The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Need a new saddle...need suggestions

9K views 19 replies 6 participants last post by  QOS 
#1 ·
I am going to have to purchase a new saddle for my horse - the one I have (brand new Billy Cook Trail Saddle 1536) is pinching his withers and making a mark on him. I have tried gel pads and an extra wood pad - he actually bucked yesterday with me...not a bucking fit but a little buck which for this horse was the same as having a wall eyed fit.

I borrowed a Tucker to try to see if I like them, I am considering purchasing one of theirs. I am also looking at Southern Trails. I am looking for comfort for my horse and myself like everyone else! I like my Billy Cook - it is wonderful but this particular one doesn't love my Red. I have also looked at the Steele saddles - wow they are nice and a stable buddy has one I can try.

What is your dream saddle - I basically trail ride for pleasure and would one day maybe ride in competitive trail so I need a saddle that is 30 lbs or so.
 
#2 ·
A saddle that is pinching your horse is going to be worse with extra padding. Kevin at SouthernTrails is a great person to deal with and very knowledgeable - give him a call and he can get you going in the right direction.
 
#3 ·
My "dream" trail saddle (with a traditional tree) is a Hope trail saddle. They're pricey, but I just love the design and concept. A friend has one, but it's too small for my hiney, so I have not ridden in one. She and I like the same kind of "feel" in our saddles, so I'm sure I would love one.
The Hope Saddle is the Ultimate Trail Saddle

However, my favorite trail saddle that I have ridden in is my Bob Marshall treeless saddle. I LOVE IT! Very comfy, fits all but the WIDEST of horses, light weight, and looks good too. I have the endurance model, but with a taller cantle w/cheyenne roll, and tooling. I bought it for $1,000 used and it was well worth it! Because there is no tree, you do need a good pad. I use a Skito Treeless saddle pad and ThinLine western pad under that. I am a heavy rider (250 lbs), so I like to double pad. If you're not heavy, then just the Skito is enough.

Here's my mare and saddle, shortly after I got it (April 2007).
 
#7 ·
A local feed/supply/saddle store said they would come out and try different saddles on Red. There is a saddle shop on the west side of Houston (about 110 miles away) that fits but hauling across Houston bites!

I tried a Steele on Red today and it seemed to pinch in the same place as my Billy Cook. Red wasn't switching his tail though!

I am going to try my husband's Full Quarter Horse Bars Billy Cook on Red in the morning. LOL I will find something!!
 
#8 ·
I have gone through a few saddles, and finally bit the bullet and spent the cash and got a continental Nevada saddle. A few of the girls at my barn have them and swear by them, and let me tell you, I am a believer! They are super comfy, you can ride for hours, have a nice deep seat and do wonders for my horse. He is so happy in this saddle. Their website: Continental Saddlery 888-730-6464 but sometimes you can pick them up on ebay cheaper.
Good luck with your search!
 
#9 ·
wooo hoo those are gorgeous!!!

This saddle thing has just about drove me nuts. I can't stand the thought of causing my boy any sort of discomfort. I have searched the internet and looked at a bazillion saddles. I went back and read all kinds of information on forums about saddles and fitting saddles.

I looked at the Skito pads and am going to try one to fill in the hollows behind Red's big shoulders. It might work...it might not but if it does I can keep my brand new Billy Cook saddle!

They are over nighting it to me and we are leaving as soon as I receive it to go camping at an equestrian park and ride all weekend!

Anyone use the Skito pads here and have an opinion or review?
 
#10 ·
I've had many different brands and one that was custom made over the years. I needed a saddle fast since I sold my Mastercraft. I figured that an inexpensive saddle would be OK and I also figured that I would go used to gt the best value.

I ended up with a Corriente saddle with a rawhide covered Wade tree, 17", roughout seat and fenders. I couldn't believe the price or the value for the money. I still can't see how they can produce a saddle of that quality for what they charge. Even with the extra for the 17", the round skirts, the extra tooling, and the medium oil stain, it came shipped for $700!!! I expected to send it back as junk but it is a pretty nice saddle - wide tree too.
Horse tack Saddle Bicycle saddle Horse harness Bridle
 
#11 ·
I love my Australian Stock saddle, the kind with the horn... The high seat back and knee rolls lock you into the saddle so even on the roughest trail, your not comin out, and the thinner tree fits my very narrow withered rocky mtn mare like a dream... its also the most comfortable trail saddle I've ever rode in...

I had the same problem with this mare, everything I put on her pinched her withers... I finally found this Aussie saddle, and it fits her like a glove... Just remember, Aussie seat sizes are measured bigger, so a 17" Aussie seat is the same as a 15" Western...
 
#12 ·
I forgot to add, I have not found a horse an Aussie saddle won't fit... My high withered Appendix Quarter horse gave me fit problems too, and my first Aussie saddle fit him nicely... Unfortunatly, the same horse threw me and trashed that saddle... (I wasn't happy when I found I could fold it in half front to back)

I don't still have that horse, but I kept the saddle for a while, as a reminder to test ride more before bringing home a new horse....
 
#13 ·
I really like the Aussie looking saddles!

We went on the trail ride this weekend. I got the Skito pad in and off we went. I saddled Red up and the Skito did what it was supposed to - level out his back. It really pitched the saddle kinda low on him then and he was swishing his tail. I resaddled with a different pad...same result.

I left the camp ground, told hubby to go ahead with the ride and I went 30 miles down to my friends home to get another saddle. I bought Red from her and her husband forgot more about horses in the last 15 minutes than I will ever know.

He checked my saddle over and looked at Red's back and said he didn't think I necessarily needed a new saddle - he just didn't like my pads! He put one of their old Ryon saddles and some of their kick hinny pads on Red and off I went. Red did well in that saddle.

Next day my friend came to ride and we saddle Red with her pads and my saddle and he seemed to have done much better. The pad was an "Ultra Pad by Cowboy Classic" and I have looked high and low for one. No success for this particular pad on the internet. It has several different layers to it and is thick. I have (or thought I did) several pads that I paid BIG bucks for - to the tune of $150 for a gel pad that has been on Red's back a total of 2 hours.

I am going to ride in her pad this week and see how it goes.

If I am not satisfied I will be looking for another saddle - and I really like the Steele's and the Aussie type!!
 
#14 ·
Good luck finding a new pad..

If that doesn't work, I'd be looking for an Aussie saddle, but that's just me...

I got lucky and picked up a used Aussie for $300 with two pads, girth and breast collar and I'd swear if it was used it was only once or twice...
 
#16 ·
They're very comfy, especially with the stirrups... I broke my ankle pretty bad in college and I have trouble with western fenders twisting it and causing a lot of pain in my ankle and knee on longer rides, so if I'm planning on riding more then a half hour or so, I grab my aussie... No knee/foot problems with it...
 
#17 ·
Hi there, I honestly am not surprised that the Billy cook didnt fit your guy, i personally do not like them and they have fit all my horses funny ive tried them on Qhs, Arabs, STBS, everything and they havent fit much. Im sure they do fit some horses and i know ill be slammed for this but I will NEVER buy a Billy Cook.

Some saddles Iwould try thought and hopefully maybe a friend or two may have one...
Tex Tan
Circle Y (love these saddles!)
Crates (Love them too and i think your horse has the same issue as mine.. he needs a wider flair and these saddle really accomodate this)
Teskeys
Rico
Southern Trails
There are some other ideas for you to check out!
 
#18 ·
Thanks for the suggestions! I called Billy Cook last week and spoke to the manager. I asked for the size trees in my two BC saddles and were told they were all built on a regular QH bars. I said that my husband's BC 1688 was at least, 1" wider at the conchos than mine! He said "pack it up and ship it to me. We will tear it down and see if there is a problem".

I UPS'd it to them Monday and it should have arrived Wednesday around noon. He said they would try to get back with me at the end of this week or beginning of next week.

I don't really expect them to do anything but if they do - GREAT!!! If not, I will be buying an Aussie Saddle or something like that. I spoke to the people at Down Under and have looked at other saddles too. The Down Under Saddle is affordable - around $1000 for the one I chose. Just a little less than I paid for the BC. Sigh...I had also bought a breast strap and back cinch strap that I spent big $$ on...not to mention a fortune in pads that don't help!!!
 
#20 ·
The saddles we have came from Sulphur, OK not Texas. It is 1:30 Friday afternoon and I haven't heard anything so I guess it will most likely be some time next week. Sigh....the not knowing is a bummer.

I keep looking at saddles - everyone's saddles - wish I could afford a bunch of different saddles...I think I would have an Aussie Saddle, western - several kinds, a Steele saddle - I really like those!!! LOL I could go saddle crazy!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top