Hello Everyone,

I am in need of a new trail saddle.  I like the Tucker saddles.  I am planning on using their measuring instructions for the horse and sending in and finding out which type would be best for my horse.  Does anyone ride in a Tucker?  Any comments both good and bad will be appreciated. I have been riding in a great old handmade Circle Y roping saddle but the weight has become an issue for me.  It weighs almost 50lbs.  Would like a  GOOD lighter weight saddle.

Thanks for any info.

Leslie

I personally don't have a tucker, But several of my friends do and they really like their saddles. Both the older hard seats and newer Gel seats. If you like the feel and looks, I wouldn't worry too much about the Tuckers holding up. They seem to be well made and work well with the gaited horses my friends ride.

If you are worried about horses changing their conformation, I do have a Specialized Saddle that I use on Endurance rides and my daguhter like to use, because it's only 20+ pounds. Much lighter than my other western saddles. It is also a western looking saddle with a horn.  It is very adjustable for different horses. You can shim the pads for different widths of horses. I wouldn't use it as a roping saddle, but it has held up for 10 years of endurance and trail riding.  I've even on occassions thrown a panier over it and packed with it. http://www.specializedsaddles.com/new/

At the last Equine Affaire, my wife bought the Tucker "Equestrian" for the purpose of trail riding. It weighs about 28 lbs and fits the horses and my wife quite well. With the longest ride to date, of about an hour and a half, she hasn't had any unpleasant issues.

She looked at and sat on many saddles at the Affaire. She went there knowing that the Tucker was one of two that had the form she wanted for trail riding; no horn, English styling, low pommel and a light weight. She found the quality and comfort to her liking and is looking forward to a week's riding in northern CA in May.

So far it has proven to be a very good saddle for her needs.

Gard

Gard,

Where's your wife going in No. Cali.? I am in the central sierra nevada foothills of Cali. would be fun to campfire with yall!

The fee for the demo saddle is money well spent when you consider the price of a Tucker.  The best way to determine if this is the saddle for you, IMO, is to ride it.  A friend of mine bought a Tucker and he loves it... but then he rode my Big Horn and couldn't see any difference in the comfort of the saddle or the fit on his horse.  He did, however, see a big difference in the price!

Good luck with your purchase and Happy Trails!

JacciB

I would love to get another one, but yeah, they are pricey. I found the receipt for mine and back then it was only $750! and that included shipping! Hard to find used ones, especially with the wide tree and small seat size I want....

Talking Tuckers, here is an article they did on me and my Tucker awhile back, kinda a human interest story.....hope the link still works.........

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe60157274670d79771d&m=fefe1671726205&ls=fe251274736c047c761c76&jb=ffcf14

Thank you for the offer. My wife's riding will be based out of the Cowboy Hiding Ranch in the Blue Lakes area north of Frisco. She will be going to the Highland Springs reservoir, Ridgewood Ranch (Seabiscuit) The Mendocino Coast and the Upper Lake areas. Some off hours will be spent savoring the local vineyards. With only a week and a half time period, she is somewhat limited on the scope of her travels.

I hope your campfires are plentiful and enjoyable. Thanks again.

Gard

That sounds like the offer of a lifetime! My wife and her friend will be vacationing together. I am unable to ride for any length of time, and would drastically hinder her enjoyment. This is her third trip to CA, maybe the next one will be in your area. Thank you again

Gard

I demo'ed a Tucker saddle a few years ago and it wasn't my cup of tea and didn't fit my horse well.  I would recommend using all of the time you can get while you have the demo.  I rode for about 10 hours total in the week that I had mine. It was the best money I've ever spent when saddle shopping.  I ended up with a Bob Marshall Sport saddle and I've never looked back.  I demo'ed that as well and chose to keep it.

I'm not saying the Tucker is bad but, if you can demo ANY saddle, ride in it as much as you can.  You can't always tell how things will work out in a 1 hour ride. Just like any saddle, some will fit, some won't and some you will like and some you won't.

Good Luck!

If haven't ordered yet, my neighbor is a Tucker Dealer and great to work with. She really knows how to fit a horse.

http://www.saddleupshop.com/

For those that want to look at other saddle brands, I have been extremely pleased with my RL Watson saddle. It has flex panels so it will fit a variety of horses and the workmanship is awesome.

I have the continental - flatter seat/less rise and it is the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden it. And because the panels flex, if fits my slightly sway backed 27 year-old Arab, to my broad QH - to my mutton withered, narrow Foxtrotter. And I have ridden in it over 150 miles since I got it last fall with no soreness to the horses back or mine.

Tucker bought Circle Y. Was at a saddle fitting demo a few weeks ago with a friend and talked to a Tucker rep. He said the older Tucker saddles were constructed better because they were individually made, not a production line like they are now.

The Generation II saddles look better in leather quality, but saw that some of the screw heads on the pommel area were crooked. However, if a saddle fits the horse and you and is within your budget then it is a good purchase whether new or used.