[Jrchloe]

Tack Collector knows her stuff. After fitting your horse make sure you get the correct size saddle for you. Here is a guide that should point you in the right direction (scroll down to saddle size): http://regaljada.tripod.com/saddlese...tion/id10.html. If it doesn't fit you then you'll never be able to sit in the correct position easily. Also try to find something with adjustable bars since you can move the bars to put your leg in the best position without making it more difficult for you.

If you have an average sized horse the top notch saddles are Shivley 2000, Shivley MMX, Freedman World Cup and the Freedman Victory Pass Saddles.

[Tack Collector]

Why, thank you. Jrchloe knows hers, too.

Watch the overall saddle length. With some Morgans, you have to stop at a 20" saddle.

These are sold but this site has some pics: http://www.tsaddleshop.com/2012859.html

MLinky at trot.org has a Norman deep seat. I think it's a wide tree. She's the only person I can recall having one of the new Normans.

These people get some nice saddles on consignment:
http://www.geocities.com/trainersloft/index.html

[Jrchloe]

If you need more than a 20" but your horse doesn't if you have adjustable bars you'll be much happier. The proper way to measure a cutback is from the middle of the cantle straight to the middle of the cutback in the pommel (bottom of the U). You take that number and add four inches. Also if you need a larger saddle than your horse needs try a flat seat instead of a deep seat. A deep seat can cause some people to lean forward or incourage falling forward in the saddle. A flat seat with a sqaure cantle would at least help hold your butt in the saddle but won't help you lean forward.

[SaddleUp158]

Wow thanks TackTrader and JrChloe! I will check into all the stuff you listed. One question with the deep seat vs a flat seat - I am a hunt/western seat rider so this switching to saddleseat is a bit difficult for me, position wise, especially with my leg. What type of seat would you recommend for me? As a hunt/western rider I am very secure and balanced rider, with a tight still lower leg. Never showed much in eq when I was a jr exh b/c I aged out the year after I started showing, but have been told I would have done well.

[Jrchloe]

Well I personally prefer the mid range seat like the Shivley saddles. They are more like a square deeper seat saddle but they are flat enough to not push you forward. Lillian Shivley is the nations most successful saddleseat equitation instructor and she designed the saddle to make equitating easier (position wise). For someone who is used to h/s saddles I would think this kind of saddle might be a good fit. You can find used Shivley saddles but they are in high demand.

Really a saddle that is the correct size and with adjustable bars should help your legs out as much as a saddle can. Try to stick with sqaure cantled saddles since they don't go too high (once you get used to the saddle you'll be glad) flat or deep.

If you give me some time I will get a list made of new and used with some info on each saddle that TackCollector can add to but I will include links.

[Jrchloe]

These saddles have a cut-back pommel, which is set back several inches (usually four) to allow for the higher withers and neck set of the horse. The saddle has little padding, a very flat seat, and is placed further back on the horse to allow the extravagant movement of the horse. This saddle also deliberately places the rider slightly "behind the motion," which makes it easier to influence both the headset of the horse and the animal's gaits and to allow the rider to best position him/herself so that the horse can look it's best. The wide flaps protect the rider's legs from horse sweat and dirt.
Due to the cutback pommel, these saddles are usually a few inches longer than other English saddles. Even a properly balanced saddle seat saddle is quite flat and places the rider in a position that feels less secure. However, good riders that ride a balanced saddle seat with long stirrups in a "classical" position (legs balanced under the rider, not sitting too far back on the horse's loins), are able to properly ride their horses. Poorly-made saddles of this style can be unbalanced and an improper seat can make riding properly and efficiently more difficult and requires more work to compensate the incorrect placement.
New Saddles

Shivley 2000
It’s the original Shivley. The new 2000 model’s leather has been improved so the breaking in time is cut in half. I have a friend that just bought one and it was love at first site. It has also improved her position by 100%. The seat is padded so it can be pretty comfortable but the seat can be too wide for some people. Handcrafted of hand selected, finest quality English leathers, this saddle includes adjustable stirrup bars, a non-slip scrumpf seat and wider flaps to protect rider's clothing. The elegant cutback design shows your horse's neck and shoulders to perfection.
http://ehorseequipment.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=167

Shivley MMX
This is the saddle I have. I love it. This saddle features all the amenities that are standard on the Shively 2000 - The Difference is The Grip - the MMX is covered entirely in full-grained, soft, waxed 3mm shoulder hide. This "waxed" finish affords the rider the utmost in grip and seating ability. Other features include: extra soft seat, thicker panels, narrow gullet and strengthened reinforced tree.
http://ehorseequipment.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=148

If I was your instructor and you had an averaged sized horse I would recommend the MMX as your best bet but if the price is too steep then the 2000. For a rider with positioning issues this is the best saddle for the job hands down. I have seen it help TONS of riders with positioning. If a new 2000 is still too much I would be on a mission finding a used 2000 in your size. I personally know a few Morgan SS riders (I ride ASBs so some shows we share and I have seen more in the ring I just don’t know a lot of Morgan riders personally) that have Shivleys and love them. A pad can always help the saddle fit better if that’s a problem to a point.

Barnsby
I believe this saddle has been discontinued but they still have some new in stock. I grew up in these saddles and I think they are very nice saddles but they don’t help you like the Shivleys can. The equitation seat has a round cantle and can be quite high. A round deep seat will also be smaller than the same size flat seat.
http://ehorseequipment.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1837

Freedman Victory Pass Saddle
This Saddle features grippy seat and skirt and flaps. Pig grained flaps, memory foam seat, shock absorbing tree points, double "V" billet balancing system and deep recessed adjustable stirrup bars. This is a very flat saddle. Some people love it and some don’t.
http://www.freedmanharness.com/new%20items.htm

Freedman World Cup Saddle
Impeccable rider positioning is the design basis of this saddle, highly effective rider timing makes this saddle our best ever for equitation. World Cup features, Full grip leather, Nylon re-enforced billets, super close contact and 4 position adjustable stirrup bars.
Blue Ribbon
I have never heard anything bad about a Blue Ribbon. I personally have never ridden in one. I do think the color can be a little light and in saddle seat we like dark brown (preferred by most eq instructors) and black. This model is a little deeper than the other Blue Ribbon model.
http://www.4showhorsetack.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_23&products_id=54

The Classic by Blue Ribbon
This is a very flat seat and it does not state if it comes with adjustable bars.
http://www.4showhorsetack.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_23&products_id=32

The Windsor Aristocrat
I personally don’t like the rounded cantle. In a flat seat it won’t cradle your butt and in a deep seat its too deep. But this saddle is semi custom with a choice of tree widths. I would only consider this saddle if you had a very wide horse and couldn’t find anything else. It is a good quality saddle though.
http://www.hartmeyer.com/catalog.asp?action=showitem&id=1260&subcat=7

If you need to find used saddles let me know and I can post websites that sell good saddles. Do you have any saddles you can try out at your barn?

Since you have leg issues I would recommend getting Prussian irons with black ridged pads. How to measure for the corret size iron is under the measuring for the correct size saddle on the link I posted earlier. The lightweight thin irons with the black pads do not draw attention to your feet like heavy Fillis irons and white pads. They are less distracting.
http://www.nationalbridle.com/product-p/1-0481.htm

[SaddleUp158]

JrChloe You Are Amazing! Thank you so much, that last post really helped me to see what I should and should not look for in the saddles I would be looking at. Most likely I will be purchasing a used saddle, I can get more for my money; however, it will need to be in excellent condition as it will be primarily a show saddle. Who knows once I ride saddleseat a few more times I may not have the leg issues. It does not help that my colt is very narrow right now and it is like riding a fencepost! I founght balance and position on him even in a hunt or western saddle, but never on horses a little more mature in the body-even if they were young and unbalanced.

[Tack Collector]

That old flat Crosby is one of my favorites. 20", not for sale.


That's a 20" Stalker Nafey. They imported some saddles in the '80s, I think. Some are on different trees. I particularly like this mid-deep seat. Has adjustable bars. The billets on these tend to get spongy and too stretchy, either from oil or time I'm not sure which; these are not oily and thye are still ok. Not for sale.


That's a 20" flat seat adjustable bar LaCroix Barnsby. It's a round cantle, but I'm so balanced that I forget the saddle and ride the horse. It's a good combo of twist/seat and grippy leather width for me. I can really sit tight in this one. I've had horses spook, bolt, etc., and I am still rock solid. Not for sale. This one was availble in the standard smooth or hog print as the Arab Pro, I think.

SOLD. 21" Blue Ribbon w/ adj bars. Measures 21 1/2" nailhead to cantle, so it's oversized 21". You can dye the seat darker. Whole saddle will darken with oil. Ad is on tacktrader.com.


I postively can't stand the Shively 2000 b/c the seat shape is totally wrong for me, like stradding a fence rail and getting jabbed in the seat bones. The MMX is no better for me. If Barnsby ever makes one that's MMX leather on the old Arab Pro tree, like that flat LaCroix, I'll be right over with the cash.

[Tack Collector]

I don't have that one anymore, but it's a Whitman Arab Pro saddle with 21" seat but only 3" cutback so that the overall tree is like a 20" saddle. I don't think there are too many of them out there.

[Tack Collector]

FWIW, I learned to ride saddle seat in a 21" flat seat Borelli. Talk about no support. Saddles don't get any flatter than that one, plus I took bad advice and bought a 21" when 19" or 20" would have fit. I could not sit back to reach the cantle, lol. So, I really had it tough. Had to ride uphill, in both directions, in cheap sleezy polyester knit homemade jodphurs, without suede knee patches , etc, etc. Kids these days are so spoiled.