Hoping you find a deal. I could give opinions but I don't show western do I'll leave that to those that do.

 

I use my reining saddle.

 

Who do you like as makers of quality reining saddles?

 

I personally like a nice ranch saddle because you can do a lot of different things in them. Henderson Custom saddlery is what my ranch saddle is. But you could never go wrong with a cutter, not sure what your budget is but KO trading cutting saddles are really nice. But like you said you don't like the taller horns so you may not like those cutters.

 

I personally like a nice ranch saddle because you can do a lot of different things in them. Henderson Custom saddlery is what my ranch saddle is. But you could never go wrong with a cutter, not sure what your budget is but KO trading cutting saddles are really nice.

I have a Roohide cutter that I love. But if I am doing ranch patterns that horn is a bit cumbersome. I like the idea of a ranch saddle but I know they are super heavy and I just don't have it in me to hoist a super heavy saddle on my horse anymore. I imagine some companies make lady ranch saddles. My Roohide is a lady cutter and it fits my butt like it was made for it.

I will look into the brand you suggested though. As I said I am just gathering information now, just in case!

 

Since you love your Roohide @LuckyD have you looked at their Rancher saddles? I know that they are being used for ranch versatility also.

 

Yes ma'am I have. Hard to come by. No one wants to part with them. I also think I would need a custom fit Roohide because the tree on my cutter is not a perfect fit for my horse. It works, there are no issues, but it could fit a bit better. That is another reason I am getting ideas about my next saddle, and passively looking.

 

Another option is a coworse saddle. They are purposely built with a bit lower front end and horn for pattern work and turning a cow down the fence. The bigger front ended cutters don't bode well for that type of work as you found out. You bang your wrists ALL. THE. TIME. lol

I have a ranch cutter that I really like as it's low enough for pattern work, horn to rope off of but still a cutter seat. But it is heavy by time I've added by stirrups, cinches, breastcollar and rope.

Have you looked on Saddle House's website?
Sometimes they get in some used versatility saddles in.
Do you have a budget?

 

I love Saddle House. My budget will be somewhere between 2500 and 3500. But I need to wait a year before I can splurge. If however a quality saddle crossed my path that I knew was a deal I would pull the trigger.
I was looking at cow horse saddles and wondering if that would be a good fit.

What I really need to do is find the tree that fits my horse. How would I go about doing that?

 

@LuckyD I know it's right before Christmas and everyone is busy but have you figured out what tree you might be looking at for your next saddle and seat size?
I moved my horses up to my bosses facility and asked if there was a tack locker available to put my saddles in. He started looking in the lockers and decided tomorrow we are going to go through the saddles not getting used and sell them to free up the lockers.
If I run across something you might be interested in, I can send you pics?

 

Yes, of course! I will check my tree. Thanks.

 

Well, that's your call!!

I have showed ranch horse and versatility in my barrel racing saddle before.
Used a roping saddle one year.
Used a trail saddle another year.
Really hasn't mattered........

So it's really your call on what you like, and what you are looking for.

 

I love my saddle now I just wish the horn wasn't in the way - those darn cutting saddles! I like getting other people's opinions and how they feel about what works for them.
I am totally fine just using my saddle - but if I run across something that could work better I would be pretty happy about that.

 

I found a MCCall Lady Wade 15.5 locally for sale. I am going to get it for a trial run.
My butt may be too big for a 15.5! My horse also has a slimmer wither area so I am hoping it will fit a bit better than my cutting saddle.
I know I said I wasn't ready - but my trainer saw this and since its local and I can try it for a day.... My husband just groaned when I told him about it.
I love the lower horn when arena riding. My cutting horn gets in the way at times.

 

@LuckyD
Sorry I haven't gotten back to you, boss hasdn't decided which saddles before I left on vacation and I won't be back until the 5th of January.

If you go the wade tree route, something to try and consider before buying if you'll be doing any reining and boxing, going down the fence.(I think they offer those classes in versatility?)
Try using it to work a cow and doing a rundown and stop. Even though the wade is a cowboying type saddle I had a really hard time in the show pen sitting my stops for the dry work and working a cow. I was fighting my feet a lot.
I know others that went through the same and ended up buying a low front ended cutter or a cow horse saddle to show in.

 

Thank for the reply. Yes I did consider that with a ranch saddle. I will hang onto my cutter to use for those events and training. I am hoping to keep the saddle for a couple of days before deciding if its going to work. But thanks for giving me more to think about.

I am just really attracted to the weight of these saddles. I could not hoist a Jeff Smith on my horse no matter how hard I tried. They are so heavy. I imagine other ranch cutters and cow horse saddles will be the same.

As long as the saddle is comfortable and I can ride patterns in it and maybe do some turn back or other cow chores I think it might be a good purchase.

 

@LuckyD: I definitely know this won't make sense when you're at a show. My husband did something for me that really helped & and our saddles didn't weigh anything close to what you're implying. He created a hoist system in the rafters above our crosstie area.

In our tack area, I had our saddles stored on rolling carts. That way everything was in one place and ready to be pulled out. Everything from saddle from bridle to reins to tote with grooming supplies, pad, helmet, etc.

I hoisted the saddle off of that rack, walked Chuck underneath it, and I lower the hoisted saddle down on Chuck's back and then reversed the process when we were done.

 

Very cool! I would love to have a set up like that, but I board and tack space is at a premium as it is. I just have to do more upper body strength training!

 

The hoist is for deer carcasses, so it takes up no space and the manual winch just mounts on a door.

 

Tried two different McCall saddles - a McLite and another one. Neither fit. My horse has an issue with saddles fitting tight on his shoulders.
I think my current saddle, that was used when I bought it, is a fair fit, but it slides back without a thick pad and then it is really tight. Both McCalls, different sizes, were worse. I need to focus on semi quarter horse bars I think. If anyone has any suggestions I am open.

I sure did like the way the ranch saddles felt. After being in a cutting saddle I wasn't sure how I would like the seat, but they were really nice feeling.

 

Without pics, I'm generalizing, but it's been my personal experience if the gullet is too narrow and the bars too steep, your saddle will tend to run up onto the shoulders. The opposite for too wide. Again I'm generalizing.
I have no idea what McCall is using for trees.

Scrolling FB I screenshot these for sale, the Saddle House ranch cutter, I like.
The Circle Y has a lower front end you might like. I'm not a fan of Circle Y but I also ride a Jeff Smith which many dont like..lol so take it for what it's worth.

Posting links instead, I forgot I haven't been able to post pics for some reason

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The best looking and nicest ranch I have ridden in was a Capo Custom saddle my friend has. Of course they don't make them anymore and went bankrupt, losing everyone's deposits. If I ever come across one for sale, I must have it

 

Ruelas made Andrea's saddles for her and he's still making saddles. I'll spend your money like I'm spending LuckyD's lol

 

I have been on Ruela's site. Obviously that Andrea had better design ideas as I don't like any of Ruela's. Don't like roughout, hate strings, two tone, round skirts. My friend has almost a dumbed down equitation saddle with really cool hardware and conchos. She uses it with a pulling collar, looks the best of anything I've seen. We don't work cows, rope, nothing, we just show ranch classes.

 

I just had the most interesting conversation with Brian from Roohide - its his family and he is the saddle maker.

I called because I wanted info on my saddle and tree. My saddle is pretty old and had no serial number.

He basically told me the problem with my fit before I could even explain it properly to him. He said the way horses have been bred in recent years their confirmation has changed especially around the shoulders.

He also said a lot of saddle makers are addressing this issue with wider gullets that don't fix it, just compress on the shoulder even more. Which what was happening with the few saddles I have tried recently.

He wants pics of my horse from different angles and with me sitting in the saddle. I guess I am going down the Roohide rabbit hole which is originally what I wanted to do. Luckily my husband is on board.

I sure do like a company where I call and the owners answer and then give me their son's number who is willing to talk to me in detail about about my horse and saddles.

 

He said the way horses have been bred in recent years their confirmation has changed especially around the shoulders.

I've been saying this as well. It's been really frustrating. A lot of the makers are still making everything on a BW which isn't fitting these horses. I sold my BW saddles. My Jeff Smith on a BG is better but not perfect.

I'm glad you called Roohide. They are awesome people.

 

That's how I felt about SmithWorthington. Those people went above and beyond. Sounds like you found your fit.

 

You cannot put a price on great customer service. Well you can and its worth its worth it.