western saddle

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gemgreen

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im thinking about a synthetic western saddle....has anyone got one...would u reccomend!? also has a bit of advice on sizes!? some places seem to sell them in pony...14"cob...15"and full...16".....hes a 15.2 traditional gypsy cob.....

thanks for any help...been on the net but its getting a bit confusing!!
 
I have a wintec western saddle that I just got for my big cob. There fab saddles for a beginner (like me!) but not comfey enough to do long term . I'm deffo not an expert but after some fab advice iv learnt that as long as I use a good quality pad it fits him well. :) good luck! X
 
Talk to the western saddler as she has a range of cheaper saddles ( as well as quality leather ones) but of decent quality. I don't want to offend anyone with a winter, but the trees are not that good in the western saddles and don't fit a wide range of horses. I'd be surprised if they were a good fit on a traditional cob but obviously I don't know his confirmation and you might be lucky with the fit.
I've only ever ridden in leather western saddles, fitted by professionals, but have seen a couple of different , nice, synthetics at shows, so there is some choice around. They are certainly much easier to carry than a leather one. A good pad is essential and you will have lots of choice.

I love riding in a western saddle, so I hope you find a suitable one for your mum as they are so comfortable.
 
I have ridden in a Wintec and it was very uncomfy, I fell less secure than in a properly fitted english saddle. I would go more for an Abetta. However, whatever saddle you go for, you need it fitted by a professionnal. Western saddles will come in full quarter horse bars (wide) and half quarter horse bars (less wide). The size of the seat you can have will also depend on the length of your horse back and type of skirt on the saddle (rounded skirt for a shorter back, otherwise it can interfere with the hip). Good luck :)
 
I have an Abetta which is a brand that makes saddles from cheap & tacky up to very good part leather/part synthetics.
Mine is a flex endurance and is a good fit for my paint mare and is very comfy for riders too.

I chose synthetic over leather to keep the weight down as mine is no heavier than an English saddle. All western saddles need good pads as the saddles themselves are not padded but you do have to get the basic size and shape correct for the horse.
All wintecs in the UK are (or were) semi QH bars so not a wide fit.
 
I'd look for a quality used leather saddle rather than a new synthetic one.

If your horse is chunky, probably want FQHBs and gullet size varies as well.

Seat size is 2" less than an english saddle. If you ride in a 17" english, then you will fit in a 15" western saddle.

I'm not an expert, but I'm shopping for a western saddle now too.
 
My wintec is a 16" and fits my horse who takes a 18" English saddle.
Agree with what everyone says about the fit though, iv had my saddler look at it and my friends who do western and it just about fits my boy with a thick neoprene pad to boost it but they are a very funny shape.
I got as a temporary saddle to see if I like riding western and after a few lessons I think we have the bug so am now in the market for a better quality leather saddle :)
 
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