More western saddle fitting questions... Do I use the free one or...

SKB · 08-05-2008, 06:33 AM

I had written in a different post that a neighbor had just given me a free saddle

With the help of others, it seems that the saddle will fit the horse just fine. Now I have a few questions about rider fit...

Okay, I measured the saddle to be 14"-14.5". I should be riding in a 15.5"-16". Will this cause problems while riding if I do use this saddle? Will it place my weight in a wrong spot for the horse's comfort? Will it really inhibit my riding much? I would like to try to make it work since it was free and I don't have much money to get a saddle... but if it is not a good idea, then I won't use it.

Now my second set of questions...
If I do need to get a different saddle (which I may need to save up for) do I get used or new? There are some at the feed store that are about $350-$400 new. The ones I have looked at weigh about 25 pounds. I know I can probably get used ones for cheaper but here is my dilema...
My horse is approx. 24 yo, has a sway back, is 14.2 hh and weighs about 1,000 pounds (maybe a tiny bit less- hard to tell exactly). I am concerned with buying a used saddle because they tend to be much heavier than the new ones I looked at. I am about 5'6" and weigh about 138 pounds. Because he is older and has a sway back, I don't want to put too much weight on him. From what I understand, he would be completely maxed out at 190-200 pounds on his back (I would prefer not to max him out). Also, my husband weighs 150 lbs. and will ride him sometimes using the same saddle.

Can anyone give me any insight to my situation??

WashingtonBay · 08-05-2008, 06:48 AM

The key with a sway back horse is making sure whatever saddle you get has enough curvature to give even contact along the whole tree. If it bridges, he'll have painful pressure points in the front and back. Sway back pads or custom wedges can help fill those voids and provide that nice even contact. I have such pads that I had made, both Western and English, to fill in the sway on my old boy. If you like, I have pictures that can show you what we did.

As for whether this saddle fits you or will inhibit your seat or position, well pictures would help.

We have a Big Horn synthetic that my husband uses, and it's both light and not very expensive, and has held up really well. We're really happy with it.

SKB · 08-05-2008, 06:55 AM

That would be wonderful if you had any pics of you pads. I thought about getting an orthopedic pad for him... I guess it's more cushiony

I will try to get some pics of me on the saddle, however it may take a day or two to find time for my husband to take a picture of me!

I don't know if this matters or not but I used to ride all the time when I was younger. It's been a while so my skills aren't as good as they used to be but I have been riding him bareback for about 20 minutes per week at a walk and sometimes a trot!! Once I have a well fitting saddle, I will ride more (I hope)

WashingtonBay · 08-05-2008, 07:50 AM

OK - I'll upload them in a bit.

- I have a minor issue going on here that I have to deal with first.

Did you have a prior thread about this saddle that shows the saddle and the horse's back?

SKB · 08-05-2008, 08:02 AM

Here are a couple of pictures. There is no saddle pad right now cause I have to purchase one and I need to get a girth but I didn't want to spend the money if I can't use this saddle because I my fit. Let me know if you need pics from other angles. I will also try to get a pic of myself on saddle!! I have to go work for a few hours so I will check back in later on today!!! Thanks so much for the help!

SKB · 08-05-2008, 08:03 AM

Oh, also, the picture that was taken in the winter (without the saddle)... he lost a few pounds since then. I may have more pics on my images but I am not sure

WashingtonBay · 08-05-2008, 08:16 AM

Ah- I see. That saddle has a lot of 'rocker' in it, and I agree, stands a real good chance of fitting him well, with maybe some fine tuning in the pad.

My first suggestion would be to see if you have a saddle fitter in town, a saddle maker or repair shop who can do custom work in a pad. That's who made mine, he made it to the horse, and it wasn't all that expensive either.

Here's my Bay's back... and the custom Western and English pads that were made to fill where he was too low for the saddle to make good contact.

On edit... wanted to add a pic of the western saddle on with the pad... but unfortunately I only have a few. Bay was only saddled western long enough for me to teach my hubby to ride in it, I usually ride English and he now has his own horse. :~)

Here he is in the saddle we bought for him... a Big Horn.

WashingtonBay · 08-05-2008, 08:25 AM

Not to forget the issues of the saddle fitting YOU, I think that one has about as roomy a seat design as you'll find, but the key will be whether it's comfortable, and seeing you in it. I'll keep checking back here for your pictures in the next few days, but mail me if I miss the update. :~)

SKB · 08-05-2008, 12:49 PM

Thanks so much. I will try to get my husband to take a pic of me in it later. Maybe I'll take one of him on it also cause he will be using it once in a while. He's not a whole lot bigger than me-good incentive for me to watch the weight

The saddle isn't really uncomfortable, but I was in it for only about 5 minutes! By the way, is that the same horse in both pictures?? So pretty!!! and so clean... my guys really need a bath!

WashingtonBay · 08-05-2008, 12:52 PM

Yes, same horse. In the first one he's just had a bath... hence the puddle under him. :~)

08-05-2008, 06:33 AM	#1
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 199 Images: 9	More western saddle fitting questions... Do I use the free one or... I had written in a different post that a neighbor had just given me a free saddle With the help of others, it seems that the saddle will fit the horse just fine. Now I have a few questions about rider fit... Okay, I measured the saddle to be 14"-14.5". I should be riding in a 15.5"-16". Will this cause problems while riding if I do use this saddle? Will it place my weight in a wrong spot for the horse's comfort? Will it really inhibit my riding much? I would like to try to make it work since it was free and I don't have much money to get a saddle... but if it is not a good idea, then I won't use it. Now my second set of questions... If I do need to get a different saddle (which I may need to save up for) do I get used or new? There are some at the feed store that are about $350-$400 new. The ones I have looked at weigh about 25 pounds. I know I can probably get used ones for cheaper but here is my dilema... My horse is approx. 24 yo, has a sway back, is 14.2 hh and weighs about 1,000 pounds (maybe a tiny bit less- hard to tell exactly). I am concerned with buying a used saddle because they tend to be much heavier than the new ones I looked at. I am about 5'6" and weigh about 138 pounds. Because he is older and has a sway back, I don't want to put too much weight on him. From what I understand, he would be completely maxed out at 190-200 pounds on his back (I would prefer not to max him out). Also, my husband weighs 150 lbs. and will ride him sometimes using the same saddle. Can anyone give me any insight to my situation??

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08-05-2008, 06:48 AM	#2
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	The key with a sway back horse is making sure whatever saddle you get has enough curvature to give even contact along the whole tree. If it bridges, he'll have painful pressure points in the front and back. Sway back pads or custom wedges can help fill those voids and provide that nice even contact. I have such pads that I had made, both Western and English, to fill in the sway on my old boy. If you like, I have pictures that can show you what we did. As for whether this saddle fits you or will inhibit your seat or position, well pictures would help. We have a Big Horn synthetic that my husband uses, and it's both light and not very expensive, and has held up really well. We're really happy with it.

08-05-2008, 06:55 AM	#3
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 199 Images: 9	That would be wonderful if you had any pics of you pads. I thought about getting an orthopedic pad for him... I guess it's more cushiony I will try to get some pics of me on the saddle, however it may take a day or two to find time for my husband to take a picture of me! I don't know if this matters or not but I used to ride all the time when I was younger. It's been a while so my skills aren't as good as they used to be but I have been riding him bareback for about 20 minutes per week at a walk and sometimes a trot!! Once I have a well fitting saddle, I will ride more (I hope)

08-05-2008, 07:50 AM	#4
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	OK - I'll upload them in a bit. - I have a minor issue going on here that I have to deal with first. Did you have a prior thread about this saddle that shows the saddle and the horse's back?

08-05-2008, 08:02 AM	#5
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 199 Images: 9	Here are a couple of pictures. There is no saddle pad right now cause I have to purchase one and I need to get a girth but I didn't want to spend the money if I can't use this saddle because I my fit. Let me know if you need pics from other angles. I will also try to get a pic of myself on saddle!! I have to go work for a few hours so I will check back in later on today!!! Thanks so much for the help!

08-05-2008, 08:03 AM	#6
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 199 Images: 9	Oh, also, the picture that was taken in the winter (without the saddle)... he lost a few pounds since then. I may have more pics on my images but I am not sure

08-05-2008, 08:16 AM	#7
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	Ah- I see. That saddle has a lot of 'rocker' in it, and I agree, stands a real good chance of fitting him well, with maybe some fine tuning in the pad. My first suggestion would be to see if you have a saddle fitter in town, a saddle maker or repair shop who can do custom work in a pad. That's who made mine, he made it to the horse, and it wasn't all that expensive either. Here's my Bay's back... and the custom Western and English pads that were made to fill where he was too low for the saddle to make good contact. On edit... wanted to add a pic of the western saddle on with the pad... but unfortunately I only have a few. Bay was only saddled western long enough for me to teach my hubby to ride in it, I usually ride English and he now has his own horse. :~) Here he is in the saddle we bought for him... a Big Horn.

08-05-2008, 08:25 AM	#8
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	Not to forget the issues of the saddle fitting YOU, I think that one has about as roomy a seat design as you'll find, but the key will be whether it's comfortable, and seeing you in it. I'll keep checking back here for your pictures in the next few days, but mail me if I miss the update. :~)

08-05-2008, 12:49 PM	#9
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 199 Images: 9	Thanks so much. I will try to get my husband to take a pic of me in it later. Maybe I'll take one of him on it also cause he will be using it once in a while. He's not a whole lot bigger than me-good incentive for me to watch the weight The saddle isn't really uncomfortable, but I was in it for only about 5 minutes! By the way, is that the same horse in both pictures?? So pretty!!! and so clean... my guys really need a bath!

08-05-2008, 12:52 PM	#10
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 965 Images: 89 Blog Entries: 2	Yes, same horse. In the first one he's just had a bath... hence the puddle under him. :~)