Looking to get a western pleasure saddle and show bridle for showing a PB Arabian. I really don’t know much about brands and what to look for. Not really worried about fashion, more about function/comfort for the both of us.
I know a number of people that like the Crates Arabian tree saddles.
I don’t know, but have overheard show arabian people talk about using Tory tack.
billy royal
Showing an Arab does need to factor in fashion, depending on what level you are showing at. I trailride and work my Arabs in a FQHB crates trail saddle with a round skirt. When I was showing I borrowed a nice Dale Chavez blinged out show saddle (in unfashionable dark Havana) with silver ferrules bridle and weighted romel reins I bough from schneider’s. I have had difficulty finding western headstalls and breastplates to fit my guys properly for work and show tack.
Round skirts come and go fashion wise. I was at an arabian show last weekend and I didn’t see a single one. I did see lots of dark saddles with lots of silver and weighted romel reins.
Dale Chavez and Schneiders.
My saddle is made by a Canadian company called Western Rawhide. It has a square skirt, but fits my short-backed Arab well. I didn’t like the rounded skirts and thought I’d have to go with something like a barrel saddle rather than a pleasure saddle, but this saddle fits him well.
His nice headstall is by Billy Cook.
Billy Royal or Dale Chavez (with the short skirt option). You need to make sure the skirts aren’t too long for the length of the horse’s back as well as the tree fitting. Light, medium and dark oil saddle colors are all seen in the Arab show ring, but make sure your bridle (and breastcollar if you choose to use one) match in leather color.
I had wondered about the Crates saddles as they kept coming up on web searches, sounds like that is a brand I should keep an eye out for then.
Western Rawhide and Billy Cook would be easier to find locally though.
I am not even really sure what I should be looking for though! They just seem to sit so far back on short backed arab mare…more used to seeing the westerns saddles on longer loined stock horses.
I have a Crates Arab tree saddle and it works well for my very hard to fit PB Arab.
If you’re not aiming to show, you might look for an Aussie saddle that’s wide enough to accommodate the round factor. Also, the full leather Fabron cross trail looks interesting. http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/fabtron-cross-trail-saddle.html#.Ue64X42TiJg
I’ve never seen a square skirt saddle that was short enough for my Arabians, but ymmv.
I do want to show, so I need a show worthy saddle, but I don’t want something with loads of silver or that is too heavy.
I have a cheap Alamo saddle now that I actually really like, but it bridges on my mare a bit, and I think it is a little tight in her shoulders. I like how I sit in it though; easy to keep hip/heel alignment.
Is there a tack store near you that does consignments? I’d look there for a show saddle that you’re not going to use every day. I know what you mean about weight. Some of those things = :dead:
I have been told one of the tack stores lets you “rent” the different trees to try on your horse. This sounds like it might be a good idea assuming I can then shop by tree.
What does “Arabian tree” mean though?
There are some consignment saddles at the big western store, but not many…most people sell privately it seems.
The Arabian show saddles are just so…silver…I want something more basic and spend more on the quality rather than the silver.
Arabian saddle trees tend to have a flatter pitch angle and a shallower gullet then QH bar tree’s to accomodate an Arabs flatter back, less prominent withers and a tendency (at least in the stock working Arabian lines) of having pretty well sprung ribs.
billy royal, champion, victor quality are common brands for arabians and tend to fit them well, finding a billy royal will probably be easiest
Just for fun, go here. http://www.skyhorse.com/sky/html/about_us.html
Their saddles are jaw-droppers.
This is my favorite: http://www.skyhorse.com/sky/html/black_petroglyph_saddle.html
