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Western saddles are the debbil!!

Western
#21

That’s WHY you buy quality western saddles!! :slight_smile:

I have a Billy Cook All Around and can go all day and night with that puppy. I have silver engraved stirrups too! Never have I thought it was a problem getting in or out of a western saddle! You guys are too funny! Most of my bits are Reinsmen and only harness leather headstalls, fancier the better, yes, even for work. I have an image to uphold!! :wink:

I have tried an Aussie and it was very comfy. Even did a playday. I thought of buying one too, just never did.

Now, english?? I’m all over the map. Took lessons, putted down the lane, jumped, showed a little bit, did a bit of dressage on my steer roping horse (no kidding, he seemed to know what was going on and the instructor was astounded, so I used him) but overall, to me, it wasn’t much fun.

As a heads up, the next time you cinch up a western saddle, cinch it only as tight as will hold the saddle on, leaving the bight to hang down, then walk your horse (pony in western parlance) about 12 steps (so he will breathe out, can’t hold his breath) and then finish cinching up. You will never have that problem again. If you do, well, then, I don’t know what to tell you!!

#22

This makes me curious about what western riders would say about hopping into english tack for the first time!

#23

That reminds me to share this with Buck when I hopefully get to that clinic this year LOL!! :lol: Dang western folk!

#24

[QUOTE=AliCat518;5522980]
This makes me curious about what western riders would say about hopping into english tack for the first time![/QUOTE]

Honestly? I’m a bit older and have the memory to be able to say this…first English saddle I rode felt like a stiff, oversized Kotex pad (and felt just about as secure).

#25

I love my western saddle! It fits my butt and fits my gelding, not so much on the mare but with creative padding, it works fine and doesn’t make her sore. It is a little on the heavy side but I’ll put up with it because I love it! You don’t vault off like you do with an english, you step off, just like you got on.

Yup, I always cinch up just enough to hold it on and then walk over to the mounting block and finish cinching there. How many people use the buckle on the cinch or tie a knot? I myself, use the buckle.

#26

HA HA HA…Went to feed this morning & told him E was coming over again today. He headed for the hills & I haven’t seen him since. Not even for breakfast. Poor traumatized little guy.

His buddy was none to pleased to be put in a stall this AM.

#27

[QUOTE=coloredcowhorse;5523207]
Honestly? I’m a bit older and have the memory to be able to say this…first English saddle I rode felt like a stiff, oversized Kotex pad (and felt just about as secure).[/QUOTE]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Oh, and the stirrups don’t stay put.

#28

[QUOTE=alg0181;5521929]
I hate western saddles :frowning: I have had few good experiences. I feel like I can’t get my feet under me, they are always out in front. And I feel like I’m sitting on a big box.

Many people say it is more comfortable which I don’t get. At all. Maybe it’s just my conformation.[/QUOTE]

Me, too!!!

#29

How many people use the buckle on the cinch or tie a knot? I myself, use the buckle.

You can use the buckle???
LOL, I had no idea you could do that. I thought they were always tied. That’s how I was taught when I was a kid and just assumed it was only done that way.

#30

I was taught to tie a knot as a kid, but these days I always use the buckle. So much easier, plus that way I don’t end up with the bulk under my stirrup. My legs are short enough that the Blevins buckle always ends up on the knot and that combination always makes my left knee hurt.

#31

I think he feels as strongly as I do that the western saddle should be pitched.:yes:

#32

[QUOTE=alg0181;5521929]
I hate western saddles :frowning: I have had few good experiences. I feel like I can’t get my feet under me, they are always out in front. And I feel like I’m sitting on a big box.

Many people say it is more comfortable which I don’t get. At all. [/QUOTE]

I don’t think I’ve EVER seen a rider in a western saddle who does NOT ride in a chair seat. I figured that’s how western is supposed to be. :confused:

And yeah, it’s like sitting on an uncomfortable couch to me, not a horse. So MUCH saddle, you can’t feel the horse. UGH. :dead:

#33

All I can say is that if you learn to ride in an English saddle, western saddles feel like sitting on a bump on a log.:lol:

Western saddles have their place and purpose, but they are, even the best of them, just not as close contact as English saddles are and that can make a difference, like starting colts.
Sure, you are not tight in there if a colt acts up, but you can feel him and distract him better in an English saddle, before he starts acting up.:yes:

Some western saddles do put you in a similar long legged seat as English ones, but that is if you are tall and leggy and wider hipped to start with and are not riding a big, fat horse.
Chair seat can happen according to the conformation of the rider, horse and any one saddle that promotes that and those come in all kinds, not just western.

#34

See, I had to watch a Youtube video on how to cinch a western saddle like 100 times. And I still can’t get it right. I am not spatially oriented AT ALL. But my horse much prefers being ridden Western or bareback pad to English, so western it is for us most of the time.

#35

[QUOTE=coloredcowhorse;5523207]
Honestly? I’m a bit older and have the memory to be able to say this…first English saddle I rode felt like a stiff, oversized Kotex pad (and felt just about as secure).[/QUOTE]

I don’t remember it being THAT scary, but it definitely felt flat! Now I have a problem shifting back to western and sitting back on my pockets!

See, I wish I could find a reasonably-priced western saddle that will fit Lucky (thin TB who goes in a m/n PDN). He actually fits a McClellan quite neatly, but there are so few narrow western saddles.

#36

Granted, I have not been around it in about 10 years, but back then the decent riders at breed shows were not in a chair seat. Very upright, legs underneath them. Now, your average trail rider? Total chair seat.

I have a 1994 Circle Y and I LOVE that saddle. Very comfy, but not a whole lot of feel. About the only time I use it is for the yearly trail ride at KHP in the fall.

#37

[QUOTE=twotrudoc;5521903]
I had a wet sandy butt all dang day. The horse was fine, no real spook or freak out although he loooks at me with suspicion as the only other thing we have done is pull his mane. I am the “Weird Lady Who Pulls Manes and Tilts Saddles In a Disturbing Manner”.

The gal said she wants to come again LOL!![/QUOTE]

Of course she wants to come again! You are entertainment!

I guess I am a waffler, bc I started out riding Western, took an English riding class at college, and then ever since have been riding whatever. I only trail ride, and when we got our first horses we got Western saddles bc that’s what you do when you trail ride. Then realized they didn’t fit and I got an Aussie w/out horn for my mare. Loved it.

Then realized Western always makes my seat bones feel like someone much heavier is sitting on them, and they torque my knees into painful positions a half hour into a ride. Bought an old dressage saddle that’s comfy but not overly secure for my gelding, but I use it on him when the mood strikes, and use it on the hard to fit mare. And then finally purchased a treeless Bob Marshall endurance model. Soft on the seat, lightweight, can feel everything through it. And no horn to hook your bra on, or crack your pelvis on, or break ribs.

I use the buckle on Western saddles and the Bob M. No bulky knot. I only do the knot if there aren’t enough holes in the cinch strap.

I like the security of a Western, but I think it’s somewhat all in the head. I was thrown CLEANLY from a Western into a creek one day. Didn’t so much as hang up anywhere for a split second. So much for that horn and pommel keeping me in.

I always like it when non-horsey people ask what I hang onto when I am looking at hornless saddles on the internet.

#38

You’all should try a barrel saddle…I have one and love it. The fenders hang in about the same position as the flaps on my dressage saddle and it has a very deep comfy seat. Nice basket weave…not too blinged out. not as heavy as a pleasure or show saddle either.

#39

Western saddles come with handles LOL!!

#40

[QUOTE=MistyBlue;5523836]
You can use the buckle???
LOL, I had no idea you could do that. I thought they were always tied. That’s how I was taught when I was a kid and just assumed it was only done that way.[/QUOTE]

I don’t like to use the buckle because I feel like I’m either over or undertightening trying to make it to that hole. I prefer to tighten to just the right tension then tie the knot. I also trust my knot a lot more than some buckle a dude made in a factory (which is ridiculous, I know)

Be careful if you try barrel saddles, they are designed to tip you forward slightly.

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