I started out with a Crates ( standard western type) and it's a good saddle, but I feel my feet are a little forward in it. It's a little hard to stay centered in. I'm always just a little back in the seat. I had a custom saddle made by a retiring school teacher. It was a bargain at the time, now that he is a full time saddle maker his prices have skyrocketed.  Plus a couple of his saddles made it to the Smithstonian. It's a great western roping type of saddle. Very comfortable for me. But 7-8 hour rides leave my Foxtrotter a little sore on the loins.

I just bought a new gaited horse saddle. I got it off the internet and was pretty skeptical about ording it. (http://www.saddledealer.com) The price was reasonble. ($700) It was made in Larado TX if I remember right. I was worried about getting Mexican inferior leather, But it has herman oak leather and pretty nice tooling. They added some crupper rings and tie down rings for me. It has a synthetic fleece and a few small lumps along the cantle where they pulled the leather over the tree. A couple pack trips with panniers thrown over the saddle and an Elk or two this fall over the saddle and nobody will notice. It was about 6 weeks from order to delivery. It fits me VERY nice. I need a long ride on the horse to see how it fits him.

My daughters use some Abetta Cordura saddle. They are inexpensive at $250, they are light enough for an 11 year old to lift up on a tall horse, and I'm not going to get upset if they spill pop or something on it.