My eventer has just been retired from her job and I’m looking to use her very lightly as a trail horse. Being a TB, she is still spooky, looky, and zoomy- and my english saddle just isn’t cutting it for security or my comfort!
I’m looking for an inexpensive western, aussie or cross over saddle ( I love McClellan saddles as well) that would fit my girl- she wears her Wintec 500 AP (about five years old, no suede seat!) with the medium gullet (though she tends towards the narrow side of that, so think medium/medium narrow able) and a 3/4 neoprene foam (closed cell) riser that barely does it- my saddle needs a riser on every horse I’ve put it on, as far as I can remember- it sits low and hard on the horse’s back otherwise. I use a towel under the cantle on the fat Dutch WB I ride- both sweat evenly, no dry spots or ouchy spots as far as I can tell.
Is there an inexpensive saddle that would be more comfortable? I’m looking for a suede seat/ deep seat for security when she spins and I love synthetic. I also prefer english rigging when possible but I have a tendency to loose feeling in my toes over rides. A LIGHT saddle would also be an option! I’m looking for something less than 200$ or something I can find used.
Thanks!
Rory
Try finding a stock saddle- thats what a lot of breakers use becaus eof the support.
Instead of a riser check out this product – EPS saddle correctional system- I have been using one for a while now and they are great for comfort and ajustments to your saddle (just google and you will find the page)
Also encourage him to work with his head low and this will encourage him to stay calm when he is out
Try finding a stock saddle- thats what a lot of breakers use becaus eof the support.
Instead of a riser check out this product – EPS saddle correctional system- I have been using one for a while now and they are great for comfort and ajustments to your saddle (just google and you will find the page)
Also encourage him to work with his head low and this will encourage him to stay calm when he is out
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I don’t really have a good answer for you. But I have been in your situation before with an OTTB that I wanted to trail ride. I was able to handle him in the ring, but on the trails he could really buck. So, I bought an Australian saddle for trail riding. Since I ride English, I got the English rigging and no horn. I found that in order to get the TB fit, I had to go with a fairly expensive brand. Unfortunately the cheapo Aussie saddles only come in the stock horse fit, which will be too wide for your horse. But maybe you could find a used one?
Anway, it did work for me in a way…I’ll explain:
The good thing about the Aussie saddle is you really cannot fall off. You may loose your seat easily, but you hit those poleys and it slams you right back down in the saddle. So, my boy could buck and carry on all he wanted, and I did not come off. Eventually, he gave up trying. Now, here’s the downside. It’s impossible to ride well in the Aussie saddle, at least if you’re used to English. It feels really weird. Even with the English rigging, you cannot hold your legs in the position where you would normally. I found that I rode real sloppy, always banging on my horse’s back and yanking on his mouth because I just never could find my balance in the dang thing. So as soon as we got past the acute bucking phase of his behavior, I sold the saddle. So, like I said, it did provide a solution in a way…but created problems too. I suspect that if you normally ride Western, you may find the Aussie saddle more like what you are used too. I have trouble finding my seat the few times I’ve ridden in a Western saddle too, especially I find that my legs can’t wrap around my horse the way I’m used to.
Now, if I’m trail riding a horse that I don’t trust, I ride in my Wintec Isabel dressage saddle because the deep seat and large thigh blocks give me much more security. Only if I trust the horse do I trail ride in my jumping saddle, but the advantages to that are I can 2-point in it for galloping and jumping. But I’m used to a dressage saddle, if you’re not you may not find it helps you much.
Some horses are just never going to be quiet, relaxing trail horses. I once adopted an 18 yo former Intermediate level event horse, thinking I’d get this old schoolmaster who could teach me to ride with confidence. Instead, I learned how to hang on tight and give myself an ulcer every time I tried to ride outside of the ring. Unless he was galloping to a large fence (which made him concentrate and focus) he was always jumping out from underneath me when he saw a bird, or a butterfly, or even a leaf moving in the wind. I think what I really needed was a saddle with a seat belt
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Yep a stock saddle would be a great way to go, I was quite young and my horse had a huge bucking problem (and was over coming back problems) and not only did my stock saddle not hurt his back but I was secure as anything and it was always a comfy ride. It was only a cheapo one (like $300) but it was only lightly used so I couldn’t tell you how it would have worn over time cos once I got the bucking sorted I moved on to a different saddle. I think wintec makes stock saddles (synthetic) but that is gonna cost you unless you can find a second hand one.
Also my bloke was not narrow at all (appy) so not sure how you will go with the fit on your girl.
Good Luck!
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