saddle help

Im about to get a tennessee walker and I'm a little confused on what saddle would be best for me and the horse. I want to ride her for fun, around land so not technically trail riding but just around for fun. Im not sure what type of saddle I should get? Will I need a special saddle for gaited horses since she is gaited? What is a comfy easy saddle for riding for fun and maybe trails sometimes? Thanks!

You may not need a "gaited saddle" but you will need to decide if she needs a saddle with bars with a steeper angle vs a flatter angle. My walker because he is low withered and fairly flat across the back needs wide and not qh wide. Google horsesaddleshop and they have a page that will help you measure your horse along with printable templates. Transfer the one closest to your horse to cardboard and cut it out carefully. One half is your horse, the other is the measurement for saddle angles.

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Here are the Templates Saddlebag spoke of

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/thesa...ate-simple.pdf

Bighorn has a nice selection of Saddles for an off-the shelf manufacturer


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Dixieland Gaited Saddles- Walking Horse Saddles and In Stock Styles

Dixieland makes wonderful, comfortable, gaited trail saddles of excellent quality. Their saddles only have 16- or 17-inch size seats, and I have a 17-inch seat on my saddle. I'm 15 and 103 pounds and it fits me great. It's the way it's shaped with the high, supportive cantle, I guess. Some saddles with seats that size are too big, but not this one. I couldn't wish for a better gaited saddle! And on request they send you templets so you can get the right size saddle for your horse. There are several styles and colors to choose from, too.

Though this isn't true for every horse, in general it is much better to only put gaited saddles on your gaited horse. Gaited horses have different builds than other horses. Sometimes a Rocky Mountain gaited horse can get away with some other saddle, but the TWH really needs to have the fit of a gaited saddle if possible.

Dixieland quality has dropped like a rock, and absolutely horrendous customer service once they get your money.