Saddle advice???

[pnalley]

My husband is currently riding in an Orthoflex patriot. It was originally bought for a tall rangy, sore backed App, and it did serve it's purpose. On the Paso's it sems to be too long from front to back as well as he feels tha the is sitting too high to have decent contact with the horse (due to the flex panels). The saddle is not comfortable on a trotting horse either (for the rider).

My honey has recently run into the Tucker saddles and has found one he likes. We have been told they are good with gaited horses. The seat certainly feel comfortable.

Any comments? Keep in mind this would be used for trail riding, comfort to horse & rider is most important, and it's sole use would be Paso's

[My Pasos]

I have not personaly used one, but they are sold in tack stores in Shelbyville, Tn. I would be curious to see how they would be and fit a Paso.

[Abejita]

just watch the same thing as the orthoflex..to long ..not sure about the setting you up high with the Tucker

[pasoglide]

I have a Tucker endurance Saddle look-a-light I love it . The seat is very soft and I love the big flat sturrups . It has a round skirt and fits all my paso's from 13.2 to 15. hands. I just noticed the saddle is the one in my aviator.

[siegel]

I ride a Tucker Montreal Light (which is almost the same as the Trooper) for trail and field trials. It's a good fit for my 14.1 paso and comfortable for me as well.

[appyday]

My husband is currently riding in an Orthoflex patriot. It was originally bought for a tall rangy, sore backed App, and it did serve it's purpose. On the Paso's it sems to be too long from front to back as well as he feels tha the is sitting too high to have decent contact with the horse (due to the flex panels). The saddle is not comfortable on a trotting horse either (for the rider).

My honey has recently run into the Tucker saddles and has found one he likes. We have been told they are good with gaited horses. The seat certainly feel comfortable.

Any comments? Keep in mind this would be used for trail riding, comfort to horse & rider is most important, and it's sole use would be Paso's

That is exactly why Carol said I would not like that saddle...I got the BM trail saddle with no horn and LOVE it...

[pnalley]

Which saddle wouldn't you like? The orthoflex or the tucker? Whats a BM saddle?

[motorgypsy]

Sorry I can't help with the one you are interested in. I'd love to see it though if you get it!!

I just love my Abetta endurance saddle. I'd certainly try one before I bought it but for trail and endurance it's fabulous. It's short, light, the bottom is foam rather than fake fur so you can hose it off, it's grippy and comfortable. I do use a merino wool seat saver with it and a grab strap on the front but overall it's the most versatile and easy to care for saddle we have. You can get one for $300.

We also have an old orthoflex Aussie and even Stella said it fit our girls fine. It doesn't feel as though we're too high either and it's short enough. Now it's NOT good on a fat and flat backed paso fino because it tends to list to one side but we use it on four of our guys and love it. It's just heavier and leather so we can't just hose it off. We use it for parades and shows. I think this one is about $2000.

We have a James Saddlery very expensive hand made real Aussie that is fabulous BUT it is leather and the seat is somewhat slippery so even with the poleys it's not the most secure saddle for a guy who wears jeans. It only fits our larger pasos too. It's very heavy but soooo comfortable and secure if you wear full seat breeches. This one is about $2000.

Our really bum around in saddles are our Big Horn and Fabtron synthetic barrel saddles. We do use both a felt and a grippy pad since they are a hair too wide in the tree for our smaller girls but we just use the grippy pad on our larger ones. they aren't too long either. They are the most secure of all our saddles and quite comfortable. I would not ride a horse that tends to buck with one because they do have horns which can catch on your clothing. These run around $500.

[PattiB]

I feel too high off my horse in a Orthoflex also. They do make flex panels shorter, they quoted me $300 to retro fit them. I didn't like the saddle that much so I sold it. Tuckers use to be made too long also but they strated shortening the skirt for the smaller horses. You just have to measure the skirt to see if it will fit.

[Linda Y]

I go with everyone else's opinon on the orthoflex. Had one, felt like I was sitting up on a platform...sold it.
I have a Bob Marshall (that is what BM is) and an Abetta endurance. LOVE the BM, also like the Abetta. Both are grippy, secure and comfortable for me and the horse.

[motorgypsy]

Not everyone Linda - we love ours but it's an aussie.

[pnalley]

We don't seem to have problems finding saddles for me. I'm still using my old (20+/- yrs) Wintec All Purpose, it was one of the first ones made. I have used it on 12 hand 1/2 Arab ponies up to 15.2 hand Apps and everything in between. It has never made a sore back on a horse and it is very comfortable for me. As for western I use a Big Horn light weight western saddle & I love it. Again I use it on all shapes, sizes and breeds.

I'm thinking about getting a Wintec Western, just to have an inexpensive extra saddle around here. My husbands old Big Horn has a small crack in the tree, so we only use it on babies to get them used to saddles. Anyone tries the Wintec Western?

[CarolU]

Paula, I have a Wintec western for my husband. It's light, small enough for the short backs, synthetic so it cleans easy and wears well. He loves it. I since bought him a BM and he bought himself an Aussie. But he uses the Wintec exclusively. I've sold his BM (to Shelley) and his Aussie will soon be for sale.

It was the Orthoflex I told Shelley put you too high above the horse. I've ridden in a couple and don't like the lack of contact with the horse. I think for the money, I'd buy an ORIGINAL BM instead. Nice saddles.

Edited to add: I have never tried a Tucker. I would love to. They look like very nice well made saddles. I doubt I'll ever go back to a treed saddle though. I am thoroughly spoiled now.

[cowboy ed]

paula, i have two tucker saddles here. the endurance equitation and a cheyenne, which is more of a western style with a horn. both are very nice. the cheyenne is a bit longer, but it does fit pretty good on some of my paso finos. it might not work well on a small horse though. if it is an average size paso fino, it will probably be ok.

i have also tried the wintec western. it is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to clean. i dont really like the way it sits. it kind of puts me up too far toward the pommel because the seat is pretty flat. it just didnt feel right to me. i tried it on a couple of my paso finos. it was an ok fit, but not great. a lot of people like them though.

[pnalley]

After CarolU's post I have decided to buy an inexpensive Wintec Western Saddle ($293.60) for now, while we explore "other" options for my honey.

My dear sweet husband *thinks* he needs a 17 inch saddle, I think he's delusional (I say 16 inch),

I know how to measure a saddle. Is the accepted method of measuring a person still to use a tape measure from hip joint to knee joint, when you can't actually sit in a saddle to try it?

I need answers, I will buy this saddle tomorrow, when I'm sure I'm getting the right size :roll:

[cowboy ed]

well, how big an old boy is he? :smile:

[pnalley]

5.7 and 195lbs.

He's not to heavy for his size, he's too short for his weight :lol:

He is a balanced rider, independent seat & hands (don't know if that matters in saddle choice)

[cowboy ed]

i would say 17 inch seat.

[Mellifluous]

I think that guys feel they need the extra room so that the boys have enough space.
;-)

[cowboy ed]

hey, that's another topic altogether! i just tell guys to keep the weight on the balls of their feet, not the other ones!

if you can ride right, you dont get racked!

[pnalley]

Yep, he is rather fond of "the boys".

One time he rode in a custom made Chilean (sp?) saddle, problem was it was custome made for a 6.2 guy that was a toothpick. The horse he was riding jumped a creek rather LARGE. And just stopped on the other side. The boys were NOT amused.

[reuben T]

LOL! that can be an issue for sure.
If ya want a flex panel to make saddle fit the horse better try the corrector, it solves some of the problems the flex panel saddle had. it's a half inch thick and just stiff enough and flexible enough to spread out the weight of the ends of the bars. Of course if the saddle fits reasonably well and ya arn't riding too extensivly ya may not need it.

[Rose Mary Axell]

I highly reccomend the Wintec Westen saddles. We have two of them and love them. I do put a crupper on all my saddles, and on my smaller Paso's I use a thicker pad. I have never had the Wintec cause any sore backs and we do a lot of trail riding.

I reccomend them to all my clients. They are an economical saddle and they work well.

I would like to try the Abetta flex tree saddle. Has anyone tried it on their Paso's? I l really like the looks of their round skirt synthetic western saddle.

[motorgypsy]

You all beat me to it. Kyle is tall and slim but he still says anything smaller than a 17 causes serious problems. I tell him he just doesn't sit correctly!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: He says "How would I know"??? Good point!! I've always wondered if the McClellan wasn't made the way it is for more than one reason!!!

[Barbwire]

Nice, ed, real nice! http://homepage.mac.com/oatmeal/MAF/maxes/applause.gif

[Terry Wallace]

Yep...the Orthoflex sure does not fit all horses...they tend to "perch" you too far up from the horse...

Agree on the Tuckers... many will be too long for the back of a Paso....same with the Steele saddles.

Have you ever tried a Tennessean? they are spread like a regular saddle, but also counter-spread at the wither for no shoulder interference...they are all I buy now after too many "experiments" with other saddles...

I don't like the BM because they do tend to slip if you are not a smaller person... I have to say I have not ever been around one that fit the horse right...seen them stacked with pads...seen them with too slight of a pad...
Just have not seen one that fits... just my experience... and have not seen many of them...only four.

[pnalley]

We have bought two saddles. One an all purpose Wintec for me, to replace my 20 year old AP Wintec. If it is half as good as the old one I'll be very happy.
We also bought the Western Wintec. It is inexpensive and will make a great "extra' saddle.
We will put his ortho flex on consignment at a local store. Once it sells we will look into whatever he want's. He is a balanced rider, and he rides a variety of horses. Favio is the shrimp at 12.2, (very round) Brat is 14.3 and also very round, Caliente is about 14.2 and much narrower.

When you buy, what size tree do you go for? Quarter Horse bars, Semi Quarter Horse???

[Terry Wallace]

If that question was for me....neither...I buy the gaited horse tree only...the only tree used on the Tennessean. You can TRY one also...they will send you a demo to try... www.nationalbridleshop.com

QH and Semi-QH bars are not counterspread at the shoulders...

For me, the Tenneseans are a great value all the way around...price, build, etc..

[pnalley]

The tree question was for every one.

Rarely do you see an option other then QH or Semi QH. I have seen specs for arabs. But never any others

[Carol D.]

Jumping in here on the saddle question, is there anyone here who uses the Yancey saddles?