Synthetic Saddle

[Bacharel]

Has anyone tried a synthetic western saddle? I have never liked them and have found them to be quite ugly. Id like to know if you can move more/less your legs in them, and things like that. Ill be glad to get any response :)

[galadriel]

The traditional Western saddle has thick, heavy leather skirting and a heavy wooden tree. These help distribute the rider's weight very well, along more of the horse's back.

The synthetics used on Western saddles do not help distribute the weight; they're too soft. Some synthetic saddles have a real wooden tree, so are better for the horse. Some (most) have a synthetic tree as well as synthetic material; unfortunately, the synthetic tree does not fit most horses at all. It's got a number of design flaws.

I tend to recommend against synthetic Western saddles. If you have a saddle fitter who can help you examine the saddle on your horse, then you could try some and see how well they do. But the synthetic materials change a lot of the effectiveness of the Western saddle; it's best to have someone who has studied saddle fit and saddle structure help you with any Western saddle, but definitely one with less traditional materials.

[Bacharel]

Thank You for that. It changed my mind completely. I was only drawn to them because of the price and wasnt sure of the flaws, knew there had to be some.

[K&K]

I love my synthetic western saddle, it's the comfiest saddle I've ever ridden in. It's nice and light, good for my mare's back, she's an older horse. It fit her really well up until recently; she's bulked up and gotten quite wide, too wide for my saddle, so it's for sale. I prefer it to leather western saddles because I have better contact with the horse, and a better range of movement. After owning this saddle, I don't think I could go back to a full leather western saddle ... I'm now looking at treeless options.

Personally I prefer the Circle Y cordura western saddle (what I have) to the Wintec and Abetta, but it's all personal preference. Plus the Circle Y comes in full QH bars, and the Wintec didn't ... so my mare wouldn't have fit a Wintec anyway.

All in all, I love that saddle and wish I didn't have to sell it. I've gone on 6 hours ride with it and no sore bum (or horse!).

[mustang fan]

well I ride in a synthetic saddle and it is very dependable. you only have to clean the leather. and the rest you can hose down. they are really comfortable and less expensive! :) they are great! :p check www.statelinetack.com

[cvb]

I had a circle Y synthetic and it was nice to ride in.

As Galadriel says, there is less skirt on a sythetic.

Also - the one I had was a Ralide tree which I was told come up "smaller". So it fitted my "english" beasties quite nicely but was way too narrow for my QH-style Appy mare :rolleyes:

It was a LOT lighter than my leather western - so this may offset the smaller area to of the skirts ? My current saddle is like weight training for us both :eek:

[Roheryn]

I prefer the synthetic western saddles I've tried to the leather ones, because they weigh so much less than even the lightest leather ones. The synthetic ones I've seen start at around 15-17 lbs.; the lightest leather one I've seen was 25 lbs. With my bad back I can barely carry a leather western saddle out of the tack room, let alone lift it onto the horse's back! The synthetic ones are much easier to lift and carry, and I can't help but think that the lighter weight must be appreciated by the horse as well, as long as the saddle fits!

The Cordura synthetic saddle I've used is also much less stiff than the leather ones, and of course less slippery than the smooth leather.

Some of the synthetic western saddles are made with wooden trees.

I do prefer the look of many of the leather saddles, i.e., the ones that are all one color and have saddle strings and plain leather seats. But more important to me are the lightness and flexibility of the synthetic saddles.

[Jessey]

I tried wintec and circle Y synthetic, I didn't like either, they are OK to ride in but they are kinda filmsey and neither fitted my horse, not sure I have seen any horse they do fit well as they are really odd shapes, I know alot of people who use them with no visible problems but I wouldn't choose one.

J x

[S.H.O.W.J.U.M.P]

My sister has tryed one and she says that there not very good because they start falling to peices after a few years. But I have a sythetic and It is very nice.

[horselover1002]

i can move more in a real lether saddle. i like synthetic but they restrict my movement.

[horselover1002]

i am able to move more in a leather saddle. i like synthetic saddle but they keep me from moving as much as i would like to.

[Roheryn]

S.H.O.W.J.U.M.P.--
I would like to know what kind of synthetic saddle you have. I'm looking at Wintecs and Weavers and Bighorns and would like to look at Abettas but can't find a dealer anywhere near here.

[Bacharel]

Just an update I ended up getting a synthetic and loving it the first ride. Then every ride after I started to hate it, so now I am in the process of trying to selling it.:o

[Shadowlark]

Oh dear, I am so sorry you hate - Unload it as fast as you can saddly they have very little resale value :T

I just bought a super nice western saddle for 200$ from the owner of our stable. He is a horse dealer and by virtue also has a TON of tack. I had 50 some odd saddles to chose from and got to try them all on and fuss with them. I havn't actually BOUGHT the one i have yet - I have it on trial for 2 months first (cause he loves me ;)) They are all dirty and need love.. but this one cleaned up to be REALLY sharp. Anyhow the point of my rambling is to say... try calling some horse dealers and see if you can't find something better that way :)

[Bacharel]

Thanks for the advice:)

[Roheryn]

Hi, Bacharel--
What sort of things did you start to hate about your new synthetic?

[Bacharel]

I really didnt get the feel of my old saddle. I couldnt feel any of her movements when riding. The seat somehow seemed very wide like I was having to stretch my legs around. The fenders, to me, resembled cardboard even after the saddle was broken in. Also coming from barrel saddle this trail saddle just felt awkward to me. I did like the fact that it was light weight but the cons over weighed that. This is just my opinion hope no one takes offense to this.:)

[Roheryn]

Thanks, Bacharel.
I was glad to read your comments, especially about the fenders continuing to feel like cardboard. All the synthetics I've looked at, except the Bighorns with cordura, have pretty stiff fenders and I've wondered if they'd ever limber up; if synthetic material would ever get broken-in like leather. I appreciate what you said about them and about the rest of the synthetic saddle you've tried.

[Bacharel]

no problem:)