Posted 2005-05-20 11:48 AM (#25357) Subject: Saddles
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Woodville, AL
What is the saddle of choice for trail riding. Currently I only have a barrel saddle that hurts my knees after 2 hours. Looking to purchase a good trail riding saddle. What about the Austrailian Stock?
Posted 2005-05-20 12:11 PM (#25359 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Regular
Posts: 90
This one should be fun.
I have a cheap ranch saddle from American Saddlery that I ride in now. I like it. I did have a roundskirt Bighorn brand Cordura saddle that I wore completely out.
One of my good friends got a Tucker with the padded stirrups because she had really bad knees and she loves it. It is the Cheyenne model or something like that.
Looking forward to all the posts about different saddles. I'd like to get a new one that is lighter for my horse and for me. I miss the 17 lbs that my Bighorn weighed.
Posted 2005-05-20 4:32 PM (#25389 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Veteran
Posts: 216 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
My wife and I both trailride in tucker high plains. She has the padded stirrups and really likes them. Previously we rode in Circle Y, they were fine also except that they were stolen. We really like the Tuckers.
Dont forget to get a saddle that fits your horse..not just you.
The tucker comes in a wide tree that fits one of our small quarter horses better than the normal tree. Also because of the high seat you will find the tucker size runs larger than most western saddles. We also like the tuckers because they are light weight.
You will get hundreds of opinions on saddles. Just try to ensure you fit the saddle to the horse, then purchase the best you can afford. A saddle should last nearly a lifetime for the casual rider.
Posted 2005-05-20 6:26 PM (#25393 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
I've riden in the feedyards and on ranches for 25 years, 5 to 8 hours a day, in the dust, rain, snow, and cold. Both saddles have been from Colorado Saddlery. I perfer an A-fork for comfort.
Posted 2005-05-20 8:32 PM (#25395 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Veteran
Posts: 141 Location: Helena, Ohio
I just bought a Bob Marshall Treeless saddle (endurance style) and I LOVE IT!! So does my horse. I have a 15 yr old paint gelding that is a new boy since this saddle. Riding in this saddle feels like I'm riding on a pillow. It is like riding bareback without the dirt & a place to put your feet! I would recommend this saddle to anyone that rides. I have bad knees and this saddle doesn't get me sore at all.
Posted 2005-05-21 7:47 AM (#25414 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 954 Location: Hagerstown, MD
Wow! After reading the other posts, seems my wife and I are in good company! I ride a Circle Y and my wife rides an Abetta barrel. I love my Circle Y since I'm over 6' and over 200# with a big crossbred under me. The Circle Y does a great for me. My wife is the real life "Princess" and can tell if there is a pea under a 100 mattresses. Needless to say, we tried a ton of saddles before I made the decision to put her in an Abetta. Her little gelding is "short backed" and the barrel racer from Abetta fits both of them perfectly. I'm thinking about buying an Abetta for my horse for a bad weather saddle. Happy trails.
Posted 2005-05-21 7:32 PM (#25431 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
With a factory tree you really don't have much of a choice. You can be right on target, or miss by a mile. On young horses the rides are shorter in time under the saddle to better condition them. I palapate the back, looking for sore spots, and dry areas after each ride. with time off if needed. If you buy a custom saddle for your horse, hope it is a money maker, as he grows, you could be stuck with alot of saddles.
Posted 2005-05-21 9:52 PM (#25438 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644 Location: Odenville, Alabama
I have a wide backed mutten whithered Arab that a Tucker will not fit. Tried both tree sizes. I just bought a Circle Y Shawnee with the flex lite tree. It fits my horse GREAT! And SO comfortable for me. I'm an old endurance rider, and I don't think I've ever had a saddle that fits and is as comfortable as this one. I'm real happy with it. That now puts my saddle count at 11.
Posted 2005-05-25 8:59 AM (#25649 - in reply to #25438) Subject: RE: Saddles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1011 Location: Oregon
We have always trail rode in roping saddles. We usually had a young one that needed to be ponied (or dragged) on the trail and ropers were the best. Mine always made my knees sore. Last year I got a brand new BC barrel saddle. My friend thought I was crazy to go on a 5 hour trial ride without it being broke in. She thought for sure my ankles and knees would be sore. Nope...it is the most comfortable saddle I have ridden in. I thought it was just me with my sore knees and back after a ride, but it was my saddle.
Posted 2005-05-25 10:59 AM (#25655 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
I ride in a Circle Y cutter/reiner. It is comfortable enough, but it weighs a bit. You say the horse is only 2. Is he actually 2, or 18 months or 30 months? Should he even be ridden on rough trails yet, due to the issue of his knees if they haven't fully formed yet. Anyway, back to saddles and away from issues of when to start a horse, maybe a soft saddle would be in your best intrest until he finishes growing.
Posted 2005-05-26 12:28 PM (#25718 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I have an aussie that I love for long rides but it is a bit heavy for me and only fits one of my horses. I also have an abetta barrel cut saddle but it kills my knees.
Do the foot pads make much of a difference? A friend of mine recomended them but I haven't bought any yet.
Posted 2005-05-26 6:24 PM (#25733 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Regular
Posts: 71 Location: Edmond OK
I have a Fabtron Tennessean that is light weight. I purchased the EZ Ride stirrups and that helps SOO much. It's like riding in a cloud. I also have the Abetta Redi-Stirrups too that keep your stirrups in the ready position - A must for when you have a synthetic leg pieces. You really have to get a saddle that fits your horse though. This saddle didn't fit my wide bodied Tennessee Walker, but does fit my narrower Missouri Fox Trotter.
Posted 2005-05-27 8:50 AM (#25737 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Member
Posts: 41 Location: n/a
If your knees are hurting, I would suggest something like the E-Z knee stirrup corrector. That should take the pressure off your knees, and check the length of the stirrup to make sure it isn't to short. I have the thick rubber padded stirrups. I wasn't sure if I would like them at first, but I do. They are comfortable too.
Posted 2005-05-27 12:12 PM (#25754 - in reply to #25737) Subject: RE: Saddles
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I was thinking of getting something similar to the E-Z knee stirrup corrector. I have tried adjusting the stirrups but it doesn't make much of a difference. I think I'm just out of riding shape. I haven't had much time to ride in the last few years since #2 showed up.
Posted 2005-05-28 7:00 AM (#25773 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1069 Location: MI.
Whatever saddle you decide on......get the padded stirrups! They help tremendously.............Some advice, be careful when your carrying your saddle because when those stirrups get to swingin', they don't feel too good against your knees!
Posted 2005-06-05 7:28 AM (#26088 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Maine
If you have such a young horse still, I would recommend a Wintec saddle with the easy change gullet system. You can buy the Tucker after he has matured a bit.
I ride in a Wintec endurance and I love it, so does my horse! They do have an Aussie version, but I'm not sure if you can get the changeable gullet with that one.
Posted 2005-06-12 12:07 AM (#26392 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Location: KY
Just got a Circle Y endurance saddle, semi q horse bars, lovely padded seat and it fits my rather plump twh mare, but its too narrow for my twh gelding (he is a tank), but also still love my Thornhill Pathfinder. My other has a Big Horn endurance saddle (model 806) which he says is the best riding saddle he has ever been in. N2ridin, 11 saddles, makes me feel good altho I've lost count here....but aren't we good for the economy!!!!!! In the quest for the perfect saddle for a particular horse, there's nothing like a collection of saddlery. Happy Trails.
Posted 2005-06-12 9:07 PM (#26426 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Member
Posts: 18
Location: Verona, KY
Rode with a Longhorn Billy Cook for 3 years, it was comfortable, but I couldn't balance in the stirrups with it. Rode a Genuine Billy Cook, Sulpher OK training saddle, and it fit and balanced well. I did a lot of saddle sitting and looking, found a slightly used Genuine Billy Cook Wade tree saddle, it fits real well. It is not a padded seat and is rough out, so it will take a bit of breaking in. I know a lot of cattlemen who spend hours upon hours sitting in the saddle, most of them ride hard seats.
Posted 2005-06-13 1:54 PM (#26467 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: Memphis, TN
I ride a TexTan Flex Tree Trail Saddle, its light and fits my horse. My wife has a Circle Y Trail w/ full QH bars ( I think its called the Mother Hubbard) for her WIDE Blue Roan. Love 'em both
Posted 2005-07-06 8:11 AM (#27659 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Veteran
Posts: 179 Location: Illinois
My husband and I have Tuckers. He had a Circly Y, He had back broblems and knees hurting. He got to the point he wouldn't get off because he wouldn't be able to get back on. Decided to try a Tucker and he hasn't had any problems, rides 5 hrs. or more without complaining.
Happy Safe Trials
Shari
Posted 2005-07-06 8:11 AM (#27660 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Veteran
Posts: 179 Location: Illinois
My husband and I have Tuckers. He had a Circly Y, He had back problems and knees hurting. He got to the point he wouldn't get off because he wouldn't be able to get back on. Decided to try a Tucker and he hasn't had any problems, rides 5 hrs. or more without complaining.
Happy Safe Trials
Shari
Saddles
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