[jast]

I live in a kind of wasteland when it comes to western/trail saddles. Consignment stores won’t even accept them. However, my 2yo will be needing a saddle and I want it to have a horn as an emergency handle when he starts being backed (not now). I’m a dressage rider and know very little about western/trail saddles. I figure I might as well start genuinely searching now because:

I also don’t like purchasing saddles from random people on the internet like FB as it’s so easy to get scammed. So I want to use a store of some kind with a return policy. But, because I have so little experience with them, I’m wondering where would be a good place/what would be a good way to sit in a few to figure out what I like? I’m worried about things like the twist being too wide or the seat pitching me forward/backward.

Since he’ll just be beginning his working career and he’ll outgrow whatever I buy, I’m looking for inexpensive but comfortable. So I’ve been eyeing things like Wintec or Dura-tech (Schneider’s brand?). I’ve ridden in a Wintec long ago and I don’t have bad memories of it but I doubt that exact saddle is being made, even if I knew the name of the model, and my bones are a bit older these days lol. Abetta’s were also comfortable.

Is there a chain out there like Dover that sells western saddles I can sit in?? I’m in the South/Midwest, depends who you ask, so I might be close enough to someplace…Or just a site that someone could recommend as being easy to work with over saddles? I found a site that sells lots of used saddles but they charge a restocking fee so that’s a no.

 

[baysfordays]

I know Chicks Saddlery has them.. I don’t know their return policy but I’ve ordered from them before.
Stateline has some, they have a good return policy. TSC has them online but not in store.
Horzeloverz has western saddles.. but they are kinda like a cheap store and never ordered from there, I know others who have and they said it’s decent.
Smart pak has them too.
Personally I don’t like wintec but it’s fine for a short term kid type situation

 

[ACinATX]

I wonder if you could just use a bucking strap on a saddle you already have? This was recommended to me when I started my new horse under saddle. It's a strap you buy and it buckles to the d rings in the front of your saddle. I haven't needed it so I don't know how well it would work. But it's called a bucking strap, so it's got to be good, right?

I don't remember where I got it, maybe SmartPak? It was maybe $15 so it's way cheaper than buying a whole new saddle LOL.

 

[JCnGrace]

I think a horse fair or expo is the best place to go when you want to see and sit on a lot of different brands and/or models. Louisville has a big one every year at their fairgrounds. I think the one they used to hold in Indianapolis every year went kaput. Large shows like Congress also have lots of vendors so maybe you can look for something like those things in your area.

 

[beau159]

I live in a kind of wasteland when it comes to western/trail saddles. Consignment stores won’t even accept them. However, my 2yo will be needing a saddle and I want it to have a horn as an emergency handle when he starts being backed (not now). I’m a dressage rider and know very little about western/trail saddles. I figure I might as well start genuinely searching now because:

I also don’t like purchasing saddles from random people on the internet like FB as it’s so easy to get scammed. So I want to use a store of some kind with a return policy. But, because I have so little experience with them, I’m wondering where would be a good place/what would be a good way to sit in a few to figure out what I like? I’m worried about things like the twist being too wide or the seat pitching me forward/backward.

Since he’ll just be beginning his working career and he’ll outgrow whatever I buy, I’m looking for inexpensive but comfortable. So I’ve been eyeing things like Wintec or Dura-tech (Schneider’s brand?). I’ve ridden in a Wintec long ago and I don’t have bad memories of it but I doubt that exact saddle is being made, even if I knew the name of the model, and my bones are a bit older these days lol. Abetta’s were also comfortable.

Is there a chain out there like Dover that sells western saddles I can sit in?? I’m in the South/Midwest, depends who you ask, so I might be close enough to someplace…Or just a site that someone could recommend as being easy to work with over saddles? I found a site that sells lots of used saddles but they charge a restocking fee so that’s a no.

HorseSaddleShop has the best return policy that I have seen but it's not a free trial (usually a restocking fee). And you can't actually use the saddle (if you buy a new one) - it needs to stay perfectly new. They do usually waive that in January (so that's now!!!) as a special, but you are responsible for shipping. It can be quite expensive to ship a western saddle.

SmartPak has a handful of saddles in their Test Ride program, but it's limited.

If you can find a tack shop within driving distance, that's your best bet to try it on your horse, sit in it, and see how it feels.

Keep in mind, just like an English saddle, it is important that the Western saddle FITS YOUR HORSE. Yes, I understand he is only 2 and he will grow, but if you put an ill-fitting western saddle on his back that is painful, that's going to be detrimental to your training process.

 

[marymane]

HorseSaddleShop has the best return policy that I have seen but it's not a free trial (usually a restocking fee). And you can't actually use the saddle (if you buy a new one) - it needs to stay perfectly new. They do usually waive that in January (so that's now!!!) as a special, but you are responsible for shipping. It can be quite expensive to ship a western saddle.

SmartPak has a handful of saddles in their Test Ride program, but it's limited.

If you can find a tack shop within driving distance, that's your best bet to try it on your horse, sit in it, and see how it feels.

Keep in mind, just like an English saddle, it is important that the Western saddle FITS YOUR HORSE. Yes, I understand he is only 2 and he will grow, but if you put an ill-fitting western saddle on his back that is painful, that's going to be detrimental to your training process.

The last time I used HorseSaddleShop they offered to send a shipping label so the return shipping was free. Maybe that was a special at the time I tried a saddle from there. They do have one of the best USED sections for saddles, IMO.

I'd recommend getting something with the pommel like a western saddle that you can add a bucking strap too. Grabbing the horn doesn't actually keep you stable as it encourages you to pull yourself out of the seat.

 

[beau159]

The last time I used HorseSaddleShop they offered to send a shipping label so the return shipping was free. Maybe that was a special at the time I tried a saddle from there.

Yes, they do runs specials and promos, so that could have been the case.

 

[jast]

I think a horse fair or expo is the best place to go when you want to see and sit on a lot of different brands and/or models. Louisville has a big one every year at their fairgrounds. I think the one they used to hold in Indianapolis every year went kaput. Large shows like Congress also have lots of vendors so maybe you can look for something like those things in your area.

Do you remember the name of the one at Louisville? I know Equine Affaire happens somewhere in…Ohio? But yes, this is a great idea!

 

[JCnGrace]

North American International Livestock Exposition

 

[jast]

I wonder if you could just use a bucking strap on a saddle you already have? This was recommended to me when I started my new horse under saddle. It's a strap you buy and it buckles to the d rings in the front of your saddle. I haven't needed it so I don't know how well it would work. But it's called a bucking strap, so it's got to be good, right?

I don't remember where I got it, maybe SmartPak? It was maybe $15 so it's way cheaper than buying a whole new saddle LOL.

That’s an idea..but I have a dressage saddle and it was a tad expensive. I don’t really want to subject it to the life of a training saddle haha.

I'd recommend getting something with the pommel like a western saddle that you can add a bucking strap too. Grabbing the horn doesn't actually keep you stable as it encourages you to pull yourself out of the seat.

Honestly I prefer hornless saddles for fear of having my chest impaled. My trainer is really pushing for a horned saddle though. I’ll discuss a bucking strap with her since she’ll be the one doing the initial backing.

 

[JCnGrace]

Something else I saw but don't know if it's close enough for you.

Great Tack Exchange Tack Sale (webs.com)

 

[beau159]

Honestly I prefer hornless saddles for fear of having my chest impaled.

In my 30+ years of riding, I have only ever injured myself on the saddle horn ONE TIME. And that was at the end of a barrel run, when I was asking my horse to slow down, I got a little off balance (too far forward), and then my horse stumbled, and my chest hit the saddle horn. My sternum was sore for a while after that. My own fault b/c I got off balance but I guess stuff happens sometimes.

So IMO, don't worry about the horn.

 

[ACinATX]

That’s an idea..but I have a dressage saddle and it was a tad expensive. I don’t really want to subject it to the life of a training saddle haha.

What you maybe could do is get a cheap saddle just for the first few times, then? This horse I'm training bucked the first time he cantered (not under saddle) with each new thing I put around his girth. I used, in order: surcingle, English bareback pad, Western bareback pad, dressage saddle with stirrups up, dressage saddle with stirrups down. He bucked about five times each time and then got over it. Once I got to the saddle part, I obviously did it at the walk and trot first. I then tightened the girth after each round, so the saddle hopefully wouldn't slip if he got crazy.

So while I understand the possibility that a horse could go crazy and twist and buck a saddle off, I would hesitantly suggest that perhaps that isn't too likely if you have gone slowly and introduced things in a sort of continuum. And if the horse is on the calmer side, which you would realize was or wasn't the case after working with him. But if he was likely to go crazy and buck the saddle off, I would further hypothesize that that would more likely be in the first few rides. So perhaps if you rode him those times in a saddle that was just "meh," just to be safe, you could then switch to your other saddle.

I'll add that I the current thinking in the horse world seems to be that a horse isn't going to go crazy bucking if you've taken things slowly and listened to the horse, to let him tell you when he's ready for the next thing.

 

[horselovinguy]

My trainer is really pushing for a horned saddle though. I’ll discuss a bucking strap with her since she’ll be the one doing the initial backing.

Your "trainer" doesn't have a saddle to do the initial backing{s} with?
Most "trainers" who do first few backings have a few saddles they know the integrity of is solid and safe just in case...they often will not use something they not know.

To me there would/could be little that is more scary than have a saddle come apart when you need it most to support you...
Used and good name brands, stay away from the junk, cause "coming apart" could do some serious damage to not only the rider but the animal...
🐴...