more comfortable than full leather western saddles? I too find my seatbone gets sore in my western pleasure saddle. I am contemplating a treeless saddle but wonder about losing feeling’snug and supported’ that I get from the western saddle. Any opinions about this or suggestions?

[NoSuchPerson]

@deb SS

I am wondering if people find synthetic western saddles any more comfortable than full leather western saddles? I too find my seatbone gets sore in my western pleasure saddle. I am contemplating a treeless saddle but wonder about losing feeling’snug and supported’ that I get from the western saddle. Any opinions about this or suggestions?

Synthetic is not the same thing as treeless. I can’t tell from your wording if you are asking two separate questions or using synthetic as equivalent to treeless.

My synthetic western saddle, a Wintec, is no more or less comfortable than my leather (Circle Y) western saddle.

As far as treeless saddles go, it depends on the type. Some of them are constructed such that they give you a snug and supported feeling as you sit in them. Others do not.

[imaginique]

Sounds like your saddle has a wide twist and you need a narrow twist. Look for a saddle made for a woman.

[cutter99]

Definitely talking about “the twist”. The twist in a Western saddle is not the same as a twist in an English saddle. From your description, it sounds like you are looking for a western saddle with a narrow twist that puts your leg underneath you in a “proper” position, and not a chair seat. I think that most riders who start in the English world and switch to Western seem to be looking for very similar things.

Try taking a look at the Julie Goodnight saddles by Circle Y. I have a Julie Goodnight Blue Ridge saddle, that I don’t think is being made anymore. I bought it last November, and do like it because of where it positions my leg, has a fairly flat seat and a narrow twist.

https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/circle-y-teton-saddle.html

https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/monarch-arena-cicle-y-.html

https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/blue-ridge-gaited-circle-y.html

https://www.horsesaddleshop.com/uscy4540.html

There are also some great custom Western saddle makers out there, and the price for a ver nice custom saddle is about the same as the Julie Goodnight saddles, plus they can be custom fitted to both you and the horse, as well as the fact you get to pick the design and options of your saddle.

What are you looking to do in this saddle?

[deb_SS]

thanks for all the replies. First of all I do know the difference between synthetic and treeless saddles. I am wondering which treeless saddles would give more support. I do happen to have a Circle Y saddle but dont know which type. I am just looking for comfort during long trail rides of 2 -3 1/2 hours