English Saddle Puns

My young TB grew out of her old saddle and I think I want to move from western to English with her. We were using a fairly cheap synthetic full bar saddle. Since I've used it, she has great clearance on her withers but the saddle is beginning to dig into her shoulder. She's been patient, but I think it will bother her in the long-term.

I've never fit or even bought an English saddle, I've only ever ridden English with horses who already had their saddle and all I had to do was put it on and get riding. Does anyone have any advice for absolute bottom of the budget saddles for TBs? Between getting the cinch, stirrups and a good saddle pad, I need to be as tight-budgeted as possible. This horse is just going to be used for trail-riding, and even that will be fairly light. I'd just like her to be comfortable and taken care of since she's still young.

I'm a complete novice at English saddle stuff, so any advice is greatly appreciated!

Hi all - my girl runs warm and doesn’t love the “puffier” saddle pad brands (looking at you Dover). She seems to like to like my really old, thin pads - but they aren’t the nicest looking. I’m looking for something a little lighter and cooler for her but am not sure what’s out there. Would love to hear your recommendations (hunter/jumper for reference). THANK YOU!

Looking for advice on getting the best possible fit for multiple horses. I know the best way to do so is to buy multiple saddles, but I’m just a student who swaps between a few horses, and in the process of looking to lease one.

My previous trainer did not care much about proper saddle fit, so I’m running off of some new experience and lots of online reading to try and catch up. That being said, a few specific questions: how well do adjustable gullets/trees actually work? Is it possible to get a decent enough fit by adjusting with risers, gel pads, and half pads accordingly? What gullet size (often) fits the widest range of horses?

The horse I’m looking to lease is an older Thoroughbred, but I’m riding a mix of warmbloods, quarter horses, and other generic crossbreeds. I know the standard advice is to wait until you own a horse to buy a saddle, but I would also need one for leasing in this situation.

Any advice?

Hi! I restarted lessons after 25+ years away and I feel like I'm perpetually confused about the proper placement of the saddle on the horse's back. I find out which lesson horse I'm on when I get to the barn and lately I've been riding an old sway backed gelding who is the sweetest.

I want to make sure I'm putting the (English) saddle in the right place and tightening the girth appropriately. He has a blanket and a full pad, but I feel like my instructor is always making adjustments to my saddle when I get in the ring and I'd like to figure out what I am doing wrong. I think I either have the saddle too far forward or too far back.

Thanks for helping me get it just right!

I'm looking to buy my first saddle but I am struggling with the size. I've always ridden in a 17 AP saddle but test rode a 17.5 close contact. Saddle felt good but it seems I have too much space in the back. I was told that I should be able to fit 4 fingers but I can fit my entire hand. How can I tell if a 17.5 is too big for me? I'm worried if I go with a 17 saddle the back will fit better but the front flap will be too small for my knees...

So for the past 18 years I have been western riding. I started on English 20 years ago but quit after my second year. Today my friend that does custom saddle fitting at the local saddle maker (exclusively western saddles) said my fit is stadting to get wonky as Tyr is starting to get more lean muscles. She looked at me and said "you can either keep buying shims or thicker saddle pads and adjusting as he matures or, do what I do when training, buy some used English saddle that fits and keep changing it out till he matures then get a western saddle that fits him" my dad had issues with that due to thinking like a lot of western riders do, english riders all act entitled and have attitudes (tbh can say the same about a lot of western riders) but I've decided, because at the moment my gullet is too wide for Tyr. That can change in 2 years as he builds up muscle but, my friend is right, its going to start getting pricey constantly buying different shims and saddle pads to make my saddle work while he grows and changes. I got some heavy fitting wire from my friend and I am going to measure his gullet today. And I am so prepared for looking like a fool in jeans, cowboy boots, Tyr in a western headstall, and riding in an english saddle. But am I crazy for switching saddle styles to train him in or should I stay in my lane and buy a western saddle that may not fit in a year? Im trying to push aside ny dad's attitude and i have no plans to ride in competitions and shoot, i may find an english saddle to be a better overall fit. Sorry for ranting but its a huge decision for me to make

I have a total of 6 English saddles, with only one being under 20 years old, with only two of those being under 30 (two are 40 and one is anywhere from late 30's to early/mid 40's). The oldest 4 are high quality saddles that were considered high end in their day (Crosby, Stübben, Courbette), and the last 2 are a very solid mid-range brand (older RD Collegiates). I've never had any issues with any of these, of course there is no saddle that fits every horse and that is part of why I have so many, but for the most part, I've never had any safety concerns, any more difficulty with fit than any other saddle (if anything, most of these seem to be pretty versatile in fit for the most part), or any soreness or issues with any horses they've been used on.

I've ridden with (and currently ride with) very reputable trainers over the years, none of them have had any issues with my saddles and have all checked the fit and adjusted some padding in certain cases on their school horses, but have never told me the saddles were unsafe or would hurt horses' backs. In fact, their lesson saddles are of the same vintage and their horses seem to be just fine (and they look after their horses very well).

While I still had horses (how I ended up with so many saddles, not including buying spares for when family and friends came out to ride), there were never any issues and these were the saddles my horses went best in. I had a mare who was pretty sensitive and went great in one of the now 40-year-old saddles. The fit was checked and deemed to be fine.

All of my saddles are as sound as the day is long. Routinely checked over and well cared for.

However, I have heard a few people say lately that all older saddles should not be used, ranging from that they are all built in a way that is sure to cause severe back problems in a horse for life, to that old trees are almost always compromised and even that the maximum life of a saddle tree is 15 years (I actually read on a forum about someone saying their saddle fitter told them this). In the lifetime I've been riding, I have never heard of this, not even once. I know that the older saddles tend to run narrower and that they tend to not fit bigger-bodied horses as well, and that there are some concerns with ones with very narrow channels, but I have never heard once that 15 years is the maximum life of a tree (and frankly do not believe it at all, nor do I believe any saddle of even halfway decent quality would only last for 15 year

Hello all, I rode English all my life, and had some pretty good saddles, so, obviously I feel at home on a English saddle. I also roda a Western occasionally, but always on cheap saddles. They were all uncomfortable, they all had something that was rubbing against the inside of my tights or calfs. All the high end ones that I've seen (never rode) was full of decorations that looked even more uncomfortable. But given their use, I would figure that they should be a LOT more confortable, in order to be on them for all day long. Also their are bigger and heavier, how are them for the horse? I know that the English interferes less with the horse movement, but the Western distributes the weight of the rider in a larger area, so I don't know...

I ask all of these because not only I'm curious but I'm beeing thinking in doing trails and camping, I've seen people doing with both, but the Western seems more fit for the job.

I’ve been riding in an older lesson saddle that I love, but is dry as a bone (not damaged) so I asked to be able to keep it with me and take care of it. I’ve started working on it and I’m stuck on oiling and the stirrup leathers.

I used Effax Leather Combi and deep cleaned it, and then let it sit until dry. I then used a coat of the Effax Leather Oil, and this is where I’m having an issue. Every guide says to wipe excess oil after 20-30 minutes, but the oil is only sitting on the saddle for <5 minutes before fully absorbing. Some areas (seat, jockeys, billets, knee rolls) are drying in seconds with a thin coat. Should I keep adding thin coats until oil sits for a few minutes, or should I stop here? I also have their leather balm and some mink oil if I need to switch. It’s been sitting for two days since the last thin coat of oil.

I’ve never had this issue with my boots or other saddles, so if someone could help that would be amazing!!

Oh! And the stirrup leathers look okay, I put a very light coat of oil on after cleaning them, but they’re older and a little worn. I’m wondering if I should just replace them with the synthetic ones Wintec makes that have the loop at the top and t attachment.

There’s a saddle I’m currently looking at that is much lighter in person than it was online. Is there anyway to make the bits that are too light as dark as the rest of the saddle ???

I’m looking for a cheap small saddle bag with room for a waterbottle and a few snacks for the horse, and maybe a lead rope and halter. It need to be able to be mounted on an English dressage saddle, and preferably be as small and cheap as possible, without falling apart

What can you recommend?

I started share boarding a trail horse and the owner said I could bring my own saddle if it fits. I'm mostly just putzing around in the arena (w/t/c). I've been wanting to get a Crosby close contact saddle for years and figured maybe now is the time (no harm if it doesn't fit him, I'll hold onto it).

This feels like a stupid question and I apologize if it is - but what should I expect swapping out the saddle style? Do horses get weird about the change? I've never ridden western so this hasn't come up before. Thank you!

Edit: I appreciate everyone's chiming in and advice, but I'm going to shut this down.

My concern was never about my saddle fitting my horse, because if it didn't fit her, then whether or not it was comfortable for me was moot. (It's like wondering if you can walk in a 4" heel when you can't get the shoe on your foot. If you can't wear it, you can't walk in it.) Which when I consider that metaphor, I realize my anxious brain was latching onto something silly.

Thanks folks, I really really appreciate this community! <3

My black multi-purpose saddle that I’ve had for almost 8 years is still stiff on the top side flaps. I’ve used a leather oil before and the seat is generally soft but what I’m doing for my seat isn’t working for the flaps. What do I do?????

I only ride English at the moment, so I’ve only hacked using my dressage saddle. I’ve found an Australian stock saddle (think it’s the same as a western saddle) for not too much. Are there any advantages of using such compared to an English saddle?

I’m wondering if anyone knows any trail riding companies that have an option for an English style riding saddle, either within the hrm or within a couple of hours drive! Thanks in advance for any help finding one!

I’m primarily a western rider and do mostly reined cow horse work. I have a decent seat and never lose my stirrups even going down the fence! However, sometimes when I break out the English saddle to have some fun a pop over a few jumps I all of a sudden lose my stirrups (or feel like I’m constantly readjusting my feet) at a sitting trot and canter. Does anyone else experience this? I also seem to have a habit of turning my toes out, is this related? Sometimes I wonder if it’s partly because I’m 5’8” with long legs riding a 15hh horse so in an English saddle there’s less horse underneath my leg than if I were riding something bigger (like most other English riders). Sometimes I wonder if my English saddle doesn’t fit me that well. Are there any other tall/long legged riders out there that experience this? Help!

I thought I was keeping up with my workout routine but apparently I’m lacking in the legs department. Gonna be squats on squats on squats for me. Anyone have any good body weight only exercises they can recommend?

I have a total of 6 English saddles, with only one being under 20 years old, with only two of those being under 30 (two are 40 and one is anywhere from late 30's to early/mid 40's). The oldest 4 are high quality saddles that were considered high end in their day (Crosby, Stübben, Courbette), and the last 2 are a very solid mid-range brand (older RD Collegiates). I've never had any issues with any of these, of course there is no saddle that fits every horse and that is part of why I have so many, but for the most part, I've never had any safety concerns, any more difficulty with fit than any other saddle (if anything, most of these seem to be pretty versatile in fit for the most part), or any soreness or issues with any horses they've been used on.

I've ridden with (and currently ride with) very reputable trainers over the years, none of them have had any issues with my saddles and have all checked the fit and adjusted some padding in certain cases on their school horses, but have never told me the saddles were unsafe or would hurt horses' backs. In fact, their lesson saddles are of the same vintage and their horses seem to be just fine (and they look after their horses very well).

While I still had horses (how I ended up with so many saddles, not including buying spares for when family and friends came out to ride), there were never any issues and these were the saddles my horses went best in. I had a mare who was pretty sensitive and went great in one of the now 40-year-old saddles. The fit was checked and deemed to be fine.

All of my saddles are as sound as the day is long. Routinely checked over and well cared for.

However, I have heard a few people say lately that all older saddles should not be used, ranging from that they are all built in a way that is sure to cause severe back problems in a horse for life, to that old trees are almost always compromised and even that the maximum life of a saddle tree is 15 years (I actually read on a forum about someone saying their saddle fitter told them this). In the lifetime I've been riding, I have never heard of this, not even once. I know that the older saddles tend to run narrower and that they tend to not fit bigger-bodied horses as well, and that there are some concerns with ones with very narrow channels, but I have never heard once that 15 years is the maximum life of a tree (and frankly do not believe it at all, nor do I believe any saddle of even halfway decent quality would only last for 15 year