[free_sprtd]

Well, now I am actively searching for a saddle. Fiance says he wants to help me get one. My abetta is pinching and warped after only a year. I am so lost in knowing what the right saddle for me is. I know what i like, but when I look through the brands, they never have the aesthetic value I am looking for. Here are some that I found. I need an all-around saddle, not just for trails, preferably 28lbs or lighter, I love full skirts, but am not opposed to other styles, dark oiled, tooling, but not detailed everywhere. I like the suede seats as opposed to smooth. I have some ideas of saddles that I like and am going to go the tack shop to look closer. I am also planning on getting Thunder gauged as well as the saddle I choose. Ugh this is so complicated!

I think what it's come down to is that I need an all around saddle, something I can use for long trail rides, but will be good for working and beginning reigning. I know now that the Tucker saddles are not really good for all around, so how do I choose?

How did you choose yours?

Crates Leather | Hand-Crafted Saddlery | Chattanooga, TN | Saddles: Basic Reiner

Crates Super Light Arabian Trail Saddle 2395 w/FREE SHIPPING!

Crates Leather | Hand-Crafted Saddlery | Chattanooga, TN | Saddles: Trail Pleasure

Reinsman introduces the Comfort Fit saddle.

Tex Tan Gresham Pleasure Saddle

Circle Y Flex2 Softee 1551 sold EXCLUSIVELY at HorseSaddleShop.com

Tucker's Old West Trail Saddle with FREE GIFT

Tucker Cheyenne Frontier Saddle with FREE GIFT

 

[RadHenry09]

I know that it is very hard to find the right saddle for both horse and rider.
I was searching high and low for one when I kinda stumbled on a used Circle Y at a tack sale/flea market. I asked how much the saddle was and the lady said to make an offer. That was the tough part not knowing if it would fit Radar. I didnt have Henry yet. I sat in it and it felt comfy and the lady said how about $150? I couldnt pass up that deal , even though it was older it is in such good cond. Plus side , it fit him really well and it actually fits Henry too.

I had my eye on a Dakota at a tack store for a while now , I really liked it but since I got my Circle Y I really dont have need for another. I def would try any and all saddles that you can !

I am actually selling a Western saddle but it is older and pretty heavy, it has a lower cantle like the reining saddles but has many , many attached rings for trail riding.
Good luck in your search, I am partial to the Circle Y saddle myself.

 

[churumbeque]

Do you have a saddle shop you could take your horse to and try several?

 

[free_sprtd]

thank you for the info! That was very helpful . I'm in the market for a brand spanking new one since I've never had anything that nice before . And if hubby is offering to buy it, might as well accept . Thank you again!

We plan on having him gauged and measured so it is matched for him. If it comes down to it, I may have to travel there anyways to have him measured.

 

[MyBoyPuck]

When I started shopping for my first saddle, I went to a tack shop and sat in as many models as I could find. It was very interesting to see that I sat differently in every one. The balance is different in each model and the right saddle will put you naturally in the correct position.

I then took my top 3 picks and tried them out on my horse. First I checked to see they fit my horse well and then I rode in them. Again 2 of the 3 put me in the wrong position once they were on my horse. It quickly narrowed me down to the Bates and I haven't had anything else since.

 

[free_sprtd]

That's very good advice thank you so much , I will be happily sitting on them next week

 

[OdinsOwn]

Like MyBoyPuck said I also went to local tack stores and sat in as many saddles as I could to get a feel for what I liked.

The difference in what I had to do though was take home the saddle to figure out which tree width would fit (after taking wither tracings with me when I was trying saddles) but I never got the chance to actually ride in the saddle I wanted since my horse was not broke to ride yet and there was no comparable sized horse that I could try to the saddle on to see how it put me once riding...

That said I did custom order what I wanted and what I had tried and liked the best. I had a saddle fitter come out and do minor tweaking to make it the perfect fit (which was minimal because it fit well already). I finally got to ride in it a year later and luckily it was everything I had thought as when I sat on it to try and it out and loved it

For my sister's horse we did the same except took her top 3 choices to a saddle fitting and bought her new saddle based on which fit the horse best of the ones that she had liked and also put her in the best balanced position possible.

 

[free_sprtd]

I am getting more of clearer picture of how this saddle buying business is done. thanks guys!

 

[RadHenry09]

Just curious if you found the right saddle yet? I know this post is over a month old but If so could you post pics : )

 

[free_sprtd]

Of course I would come on and post pics still no saddle yet!! I am still saving . I've been looking still though I'll be sure to let you know when I find it