[Paints4me]

Well I finally got a treeless Bob Marshall saddle. I have been wanting one forever and have heard only great things about them. Well I broke down a few weeks ago and forked out the money for a used one to try out. LOL Well I rode in it and I HATED IT!! It was nothing like everyone described it was!! So anyhow I sold it already... and now Im back to looking for another barrel saddle. It buckeled in the middle when I cinched it down leaving a wrinkel in the seat that rubbed the WRONG way if you know what I mean.... and after I rode in it my legs and back hurt. My horse was very tence becuase it felt too different to her. Anyhow I would not reccomend anyone spend the money on one, I wish someone would have told me that before I paid Big $$$ for one!! I have strained myself searcahing for the PERFECT saddle.... I'd decided on getting a Saddlesmith brand becuase I think there the best quality for the money.. then I wanted a billy cook unitl I looked at one up close, so now I've changed my mind again!! LOL (I need help!! LMAO)

[irideazip]

i have an old, old, old,old, ...................OLD simco barrel saddle that i use for everyday riding, because my other saddles are a circle Y silver show saddle and enenglish saddle w/ no stirrups or anything on it, and i L-O-V-E it.....if you can find a used, older simco barrel saddle, it is WELL worth the time and effort of finding one....good luck!!

[Shotgun93]

Well, if you had asked me, I would have told you that!! I rode in a treeless saddle, we took it on trial from the tack store, and I was so glad that we did, b/c it was horrible to ride in, and it didn't fit any horse that we tried it on. It bounced and slid around, it was awful.

That's why I say always try the saddle out first!!

[Paints4me]

Originally Posted by Shotgun93

That's why I say always try the saddle out first!!

I wish I would have had that option, I can't find a decent tack store anywhere to do that with. Most of the ones we have want DOUBLE what the saddle acctually costs.

[Shotgun93]

I can't believe a tack store would allow you to try out the saddle first. That's just stupid!! I was looking at a saddle at a tack store once and asked if I could try it out for a day to make sure that it fit my horse. After they told me that it didn't matter if actually fit my horse, that it just had to fit me, I asked if I could at least bring my horse down to try it out in the store. They said no, so I said that I didn't want it and I would order the saddle from a mag that would let me try it out and send it back if I didn't want it and I left.
They called my a couple days later and said that they thought about it and would let me try it out in their store. I told them that it was a nice offer, but that I already ordered the saddle somewhere else. Now, they have a "try it out" policy that lets you try out the saddle for one day and bring it back if you don't want it.
They said that they had never heard of trying out a saddle to see if it fits the horse (some tack store!), and I told them that times are changing and people are really starting to learn the value of having a saddle that actually fits their horse!
I always try to give business to local stores, but if they don't have the best interest of the horse in mind, then I won't deal with them (or I'll at least try to educate them!).