My saddle dilemma - Advice?

[FatSpottedAppy]

I am stuck between two saddles... Anyone wanna give some input?

First saddle...
14", not a big name brand(I cant find any info on the brand), but it looks quality. I like the looks of this much better. I love everything about this saddle... However my only concern is that it is a 14", and I normally ride in a 15". I am afraid it will be too tight of a seat for me... I sat in my friend's 14" which was okay, but the cantle on that was low. This one is relatively high. I am guessing I can comfortably fit in it if I get down to 120 lbs? Also, i am wondering if the tighter could benefit for barrel racing.
This is if this one hasnt sold yet.

Second saddle,
This one looks nice, it is a 15", but I am not too sure how much I like the brand.. It is by American Saddlery. I have never had one by American Saddlery but I am not sure how good of quality they are.


Both of these saddles are the same price. They are in about the same good condition, the 2nd saddle maybe a little less wear on the fenders.

[zoel_222]

I had an American Saddlery saddle. The one I had was not top of the line quality, but it was far from those package argentina ebay saddles. It was a very decent little saddle. I paid $450 new for it from Horse.com. Sold it a couple years ago to get Auda for $350.

If you're not sure about the size, I'd really recommend riding in a 14" seat first if you can. There is nothing more uncomfortable than trying to squeeze into a saddle that's too small. But if you sat in your friend's saddle and it was okay, then my guess is you shouldn't have any problems.

[3equines]

Don't get the 14". For one, if you ride comfortably in a 15 then a 14 is too tight, your butt bones will be making contact with the rise of the cantle - on a short ride you won't notice this much but after about 3 hours on a long trail the only thing you will think about is where the cantle and your saddlebones are connected.

The second reason is sharing/ resale value. Very few adults can ride in a 14" (or even a 15") Western seat, so if the saddle doesn't work out you will have a hard time selling it, and if you want to take a friend riding chances are the 14" saddle will be too small for them, too.

In fact, I ride comfortably in a 15" but I will not buy anything less than a 16" - mostly for the resale aspect (I have had trouble selling 15" saddles), but also because my fiancee, his daughter, and most of the greenhorns I take riding with me all have bigger tushes than I do. Not to mention I am beginning to develop middle-age-spread ;) and chances are it won't be too long before a 15" seat is snug on my posterrior.

[AUEquine]

I weigh 185lbs and ride in a 14 inch bear trap barrel saddle (even rode in it when I was 216lbs). My thighs are right up against the swell, but this is what I'm most comfortable in. For barrel racing I like a very tight fit saddle with a high back. Cash has alot of power, and I don't need to be moving around much.
It's all about what you feel most comfortable in. I like a tight tight saddle, I have a friend who weighs all of 100lbs and she rides in a 15'-16".
You really need to try one out before you buy a 14", or buy one you know you can resell. When I first started barrel racing I was never very comfortable with it. The horse I rode was very very powerful and shifty, and I was riding in a 15". I hopped on my friends horse one day for her and her saddle was a 14", it was amazing the difference it made. I borrowed her saddle and put it on my horse, and couldn't believe the difference. That one little inch really helped me stay with him.
Can you post pics of the saddles? I've bought and sold enough barrel saddles on ebay to spot the crappy ones pretty easily.

[miatapony]

i will agree with AUEQUINE....

[FatSpottedAppy]

The 14" saddle is Lizzy (DakotaSunrise)'s barrel saddle she has for sale. I hope she doesnt mind me posting pictures. It will be for Melee, not only for barrel racing but for trails, too. I think if I can get down to 120 lbs I will be fine, but I hibernate in the winter and am not quite 120 right now.. But its definitely do-able.

I did sit in a 14" but the cantle was pretty low. Unfortunately all my friends ride in 15" and 16"s..

I have heard that people prefer an inch smaller for barrel racing. But it will be used for trails as well, and not many other people are going to be able to fit into it. How does the cantle height look to you?

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/tack%20shop/IMG_6907-1.jpg
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/tack%20shop/IMG_7794.jpg
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/tack%20shop/IMG_6915.jpg
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/tack%20shop/IMG_7797.jpg

Lizzy, if you want me to take something off of this post please let me know!!

[vicklynn]

I had an American Saddlery saddle. It was awesome! I only sold it due to its weight. I loved that saddle!
Fit both boys wonderfully! I bought it on sale for around 800..original cost 1200. I got a deal!!
Its a Texas trail saddle.

Loose fit, just working him.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a155/vicklynn/100_0521.jpg

City got his first ribbon in that saddle!!
Gawd he looks fragile in that pic...LMBO
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a155/vicklynn/000_0520.jpg

[JennyandJosey]

I weigh about 120 and my daughter has a 14 in saddle and I could not ride in it for an extended period of time. It really doesn't fit me at all. I'd be leery of a 14" I guess.

[zoel_222]

I weigh 130 (I'm 5'5) and am most comfortable in a 15.5 to 16. My saddle is a 16.5 and it's too big but it's manageable. I'd rather have too big than too small, but that's just me. It kind of sounds like because you normally are comfortable in a 15" anything smaller will be too small.

[Dakota Sunrise]

I don't mind, Morgan. :)

I'm comfortable in the 14" saddle and if I were going to barrel race Beauty it would be perfect, but since I gave that idea up a long time ago I now need money more than I need the saddle itself. That's the main reason I'm selling it. But it's totally up to you, if you think it's too small that's cool. I wish you were closer, you could just come sit in it!

[AUEquine]

Again to each their own. I trail ride all day in a 14" and I weigh 185... with a very ample behind. The cantle height is about average. I prefer a 5" rise that's very deep, but to each their own.

The biggest thing is the fit of the horse. Melee is a very very stout horse that even a FQHB saddle might not be enough.

[Equilove]

Again to each their own. I trail ride all day in a 14" and I weigh 185... with a very ample behind. The cantle height is about average. I prefer a 5" rise that's very deep, but to each their own.

I weight 170 but I'm tall/slim, and I couldn't fit into a 14" comfortably to save my life.. I ride in a 16" otherwise it's too small.

The biggest thing is the fit of the horse.

If the saddle doesn't fit the rider, it can have a bad effect on how it feels to the horse as well.

[FredRock]

I am 5'4" and weighed about 185 when I was in a 16" but it never quite fit me right. Went out and found either a 14/15" saddle and the change was amazing. 16" is just too big for me- I actually hurt in a 16" saddle because of where my hip is.

Saddle fit is all about how the rider feels and rides, not measurements. One saddle can pitch someone differently than it can pitch another person, and the feel is very subjective. So as long as you feel good in it and you can ride to the best of your ability in it, I say the saddle fits you. The horse is a whole different ballgame! lol

[vicklynn]

Size of the seat is all about the size of ones @ss, if I may be so frank.

Fit the horse then fit the rider.

[natisha]

I have a 14" I bought in 1976 when I was tiny. I can still ride in it & I'm comfortable. I usually ride in a 15'.
When I test rode my soon to be new horse I had to ride in a 16" with way too long stirrups. I was all over the place. If given a choice I would take too small than too big, in a saddle.

[dame_wolf]

The lady I bought Koda from used to do speed drills and she prefered a tighter fit. Said it made her feel more secure in the saddle. I know I prefer a tighter fit to a loose one.

[Tiz]

I have an older American Saddlery roping saddle. It's well made, a factory saddle, comfortable, shaped right for a secure feel, hasn't bothered any of the horses that I've put it on. It weighs a ton, but that's because it's for roping. No, I don't rope. I bought it used.

One of the trainers at the racetrack also is into roping. He's actually done pretty well with training rope horses and selling them for good money. Sometimes he ponies off of one of them. He's an excellent rider, but I could never figure out why he looked kind of different on his horse. I thought it was because he was kind of short legged. Come to find out he's riding in a 14 and a half inch saddle, and he isn't little. The guy isn't broke either, it's not like he hasn't had the money to buy a new saddle since he was ten, or so. But, I guess ropers are using the tiny saddles so there isn't any room to slam back against the cantle when they leave the box. Apparently it makes a difference, even if it's a split second, because the horse doesn't experience that backward force.

Sure looks comical though, like he's sitting about six inches higher than he should be.

[AUEquine]

But, I guess ropers are using the tiny saddles so there isn't any room to slam back against the cantle when they leave the box. Apparently it makes a difference, even if it's a split second, because the horse doesn't experience that backward force.
Same theory in barrel racing. When you're making your turn you need to be centered over your horse, and as your horse takes off after the barrel if your saddle is too big you will be thrown back against the cantle. This can really throw your horse off, and if most riders end up nailing their horse in the mouth to catch themselves. This is the reason most barrel racers hold the horn going into a barrel. Contrary to other disciplines belief it's not because we can't ride and it's so we don't fall off, it's so that we stay completely centered over out horse. Any off balance movement affects your horse, and when you're going from 60 to 0 then 0 to 60 in only like 2 seconds... you're gonna need something to hold onto.
Sorry random tangent rant there. But basically you better be a dang good rider if you're gonna ride in a larger saddle than you need. Or you're gonna look and feel like a rag doll up there.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Edited to say disregard the below post. I AM selling the saddle and I won't change my mind again!:innocent:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Morgan, I'll help make your decision for you and make you feel better about not buying my barrel saddle from me:innocent:- I think I'm going to keep it.:o I'm half afraid to sell it because that will leave me with only one saddle for two horses and I just... I don't know. Something is just telling me I'll regret selling it. And after reading AUEquine's post I'm realizing I probably fit even better in a 14" than I think I do, and Beauty being the way Beauty is a snugger fit could be a good thing. I've always been comfortable in that saddle so I guess why give it up. It's never felt too tight or anything and I'm not getting any bigger.

[gabhainn]

But, I guess ropers are using the tiny saddles so there isn't any room to slam back against the cantle when they leave the box. Apparently it makes a difference, even if it's a split second, because the horse doesn't experience that backward force.
Im a roper and I know a bunch of other ropers and I dont know anybody who thinks like this. In fact if you are riding in a too small saddle it will interfere with your bail out if you are calf roping or your dally if you are steer roping. If you are in a properly fitting saddle you are already against the cantle, and you should'nt move ntm you are sitting on the rise of the seat and not the ground seat, so you are gonna have some ahem male comfort issues..........

[Tiz]

That's just what I was told, Kevin. I have no first hand knowledge of it, other than knowing this guy rides in a 14 and half inch saddle because I measured it when my niece borrowed it. My niece asked what the heck he was doing riding it, and that's what he told her.

Like I said it looks weird, and I get your butt/cantle dynamics, so who knows?

[AUEquine]

That's just what I was told, Kevin. I have no first hand knowledge of it, other than knowing this guy rides in a 14 and half inch saddle because I measured it when my niece borrowed it. My niece asked what the heck he was doing riding it, and that's what he told her.

Like I said it looks weird, and I get your butt/cantle dynamics, so who knows?

Probably more of a gut/horn dynamic. It's about having room to dally the rope around the horn. I swear most of the ropers I know need like a 20" saddle to get their beer guts away from the horn... that or a girdle! These are all team ropers, so there's no getting on an off in a hurry!

[Tiz]

Haha!:p

[natisha]

I was thinking something like that too but I'd never say that... or maybe I just did?:cowboy:

[gabhainn]

Probably more of a gut/horn dynamic. It's about having room to dally the rope around the horn. I swear most of the ropers I know need like a 20" saddle to get their beer guts away from the horn... that or a girdle! These are all team ropers, so there's no getting on an off in a hurry!
HEEEYYYYY!!!!!! I resemble that remark:hysterical:...........Kevin