Would trail riding in an eventing saddle be uncomfortable?

[tollertwins]

So I’m having a hell of a time finding my husband and his little foxtrotter a saddle that they both like and that fits them both.

Husband prefers English and some form of block - MFT prefers ungussted panels 'cause he has a big engine and short back.

Husband has been most comfortable in the past in deep seated eventing saddles…so I am pondering giving up English trail/ap types and seeing if they’d both be comfortable in one of those.

But would it be comfortable for several hours? He’s only ridden in the arena previously. And on the horse’s end I don’t know if the event saddles are designed to distribute weight as well as the AP or Dressage/endurance styles.

[candysgirl]

I don’t see why it would matter what type of saddle if the saddle fits the horse and rider. I’ve done endurance rides in a close contact Stubben Siegfried II (one of their jumping saddles). I prefer my dressage model, but the Siegfried gets the job done too.

[WildBlue]

Agreed. Usually all it takes is lengthening the stirrups a bit and maybe a seat saver if you have a hard saddle.

[rememberthenight]

I trail ride in a Jeffries Hawk. Love that saddle and so does my horse! If it makes your husband happy, why not?

[Trakehner]

If the saddle fits both and is comfortable…of course, use it.

I used to foxhunt in Passier fairly flat dressage saddle, same with trail riding.

I trail ride in a Passier Military II saddle, it’s great, monoflap and very comfy.

Look at a lot of western saddles, their seats are solid leather, no padding and they’re working saddles with hours spent sitting in them.

Comfy is comfy.

[KarenC]

There was a recent thread about this. I do 50 mile endurance rides in a VSS-style AP saddle (which I will also be using for the jumping portions of events). The key is that the saddle fits the horse AND fits the rider, and that the balance is correct for the terrain you are riding on.

I have personally found most “trail” saddles to be too built up for me and much prefer a standard English saddle (although I do not like to trail ride in dressage saddles).

[sophie]

[QUOTE=KarenC;6234649]

I have personally found most “trail” saddles to be too built up for me and much prefer a standard English saddle (although I do not like to trail ride in dressage saddles).[/QUOTE]

Same here. I like to be able to get in 2-point at canter and just generally be able to get off the horse’s back, and I can’t do that in a “trail” or dressage saddle, so I use my AP or jumping saddle to trail ride in. Plus there is always the chance that there will be something to jump on the way

For trekking tho, when you’re covering 40 km / day for several days and not doing to0 many gallops, those trekking saddles are nice

[tollertwins]

Think I might have found an AP/foxhunt type saddle that will work for both of them (altho we may end up putting fenders on it for husband stability)…Fingers crossed!

I HATE saddle shopping!

[Doctracy]

[QUOTE=tollertwins;6234001]
So I’m having a hell of a time finding my husband and his little foxtrotter a saddle that they both like and that fits them both.

Husband prefers English and some form of block - MFT prefers ungussted panels 'cause he has a big engine and short back.

Husband has been most comfortable in the past in deep seated eventing saddles…so I am pondering giving up English trail/ap types and seeing if they’d both be comfortable in one of those.

But would it be comfortable for several hours? He’s only ridden in the arena previously. And on the horse’s end I don’t know if the event saddles are designed to distribute weight as well as the AP or Dressage/endurance styles.[/QUOTE]
I trail ride in my jumping saddle. It’s a deeper seated jumping saddle by Albion and I just love it. I choose it over all the other saddles I own, western, English and dressage.
My husband, a beginner, rides in an all-purpose Albion.
I also fox hunt and my husband hilltops. We use the same saddles for this.

[Mukluk]

I also trail ride in a jumping saddle- Ainsley Pro National.
Like this one
http://www.equinenow.com/english_saddle-ad-4012

[wendy]

I too have always preferred a cross-country jumping saddle for trail riding. If you’re negotiating rough terrain or moving at a good clip they are far better suited to the purpose than a deep-seated sitting saddle.

[TBrescue]

I trail ride in my dressage saddle, with slightly shorter stirrups than my normal flat length. I can still get into 2 point and jump small jumps, and the saddle fits both me and my horse very well.