[QOS]

I am trying to decide what to do about my horse's saddle. I posted last week here Wrong Saddle Fit or Do I Need More Padding? UPDATE - saddle pics #39 and it was discussed about pads and different saddles.

I did buy a gel pad that is pretty heavy but no gel in the center. It was pretty darn pricey. I went riding today out on a 13,000 acre hunt club lease with some friends and my hubby. I showed my saddle's fit and Red's back to one of the guys - he is a trainer and actually used to own and trained my husband's gelding. We discussed all kinds of solutions and where the saddle fit or not. I can put my hand in the saddle under the horn. We saddled up and off we went down country dirt roads, down by a canal, etc.

Red is a happy camper for the most part but today his tail was a windshield wiper - all he did all day was switch it back, back and forth, back and forth. He kept shaking his whole body from nose to tail - about 10 times today. Poor baby. Several folks went ahead and he wanted to GO so we trotted and then broke into a fast lope/gallop and he felt like he slid then bucked - not a bowed up back but more of a kicked up kinda thing. I shrieked like a crazy person "RED!!!" and got him stopped. I got thrown last year trying a horse and really really really don't want to ever repeat the experience. My horse NEVER bucks - he probably has NEVER bucked with a person on him in his life - I bought him from a woman who purchased him as a yearling. She is one of my best friends now so I have tons of history on this horse. Red was very forward today and ready to go - head up, ears forward and eager but the switching/bucking is totally unlike my boy.

We got back to the trailers and I asked Ray to look at the saddle with me ON it. I believe where the bars are at in the front of the saddle I couldn't have slipped a piece of paper in it. Under the horn I could put my whole fist in it but it seems to really be tight there. Ray called a friend that lived across the street and wanting to sell a Tucker and he brought it over. I am going to try Red in it plus tomorrow I am taking him up to his former owners to try on some saddles.

I believe I need a new saddle that fits my boy better - one with semi quarter horse bars as suggested in the other thread. What I want to know is what saddles do y'all recommend as fitting well on a horse with some withers? I am considering a Tucker, a Steele is an option (one of the ladies I rode with today has a Tucker. She boards at the same place and said I was welcome to try her saddle). I trail ride/pleasure ride. I am considering competitive trail for next year so I am interested in a saddle that I could use. Any suggestions welcome!!

If I buy a new one I will have a literally brand new Billy Cook saddle for sale!!

[tlwidener]

I think Tucker saddles are ridiculously overpriced. Circle Y's are built by Tucker now too. I'm not impressed at all.

I got a Billy Royal roughout training saddle that I really like. There are quite a few brands I'd consider if I were buying another: Rocking R, RS, JR Wenger, and Billy Cook. I think training saddles are a great value. They're really comfy. They come with lots of extra dees. They have great resale value.

I have a McCall that I love. It was pricey, but it's one of the most comfy saddles I've ridden. It fits lots of horses very well.

You seem to really like your Billy Cook. Maybe you should look at an identical model to the one you already own but in a semi-quarter tree.

Oh, the bucking was almost definitely due to the saddle.

[QOS]

Thanks for the info. I was pretty darn shocked that he bucked at all - Red is a big baby doll and is just the most laid back horse so I called Margaret when I got home (his former mom!!) and she was as shocked as me. LOL it takes energy to buck and Red is kinda lazy.

I really do like my Billy Cook - it is comfortable. I bought it from Teskey's in Weatherford, Texas. My husband also has a Billy Cook.

I have a Tucker in the garage to try out but it does have wide bars so I don't think it is going to fit my boy. I am sure it is as comfortable as can be but I am interested in Red being comfortable before me. I will check out the brands you suggested!!

[cowgirl up 2]

if you sell your billy cook let me know,probably can't afford it but,would still be intrested.had a rockin R ,held its value very well,was an awesome saddle,have you talked to us trails,I think that is his name..he has helped others with saddle fit problems,and could maybe help you...goodluck.

[QOS]

I am pretty darn sure my Billy Cook will be for sale! I have no reason to keep it. My husband has a brand new Billy Cook also that seems toIt fit his horse as well as possible so we don't need my saddle for his horse!

I received this BC straight from Billy Cooks shop - I bought one from Teskey's and decided I needed a smaller one. I sent it back to Teskeys and they didn't have exactly what I wanted so had BC send this one directly to me. It is a very comfortable saddle for me (wish it was for Red) and I like the looks of it. I took the stirrups off of it and put Crooked Stirrups on it. My husband used the regular stirrups a few times but they are basically untouched and put away. You can see pictures of the saddle in my gallery. I have a bazillion pictures of Red with the saddle. It has Regular QH Bars and has a 16" seat.

[luvs2ride79]

Billy Cooks are notorious for having angles and gullets wider than most other brands. Before BUYING a new saddle, I would find a shop or online catalog that has a saddle trial period. Or work with SouthernTrails (he posted on your other thread). He's great at fitting and his saddles are nice USA made saddles. He also has other brands if his trees aren't quite right for your boy.

To me it looks like he needs more topline muscle. I would suggest getting a saddle that's just a bit too wide and a Skito saddle pad with some kind of front shims. If you send in pictures of your horse and new saddle, they will custom build a pad for you. As he builds muscle, you remove the shims or swap them out for thinner ones. Keep the shims in case he loses muscle during some time you don't ride him. The foam in Skito pads is dense memory foam. It absorbs up to 90% of the shock of the horse's back and breathes incredibly well, to keep his back very cool. The shims can take the place of the muscle he's lacking around his withers, and the foam is pliable enough that it will encourage muscle development (unlike gel or closed cell foam).

I have a few Skito pads and LOVE them! They're worth every penny. You can add shims to any of the Skito pads. They have a velcro opening along the spine. The covers are easy to wash too.

[Temposmom]

Look into www.specializedsaddles.com this will allow you to KEEP your saddle fitting if/when your horse changes shape.

[QOS]

anyone else have any saddle brand recommendations that I can look at?

[Pally]

A word about gel pads. I've never used one, and here's why (besides simply picking them up and deciding I didn't want to lift it or bother adding that sheer weight). I've read, that with gel, the pressure points displace the gel in those areas, which means the gel has to go somewhere, and ends up getting too thick in other areas making new pressure spots. I'm not 100% sure that this is true, but it makes sense to me based on touching them, so I avoid them. Maybe Red agrees too. Just too bad it was a pricey discovery for you!

[QOS]

UGH Pally that is true. Not sure if that was it - my hubby can use this on his gelding or maybe when I get my new saddle this will not be an issue.

I looked at a bazillion saddles last night - I think I dreamed about saddles