Saddle for casual trail rider on TB and a budget

[Penthilisea]

Hi all,
I'm trying to sort out what type of saddle to purchase for my TB and I. I've been having fun taking himk out on little trrail walks but I feel nervous when he shies. I've gotten on horses i've never met and gone for miles- no problems- I just want something a little deeper then my AP saddle for my security. I don't have a lot of spare cash, and don't really care about aesthetics. I want my horse to be comfortable (normal TB conformation- no shark withers but not mutton withered either. ) and to feel secure.

I've heard Aussie, Wintec, Western, Barrel etc and I am confused. I am not planning to go anywhere strenuous or fast, or for more then a n hour or so.

So- fit and price are my #1 concerns I guess. Any suggestions for someone trying to transition into a trail rider?

[Bogie]

I bought an abetta western saddle for my husband to trail ride in. It's comfy, secure and not too much $$$. I think we paid $260 new. I like their endurance saddle (no horn) but it's slightly more.

[Sparks_5]

I vote for the Abetta Endurance saddle with the Flex tree!! I paid $600 for mine. Be sure to get the FLEX tree, and not the Ralide. The Ralide version is the cheapo model and causes a lot of horses to go backsore and lame. The Flex tree is made of hard rubber that flexes and shapes to nearly any horse's back.

Abetta endurance saddles are comfortable, safe, washable, easy to lift (less than 14 lbs) very well manufactured, and best of all - affordable!

[saratoga]

Yes, abettas are nice saddles for the price. I have a regular semi-QH barred abetta for trail rides for my TB. and it works fine. Its just the "ralide" tree". Lots of endurance riders even use these saddles for long rides.

[2spotsonthetrail]

If you are looking for security, I would try an Aussie saddle. I had one and loved it, but it did not fit my new horse. Check out downunderweb.net they have a clearance section and the staff is alot of help.

[MissBri]

You may also want to try a dressage saddle - the deeper seat and longer leg flaps give a nice secure feeling, plus if you're used to an AP it may be an easier transition for both of you. The Aussies are good too. I do most of my trail riding in a western endurance saddle.

I would suggest you go to your local saddle shop and talk with someone there. Many have a variety of used saddles you can try out. Take a tracing of your horse with you for his fit.
Check this out for fitting a saddle...
http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/fitting.html

[eclipsefarm]

I trail ride the TB's and one Arab I have in Wintec 500 dressage saddles. They are without CAIR. For me, they've been worth their price and much more. There are no worries with the synthetic about scraping it up or splashing in the water. I've had good luck with them fitting a shark withered TB to a mutton withered Arab. I spend hours in those saddles and stay comfortable. The only modification is using fleece covers over the stirrup straps. However, I have been the outcast with most everyone riding western. Those people seem to wonder how I could be comfortable or secure in a dressage saddle, but that's what works for me. I have a Circle Y but don't like to use it on sticky trails because I feel too locked in. Likewise, I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it on a spooky horse.

[AngelCat]

Another vote for Aussies and downunderweb!

Hannah

[ELL]

I adore my Bates Caprilli all purpose. Though I'm not a saddle guru, it has the deepest seat of any all purpose saddle I tried. I found it very much like the dressage seatwise, without giving up my beloved knee rolls. And the changable gullets are wonderful! I've been in mine for 3 years now. I also have the wintec version--#500 I think (for rainy days) it's seat is almost as deep but not nearly as cushy.

[oldenmare]

Second the used dressage saddle - very comfy for both horse and rider, longer flaps for a longer leg, and just a very secure feeling.

ALTHOUGH, if I ever have extra $$$ laying around (yeah, right), I'm getting a Tucker Plantation Saddle for pleasure/trail riding. Those are pure comfort!!!! And feel VERY secure.

[gallop-dq]

I have an abetta western that I use on the trails and I LOVE it. Really secure, so no sweat when my horse has an 'arab moment'. I do a lot of trail riding and its reasonably comfortable.

[LR1976]

I LOVE my Aussie saddle. I'll never go back to a western saddle for trail riding. They have a deep seat which makes you feel very secure. I got mine from http://www.frontierequestrian.com
It is the stock rider. Very reasonably priced. It is made fairly well and I have been happy with it. I didn't have alot of money to spend on a trail saddle either. I spend it all on hunter/jumper stuff http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Pocket Pony]

I ride Miles in my Thorowgood Griffin dressage saddle. It is synthetic so will hold up to weather and bushwacking and whatnot. Amazingly, it is my cheapest saddle and Miles loves it the best. They make different types of models for different types of horses - broadback, TB, regular.

[Penthilisea]

Ok- I already have a fairly deepish wintec AP saddle- I want something with a high cantle, no horn, but a serious pommel. Synthetic too. I'v been looking on ebay at the trekkers and such but I have a very small budget. Where's a good source for used (as long as the tree isn't twisted and it has a billets I'm happy) saddles like this?

We've been doing a lot of outside work for the past month, both in hand and under saddle - I just don't feel BRAVE in the saddle- my thighs start to shake and he knows I'm nervous and his head goes up and he starts finding things to get snorty about.

Things he's seen a trillion times before, things we looked at in hand yesterday with no issue, things he's been ridden past by a different rider before even!

I guess I'll never get away from dressage- I need to have relaxed draping thighs. Sigh.

[meanmom]

Would an Abetta fit a 'wide body' MOrgan?

[spookhorse]

I went with an Aussie 7 years ago and never looked back! Just bought another one off eBay for use on the new mare http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

My old one is from the Australian Stock Saddle Company and the newer one is from Toowoomba. I got each of them used, paid $300 for the first and $355 for the second. I lucked out and got stirrups, leathers, girths, overgirths, and breastcollars with both of them for those prices!

I have fit the older one on many different horses. You can move the stuffing around (you do for normal maintenance anyhow) to fit backs and withers better if you change horses or they gain or lose weight. Aussies are great for people and horses with bad backs and if you get the proper fit for you and your horse you will be way more comfy than in any other saddle! I knew as soon as I sat in my first one that it was perfect for me http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

As for horses I've fit with the one saddle: 16.3hh slb sided TB, 15.3hh average TB, 12.2hh Welsh type pony, 14hh rounded TWH (think big pony). Also fits my new 15.3hh pacer standie mare with little work. Soon as the new saddle comes I will work on them to figger out who gets what saddle and make adjustments if need be. Belle (TWH) is very round and gets fat so has little wither, Sam (standie) is round too, but has more wither.

[spookhorse]

Oh yes- speaking of dressage... I have had dressage riders ride in my Aussie and liked it very much. Felt familiar to them but with increased safety. It's really hard to fall out of an Aussie, LOL. You have to do it on purpose!

[Penthilisea]

So I went ahead and bought a Trekker Neutron off ebay. Along with a bitless bridle so I don;t look QUITE so casual as when I ride in his halter and western reins/rope lead. I am SO excited- it's exactly what i wanted in my brain- high pommel and cantle, comfy seat, semi QH bars, no horn. Yay!

Can't WAAAAAAAAAAAIT for it to get here so I can try it out!

[AngelCat]

Cool! Glad you finally found something! Let us know how you like it.

[Penthilisea]

Hmm. Looked at it in person and I don't love it.
I think I may trade it for a different saddle.
Oh well, the search goes on.

[Sarabeth]

You're still looking! Thought I'd mention this one to you: Crates Economy Trail Saddle (http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/151617crectr.html)

Fits my TB great. It's secure and comfy. Have had one for about four years, given it plenty of use. It's a little lighter than the average western saddle, so carrying and tacking up are easy.

Even during a weeklong trip of all-day rides, both horse and I were ready for action again each morning.

Much more experienced horsemen have given me compliments on the saddle (I don't know much about Western).

Good luck in your search, let us know how it goes!

[Penthilisea]

I'm really trying to stay AWAY from a horned saddle. Anyone else have any ideas for a $400 and UNDER comfy quality synthetic or leather saddle?

[AngelCat]

Originally posted by Penthilisea:
I'm really trying to stay AWAY from a horned saddle. Anyone else have any ideas for a $400 and UNDER comfy quality synthetic or leather saddle?

Heh...for that price, it's hard to find quality unless it's a used saddle...I just bought a barely-used Wintec All-Purpose (not for endurance, I don't think) for $400...I got my Aussie for around $300 brand new, but it's not the best quality leather. I'm going on three years with it and it's holding up spectacularly and is very comfy, but I don't expect it to last more than 6 or 7 years, less than that if I start endurance or CTR.

I would take some of the brand names people have mentioned to ebay or a good used tack store and keep your fingers crossed! Sorry your other one didn't work out...saddle shopping is frustrating!

[kathv]

Penthilisea, check your PMs please. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[nightsong]

Whatever fits your HORSE best. Western and australian saddles are built for a very different body type from the average Thoroughbred, I would go for a saddle built for a discipline that is MOSTLY thoroughbreds (like jumping, close contact).

[spookhorse]

Actually, the normal "average" aussie fits high withered horses... My older aussie fit my 2 high withered skinney TB geldings the best, and I used it on a 3rd similar built TB gelding. I had to push the stuffing around a bit to get a good fit on my little low withered and chubby TWH mare that I use it on now. It would not fit my fat TB mare without alot of work. My new (used) aussie off eBay fits my Standie mare nicely, she has a good wither and shoulder.

[sonata]

I just got my Thorowgood "Jill Thomas" endurance saddle and took it out on the trails for about 21/2 hours and loved it. It cost about $450.00 new.

[Austin Rider]

Another vote for a dressage saddle in your situation. I've ridden both western & english, mostly for pleasure/trail riding. I like both, but really like the dressage saddle because of its secure seat, closer contact, and no horn. Right now, I'm riding a Wintec Pro synthetic dressage saddle (with wool flocking, rather than CAIR) that fits me & my horse nicely. The quality is among the best of the synthetic saddles. I've ridden my used one hard for about a year and it's holding up fine. The trees in these saddles tend to fit medium to narrow horses best and have the interchangeable gullets. See if you can find one to try on trial.

[Simbalism]

I still use my Pessoa A/o for trail riding. I must admit though that a deeper seat would be more secure when going up and down steep hills. This past June while on a horse camping trip, a friend let me try her Tucker Plantaion style saddle. It was great!!! So comfortable and it seemed to fit my Tb mare well. However, my budget just has not been large enough to buy one. I was going to suggest an aussie endurance style saddle no horn. Most styles of aussie saddles come with or without horn.

[x-rab]

Just a word of caution on the Aussie saddles and probably a lot of western saddles too. I have a friend that I hadn't seen in several months. It turns out he was trying out an Aussie saddle when his horse bolted on him and was headed toward a very busy road. He made the decision to bail rather than try and ride out onto the busy road, but had a very hard time getting out of the saddle and stirrups. It took him so long to get out of the saddle that instead of landing in an open field, he landed head first on a fense post. He shattered his eye socket so badly that he may lose his eye. He always rides with a helmet but managed to hit below rim of helmet.

Moral of story, make sure you practice your emergency dismounts with the saddle you buy.

[spookhorse]

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend but I must say, this kind of thing can happen with any kind of saddle... people have gotten hung up in english saddles too.

Aussies are very personal saddles for the rider, you must get them to fit you or you will be cramped and have a hard time bailing. My boyfriend got bucked off the Standie mare the other day and had no prob getting out of the saddle http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif He's ok and she's ok. I have never had a problem getting out of my saddle to bail and I have had a horse fall under me as well...

Also, a hint about Aussies, if you are putting one on your horse for the first time- free lunge or otherwise let the horse get used to it without a rider first. Aussies feel different on a horse's back, they sit off the spine so some horses don't know what to do about it at first. But I've never met a horse that didn't like it once they figured it out http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

But anyways, when you are trying a new saddle, it really would be better to do it in an arena or other riding area and not near roads or things you can get hung up on. I realize that not everyone has an arena, etc, but do try to have common sense about where you're working. Any horse with any new saddle can take offense at the new sensations they create!

[oldenmare]

In the price range you're looking for, here is another vote for the wintec dressage saddle - and recommend you get the "sueded finish" as opposed to the "equileather" (or whatever its called).

Friend and I went to trail ride - she used my wintec isabelle and fell in love with it for trails - she was on a very green horse that was quite spooky (I was on an experienced horse with med kit & cell phone) - anyhoo, she told me later that she had never felt so secure before as she did in the wintec.

[shakeytails]

What about this one? http://www.nationalbridle.com/Shopping/product.asp?cata...ory_name=1-14&page=1 (http://www.nationalbridle.com/Shopping/product.asp?catalog_name=nationalbridle&product_id=1987&category_name=1-14&page=1) ...Granada Paragon in case the link doesn't work. I'm considering buying one for Mr. Shakeytails for Christmas. He barely knows how to ride but doesn't like the feel of a western saddle. Maybe he's picked that up from me as I feel much more secure my cut-back (saddle seat) saddle than any western saddle, but he really does need more security than my saddle offers! This one looks pretty comfy and inexpensive as well.

[horsephoto]

I had a used Crosby dressage saddle on my last horse, a very high withered, narrow appendix qh. It was very secure, extremely comfy, and I even went over small jumps in it. It was great for trail riding and if I remember correctly, it was $300-400.

[nightsong]

I second the Abetta endurance. Synthetic, secure seat, easy fit.

[LoneWolf13]

Definitely the Aussie's from Down Under. Most you can choose with or without horn, they have synthetic, you can get either english or western style stirrups and they have quite a few under $400. Most are either a 4 or 4 1/2 inch seat. (They also have "easy out" stirrups.)

[Teeberry01]

I'm a big fan of Fabtron's leather/ cordura trail saddles. Was even able to find a great fit for a large Appy that is biult more like a TB. They can usually be ordered thru a tack shop for way below retail, and they do have some hornless endurance styles.

[Penthilisea]

Just bought a paragon trailrite off ebay and it came. WOWEE! This is a beautiful piece of equipment! I paid 101.50 including shipping- what a steal! Of course I now have to sell the other saddle I bought- nice seat but the flocking is VERY uneven and I suspect it's a tree issue even though it's new. Sigh.

[AngelCat]

Awesome! Let us know how it rides...

[Lou Maguire]

Being an Aussie, I'd like to sound a word of warning. I love my Aussie stock saddles and ride miles after cattle in the mountains in them. If they keep you in like a previous poster said, I think then fit is not right. HOWEVER...there are lots of cheap imitiations out there. The previously mentioned brands are. They are NOT made in Australia.Note that it staes they are an Aussie saddle, but doesn't say where they are made.This really pees me off.
They are generally made in India out of crappy Indian leather. I have never heard of the brands mentioned, and having a practiced eye, can pick a ring in a mile off. And we do not use teak trees.
Some of these saddles might be OK for a while, depending on what you are doing, but if they disappoint you, don't blame the fact that they are an Aussie saddle.
A REAL Aussie stock saddle will last you for years and years.My husband has one that is 30 years old, has had many river duckings, and is still going strong.
IMHO, you are better off getting a good second hand Aussie saddle then a cheap new one. I'm happy to help with brands if anyone wants it.

[Penthilisea]

I am in looooove with the Paragon Ritequest saddles. I even bought a few more at ebay prices (75-125) to resell locally since it's so hard to find a hornless large comfy trail saddle around here!

[MBRA518]

Well I finally bit the bullet - I did wither tracings and faxed them to an internet company for size info... turns out my wide QHs are too wide for the Abetta Endurance Wide QH tree... however she said it looked like the Arabian tree would fit just right (both horses are the same size - TG). I never would have thought that an arabian tree was wider than a qh tree - but I guess it is.

So I check ebay before buying from that company and ended up getting a barely used one and a saddlerite pad for $375 US... with shipping and UPS "handling" fees (I hate UPS) it was $585 CAN... not too bad, when the only seller here charges 650 + tax and shipping....

I just got the thing from UPS saying it is here (why do they try to deliver when you are working??? grrrrr) so I'll have it in a day or 2 when I can finally hook up with them... I'll let you all know how I like it.

So my next question is what is the Saddlerite (saddleright?) pad like. It was just a bonus to the purchase, but I did find some favorable info on it... any real experience with them?

[Phil]

For the life of me I can't imagine anyone having a hard time bailing out of an Australian stock saddle.

You're certainly more secure in a stocky than any other saddle but dismounting is not difficult in the least.

The poley pads shouldn't make the slightest difference to your ability to ditch yourself - it's not as if you want to launch yourself over his head.

Most of our horses are Thoroughbred and the stock saddle suits them fine. It was actually developed around "Walers" a famous Australian equine export which were mainly Thoroughbred based.

The Australan saddle originated in rough working conditions where there was a lot of waste timber lying around. In the early days cattle were grazed in ringbarked forests and fallen trees were a common hazard. Stockmen needed a saddle which would keep them secure in the event that they needed to make a sudden or unexpected leap at speed.

The stocky enabled them to do it. Even the police forces eventually adopted it because fugitives from the law riding in stock saddles had a huge advantage in that they could gallop off downhill and over obstacles in a fashion the troopers could only dream about.

So the Australian saddle was sired by the Thoroughbred and and mothered by the environment.

[MBRA518]

Well I got my saddle. It fits my horse perfectly. Though the back seems a little low... but then I'm used to a barrel saddle and it hurts my back, so maybe this is a good thing. I just took it for a quick spin there last night (too dark/icy to ride far) so I'll hopefully get out for a long ride this weekend.

[42 Spots]

Originally posted by MBRA518:
So my next question is what is the Saddlerite (saddleright?) pad like. It was just a bonus to the purchase, but I did find some favorable info on it... any real experience with them? Lucky you. These are supposed to be really nice pads that go for $200+. They come with a lifetime guarantee. Even the used ones on Ebay go for around $150+. Do a search on the forums and read the positive opinions.

[MBRA518]

Originally posted by 42 Spots:
Lucky you. These are supposed to be really nice pads that go for $200+. They come with a lifetime guarantee. Even the used ones on Ebay go for around $150+. Do a search on the forums and read the positive opinions.

Thanks for that - I never thought of searching the forums (I know duh LOL) I found lots of positive feed back - looks like it may even help my sore back on a long ride issues.. can't wait to get out and go for a long ride and test it out.

[ArabianDreams]

Originally posted by eclipsefarm:
I trail ride the TB's and one Arab I have in Wintec 500 dressage saddles. They are without CAIR. For me, they've been worth their price and much more. There are no worries with the synthetic about scraping it up or splashing in the water. I've had good luck with them fitting a shark withered TB to a mutton withered Arab. I spend hours in those saddles and stay comfortable. The only modification is using fleece covers over the stirrup straps. However, I have been the outcast with most everyone riding western. Those people seem to wonder how I could be comfortable or secure in a dressage saddle, but that's what works for me. I have a Circle Y but don't like to use it on sticky trails because I feel too locked in. Likewise, I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it on a spooky horse.
I also love the Wintecs.
I use a Wintec Western (Synthetic) for trails and Endurance. It is considerably cheap.
My dad has an Australian Stock Saddle, and I LOVE it. ( He does too http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif ) It is an amazing saddle, though slightly more expensive.