Trail Riding saddles

I imported an Abetta draft gullet, synthetic saddle from America and I LOVE it! I can ride in it for 5-6 hours straight no problem at all. And best thing ever is at the end of a ride I can put it on a fence and hose it down!

Here is a pic of Phoenix in her saddle, it was brand new at the time and slightly too large for her but she has grown into it nicely now. Actually it is a larger version of my avatar.

Sorry, I'm not managing my attachments very well! Here is the pic and is not my avatar.

I went riding today in my Aussie saddle. I was again, struck at how comfortable it is. We have had such nasty weather and then my horse developed an abscess so I haven't rode as much as I would have liked! It was sheer bliss today!

I must admit that my first choice for a replacement saddle was a Wintec Australian stock saddle. Even with the widest gullet available that type of saddle wouldn't fit Phoenny. I was quite disappointed as quite a few of my friends use the Wintec Aussie stock saddle and all rave about them. However I am so pleased with my Abetta that I don't feel that I missed out at all.

I don't like the Wintec and Abetta saddles because they are so cheaply made... they're great for the first 2 or 3 years, then they start falling apart... I'd rather spend more money and get something better put together... I've got a nice Fabtron western saddle and an Aussie saddle that I can't recall the maker of right off, and both are well put together, and very comfy...

You guys in the USA are very lucky as you are spoiled for choice! To buy a brand new Wintec here in NZ we pay over 3 thousand dollars. To get a "good" brand of western saddle start saving your pennies 'coz you won't get any change from 6 grand. We do not have a great range of saddles brands here either, I couldn't get a saddle to fit my draft, not even the Wintec interchangeable gullet system and certainly nothing in the western range. My only option was to have something custom made but that would cost upwards of 8 grand.

While I agree with you Skittle1120, sometimes people have to take what they can afford in the hope that later they can get something better. Anyway I love my Abetta, it is comfy and fits my horse really well, if it only lasts three years and I have to buy something new I get all the pleasure of saddle shopping again!

Oh, also forgot to say that a girlfriend of mine has a Wintec Aussie saddle, she has had it for 7 years now. She is the most hard core horse rider I have ever met, going on 3 to 5 day horse treks on a regular basis. She breaks in her own horses, her saddle goes on Friesians, ST's, TB's, QH's whatever she has going on at the time. Helen rides at least once a day, sometimes twice depending on how many up and coming horses she has going. Also she is a very active member of the Taranaki trekking club and will go on a full day trek once a week with that club.

Her Wintec stock saddle is showing no sign of wear yet.

WOW!!! I never dreamed a "cheap" wintec or abetta would ever cost that much, but I guess I didn't figure in import costs for you guys in New Zealand...

I'm glad your friend has a good one... I've never had one myself, but my cousin has trashed a couple already and she barely rides unless I'm going with her...

Oh, and I forgot to add, I completely understand using what you can afford... My Fabtron saddle cost more then my horse, but I needed one, and I don't have the Aussie I want cause I can't justify spending three times what I spent on the horse for the saddle she's wearing yet....

I Know! Here in NZ Wintec is actually one of the top of the line brands, the creme de la creme of saddles! People say " I wish I could afford a Wintec!" The other big name over here is Bates, which is the same company but the leather versions.

When I was saddle shopping it turned out to be cheaper to buy direct from the States. Had I chosen to go with Wintec it would have been far cheaper to buy from America and pay the duty, than it would be to purchase the same saddle here. As it was I bought Abetta mainly because they offered a draft gullet, something I have never seen or heard of here at home. I don't know how many saddle makers in the States offer wide gullets for draft horses, I imagine there would be quite a few. I was quite shocked because one saddle maker here was really blase about saddle fit and reckoned that a full QH tree should fit my horse. I wasn't prepared to pay $8500 on "should fit"! And saddle makers here wonder why business is so bad!!