Western Saddle for ASB?

[Titza]

Hi, there!

Today when my husband toddled off the fields with Santana with another Western rider from the stable I wondered if a Western-Saddle would fit Sam and Fred better to go along together than my dressage one outside. Fred just rides walk, sometimes trot. I can't imagine, a Western-Saddle could fit Sam's windy back, but see many ASB here that wear one without problems. The ones we have in our stable belong mostly to Quarter Horses and are too long.

Could you tell me about your experiences, which brands fit quite well, which length, cut and so on you prefer? Just want to get a rugh overview.

Thanks, Titza

[Renae]

I have found that Tucker saddles fit Saddlebreds well. They come in 3 tree width and have a tree that has some shape to it, its not just flat, plus their trees tend to be shorter than the avergae western saddle http://www.tuckersaddlery.com/

[attafox]

The semi-quarter bars seem to fit ASBs best. My show saddle is a Dale Chavez, but our work saddle at home for her is a Circle Y.

[NikiP]

Yeah, look for semi Qh bars. My wintec w/ semi bars fits Sydney just fine.

If you're concerned about the length of the skirt, there are western saddles cut specifically for gaited horses that have a rounded skirt.

[SADLUP]

I agree with the semi QH bars. My western saddle is a Billy Cook. I too thought that the skirt was too long, but got used to it. A nice pad helps too. And you can look into a rounded skirt. But my horse has full QH bars believe it or not. If your fist fits under the horn of the saddle you should be fine. You know right away when a saddle is too tight in the shoulders. It looks like it is digging in them.

[Titza]

Wow! I LOVE the Dale Chavez Show saddles!! They would look gourgeos on Santana! But unfortunately too expensive and precious for just riding them sometimes at home.

What would you think of that one?:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300185841471&fromMakeTrack=true

I like it's round shape and it might fit Sam's back aswell. Also it seems wide enough for Sams shoulders.

This one pleases me, too, for I like the lightbrown leather with much silver. It has a semi-quarter, but might be too long:
http://cgi.ebay.de/UNIQUE-16-Circle-Y-Show-Saddle-Silver-tooled-light_W0QQitemZ360009226896QQihZ023QQcategoryZ4729 5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers, thanks...and happy new year!!

[Titza]

Wow! I LOVE the Dale Chavez Show saddles!! They would look gourgeos on Santana! But unfortunately too expensive and precious for just riding them sometimes at home.

What would you think of that one?:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300185841471&fromMakeTrack=true

I like it's round shape and it might fit Sam's back aswell. Also it seems wide enough for Sams shoulders.

These please me, too, for I like the lightbrown leather with much silver. It has a semi-quarter, but might be too long:
1. http://cgi.ebay.de/UNIQUE-16-Circle-Y-Show-Saddle-Silver-tooled-light_W0QQitemZ360009226896QQihZ023QQcategoryZ4729 5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
2. http://cgi.ebay.de/BILLY-COOK-SHOW-SADDLE-CIRCLE-Y-BREAST-STRAP-BRIDLE-16_W0QQitemZ310011627132QQihZ021QQcategoryZ47293QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers, thanks...and happy new year!!

[Renae]

Arab tress are, well, for Arabians! Arab trees are for wide, round backed, mutton witherd horses. The Circle Y Arab tree would be much more likely to fit a Haflinger than a Saddlebred. They say there are two shapes of barrels on horses, apple and pear. Arabians and cobby type horses and ponies like Morgans or Halfingers are apple shaped typically, round barrels, wide backs, mutton withers. Thoroughbreds and typically most Saddlebreds are pear shaped, more svelt through the barrel, have well defined withers, average backs in most cases.

Bar size descriptions can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. I would do the picture measurement on the saddle. Take a back tracing of your horse by molding a piece of wire to where the front of the saddle will sit (behind the shoulder), trace it on a piece of paper and use a protractor to measure the angle. Request a photo of saddle you are interested take front on and level while the saddle sits on an saddle rack. Print out the photo and draw a live on the bar on each side then measure the angle between the two vbars and get something that approsimatly equals your horse.

Also I do not buy that you can make a saddle that doesn't fit into one that fits with saddle pads. If you have a shoe that doesn't fit can you make it fit by wearing different socks? Not really, a shoe that actually fits will always be more comfortable.

[Renae]

Other suggestions if you are just looking for a trail/hacking saddle
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Barrel-Saddle-15-USED_W0QQitemZ120202627639QQihZ002QQcategoryZ47292 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Circle-Y-Proven-Competitor-Barrel-Saddle-15_W0QQitemZ260198373414QQihZ016QQcategoryZ47292QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Reinsman-X-Series-Barrel-Racing-Saddle_W0QQitemZ350009766879QQihZ022QQcategoryZ472 92QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bear-Trap-Barrel-Racing-Saddle-for-Sale_W0QQitemZ220187686582QQihZ012QQcategoryZ47292 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Barrel racing saddle are typically light and the seat is deep and centered.

[attafox]

The only problem with the barrel racing saddles is that they are made for women. A man may need a larger size.

[Renae]

The only problem with the barrel racing saddles is that they are made for women. A man may need a larger size.

This is true, most women ride in a 15" barrel saddle and the 16" ones are a bit harder to find.

[locust_run]

We use Big Horn brand synthetic western saddles for trail riding. They are nice and comfortable, inexpensive (try countrysupply.com), durable and easy to clean, and seem to fit all the different sizes of horses we have. My husband rides in a 16 inch and so do I, but I also have 14, and 15 inch ones for students, plus two of my customers have bought them in the past year. The other thing that is nice is that they are lightweight and easy to lift onto the horse and they make a round skirted model. I have had the one that I use on a daily basis for about 15 years.

[ny_asb]

Rockin R Saddlery makes a work saddle that is nicely priced and has fit every saddlebred I've put it on. It's a comfy saddle and everyone that has ridden in mine has liked it. It comes in rough out or smooth leather and comes in a 17" seat.

http://equineusaonline.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=4&products_id=294

[Cas]

Hi have a Billy Royal show saddle that doesn't fit my gelding the greatest (he is tall, high withered and narrow). I don't want to spend more than $1500 as it will be my pleasure/trail riding saddle and plan to keep my Billy Royal to show in when the time comes (lol just can't part with it) but I have been considering or wondering if a gaited western saddle would suit him, I know from reading I need a 6.5 gullet width. Has anyone heard anything, good or bad, about those IMUS 4 Beat western saddles or the Infinity Saddle that are sold at National Bridle.

http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-6886.htm

Thanks!

[cmdrcltr]

Hi Cas.

If your guy is high-withered and on the narrow side, I don't know if a gaited tree will work for you. In my western saddle search I've found the gaited tree saddles to be too wide for my high-withered, somewhat narrow guy. I think many of them are designed for TWs, which I picture as wider through the shoulder than my guy. I had hoped one would work as they are advertised as having higher wither clearance.

I've ended up going with a semi-custom from a saddler in GA. It's going to run me around $700-$800 depending on the model I choose. Essentially my guy needs the semi-QH tree with a high gullet. I've read great reviews about these saddles (for the price range) and Kevin has been very helpful in fitting my horse, viewing lots of pics both with and without saddles on. The website is southerntrailssaddle.com

Heather

[Cas]

Thanks Heather!

[ShouldveWon]

CMD ~ what is the name of the saddle company?? I am too trying to find a western saddle for my ASB