Talk to me about saddles

[FlightsofFancy]

Hi! I am so excited to be able to go from the goats section to the horse section...YIPEEE!! I have been riding for years, but at 39 have decided enough is enough! I am getting my own horse. She is a 10 year old Quarter Horse with tons of trail miles. The previous owners have a saddle club that rides for charities every month. So she is really sweet and accustomed to pretty much everything.
Here is my question......What kind of Western saddle do I get? How do I choose a size (For me?) I have been riding english for the last couple of years and just don't know anything about western saddles. HELP!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Western Saddles come in 3 basic "frames"

Quarter Horse Bars: designed to fit a traditional Quarter Horse type, medium withers, fairly broad back

Semi-Quarter Horse Bars: designed to fit a taller, narrower animal with bigger withers

Full Quarter Horse Bars: designed to fit "no wither" round, broad-backed horses

Other "bars" are available like Walking Horse bars or Arabian bars for a breed type.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Best bet: ask what type and make of saddle the previous owners used. Saddles vary widely, even by the same manufacturer. I have a friend with a Paint with lots of Thoroughbred breeding that she has been agonizing the last three years trying to find a dressage saddle. Pads make a difference too.

Round skirt or full skirt? Depends on how long or short the horse's back is.

Flexible tree? Good for hard to fit horses or endurance rides where the horse will loose weight while being ridden

Treeless? As above but does not work on all horses and can cause back pain in some. Also, if you're not perfectly balanced, the saddle can and will slip (happened to someone I was on an endurance ride with). I currently use a Bob Marshall treeless Sports Saddle and have had no problems in the last 9 years.

Then there's you. Western saddles range from 14"-18" seats on average. Typicaly a skinny barrel racer will opt for a 14" seat while a hefty calf-roper may want a 18" seat. My husband (6'2", 220lbs) rode in a 16" seat in a high cantle American trail saddle.

You'll also have to get used to western rigging which varies from simple to complex (center-fire rigging). There are adapters for English style if you feel daunted. Have someone show you at the tack store.

As for make ... whatever you want. My husband used an American. A friend of mine uses a custom made trail saddle for her TWH. I've seen people use Circle Y, Abetta, Wintec, Big Horn and all the big names. It just depends on the horse. Ask if you can borrow a saddle before committing.

A saddle that may fit your horse when it is fat in winter may not fit in the summer when the horse is in shape.

A saddle is a major investment. A well-fitting well-made saddle may run over $1,000 but if properly taken care of, will outlive you. I paid $1,000 for my Sports Saddle, but 9 years and thousands of miles later, it has been worth it.

Or you could just find an English saddle that will fit your horse.

Congrats on your purchase and good luck!

Again, this is just the beginning. We could probably have a whole forum on saddles.

 

[lupinfarm]

One thing to keep in mind, it is HARD to find (at least where I am) a Western ABOVE a 15" seat! I need atleast a 16 or 17" and no one seems to stock them near me.

Talk to your horses old owner, they'll be able to give you a starting place. I know for a fact that my mare should be in QH bars and I trust her trainers fit, he's a professional, and he cares very much about the fit of his saddles. I'll be looking at getting a Wintec Western if it fits. And don't just take the tack shop owners word for it, if you can find one, get a saddle fitter out. If you can't, find a trainer or someone you TRUST to help you fit. I trust my trainer entirely to fit an english saddle, and I trust Mylie's original trainer to help me with a western saddle.

But also remember, EVERY SADDLE MAKER IS DIFFERENT. What may fit your horse in a Circle Y may not fit in a Wintec. Try on a few saddles you're interested in and work from there.

 

[michickenwrangler]

FWIW

A few sample saddle seat sizes (Western)

Husband: 6'2", 220 lbs used a 16" seat (tried a 17" on a recommendation and didn't like it)

Myself: 5'2", 127 lbs uses a 15" seat

Speed girl at barn: 5'5", 110~ lbs uses a 14" seat

Rancher woman I used to know: 5'8" 150 lbs uses a 16" seat

Buxom western pleasure gal at barn: 5'5" 140~lbs, 16" seat

Lupinfarm: are you in Ontario? Buzz over to Michigan. Lots of 16" and 17" seats.

 

[lupinfarm]

Sure am in Ontario! ... I'm close to the Ganonoque border crossing though!

 

[ducks4you]

After you've found the saddle to fit your HORSE, try it (on a stand) to see if it's comfortable for YOU, too. The rule of thumb corresponds with price, that is, if the saddle is the right size for you, it's more likely that an expensive saddle will be comfy, and less likely that an cheap saddle will be.
You can be comfortable in a saddle that's too big for you, but NOT a saddle that's too small........like jeans, ya know.
WARNING: Buying tack is an ADDICTION!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Sooooooooooo happy-- our local Farm Bureau is planning a used tack auction in March, and I'm taking MOST of my extra bridles, and other extra stuff to get it OUT of my tack room!!!!

 

[lupinfarm]

LOL tell me about it ducks4you!

I test-rode an 18hh belgian mare whose owner used a 14" western saddle.

I'm an 18" english, and would be a 17" or 18" western man that saddle was TIGHT. I thought I was going to lose my crotch at one point, posting in a saddle that is 4 inches too small is awful!

If you just want to trail ride, I'm pretty fond of a good squishy trail saddle in leather, lots of squish! If you can't find one with sufficient enough squish, get a tush cushion. I also happen to adore Wintec Westerns and Abettas.

 

[FlightsofFancy]

You guys are giving me great advice! Thank you so much!
I went to a wholesale tack shop today and looked at saddles. Some used and some new. I liked the Big Horn Endurance, Flex Tree, squishy seat. They had it in all leather and in part synthetic. Any feed back on the Synthetic saddles? They seem ok....lighter, no break in period, easy to clean......what are the draw backs?

 

[lupinfarm]

Oh geez, now I've found a saddle!

I've wanted a Wintec for a long time but I couldn't afford one. I just found one online locally for $270 and its the right seat size (17"!!!!!!!!), QH bars, and its chocolate in colour. I'm going to buy it if they still have it!

 

[lupinfarm]

You guys are giving me great advice! Thank you so much!
I went to a wholesale tack shop today and looked at saddles. Some used and some new. I liked the Big Horn Endurance, Flex Tree, squishy seat. They had it in all leather and in part synthetic. Any feed back on the Synthetic saddles? They seem ok....lighter, no break in period, easy to clean......what are the draw backs?

I love the synthetic saddles if you get a good quality one. Wintecs are awesome, Abettas are doing pretty good too. I've seen instances of the Bighorn half synthetics where the fenders have come off or ripped. I don't think the bighorn half synthetics are as high quality as the Wintec full synthetics. Because, as it stands, Synthetic is wintecs business.