saddle query

[RoxR]

hi folks!
Sorry this is a bit rushed - I'm really tired and want to get to bed but wanted to post this first!
Some of you might have answered queries from me about buying a western saddle before - I've been hanging on until I get my bonus from work - looks like it might be March! (sob!)

However I was in a fairly local western shop today and although his normal new prices are well out of my range, he had a second hand Wintec Pro synthetic western saddle there. It is 15", black equisuede all over, not just the seat, and apparently retail at over £600. It is built on a Ralide tree. This one is only a year old, looks like new and he wants £300 for it.

I could put a deposit on it until I get the rest of the cash - do you have any advice for me?

i only want it for light use - training, some hacking, western clinics and hopefully the occasional show. how would it be viewed in the show ring? Would I be marked down for it not being a real leather one?

Advice greatly appreciated!

[Outrider]

Hi Rox,

I don't know about showing as I don't. EponaUK is the one to ask about that as she is a certified western judge in the UK. Personally, I don't like the synthetic saddles, but its more a personal taste issue than quality, though you do have to be careful in that area. There are a lot of synthetics out there of poor quality. Wintec, however, is suppose to be a pretty good brand. Does it have a breast collar and rear cinch? I would think that those would be required in a show ring. Like I said, EponaUK, is is a regular here would be able to tell you more. Happy Trails!

[RoxR]

Thanks Outrider!
It does have attachments for a breastcollar and rear cinch although as it is secondhand it doesn't come with them. I asked the saddler about rear cinches and he said there is one western society over here which expects to see them as they tend to do more 'work' with the saddles eg roping. The society I belong to is more on the equestrianism side of western riding and doesn't do any roping, barrel racing etc so the rear cinch is less functional - hopefully Epona can confirm this for me!

I already have a Wintec English saddle which I am extremely happy with and a friend of mine has had one a couple of years longer, and did endurance riding with it - it has shown no signs of wear so I have confidence in the brand.

I know what you mean about synthetics and personal preference - if I'm totally honest I would love to have a lovely comfortable well used, well polished armchair of a western saddle! But I am coming to the view that if I wait until I can afford one, I'll be waiting a long time!! I have seen some very cheap leather saddles and to be honest, they really look it - leather so stiff I would feel for the horse! At least if I get this synthetic, I can progress with our training until such time as I win the lottery, get even bigger bonus etc etc!!!!!
Robinsons shop does a synthetic saddle for £270 which has a suede seat, leather skirts and all the rest (fenders etc) are in nylon. Thinking about it, I would rather pay £300 for a £600 saddle than £300 for a £300 saddle!!!

Part of me is really being impatient - I want one, i want it now, therefore i want this one, and part of me thinks I should hang on and see what else is out there - but second hand western saddles over here are very rare!

I'm just not sure enough to commit myself at the moment!!!!

[myEllie]

I don't like synthetic saddles, but I guess that they would be okay for training at home and practice, but never, ever in a show ring. It looks ridiculously tacky. You don't need a breast collar or rear cinch for shows. I don't even have a rear cinch on my saddle, but I do have a breast collar, which I only use for shows.

[Epona UK]

Hi Rox,
don't panic !
Although I doubt that you would see a synthetic saddle in the show pen in America, over here it is fine, and you won't be marked down for it. You may have a breast plate, but it's more for decoration than function. A flank cinch is rarely seen in show classes, unless your horse is very large, as one of mine is, and you want to try and give the impression that isn't built like the proverbial brick outhouse !!
The most important factor, is of course, that it fits both you and your horse, there is an excellent article elsewhere on the site regarding this.

[cvb]

Hi Rox

I have a synthetic Circle Y saddle, which I got from Heathlands, and have happily used for playing with more than one horse. I had to get a new saddle when I got my new horse because she's too wide for it.

The saddler here (Sweden) told me that Ralide trees tend to come up a bit 'tighter' than whatever the normal trees are made of (its later and my memory's going !).

You might also want to think about whether you will want to sell it on. There isn't much of a market here for synthetic saddles because people want the 'real' thing. Don't know about the UK for that.

But there do seem to be quite a few endurance people here who use synthetic arab western saddles quite happily.

I found my saddle very comfortable. But even better with one of Heather Moffat's seat savers (which is now on my new sadle).