Stock saddles

[canteron]

Anyone got one - thinking of getting one for riding out - do they make you feel more secure and sit spooks more easily.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Depends if you enjoy riding with a straight leg. I can’t stand it myself.

 

[cowgirl16]

Yes they do. I've ridden (50 + years) in western, stock and english saddles. I ride western all the time now, but only because I can't find a stock saddle wide enough for my very wide QH. I'd have another one in a heartbeat. They are much more secure, in my opinion, than a western saddle. They were designed for riding over very rough/hilly terrain, mustering cattle, sheep and horses, where a completely secure saddle is absolutely vital. Go for it - you won't regret it! (please bear in mind - which you probably already know - that it's very important to get a perfect fit. Most stock saddles seem to be made for a narrower horse, which the Australian stock horses are, so come on a quite narrow tree.)

 

[SEL]

I used to ride youngsters in them when I worked in Australia and IMO a lot more secure. I've had a horse face plant and I didn't fall off and sat some interesting acrobatics. The guy I worked for took novice treks out and they did a good job of keeping total beginners in place.

I've ridden polocrosse horses in them in the UK and found you could sit tight turns much more securely

I have jumped in stock saddles too - not the highest but it was ok

 

[canteron]

Yes they do. I've ridden (50 + years) in western, stock and english saddles. I ride western all the time now, but only because I can't find a stock saddle wide enough for my very wide QH. I'd have another one in a heartbeat. They are much more secure, in my opinion, than a western saddle. They were designed for riding over very rough/hilly terrain, mustering cattle, sheep and horses, where a completely secure saddle is absolutely vital. Go for it - you won't regret it! (please bear in mind - which you probably already know - that it's very important to get a perfect fit. Most stock saddles seem to be made for a narrower horse, which the Australian stock horses are, so come on a quite narrow tree.)

Thank you - obviously fit is always important, but is it even more important than normal? My horse is a MW gullet atm but the saddler has said she will try and borrow a Wintec trial and check fit if I am keen.

 

[Pippity]

Depends how long you ride. I ride quite short (dodgy hips) so the poleys push me right out of balance. My old loan horse came with a stock saddle and the only time I used it, I fell off the moment she threw in a tiny spook. Got a cheap Wintec instead, and never came off her again.

 

[cowgirl16]

Thank you - obviously fit is always important, but is it even more important than normal? My horse is a MW gullet atm but the saddler has said she will try and borrow a Wintec trial and check fit if I am keen.

No more important than any other saddle - get your saddler on the case - she should be able to get you sorted.

 

[Landcruiser]

I used to ride my old horse in one, they are definitely deep and secure. I've ridden western on my current horse for the last decade or so but planning to ride my youngster in a stock instead, mainly so that jumping is easier. I like western fenders, which is an option with some stock saddles. I agree with the posters above that they are more secure than western.

 

[luckyoldme]

I had one when I first got my horse years ago. He was forever throwing me off. It was always in response to a request . He realised it was easy to get off and for a while it was his thing.
The stock saddle was fantastic, it completely broke the circle of behaviour. He stopped trying to get me off and after a while I went back to an English saddle.
There was probably a bit of snobbery around it but It did its job. As others have said it's a different position to get used to but after that saddle I kept the tendancy to ride long.