[Hunter the Jumper]

Hello, I'm new to horse forum. I find a lot of answers here when I search for information! I thought I would join.
I was hoping to get some feedback. I was given a 12 yr old TB who was a Hunter Jumper. The previous owner did not know much about him. I wanted to use him as a pleasure/Trail horse. I've tried many western saddles and am finding it pretty difficult to find a good fit as he has pretty high withers. I was wondering if I went back to an English saddle, which I know he's used to, would that be more comfortable for him? And is that a dumb thought to ride an English saddle on a short trail ride?

 

[BlindHorseEnthusiast4582]

What you trail ride in is totally dependent on what you and your horse prefer. I can't offer advice on saddle fit but there's no reason you couldn't use either type of saddle for trail riding. A properly fitted saddle should be comfortable regardless of its discipline.

 

[Hunter the Jumper]

I just want him to be comfortable and enjoy the ride as much as I do.

 

[boots]

I only ride TBs. They are the most popular for ranch and polo in my area. I have two western saddles, semi quarter horse trees, that have good wither clearance. And I ride a few polo horses with really high withers. I put a western saddle on polo horses in some situations.

Every horse I ride goes in whatever saddle I put on them. And if I am working cattle with a crew that I don't know, and I don't trust them to rope with them, I use either my hunt or my polo saddle. In Wyoming and Montana. People never make a comment on it, except a few who said "You aren't roping today, are you?"

You can definitely trail ride in some sort of english saddle.

 

[Horsef]

A large majority of European riders ride trails in English saddles exclusively and I don't think we are dumb