Posted 2005-07-06 8:30 AM (#27662 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644
Location: Odenville, Alabama
Circle Y Flex Lite is what I ride in now. Tuckers are nice, but I douldn't find one to fit my horse. Neither width tree worked. I also have a custom built endurance saddle that can't be beat. Desoto Saddlery.
Posted 2005-07-14 12:28 AM (#28039 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
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.
Posted 2005-07-14 2:39 PM (#28068 - in reply to #28039) Subject: RE: Saddles
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524
Location: Lone Oak, Tx
I read one the threads that asked about a horse that keeps changing. The saddles that come to mind are a Synergist http://www.synergistsaddles.com/ which are really expensive but extremely comfortable and, what I ride in, a Marciante http://www.trailsaddles.net/ which are reasonable and also very comfortable. Both saddles can be sent back to the manufacturer and be "refit" to a horse. I've had one of my Marciante's refitted and I'm fixing to have my other done. They are very well balanced and very comfortable and they are all custom made. And I have to agree, get the padded stirrups.
Posted 2005-08-25 6:01 PM (#29608 - in reply to #25357) Subject: RE: Saddles
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Woodville, AL
OK, I ran across a tucker on ebay and could'nt resist. I bought the Old West style and it is very nice, maybe a little heavy for me but I can manage. I had been looking at buying the Circle Y Flex lite because it was beautifully tooled and looked comfortable. But after sitting in it at the tack store, it was too small and with ordering and shipping charges, I lost interest. Along came the Tucker. So I just went on a 15 mile ride Sunday and was well pleased. NO SORE SPOTS! Definitely a trail riders dream.