Hi All, I've come to the forum for advice on two very different types of saddles.
We've owned our rescue horse Gracie for two months now - actually I think she owns us at this point.
Our farrier visited the first week we got Gracie - she was approx. 250 lbs. underweight at the time - back in early February and suggested I wait until at least his next visit until I start riding her. When I wasn't busy taking care of Gracie I spent my free time saddle shopping until my eyes bulged.
The farrier was back yesterday and was impressed with Gracie's progress. Her visit yesterday included her hoof trim, teeth float, immunizations and YAH! a saddle fitting. Farrier suggested it would be a good time for me to start lightly riding Gracie, to help her build muscle back up. Now for the problem....
I had already pretty much decided on a synthetic saddle, Abetta or Big Horn. I'm not as young as I once was and need a lighter saddle, less time cleaning, like round skirts, yada..yada. I still drool over a few leather saddles, specifically a few Tex Tans, but planned to get a synthetic for now.
Without meaning to the farrier turned me off the Abettas, based on his family's experience with them; I kinda like the Big Horns better anyhow. So, out of hundreds of saddles I have narrowed my choices down to either getting a Big Horn synthetic or going ahead and getting the leather saddle of my dreams - a Tex Tan.
Here's what I'd like to ask y'all -
Does anyone know where I can find gullet sizes on the Big Horns? Gracie is part draft and has to have a large gullet, 7" at least and FQ bars.
Does anyone have an opinion on the Tex Tans at all? I can't find any online reviews and most folks I have talked to have never even heard of them, although one person told me they knew they were made in the US.
Sorry for the long post and TIA
We've owned our rescue horse Gracie for two months now - actually I think she owns us at this point.
Our farrier visited the first week we got Gracie - she was approx. 250 lbs. underweight at the time - back in early February and suggested I wait until at least his next visit until I start riding her. When I wasn't busy taking care of Gracie I spent my free time saddle shopping until my eyes bulged.
The farrier was back yesterday and was impressed with Gracie's progress. Her visit yesterday included her hoof trim, teeth float, immunizations and YAH! a saddle fitting. Farrier suggested it would be a good time for me to start lightly riding Gracie, to help her build muscle back up. Now for the problem....
I had already pretty much decided on a synthetic saddle, Abetta or Big Horn. I'm not as young as I once was and need a lighter saddle, less time cleaning, like round skirts, yada..yada. I still drool over a few leather saddles, specifically a few Tex Tans, but planned to get a synthetic for now.
Without meaning to the farrier turned me off the Abettas, based on his family's experience with them; I kinda like the Big Horns better anyhow. So, out of hundreds of saddles I have narrowed my choices down to either getting a Big Horn synthetic or going ahead and getting the leather saddle of my dreams - a Tex Tan.
Here's what I'd like to ask y'all -
Does anyone know where I can find gullet sizes on the Big Horns? Gracie is part draft and has to have a large gullet, 7" at least and FQ bars.
Does anyone have an opinion on the Tex Tans at all? I can't find any online reviews and most folks I have talked to have never even heard of them, although one person told me they knew they were made in the US.
Sorry for the long post and TIA