English saddle trail riding?

Two years ago, me, my mom, and a couple friends went on a girls only trail ride for a weekend. That year I took my mare Ginger-- she did fantastic!

Mom is planning another trip for sometime this year, and instead of Ginger, I want to take my new horse Mellow. Ginger is my Western horse, and Mellow is my English horse. I'm planning on doing the trail ride with my English saddle, but my problem comes down to packing. Last time I used a saddle bag that goes over the horn of my saddle, but I obviously won't have a horn with this saddle. What options are there for English riders who need to carry bottles of water and a small lunch with them on the trail? I was thinking about a back pack, but I wondered what others had done.

They make saddle bags for English saddles. Look at Action Rider Tack.

They make saddle bags for english saddles.

Otherwise I know someone that had a water bottle holder for a western saddle and used string and a clip to attach it to the rings on the right side of the saddle.

If you don't want to buy anything, then you'll just have to improvise. I tried riding with a backpack. Super uncomfortable to have things bumping and shifting around your back.

Small saddle bag that straps on to the D rings like this one

'Foxy' Saddle Bag | Foxy Attire

Sorry, this one's in the UK but it gives you the gist.

I'd be happy to wear a backpack if I knew I was just going to be plodding along all day, but I don't think I would want that weight imbalance if it was a more energetic ride.

This made me chuckle a bit, isn't that exactly what we are doing to our horses?

I had a similar thought at the time! I hope not. That was down-right unpleasant! I should have been more clear. Super uncomfortable to have things bumping and shifting on your back while also trying not to bump and shift on your horse's.

There are a lot of options out there now for saddle bags designed for use on english saddles. There's several options here:
Search results for: Snug Pax,saddle packs and bags,horse,english saddle bag,english pommel bag.

There are also a good many non-English saddles that don't have horns, as for instance the Abetta Endurance ones. AFAIK, the only real use for a horn (besides something to hang a horn bag on) is if you're planning to rope something.

Or hang on, or drop the reins on, or lots of other things.

Another option no one mentioned so far is to buy an english trail pad. They come with pockets stitched on the sides. I trail ride in my english saddle all the time these days, and that's what I use. Mine has pockets on both sides with buckles to close them.
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