Looking for less expensive wierd saddle

[KasaMadhuri777]

Hey guys!

I wondered if anybody could help me out finding an affordable, lightweight, full-contact saddle that is a hybrid between English and Western.

I'm not the skinniest of misses, therefore I can't in good conscience use regular English seats due to the amount of pressure imposed upon the horse's back from that small peice of equiptment. To be frank, I'm not in the least enthusiastic about riding with them, either; too high off the horse and too uncomfortable for my big butt!!! I rode Western for years in part due to the better weight distribution and closer contact of the saddle, and tried to use the lightest saddles I could find. With my size, however, I really dislike putting any extra weight than necessary on a horse's back.

I have read about Aussie saddles, and though I love the look and features (aka deep seat, horn option and great stability) the off-kilter angles of the seat and stirrup concern me more than they interest me.

I also looked at some endurance saddles, which seem closer to the mark, but so rarely can you find one with a strap, hook, loop or horn for anything near an affordable price. Basically I want a saddle from http://www.specializedsaddles.com/ without the insane dollar figure. I'm just a student!!!

Not to mention I would like to persue some dressage training. I know I should be in a dressage saddle, but again, I have issues with weight distribution. Besides, I don't intend on competing in any serious manner (just want to train horses for better habits, athleticism and attentiveness), nor do I like a saddle without a horn.

If anybody can direct me to an affordable solution to my hybrid saddle needs, I'd be forever grateful.

Thanks guys!

:ALLY:

[No_Angel]

How about this one http://search.lycos.co.uk/searchFrame/searchframe.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stocksaddle.com%2Fhtml%2Ftreeless_saddles.html&query=trekker%2Btreeless%2Bsaddle&SITE=uk&cat=loc&qstr=query%3Dtrekker%2Btreeless%2Bsaddle%26dom%3Dco.uk%26cat%3Dloc%26matchmode%3Dand%26mtemp%3Dmain% 26etemp%3Derror

I know you are worried about pressure distribution but with teh correct saddle pad I dont think youd have too many problems :)

[Janette]

What about saddles with airbags instead of traditional flocking? I use one, and it's great. Wintec do them. They are excellent for even pressure distribution.

[galadriel]

Janette--I have seen CAIR sit *very* poorly on quite a few horses.

Ally, I agree with you that, in the case of a heavier rider, a saddle like you are describing is good for the horse. I would not recommend a treeless; they don't have enough front-to-back weight distribution, and your weight will be centered directly beneath you. Since that's what you're trying to avoid, a treeless (unfortunately) is probably not what you want.

Ally, you have a couple of different options--but do you have a horse? It's unwise to get a saddle and just hope it will fit the horse, especially when you are worried about full panel contact for weight distribution.

The type of saddle you're talking about is usually called an "Endurance" saddle, but has a Western tree. A Western tree is large, heavy, and solid. When it fits, it's a beautiful thing--when it doesn't fit, it's terrible. I have seen Endurance saddles which sat beautifully on their horses--but they were professionally fitted, in some cases even custom made for the horse. Going out and grabbing an Endurance saddle because the seat looks right will not help you with your weight distribution issues.

There are English saddles with unusually large panels, and these do an excellent job of weight distribution also. (Incidentally, most of these are dressage saddles of one variety or another, although this one (http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/giddens/) is a good example.) You just have to *find* them--and then make sure that THEY fit, because they too must be shaped correctly for the horse.

If you have a limited budget, then I strongly suggest that you search used saddle ads for one which both suits your needs, and will fit your horse. A new saddle which comes "cheap" usually has problems associated with its design or construction--and the one you posted I would consider at the "inexpensive" end of the "not cheap" saddles; that is to say, getting up to that price starts to indicatre that the saddles might be decent.

[Janette]

We must be one of the lucky ones then. Star's whole way of going became much more relaxed once she had this saddle, and she has muscled up beautifully. I suppose it like most things though - Some where - there is a well fitting saddle for everyhorse, you just have to find it.

Yann posted a thread about Suber pads, which look very interesting, especially in the area of weight distribution.

www.davidahnequine.co.uk

These are 'beanbag' pads which mould to the horses back - tested on the Household Cavalry no less ;) . when you think of how much a mounted soldier and his saddle must weigh....... esp in full cermonial dress....phew!

[KasaMadhuri777]

Thanks for your help, guys. ^_^ Those cork saddle pads look really interesting. Perhaps an option for me on an immediate basis, even without my own saddle. I wonder if you can get them in Canada?

Galadriel, I browsed your website last night... very informative! I love that you're getting lay riders to think about the same things that master saddlers and fitters know. It's so important... yet so often you have to pay tons of cash to learn such things! I really appreciate your work to share the info, as I'm sure many other riders do. I shall be making many trips back to the site, I think.

Right now I don't have a horse, no. I am saving up for my Friesian foal though. I know I'm a looooooooooong way off from purchasing a saddle, for exactly the reason Galadriel mentioned - saddle fit for individual animals. I'm very much concerned with any horse's health, though, and felt I should do as much research as possible to be prepared for the day when my future Fur Child gets to the right stage.

Not to mention, I'm also concerned about the horses that I might ride in the future who do NOT belong to me. The last thing I want is to create a crappy experience for both the horse and I when we simply want to enjoy a hack. So I like to know whatever I can to make sure I make educated decisions when options are presented to me.

Maybe I'm a bit too retentive. ^_- Wouldn't be the first time! :D But as they say in the Scouts, 'Be Prepared!!!'

Thanks again everybody.

:Ally: