saddles

How do you know which saddle is best for you....I'm overwelled at the choices and I don't know how to pick...I like trail riding.

Do you know if you'd like to ride english or western? Western saddles are generally more comfortable. How long will your rides be? And whats your price budget?

Well I have only ridden western but im not opposed to trying something else. I like long trail rides, a few hours...but I will want to do some shorter rides on my property.. my price range can go up to a few thousand...ive been told that a good saddle is the best way to keep a horse and ridder happy. Thanks for your input

You do have a lot to choose from then.

Do you plan on solely doing trails?

Yeah im thinking I will mainly do trail riding just because it is all I have done so far. Im hoping as I learn more about horse activities I might find something else I enjoy. Im always open to new options

Stock saddles are great if you are just trial riding mainly, and are great if you have a horse with a wider back.

Just going by my personal experience, I would suggest your first saddle to be nice but on the cheaper side. I would then save your money and find what you truly are passionate about. It could still be trail riding, you never know. Once you have an idea, then buy a nice saddle to accommodate.
I would recommend a western or stock saddle. I find (western) synthetic saddles more comfortable too actually. If you are to buy a saddle, always test it if possible. Most places allow you to buy the saddle, try it for a day or 2 and if it doesn't fit or work out - return it for your money.

Like Kristy said a cheaper saddle could be the way to go until youi know what you want- I still have one of my first saddles a 3rd hand all purpose (only 60 bucks) and I love it! Since thn I have bought a couple of other saddles to go with what I wanted to do- but that saddle was a good starting point.

I recommend a western synthetic saddle for your first saddle, that's what I bought. I think that you should go on the cheaper side first then on you can get a more expensive one. Synthetic saddles are good starter saddles. : )

Take your horse a clean sheet and go to your tack store. All tack storeshave wooden sawhorses you can put a saddle on to see how it fits you. After you have found one that fits you go throw the sheet over your horse and see how the saddle fits the horse. This takes all the guess wotk out of it for both you and your harse as to fit and comfort.