Western saddle help for broad cob.

[Chebobbin]

Hi,

My horsey used to be ridden in western. He rides with an english saddle now though.

The question I have is: because he has been ridden in english for a few years, is buying him a western saddle the wrong thing to do?

I always have trouble trying to find tack that fits him correctly as he is super broad and incredibly short and flat backed. I thought maybe a western style saddle would fit him better.

I really dont know...so any help/advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks! xxx.

 

[Theresa_F]

Nope - our clydesdale is ridden either western or english and goes from one to the other no problem.

I have just bought a treeless saddle as I have a young cob and wanted to avoid changing the saddle constantly.

I am really pleased with it - and have also used it on the clydie who goes amazing in it.

If you are used to riding english or western, then you should have not problem with riding treeless.

Took me about an hour to get used to it but I hacked out last night for an hour using it with the western bridle and leading my youngster and it was very comfortable for both Cairo and myself.

If you can get very nice western style or english ones from barefoot - which is the brand I went for.

 

[Enfys]

Like Theresas' horses mine are rideen in both styles, they get used to it.

The only suggestion I would make perhaps, is that if your cob is very short backed, try to get a round skirted saddle because sometimes the square ones are a bit long for short backs. That is what I was recommended to use on a close coupled arab.

 

[Tia]

The only problem with the rounded skirt ones is that it is very difficult to find a Full QH Bars one like that. For a broad cob the poster will almost certainly need a saddle with the extra width of a Full QH Bars saddle.

A number of my horses flip between western and English without any problems but mine are all in Semi's so they don't have the long and wide Full saddle to contend with. Best of luck.

 

[Theresa_F]

Tia, out of interest have you ever tried the western treeless saddles?

Nearly bought one for Stinky but went for the dressage version as I thought long term this would be more useful as I can complete and start his showing career with it.

Cairo loves the treeless - never know the old boy to do work so well.

Maybe later I'll invest in a treeless western as well as all I do is hack western for relaxation.

 

[Tia]

No I haven't Theresa; what differences are there? Actually I don't know what they look like or what their purpose is?

I tend to ride a lot bareback when I'm not working, but when I'm working I always ride in my roping saddle. All my saddles are Semi's - I'm a typical traditionalist.

 

[charlottenicol]

I have an abetta trail saddle which is american and synthetic and they also do a western style it is very comfy, do alot of swimming and trail riding so good for that, also have a treeless which I love, my friend has the western version of the same saddle and she also thinks it is wonderful, she is now back in South Africa working on a riding safari place where she uses it.