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  Discussion on Best saddle for TWH
Author Message
Member:
Katdunn

Posted on Monday, Jan 6, 2003 - 3:45 pm:

I have a 9 year old TWH gelding and ride with an australian saddle. When thinking about not interfering with the shoulders - I often wonder if the side panels on my saddle interfere with his gait. When I purchased him, I got the idea that the previous owner, an 18 year old girl, never rode him properly - in fact he rode her. I am trying to retrain and get rid of his bad habits, but have never had a gaited horse before. I am confused over when the saddle should be forward, when it should be further back, etc. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2003 - 6:45 am:

Much depends on your riding endeavors and personal preferences but most saddles are perfectly suitable. We like dressage-type saddles but Australian saddles would certainly be fine. Watch your horse at the running walk and you will see the muscles of the shoulders flexing, you want the saddle to ride a few inches behind this motion. Usually this sets the front edge of the pommel back just of the base of the withers.
DrO
Member:
Alika

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2003 - 2:54 pm:

Katie, you may want to take a look at the National Bridle Company website, specializing in saddles for TWH. I purchased one for my wide round arab mare and am very satisfied with both fit and appearance.
Member:
Mrenee

Posted on Friday, Feb 7, 2003 - 10:41 pm:

I like the round skirt Tucker. Makes a difference in gait.
Member:
Count

Posted on Sunday, Feb 16, 2003 - 7:02 am:

Katie, we also purchased saddles from the National Bridle Shop. Our favorite is the gaited horse Stubben---we show a bit and the elcheepo Lane Fox saddles are awful. With this saddle we show and trail ride. We also have a couple of Tennesseans (western saddles) that we like.
Member:
Keyloh

Posted on Monday, Feb 17, 2003 - 11:44 pm:

Katie,

I have a crates tennessean saddle, which is great. However, recently I purchased an endurance saddle called the Kentuckian from a place called G&G Flat shod farms (it's amish made). It is a wonderful saddle. Has 21" round skirt, buttery soft leather (which is great for a new saddle) and only weighs 19 pounds. It has a higher gullet and is so comfortable. I have many saddles and I have never been more comfortable in a saddle as I am in this one. It also fits all my walkers. You can check them out at GGflatshodfarms.com.

Karen
Member:
Rama

Posted on Friday, Apr 25, 2003 - 4:57 pm:

Sorry, I'm late in posting but I had the most awful time fitting my oldest (she's 17 this year) TWH mare for a saddle and our experiences may help someone else. Tried an Arabian saddle, a cutback saddle-seat saddle, a Crates Tennessean Saddle (which I hope fits my 7 year old TWH - been waiting for her to finish filling out.) I bought a Wintec Sport Endurance 2000 on the recommendation of a chiropractic vet. That saddle fit the best until Mariah developed muscle on her top line. Finally I contacted Marciante Saddle company. They custom fit a saddle for Mariah. She has a high thin wither, an a-frame shaped spine and her right shoulder is much more developed than her left. I bought her when she was ten. I had her evaluated by a saddle maker locally and he felt she had had a bad accident early on. Mr. Marciante made a saddle for my Arabian mare a year earlier and I absolutely love it. I don't know why I didn't think to call him for Mariah. I guess I was looking for a Tennesee Walker saddle. Anyway thank goodness finally occured to me - you can't lose by having them make a saddle for you. It's guaranteed to fit and if your horse changes or you change horses they will refit the saddle for $35.00 and shipping charges! Finally both my horse and I are happy with our saddle.
Becky
New Member:
Diana

Posted on Friday, Apr 25, 2003 - 6:18 pm:

Just thought I'd add another point of view on the TWH saddle issue. I used to ride my TWH with a cutback blue ribbon show saddle, but was looking for something that would be more comfy for trail riding (without going Western). Recently, I have been riding in a treeless Ansur saddle. Because it has no rigid tree, the saddle moves with him, conforms to his body, he gaits better than ever, and I am less bothered by fatique and back pain. The treeless concept and construction allows the saddle to move with the horse as he moves, while giving the rider close contact. It's flexibility allows it to accommodate changes in the horse's muscular development and to fit different horses. I can't testify to that since I only have one horse, but I love it and so does my horse! Just something to think about. You might want to check out the Ansur saddle website for more explanation of the theory behind its development.
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