Posted 2006-02-18 12:05 AM (#37422) Subject: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Veteran
Posts: 153 Location: Grant City, Missouri
I'm planning on buying a new saddle this year....preferably a light weight one as my horses are getting taller and I'm getting shorter! I want a saddle for trail riding. I have a Circle Y which I love but it is getting heavier and heavier! lol Can anyone give me some insight on the flex tree and is that an option for the type of saddle I'm wanting?
Posted 2006-02-18 3:30 AM (#37423 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Danielsville Georgia
Try these folks http://www.crestridgesaddlery.com/ Great folkes to deal with on fit for BOTH you and horse.All saddles made in house.No gimmicks just the straight truth about fit and purpose etc.
Posted 2006-02-18 6:06 AM (#37424 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Veteran
Posts: 168 Location: Stem NC
I have had two flex tree saddles. I loved the ride for me but they did not fit my horses. I have TWH and they are hard to fit. I have a flex tree now. It fits one of my two horses.
They are only a little bit lighter than a regular saddle. I can get it on the horse ok but it is hard to get on the saddle rack in the trailer. I have to do it one handed I guess because I don't want my saddle pad to hit the dirt.
I think you woul like the saddle. They come in full quarter horse bars and semi I think. They would fit a wide horse but not one with a higher wither.
Posted 2006-02-18 12:31 PM (#37435 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Location: KY
What kind of horse do you have? What kind of saddle are you looking for? english, endurance, western? I have a Circle Y endurance with a flex tree semi qtr bars that fit my twh very well and is comfortable for me too; but my favorite (for now) is a courbette endurance (32 cm tree)which weighs about 15 pounds. Also have a thornhill pathfinder which is light and comfy too. My buddy uses a big horn endurance with a flex tree full qtr horse bars and is totally sold on it. equusunlimited.com and vtosaddlery.com and showstoppertack.com have very good selections
Posted 2006-02-18 1:07 PM (#37439 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Veteran
Posts: 153 Location: Grant City, Missouri
Thanks everyone for the response.
Rose, I ride quarterhorses. One is Impressive bred, so he is not real round, the other is more stocky. I trail ride and just would like to have something easier to throw on these big guys. I have been hearing a lot about the flex tree saddles and just wondered what their advantages are. I know that there are some lines of lightweight saddles now.
Posted 2006-02-18 2:08 PM (#37446 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
You might look at Wintec. VERY comfortable and in a wide range of sizes. I've never used an adjustable width trail saddle but have friends who swear by them. Their dressage saddle adjusts nicely and is probably the most comfortable thing I've ever sat in. The horse liked it too.
Posted 2006-02-18 8:50 PM (#37464 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
We recently purchased a flex-lite Circle Y 16" seat, semi-QH bar after our trailer was stolen with all of our tack last summer. Had a hard time finding a saddle that fit both my husband and his mare. My husband rides a short back, 15h QH mare (Penny). Penny is very sensative to saddle fit, so it took several saddle makers and widths to find one that she approved of. We tried it out last fall on several rides of 12+ miles a day. No problems with it.... no sore back, dry spots, etc. The leather is very supple, thus easy on your legs and ankles. No breaking in required with this saddle. The wide tree sat too low on her back so you might try to find an outfitter that will let you test drive the saddle before purchasing. That is how we finally decided to buy this saddle. Good luck and happy trails!
Posted 2006-02-18 10:19 PM (#37469 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Member
Posts: 40
A friend of mine who makes saddles here in southern Illinois has asked to make me a saddle now for twenty years and last year I give in. He measured my big mule which is 16.2 and weighs in at 1300, then my little mule which is 14.3 1000 lbs, his measurements was close enough on the two that the saddle would work for both.
It is a easy rider 17.5 seat 5"cantle with adjustable center fire rigging. All my life I have rode a Herford the only problems have been with me. I love my new saddle a lot, but I am 6' 300 lbs. so this makes me not the best set up straight in the saddle rider. My new saddle does the best of all that I have had what I am getting at is if your saddle fits your horse perfect and you pull the saddle and pad off and no dry spots I can ride your saddle on your horse after a few hours of riding I get lazy in the saddle and my fat belly and I start leaning forward you can pull the saddle off and I will show you dry spots. This is not your saddles problem this is me and a lot of other riders that are big boys.
So please don't blame a saddle at first check how you ride.
Posted 2006-02-18 10:30 PM (#37470 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Location: KY
Any english type saddle is going to be easy to put on, one of the reasons I went to the english. Abetta makes several saddles that are very good quality and lightweight; they have a trail saddle with the center fire rigging; I had one but it was too wide for my horse (and yes, I was surprised) sold it to a friend of mine who rides mules and it is doing fine. Take a look at counrysupply.com too. equusunlimited is running a 10 % off order of 150 right now. Big Horn makes a flex tree saddle and the info is on equusunlimited's site; worth reading. Have fun shopping!
Posted 2006-02-19 6:10 PM (#37509 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Norco, CA
I'm also in the market for a hunt seat saddle. I like the Bates and Collegiate brands but i dont know much else about any other types. I need it for show with big sized arabs, so medium size tree. Do you have any suggestions for a long lasting comfortable english show saddle?
Posted 2006-02-21 10:31 AM (#37615 - in reply to #37469) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Veteran
Posts: 161 Location: S. Central Illinois
JD
Where at in So. IL? I am looking for someone who knows about fitting saddles. I believe my Morgan gelding is proving to be a tough fit, and I am not very knowledgeable about proper saddle fit. I have read up on it on the internet but would really like to talk with someone. Send a private message if you like.
Posted 2006-02-21 10:38 AM (#37618 - in reply to #37615) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1011 Location: Oregon
A couple of the tack stores around here will come out to your place or you can trailer your horse there and the will fit the saddle for you. They do it without a pad on and they cinch it up. If you do this, make sure your horse is very clean.
Posted 2006-02-25 12:34 AM (#37787 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Lyons Oregon
Think about buying an Ortho-flex saddle. I've tried all sorts of brands and types of saddles and I keep coming back to the old Ortho-flex saddles. They fit all my horses and my favorite models are lightweight (around 25 lbs) round skirted and come with "booties" these are pads that fit on the saddle so you don't have to use a saddlepad. It's so easy to just fling the rig on and go! shoot me an email at tbryant@wvi.com and I'll send you pictures and info. I have a hobby of buying and selling used ones. I like the old ones. The leather is fabulous and the quality is wonderful. I got into it because I just trail ride and I want myself and my horses to be comfortable. I'm a big fan of these saddles. Also I'd suggest looking into endurance saddles the goal there is comfort and lightweight over long distances.
Posted 2006-02-25 8:39 PM (#37826 - in reply to #37422) Subject: RE: Advice for purchase of new saddle
Elite Veteran
Posts: 610 Location: Northern CA
Abetta synthetic saddles are really nice for around $300 something. I have had 1 for 8 years now and love it .I have the western endurance style with no horn. It is really comfortable and has all kinds of rings attached for your trail gear. Abetta now makes a flex-tree endurance saddle too. These saddles only weigh 15 lbs! They come with the wide padded endurance stirrups too.
Advice for purchase of new saddle
