[ChoicePretense_]

Do you ride in your show saddle or do you have a training saddle?

If you ride in your show saddle how do you keep it clean and looking good?

[faroutfax]

I ride in my show saddle for training, but it isn't one of those super expensive almost-white colored saddles.

Here it is


I clean and oil it just as I do my other saddles, I have to clean the silver on it soon, but I havn't cleaned it since I bought it

I think that the rough-out trainers or synthetic saddles are easier to look after

[Friesiangirl]

I ride in the same saddle for shows when I train. That way I know how to ride in my saddle.

[idlewild]

I don't have different saddles for show or training, I'm not that rich, lol.

That and I don't want to go to a show and get into a saddle that neither me or my horse are familiar with working in. My position would be off, and my horse wouldn't be used to it and it could potentially not fit correctly.

No, I use the same saddles for schooling as I do for showing. I just keep them in very good condition, clean them regularly, and keep then stored properly.

[luvs2ride79]

It seems mostly western riders have separate show and training saddles, as you don't want to damage the silver or darken light leather. Most English riders show in the same saddle they train. As long as you keep the saddle cleaned at all times and condition as needed, your saddle will stay in tip top shape!

[ChoicePretense_]

Well I do both western and english. I ride in my english saddle keep it covered and polish it before shows.

But my western show saddle looks like this:



And it's a complete pain to polish it and clean it after I ride everytime. And it gets dirty really quickly. Not to mention I have to keep it in my trailer so I'm worried it'll mold. This is the first winter I'll have it so yeah..:/

[AllAroundRdr]

I have my schooling/training saddles for both English and Western -- I have 3 Western Training saddles and now I'm actually training in my new Reiner a lot too becaus it's SO comfortable. Same goes for English -- I have my 'strictly' show saddles and my training saddles.

[Mutrok]

For english I ride in my show saddle. For western I have a training saddle. I might ride in my show saddle a few times before a show but my show saddle is worth a lot and is one of a kind so it just isn't worth it.

[AllAroundRdr]

I'm just far too lazy to lug a saddle that weighs more than 1/2 what I do up on multiple horses ;p That and I dispise cleaning my show saddles with a toothbrush after I school in them and there's dust stuck in the tooling.

Originally Posted by mutrok

I might ride in my show saddle a few times before a show but my show saddle is worth a lot and is one of a kind so it just isn't worth it.

[Haas Horse Farm]

I have an ancient Circle Y that I ride all the time... It has literally had the stirrups torn off of it... more than one horse go over backwards on it, etc. I ride it often as it is my favorite saddle. I tried to buy a new one to replace it several years ago... but the new one I hated. The seat was slicker than snot. I sold it to a lady in KS for $600.

I have several show saddles and often my trainer will just ride his old Clayburn in the show pen but use the Silver Royal or Allen Ranch for the photo. He does show in them sometimes... It just depends on how many horses he has to ride.

Many reiners, cow horse and ropers do not show with all the silver that WP riders do... We are more concerned about our ride than the fashion show. (that is said in jest so do not get all huffy about it... after all I was told by a WP rider at an AQHA show that reiners have to show after WP because they have more expensive horses. )

I have one good english saddle so I use it. (I sold my others so now... that is all I have... but just in case someone is paying attention I do still have possession of the Collegate but it is sold and getting a new zip code after Christmas.)

I will ride my new reiner a bit before I show in it. I always ride several times in any saddle I show in before showing just to be sure that everything fits right. What saddle I pick has a lot to do with what horse I am riding.