i rode in a circle y gaited trail saddle and it was terrific for me, i was asking the seller why it’s for gaited horses and what does it mean to use it on a non gaited horse, from what i’ve read it doesn’t seem like theres much difference between the saddles except for the rigging is a 3/4 rigging
i started out looking for a comfortable synthetic trail saddle but by golly this is a nice saddle
i hate the saddle threads and so far i started 2 of them, but it’s alot of money and don’t ya hate the saddle search
I have a gaited horse saddle for my Appaloosa and here’s what I know. It’s a Tennessean endurance saddle made by Big Horn, for the National Bridle Shop, who sells the Tennessean.
Clear as mud??
Anyway, the “gaited” tree is really a semi-qh tree that is a bit flared in front for more shoulder movement that gaited horses have; that’s what it says in the catalog. So, my tree is narrow, fits a horse that has a “tent shaped” or A-frame shaped back, rather than a horse who has a very wide, flatter back. My horse also has a high wither and a prominent spine. She’s built like alot of TB’s and the gaited tree fits her perfectly.
So, just because it says “gaited tree” does not mean it ONLY fits gaited horses. It will fit any breed of horse who is shaped the same as the tree.
Saddle shopping can be very frustrating because there is no standard of fit or size. Any tree company can call their saddle tree any size they want. And many saddle manufacturers use more than one tree company, so it can get really confusing. Like Big Horn…they use trees from both the Steele Tree Co. and they also use Ralide trees. Both companies have FQH, QH, semi-QH, Arabian and gaited trees, but just because they have the same “label” does not mean they fit the same. There are some other companies that also claim to have “gaited trees”, yet they are also different than a gaited tree from Steele, vs a gaited tree from Ralide.
Totally confused yet?
Bottom line. If the saddle you tried fits your horse, find the exact same saddle, or the exact same saddle tree in another model and you’ll be good to go.
In English-style saddles the deepest part of the saddle is further back, putting you in a bit of a chair seat.
The difference between “gaited horse saddles” and regular saddles? Marketing hype.
The “myth” is that gaited horses require more shoulder room and the the tree in one of these saddles is a bit wider at the pommel to accomodate shoulder movement.
The “myth” can be busted by watching a bit of the cross country course at eventing competitions at the Rolex or Spruce Meadows. After watching that for a bit explain to me again why a horse going in a straight line down a road needs more shoulder room than THAT!!! 
EVERY horse needs a saddle that fits when they are working.
What kind of discipline do you intend to ride? That will determine the general type of saddle to be used (English, Western, military, endurance, etc.). Once you’ve determined the general type then look for one that will fit your kind of horse.
In the U.S. the QH type is predominant. In England it’s the TB type. In Germany the WB type. So saddle makers from these countries will tend to make their saddles in a way that will give them the best chance in their local market. If the maker is located in, say, Germany but has most of their business in the U.S. then they will bias their production towards the U.S. type horse for obvious reasons. This does not mean that a saddle biased to QH conformation can’t fit at TB (or vice versa) only that it’s something to think about when beginning a saddle search.
I don’t believe it’s correct that an “English” saddle necessarily encourages a “chair seat.” In fact, most English saddles have the stirrups hung in an “equitation” position and that will more likely encourage a centered seat. Western saddles, however, do often encourage the chair seat by stirrup placement. The reason is if you’re going to do any roping you’ll need to be able to brace yourself and the chair seat helps in that discipline.
So the chair seat is not always bad, as the centered seat is not always good. But, on balance, when riding a gaited horse the centered seat will give better performance at less cost to the horse.
Good luck in looking for a saddle.
G.
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If they are done right the tree itself is different…the angle of a gaited horse’s side over his ‘front of the saddle’ area, and his last rib area, is about the same. In a QH, they are different. Steeper in the front, flatter in the rear.
With that said, I had a saddle made for my TWH that is a SQH sort of front end with a gaited horse bar, per se. Funky? Yes. Saddlemaker was shaking his head but that’s what this horse needs. Nothing I tried off the shelf remotely fit as well as this does. My SSH is in a ‘gaited’ tree by Steele- and the angles of the saddle agree it’s ‘gaited’ but I then sold that saddle to a pal in MT… for her round bodied QH, b/c it fits him very well, but he’s got equal type angles, fore/rear of the saddle area.
Many/most of what you see marketed as gaited are QH trees in gaited clothes. I had a Crestridge ‘gaited’ that was absolutely on a QH shaped tree- bought it off ebay and sold it ASAP, hated that saddle. You’ll also see the stirrups hung farther forward, encouraging a chair seat.
OK, to highjack the thread a little, I am also saddle-hunting. Louie is a 16h OTTB, on the narrow side, but deep through the heart-girth. High withers. Is there a chance that a plantation-type or gaited-type saddle will fit him? The rigging on a regular english saddle seems to fall just right for him.
Nope. SOrry. It’s NOT just the width and flare of the front of the saddle. A gaited horse has head nod. Up and down goes the neck… many “gaited” saddles not only have flared front tree - they also have a higher, roomier, gullet so as to not pinch or rub as the horse’s neck moves up and down. AND, the gaited western and endurance saddles will have rounded and shorter skirting than a stock horse western/endurance. So there ARE differences.
Gaited saddles can be used on any horse.
There are SO many aspects to saddle fit - I don’t blame anyone for their frustration - but that’s why it’s important to find someone to work with you that sells SADDLES - lots of DIFFERENT brands and types so that you are not steered into buying a brand they nets them the greatest profit.
There are some VERY wonderful saddle builders out there. And there are some really wonderful saddle SALES PEOPLE. then there are saddle fitters.
The flare to the front part of the tree, the width and height of the gullet, the length of the bars, the “rock” (the dip from front to back) of the tree. Then, the rigging, where and how stirrups are attached, etc. all contribute to make a saddle fit the horse. For Aussies and English saddles, the stuffing/padding/wadding contributes to fit. But there are western / endurance type (particularly gaited) that are going to the “panel” system underneath so that the build of the saddle is more like an english saddle but with western/endurance upper.
The leather and padding on top are what make the saddle fit the person.
I agree with what Gabz said.
I am learning a LOT about saddle fit. For a quick video about the basics of a western saddle that does discuss flare, watch David Genedek (sp?) video.
How does the saddle fit your horse? It needs to fit you and the horse
I have a J.M. Yancey Paso Fino saddle that came with my PF. It fits one of my Arabs great (he has high withers and prominent spine), but it is definitely built for RIDING a gaited horse because the stirrups are set so far forward – really hard to post at the trot in that saddle!
I dont like the term “gaited” saddle either, because, like someone on here said, it implies that gaited horses need more shoulder room than any other horse. Personally, I would like to see more of the western saddles made on “gaited” trees - trees with more front flare, a tad more rock in the bars and a shorter skirt. I’ve fitted more “gaited” saddles to “non gaited” horses, its not funny anymore. Each maker will make their “gaited” saddles differently as well - wide tree, full qtr, semi - the flare and the rock will vary from maker to maker… If it fits your horse, and you, then ignore the “gaited” lable. I ride in this saddle http://gallopinggrape.com/gaitedsaddlebydakota.aspx on my Spotted Saddle Horse and it fits him like a dream… it has also fit a good many stocky quarter horses.
thanks for the replies, i bought the saddle home and it didn’t fit my horse, it was too wide
the horse is a 14h on a good day mustang, she’s heavy without being wide if that makes sense, she has good bone but not wide, sturdy might be the word, looking at her conformation, she is short backed, normal looking withers, shoulder angle is pretty nice for a mutt, trot is very comfy, canter not so much
i’m going back to trying to find an abetta, i am looking for a trail saddle, i started this search looking for a synthetic but rode another horse in this circle y and man it was comfy
i currently have english wide tree saddles for the previous wide body no wither horses, i pulled my old crosby out, which is an english forward seat saddle, i rode for years in it however it is a 16 seat and i haven’t had that seat in a while, but that tree seems to fit the new horse pretty well
western saddles are a mystery to me, dave genadeks video sounds worhtwhile
[QUOTE=gabz;3600779]
Nope. SOrry. It’s NOT just the width and flare of the front of the saddle. A gaited horse has head nod. Up and down goes the neck… [/QUOTE]
Do they now? Come to my house and I’ll show you five under saddle that don’t. Not even a little bit.
So might it not be more correct to says that some gaited horses have head nod, particularly if they are TWHs or breeds and/or types largely derived from them?
If they don’t have head nod then why worry about the need for “up/down” motion?
Meaning the term “gaited horse saddle” is misleading at best and just hype at worst?
The Santa Fe style saddle generally does not have a square skirt, althought it might. Ditto for a CA or Hope saddle. These are Western saddles. So, again, there’s no “magic” to the moniker “gaited.”
Any saddle must fit horse and rider. There is a range of horses that have soft, intermediate gaits (ranging from the very lateral like a Racking Horse to centered gaits like a true running walk to diagonal gaits like a foxtrot). There no, one right saddle for each type of movement, yet all are “gaited.” Demonstrating, again, the the term “gaited” when used to modify “saddle” is generally not helpful and is more marketing hype than anything else.
G.
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My spotted saddle horse doesn’t have a head nod either… if anything, his head kinda goes side to side, or not at all…
I’d agree with that. (And have said as much on other threads on this very topic. :yes:)
I don’t believe it’s correct that an “English” saddle necessarily encourages a “chair seat.” In fact, most English saddles have the stirrups hung in an “equitation” position and that will more likely encourage a centered seat.
I should have said “English-style ‘gaited’ saddles…” If you ask a manufacturer such as Stübben, they’ll explain that their gaited pleasure saddles and Icelandic-specific saddles do indeed have the sweet spot further back (and the stirrup bars further forward). As do the Wintec gaited/Icelandic saddles, and the majority of Icelandic-made saddles (although some are cottoning on to the use of multi-position stirrup bars), and the Goertz gaited saddles, etc. etc.
But, on balance, when riding a gaited horse the centered seat will give better performance at less cost to the horse.
Agreed!
So guilherme - do you think then that there should be no distinction in naming saddle types? In other words, there’s no reason to identify a particular saddle as “Arab” or Reining? or not to specify “dressage” or “jumping” types?
I think you are nit-picking. Forgive me for saying that “gaited horses need room for head nod”… All I was trying to point out, was that saddles that are labeled Gaited - will have multiple attributes making them more suitable for a “gaited” horse.
Just as a dressage saddle has attributes making it a better CHOICE for working that discipline.
or an “Arab” saddle will be better suited to the smaller, rounder, body.
Never said that you can’t use an Arab saddle on any other breed; or that you can’t use a dressage saddle for trail riding.
So if “labeling” a particular saddle style makes that marketing hype… then there’s no reason to describe different types of stirrups or reins, or bridles, etc. etc.
The Santa Fe style saddle generally does not have a square skirt, althought it might. Ditto for a CA or Hope saddle. These are Western saddles. So, again, there’s no “magic” to the moniker “gaited.”
Sorry - I don’t believe I’ve seen listings for “Santa Fe” or CA or Hope TYPE saddles. If those are brands, then that’s a whole different story as they are not “generic” labels. There’s no magic to the moniker “Western” either - is there? as there is a limitless variety to “western” saddles.
We could do away with the term “Aussie” style saddle as well. Since there are multitude of variations of an Aussie saddle, correct? Do away with “english saddles” … since we know they fit more than just English horses, correct?
I do hope this is incorrect – really I do.
I own a typical stocky QH (tank on legs) and two TWH’s – they couldn’t be more different in their body types. Both TWH’s are lean with narrow barrels and high withers and lots of head movement going on. QH has basically no withers and flat as a sofa. Would I ever think about putting the same tree on all three horses??? Heck NO!! :eek:
I think good old saddle fitting is needed here. QH’s are unique individuals and each horse needs to be evaluated for his specific needs/saddle fit, as does each TWH (and any other breed for that matter). Flare or no flare, check each saddle’s fit for each horse.
You can’t make a blanket statement about saddle fit. Even with treeless (which I LOFF), they aren’t for every horse.
A gaited horse tree fits my propane tank of a QH just perfectly. Also fits my Montana Travler mare… Take them on face value, not the label.
[QUOTE=gabz;3601578]
So guilherme - do you think then that there should be no distinction in naming saddle types? In other words, there’s no reason to identify a particular saddle as “Arab” or Reining? or not to specify “dressage” or “jumping” types? [/QUOTE]
Most of the descriptors you mention are saddle types based upon use or discipline. “Arab” saddles probably refer more to a conformation type that breed (rather like the phrase “QH bars”).
Identifying a saddle based upon usage or conformation helps; basing a descriptor on a horse’s intermediate gait does not.
I’m not nitpicking; you’re making gross generalizations.
A saddle optomized for a lateral Racking Horse would likely be unsuited to one of my Machadors who peform the marcha batida. Both horses are gaited. Their movements are VERY different. This renders the term “gaited horse saddle” as virtually meaningless.
[QUOTE=gabz;3601578]Just as a dressage saddle has attributes making it a better CHOICE for working that discipline.
or an “Arab” saddle will be better suited to the smaller, rounder, body.
Never said that you can’t use an Arab saddle on any other breed; or that you can’t use a dressage saddle for trail riding.
So if “labeling” a particular saddle style makes that marketing hype… then there’s no reason to describe different types of stirrups or reins, or bridles, etc. etc. [/QUOTE]
Your mixing apples and oranges. That’s maybe OK if you’re making fruit salad; it’s not OK when trying to set saddle descriptors.
Distinctions based upon use or conformation are perfectly OK. But when based on the intermediate gait (which can be run from a broken pace to a foxtrot and is largely independant of gross conformational issues) is nothing more than a marketing ploy.
The CA and Hope saddles date to the 1830s. Both were derivatives of Spanish/Mexican cavalry saddles. Both were used on trotting and gaiting horses during the Age of Horsepower. The Santa Fe saddle was another type of light weight saddle that’s akin to the CA saddle. Google “Man Made Mobil” and I think you’ll find examples.
Again, describing something based upon it’s function or form is perfectly OK. But there’s nothing magic in “gaited” as soft gaited horses can have wildly different ways of going.
Again, the Aussie saddle has a distinct lineage, form, and function. Although, to be correct, I think you have to talk about an “Aussie Stock Saddle” to be correct, as not all Aussies rode like stockmen. As far as “English” is concerned, again you’re talking about a general type that has a number of subtypes based upon USAGE. This aids the a saddle shopper. Looking for a “gaited horse saddle” provides no such assistance.
G.
You still haven’t convinced me that using the label “gaited horse saddle” is a marketing “ploy”. I know there are companies out there that are using the term for saddles that may not be suited to a particular gaited horse - but the label another way to narrow the search for many horse owners.
I realize that there are many gaited breeds and movements. There are also many body types in QH - just because a saddle is labeled “QH” - doesn’t mean it will be the correct saddle for all QH.
Specialized gaits and riding styles will need specialized saddles and tack.
General “gaits” and riding styles can get along with less specialized saddles and tack. Case in point - showing / training a racking horse. You would not use a typical western or endurance “gaited” saddle - you would most likely use a cut-back saddle (or sometimes called a FoxLane after the Whitman-made cut-back saddle).
These names are simply identifying labels to help sort through a myriad of saddle types. The manufacturer chooses to interpret the label as they see fit. The buyer needs to determine if that item fits their needs.
