Any western saddle experts out there?

Btomkins said:
Was that the stock saddle that went earlier today? I saw one that went for £46 earlier and tbh it looked pretty good :O but then i really dont know XD
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No it's still on now. I don't think you will get anything good that cheap.

Spring Feather said:
What sort of prices do you see Reinsmans on ebay for over there? I'm thinking they're in about the $1,000/$1,500 range here for a non-specific type saddle. Australian stock saddles are very comfy and pretty nice saddles to ride in although I can't admit to riding in one for much longer than a couple of hours. I'd imagine it is the same with Aus stock saddles as with western, there's probably a load of junk makes/copies out there so you'd have to research the makes. If I was you and looking to do what you are planning to do then can't give advice on what type of Aus saddle to get as I don't know enough about them, but I'd go for a roping saddle. I predominantly ride in roping saddles. I do have some pleasure saddles and trail saddles and they're fine but I'm so used to the roping saddles and they 'fit' how I ride and what I ride to :)
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Thanks that's really helpful. This is one I saw when browsing earlier. I am hoping to find some local western riders who might let me try theirs before taking the plunge (as finding a fitter will be next to impossible as well!).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/reinsman-...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item2a28900ad1
 
Good site for western saddle info:

http://www.tombstonesaddlery.co.uk/public_html/sad facts.htm


As a primarily English rider I was always partial to Equitation and other relatively flat seated, low profile saddles but then all I did was school baby QHs.:) The saddle I always picked when I could at one farm was a very ordinary looking Equitation saddle that turned out to be worth $5k! When I was a kid most people had all purpose or working Circle Ys, Billy Cooks etc. My experience is it's similar to English saddles - unless you want something special a decent midrange saddle will do the job for you but the cheap ones will usually do more harm than good. Wintec makes a Western saddle, too, btw. Not to everyone's taste or every horse's fit but possibly worth a look?
 
FfionWinnie said:
No it's still on now. I don't think you will get anything good that cheap.



Thanks that's really helpful. This is one I saw when browsing earlier. I am hoping to find some local western riders who might let me try theirs before taking the plunge (as finding a fitter will be next to impossible as well!).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/reinsman-...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item2a28900ad1
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That looks like a nice saddle. The leather looks really supple and well looked after :) They only thing I'd say is, from the photos I've seen of you, you're going to be dwarfed in that saddle as it says it's a 16" which equates to an 18" English saddle and I know you sure aren't an 18" English size ... unless you've been plonking some itty bitty person on your horse for the photoshoots! :D
 
Spring Feather said:
That looks like a nice saddle. The leather looks really supple and well looked after :) They only thing I'd say is, from the photos I've seen of you, you're going to be dwarfed in that saddle as it says it's a 16" which equates to an 18" English saddle and I know you sure aren't an 18" English size ... unless you've been plonking some itty bitty person on your horse for the photoshoots! :D
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I'm a 17.5" English saddle, I'm nearly 5ft8, definitely not itty bitty but thanks :D

I think it's off a criollo and perhaps too wide for mine, that could have been the issue. It does look gorgeous tho doesn't it!

There is a 15" brand new second hand Wintec in my local tack shop for 100 (and been for sale for yonks so could haggle as well!) they will let me try on, I thought a 15" would be far too small but maybe worth trying in that case?

Thanks for all your help SF!
 
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FfionWinnie said:
I'm a 17.5" English saddle, I'm nearly 5ft8, definitely not itty bitty but thanks :D

I think it's off a criollo and perhaps too wide for mine, that could have been the issue. It does look gorgeous tho doesn't it!

There is a 15" brand new second hand Wintec in my local tack shop for 100 (and been for sale for yonks so could haggle as well!) they will let me try on, I thought a 15" would be far too small but maybe worth trying in that case?

Thanks for all your help SF!
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You're very similar to me then. I'm 5'8 and ride in my 17.5 English saddles too. My western saddles are all 15". My husband has a 16" western saddle and he's 6ft and weighs around 200lbs. You are not as big as him!

Yes that saddle does look VERY lovely! Gotta say, I'd be most tempted IF they have measured it correctly and it's the right size. I won't touch Wintec westerns with a 10ft pole (hate them sooo much!), sorry to all those who like them and have them :o and maybe they are okay for short hacks around the block but I just can't bear the lack of motion to them. Kinda like wearing plastic shoes... ;)
 
The Reinsman on eBay looks very nice! I am a particular fan of rounded skirts, too. While it's always a risk you'd probably be much more likely to be able to sell that on if it doesn't suit than something less desirable. Perhaps worth a message to check the measurements?

Good to know about the Wintecs. I have only ridden in one once, probably ten years ago and their English saddles have come on a bit in that period but I guess the Western ones have not.
 
Spring Feather said:
You're very similar to me then. I'm 5'8 and ride in my 17.5 English saddles too. My western saddles are all 15". My husband has a 16" western saddle and he's 6ft and weighs around 200lbs. You are not as big as him!

Yes that saddle does look VERY lovely! Gotta say, I'd be most tempted IF they have measured it correctly and it's the right size. I won't touch Wintec westerns with a 10ft pole (hate them sooo much!), sorry to all those who like them and have them :o and maybe they are okay for short hacks around the block but I just can't bear the lack of motion to them. Kinda like wearing plastic shoes... ;)
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Is there any adjustment possible from the horses point of view? My mare is a scrawny beast at the moment so I think that one would be too wide for her?

I will resist the Wintec then lol
 
TarrSteps said:
The Reinsman on eBay looks very nice! I am a particular fan of rounded skirts, too. While it's always a risk you'd probably be much more likely to be able to sell that on if it doesn't suit than something less desirable. Perhaps worth a message to check the measurements?

Good to know about the Wintecs. I have only ridden in one once, probably ten years ago and their English saddles have come on a bit in that period but I guess the Western ones have not.
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The seller is a HHOer I realised after I posted it I have already spoken to her about the saddle. I just think it will be too wide for my mare as it was used on a criollo and mine is an Am Paint and not a chunky one either.
 
Im jumping in on this thread...because there seems to be so many experts..is there a market for western saddles at the moment..i have a big horn saddle in really nice condition..have no idea what to sell itfor or how best to go about doing so? theres no tooling on it..i suppose that will make all the difference?
 
luckyoldme said:
Im jumping in on this thread...because there seems to be so many experts..is there a market for western saddles at the moment..i have a big horn saddle in really nice condition..have no idea what to sell itfor or how best to go about doing so? theres no tooling on it..i suppose that will make all the difference?
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They are the basic starter saddles I think robinsons sold them, maybe try Ebay to sell ??

for the people who want to buy,
There are quite a few good tack shops who sell good saddles and will make sure you and the the horse get the right fit off the top of my head www.thewesternshop.com or
www.western-saddler.co.uk
 
perfect11s said:
They are the basic starter saddles I think robinsons sold them, maybe try Ebay to sell ??

for the people who want to buy,
There are quite a few good tack shops who sell good saddles and will make sure you and the the horse get the right fit off the top of my head www.thewesternshop.com or
www.western-saddler.co.uk
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Thanks for the links, I see this saddle on the first link and it only seems to come in different seat sizes not different horse widths?
 
I had a robinsons western saddle
it was narower than a proper one and was defo tackier.


I had a bull on horn saddle but sold it. I do love a "Bob"s saddle
 
FfionWinnie said:
Thanks for the links, I see this saddle on the first link and it only seems to come in different seat sizes not different horse widths?
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I would think they will come in different fits, most are avalaible in narrow (arab tb) QH bars or FQHB (wide tank like foundation QHs) you can make a template and send that as a guide but most of the uk tack sellers will prefer to come out and do a proper fitting some do saddle fitting clinics too so if you can get a few other people intrested it will save cost for travel time...
 
luckyoldme said:
Im jumping in on this thread...because there seems to be so many experts..is there a market for western saddles at the moment..i have a big horn saddle in really nice condition..have no idea what to sell itfor or how best to go about doing so? theres no tooling on it..i suppose that will make all the difference?
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Big Horn saddle company used to be a large outfit based in Tennessee. They were similar to Reinsman in that they made very well built saddles with quality workmanship but aimed at the mid range markets. Long lasting saddles which were prized by many trail riding outfits and lesson barns. They did make very high end saddles too, some around $15,000 back about 15-20 years ago but these never really seemed to catch on. I guess they were outpricing their market. The company went into receivership a number of years ago (I don't remember when) and that was the end of them for a few years. Another saddle company bought them over, I don't recall offhand who it was, maybe American or some other low end saddle maker. Big Horns have made a resurrgence in recent times but the saddles aren't anything like they used to be from what I've seen. The old Big Horn saddles are still seen as very decent saddles (I have some) but price-wise, hmm not sure what you'd get for yours. PS. I do not like tooling at all. I think it looks incredibly tacky but that's just my personal opinion. I have a couple of saddles which are hand tooled but there's nothing much I like about them. My main riding saddle is a roper and it's totally plain and so comfy, functional with no bits on it that aren't needed. Hope that helps. Stick it on ebay and see what offers you get.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Thanks for the links, I see this saddle on the first link and it only seems to come in different seat sizes not different horse widths?
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Perfect11s has answered your question but what I will say is, the very best investment you can buy is a lambskin pad. Pure lamskin, just the skin (like English nu-med numnahs but without the cotton lining under where the saddle goes), no woven wool design with padding anywhere or foam or gel or cotton, just skin. There are some companies around the world who make them and they are expensive, the last one I bought was over $200 but they are so worth the money! They are thick but because they are just skin they mold around the horse and just about any saddle will fit if you use them. I could never go back to the foam or gel pads (of which I have a few redundant in my tack rooms).
 
Spring Feather said:
Perfect11s has answered your question but what I will say is, the very best investment you can buy is a lambskin pad. Pure lamskin, just the skin (like English nu-med numnahs but without the cotton lining under where the saddle goes), no woven wool design with padding anywhere or foam or gel or cotton, just skin. There are some companies around the world who make them and they are expensive, the last one I bought was over $200 but they are so worth the money! They are thick but because they are just skin they mold around the horse and just about any saddle will fit if you use them. I could never go back to the foam or gel pads (of which I have a few redundant in my tack rooms).
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I have never used such a pad with a western saddle but I have the English equivalent and will agree, it is superior to any other pad I've used.
 
Big Ben said:
I have never used a full wool pad, goes off to google, but would never go back to a cheapy type pad again, I bought a 5 Star Equine pad a few years ago, totally love it.
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I know, those old felt and foam pads are awful. I always used to think it was like sticking a saddle on top of a flattened cardboard box :o they never sit properly and don't seem to mold to anything, can't imagine they're very comfy for the horse either. Your one looks a pretty cool design.
 
Nuu-Med make only wool fleece lined numnahs, ie shorn wool from live sheep then sewn into a knitted backing. Not lambskin or sheepskin (I think sheepskin the better option, more resilient, though talking English saddles as I know nowt about Western saddles!).
 
sbloom said:
Nuu-Med make only wool fleece lined numnahs, ie shorn wool from live sheep then sewn into a knitted backing. Not lambskin or sheepskin (I think sheepskin the better option, more resilient, though talking English saddles as I know nowt about Western saddles!).
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Ah yes you are right. I'd forgotten they weren't actual skins on numeds :) Well a lambskin or shorn sheepskin rug is a better comparison then :)
 
Spring Feather said:
I know, those old felt and foam pads are awful. I always used to think it was like sticking a saddle on top of a flattened cardboard box :o they never sit properly and don't seem to mold to anything, can't imagine they're very comfy for the horse either. Your one looks a pretty cool design.
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LOL, once you have one you look at other pads and wonder how they ever work.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'm a shepherd so I could get my own one made into what I need. Can you post a pic of yours SF?
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Yes. I appear to have recently mastered how to get the pictures on here after several duff attempts, so I'll get a picture of mine and you can see what it looks like. They're fairly difficult to find over here but there used to be a company in Germany called Kraemer and they used to sell them. I bought a few things from them years ago when I was over ther. I don't know if the company is still around but I'll dig around on the internet and see if I can find the link for their website.

PS you could easily make your own. I did. I just got two lambskins and sewed them together. I didn't bother sewing up the edges as at the time I didn't have an industrial sewing machine. I just sewed the top of them and left them raw at the ends.
 
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