[Danged Arab]

I mostly ride dressage, but trail ride every week. I've been trail riding in my Wintec Isabel, which I love, but on 2-3 hour rides, it gets uncomfortable. I'd like to get a trail saddle, preferably lightweight, synthetic, and not very expensive. The one I tried (sorry, don't know what brand) fit my horse okay but the seat was very wide and flat and uncomfortable for me. The Isabel has a narrow twist, and that is very comfortable. Is the twist referred to in trail/Western saddles? Or something equivalent to it? And which saddles are most likely to fit me? I know I'll have to try them, just trying to get some direction.

[TheOtherHorse]

Well, its not synthetic or inexpensive, but the Tucker River Plantation is the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden in, and I very much prefer a narrow twist in a dressage saddle. All of the other trail/endurance saddles I've tried were too wide for my comfort and felt bulky under my leg, but the Tucker is perfect.

http://www.outfitterssupply.com/Tuck...uctinfo/TU146/

[walkers]

Be careful with the Tucker saddles most have a wide fit although the plantation is better its still not narrow. some western saddles do have a narrow twist but don't depend on the product description you have to try them for your body.
A saddle that is extremely comfortable with a genuine narrow twist is the Plantation Pleasure saddle by Custom Tree and Saddle Company. Steelesaddle.com
This is not a cheap saddle but I had two ,one is a least 15 years old, used a lot and still a very comfy ride. The best thing is you can try one for free and then they will make one just for you. You can find them used in fact i just sold one on craigs list in two days. They hold their value, got what I paid for it new.
Also what about the Wintec endurance saddle?

[UrbanHennery]

If your horse's back can take the rocker/flair in the trees (many Arabs can), Crates trail saddles have a fairly narrow twist. They even make an Arab specific tree as well as a couple of ladies specific saddles. They're not cheap new, but you can often find them for $600-900 used. I've had a couple and loved them all. Even the wide tree version that I have now (big old paint horse) has a fairly narrow twist.

[Mersy]

Australian saddles (authentic) have a narrow twist.
The Abetta's didn't seem to bad but I would try one before you buy.
I have a River Plantation by Tucker and it is sweet on your buns.
Like you I prefer a narrow twist in my seat.

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

That's funny, I rode in a borrowed Wintec Isabell for a year before I bought my saddle, and I felt like I was riding a barrel in it. However, it WAS too big for me, so that may have been part of the problem - I was borrowing it from a girl who is 8" taller than me.

I ended up with the Thorowgood synthetic endurance saddle, which runs about $700 brand new, and I absolutely love it.

http://thorowgood.com/T4-Endurance.html

[Danged Arab]

Thanks for the tips, everybody!

[Petstorejunkie]

Big horn makes an "endurance" saddle (no horn) that has flocking in memory foam against the horse and in the seat. I bought mine because it sat me in the correct pelvic position and didn't make my femur heads feel like they were being ripped out of socket.