Western type saddle for life long English rider

[olim2005]

I have always been a hunter jumper. I have maybe been in a western saddle twice in my 20+ years of non stop riding.

I am looking for a western or endurance type saddle (ideally no horn) for extra security on the trails. I need a narrower twist. I am a small rider and large trail saddles and most Aussie saddles are too much.

Does anyone know of anything? I am basically looking for a dressage saddle that looks western. I am still considering just a dressage saddle, but want to explore all options and my cute hunter type (who no longer can jump) may cross over into western dressage. Western dressage requires fenders or Aussie saddle (horns optional). Thank you.

[Guilherme]

I don’t know of any dressage saddles that look “western.” If you want a good trail saddle look at the Stubben Scout. It was designed for the Belgian Army and Police in 1948 by Stubben Switzerland (Stubben Germany would not have been popular in Belgium in 1948). It has a deep, comfortable seat, 12 D-rings for stuff, and is not overly heavy. Like all Stubbens it is well designed and well made. It is not cheap, but quality doesn’t cost, it pays!!!

I’ve used it for trail riding, fox hunting, showing, and competition at the National Cavalry Competition for 12 years. Take a look and see if it meets your needs!

G.

[walkinthewalk]

If you are comfortable in Dressage saddle then use one. There is no rule that says you must ride in a western saddle or an endurance saddle when trail riding.

There is no rule that says you even need to use a saddle. I trail rode my entire life without benefit of a saddle — sliding down river banks and power lines, digging up the other side.

Use what fits your horse and is lightweight & comfortable for both of you, in the terrain you will be riding in:)

[BlueDrifter]

Allegheny Mountain Saddles have some interesting ones

[CircleY-Tucker-Reinsman-HighHo]

If you are open to a horn, the Julie Goodnight saddles are great for Western Dressage - they provide a very balanced, equitation style seat, and have a classic Western look - we have several I Ride Circle Y and staff members who use these saddles for shows. One of the great things about them is the narrow twist and balanced seat, so even though they don’t have a very high cantle, they still provide a very secure seat.

Personally, I ride English and Western, I tend to lean towards the Tucker T49 Equitation Endurance, the Tucker 249 Nomad, and the Circle Y Julie Goodnight Cascade Crossover. However, if you are looking for fenders the Tucker T59 Endurance, Tucker T46 River Plantation, or Tucker 179 Outpost might be really good options.

[tinah]

twister saddles, whether barrel or roping, feel like coming home, and I’m not a western rider either. If your joints (knees, ankles, feet) start to hurt, try oxbow stirrups

[kande04]

@olim2005

Western dressage requires fenders or Aussie saddle (horns optional). Thank you.

Get a Wintec Contourbloc, or something similar with the huge thigh blocks for trail riding. They’re more secure than a western saddle because the blocks are right in front of your thighs, and you can still jump in them. A western look for western dressage is a whole 'nother issue. I just bought an inexpensive western saddle that fit the horse I might show. A friend of mine who rides western uses it when she rides one of my horses, but other than that it doesn’t get much use but I have it if I ever want to do some western dressage.

[Busygalincal]

I have got a perfect saddle for you. The Specialized International. I’ve been riding in one for over 15 years. I’ve had two and the last one I ordered, I had beautiful tooling on it and western style conchos, but it is english feel all the way, including knee rolls. Google it. I also like a narrow twist, so be sure to order the “Trail” seat and ask for a narrower twist when you order one. The trail seat is very important as the company also offers an “endurance” seat that is flatter and wider. Good Luck. I wish I had a picture of mine but if you want one, I’ll take one.

[kande04]

@Busygalincal

I have got a perfect saddle for you. The Specialized International.

I googled it. $2700 new.

[Guilherme]

@kande04

I googled it. $2700 new.

I do some amateur leather work. Just for grins, I priced out the cost of the materials to make a Western saddle (which I am in no way skilled enough to do). They ran between $450-$600 (leather, tree, stirrups, hardware, thread, glue, etc.). Figure 40-50 hours of labor to carve, tool, sew, and otherwise make the saddle and price that at $15/hr. To those costs you have to add the overhead of the maker (design time, shop costs, insurance, utilities, etc.).

The above numbers are all for a very basic saddle. Add more time (and money) for fancy tooling, silver, or custom features.

Maybe $2700 for a good saddle is not so far from a realistic price!

G.

[kande04]

@Guilherme

Maybe $2700 for a good saddle is not so far from a realistic price!

G.

Seems like a fair enough price to me. After all, if someone thinks it’s too much then they can just buy a cheaper saddle.

[Busygalincal]

You can often find them used online. Unless your horse is narrow, get a wide tree. Easier to make a wide saddle fit and impossible to make a narrow saddle wider. There are a few good FaceBook pages that sell Endurance tack.

[jvanrens]

@Guilherme

I do some amateur leather work. Just for grins, I priced out the cost of the materials to make a Western saddle (which I am in no way skilled enough to do). They ran between $450-$600 (leather, tree, stirrups, hardware, thread, glue, etc.). Figure 40-50 hours of labor to carve, tool, sew, and otherwise make the saddle and price that at $15/hr. To those costs you have to add the overhead of the maker (design time, shop costs, insurance, utilities, etc.).

The above numbers are all for a very basic saddle. Add more time (and money) for fancy tooling, silver, or custom features.

Maybe $2700 for a good saddle is not so far from a realistic price!

G.

Unerstand totally that you pay for quality work, but still makes me go ouch. of course this is coming from a person who hasn’t bought a brand new saddle since the early 90’s…

[Guilherme]

@jvanrens

Unerstand totally that you pay for quality work, but still makes me go ouch. of course this is coming from a person who hasn’t bought a brand new saddle since the early 90’s…

Me, too!!!

But in a world where dealerships charge $100/hr. to fix you car what are you going to do?!?!

G.

[tabula_rashah]

As a previous dressage/ event rider who went over to endurance/ CTR, the Specialized is about perfect for what you want (I have a Specialized Eurolight which is a bit less dear than the International). It’s seat and leg position is very much like a dressage seat with a bit more security than a typical english saddle. Saddle is pictured is my custom Specialized Eurolight. I think it was $1700 new but it can be found used generally $800-$1200

[Rackonteur]

The Stubben Scout remnds me of an officer’s field saddle.

OP, I would prefer an English saddle for trails, both because of the absence of a horn but also because if you have to dismount and can’t find anything handy for a mounting block it is much easier to let your stirrup down for mounting with English leathers than with western fenders, whether the western saddle has Blevins buckles or regular buckles. Not to mention shortening the leathers again.

What about a McClellan saddle? No horn, lots of dee rings, and you can get one with fenders and western stirrups, or leathers and stirrup irons, or either with hooded western stirrups. I rode in one in my early 20s and found it very comfortable, and it fit the horses as well as the pony.

[Rackonteur]

@olim2005

I am basically looking for a dressage saddle that looks western. .

Buena Vista saddle:

[TMares]

I am actually more secure feeling in my neidersuss symphonie dressage saddle than I am in a custom Western I had made for me, back when I only rode Western!

if you can find an Allegany Mtn they are balanced and lightweight and well made.you’ll likely want something with some swell to it (the shoulders on either side of where the horn would be) and a deeper seat. The Buena Vista, while pretty and fine on a good racking horae, has nothing about it that helps a rider from slipping forward or dealing with a stumble or shy.

[Rackonteur]

I don’t think Buena Vista saddles are particularly “pretty.” I did find one comfortable when I was younger (also riding in the McClellan). NOT on gaited horses BTW.

But I don’t like saddles to make me feel “secure.” I grew up in the days of flat-seat jumping saddles, with maybe pencil-thin knee rolls, if any. No knee or thigh blocks, and no high cantles. And that is what I did most of my trail riding in. I have always preferred flatter-seat saddles. I like a saddle that, if I have to make an emergency dismount, I can get out quickly and cleanly without being held in by the saddle.

A suede or equisuede seat can help with slipperiness, but if a stumble turns into a fall, I want out and off. Same reason I prefer English leathers with open bars.

Dressage saddles with deep seats and leg blocks are relatively recent. Look at older dressage saddles.

OP, I dont’t want to recommend a slippery saddle to you. I thought the Buena Vista was the closest to looking like dressage saddle that looks western. If you want a western dressage saddle, I would look at single-cinch close-contact trail saddles without horns.

[TMares]

In an effort to find common ground, to find things we might agree on, I failed. Lol.

I do dressage in a 20 year old saddle known for modest thigh support and a thoroughly average seat. I hate bucket seats and blocks. …I completely agree with you!!
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No Buena Vista I’ve ever ridden on any horse felt anything like any dressage saddle I’ve ridden, from Trumbull Mtn to County to everything in between. They feel like this weuro shield between you and the horse, like the Tuckers and the M&Ws do.

again, I entirely agree about some of the newer dressage saddles that are popular with some.