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  Discussion on The best-fitting western saddle
Author Message
Member:
Brandi

Posted on Sunday, May 22, 2005 - 10:21 pm:

Hi all, I'm looking for some opinions, so get your typing fingers warmed up. I need a new western saddle, and need it to fit my horses very well. I currently have a circle-Y team-penner (I'm not, but I LOVE how it fits me), I use it for drill-team and trail riding, but it does have a slight twist in the tree. This twist never bothered my paint, but it has bothered the 3 horses I've used it on since. My current "loaner" drill-team horse has an over-developed low-back due to a hind leg injury 7 or 8 years ago, but she went on to become a versatity world champion something or other in the paint world (sorry, I know NOTHING about showing, just lucky enough to be friends with a great trainer who needs the horse to have a job), so although she compensates, she does so very succesfully. But my saddle makes her DrOp her shoulder, especially her right, my old saddle is too wide in the withers, and my hubby's makes her hollow, but her shoulders were straight. I'm not interested in anything that doesn't fit the horse first, I have researched in-depth, the Synergist,
https://www.synergistsaddles.com/western-saddles.htm
and now am totally intrigued by the new Parelli saddle https://www.parellicollection.com/category.cfm?categoryid=SADDLES%20Etc%2E&bus=Pa relliCollection
except for the price, and the fact that I can't wait until September, but I really feel that these are two of the first few saddles (western), that consider the horse first and correctly. I'd love any feedback on these and others.
Thanks
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, May 23, 2005 - 11:55 am:

I'm unfamiliar with the Parelli saddle, but know people who have synergst saddles and love them.

If you do a search there have been several discussions here regarding the best saddles, western saddle fit, etc. There was one discussion not to long ago with a good website recommendation, if I remember right. Maybe someone else here has a better memory than I do and can tell you where to look. If not, and you don't find it, post again and I'll look if up for you.
Member:
Leilani

Posted on Monday, May 23, 2005 - 3:13 pm:

I have a Black Rhino saddle made by Dave Genadek. He required measurements of my mare as well as pictures. It is well worth the investment as I had had problems with saddles fitting her properly plus I needed a 14.5 seat. She is a 'bulldog type' QH and most of the saddles I tried were too narrow through the shoulders.

His site is www.aboutthehorse.com

Good luck.
Member:
Vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 3:14 pm:

One problem that can arise with custom-made saddles is changes in the horse's back that can take place over time. I ride often and hard and hurt the back of one of my horses due to saddle fit a few years ago. After diagnosis, treatments, light riding bareback, and a couple months off, I had a custom saddle made for the horse, and all was well until two to 3 years later when my horse's back changed and the custom saddle became a problem. (The certified saddle fitter who made it helped me do a complete saddle shuffle of all my horses and my existing saddles, with no one continuing to use the same saddle they had been prior to his check!) Now this horse's back has changed again, and I am again using the custom saddle, but I am not entirely confident it is right because I missed the saddle-fitting consultant when he was through Florida earlier this year. I had discussed the treeless saddles with him, and he feels they are not as good for the horse as using a saddle with a tree that fits, but better than a saddle that does not fit well. There sure is a lot of diverse information we need to know about as riders, isn't there?!
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