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 Expert
Posts: 1440
  
Location: Texas | I was wondering who rides in a Calwell saddle and what do you like or dislike about it. Also after looking at their website their saddles look very customized so how did you pick seat size and style and how did they fit your horse. My one horse is very hard to fit and I don't want to spend so much $$ without getting him fitted some how. |
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  Friendly horse swapper
Posts: 4122
Location: Buffalo, TX | SG turned me on to Caldwell saddles a lot of years ago...LOL.....I rode in hers and I was instantly sold....I have the TG model with the high rise seat....the TG fit the horse I was riding at the time very well because she had high withers...it was one of those saddles that I could get in the first time and go make a hard run without getting used to it...they are so balanced and don't get your feet behind you....the seat is very secure feeling....I have team penning and sorting horses now, but I still refuse to get rid of my Caldwell just in case I want to get these horses going on barrels enough to actually enter them...LOL....
I would pick a tree style that fits a wide variety of horses...there's a lot of people here that can steer you towards what might be best for your horse....for me, the TG tree worked great for my mare who had high withers with a dip behind the shoulders... |
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 Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | I've been riding them for 11 years now. I can't say anything bad about them and I've got 5 of them. I've always bought mine used though, I've never ordered a new one.
As far as fit, I don't really know much about the newer trees they have. Mine are all either TG or Pro Racer trees and between those 2 trees and a several styles/thicknesses of different pads, I can fit all of the horses that I ride. I have everything from gangly string bean 2 year olds to a 15.3hh 1300# fat withered stud that I ride, so that's a pretty good variety.
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 Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I have been a Caldwell junkie for like 7 or 8 years now and it's all I ride. I have tried or bought about every big name brand out there and in my opinion...nothing compares. When I bought my first one, I took a stab on the dark on what tree I needed and it ended up being perfect. But the good thing is, they hold their value really well and are not hard to re-sell. If you talk to Charon and show her pictures of your horse, she can give you a good idea on which tree is best for your horse. Every time she has been spot on for fit with my horses. As far as the seat goes, it's all on preference. I like the highest rise they have...helps me sit back. The higher the rise, it does shrink up your seat a bit - so I get a .5" larger than I normally would to accomodate that. |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | I talked to her this morning And was very impressed on her knowledge of fit Based off of different horse confirmation. Unfortunately my two are very different in shape and size but that's ok my main problem is with my older horse. I have been riding Crown Cs and just feel like they could fit my kids better even with the shimming. I also have a Double J Pro and like it but the price on new ones are high and don't seem to hold their value. I wish I I SW someone in TX who had one that I could sit in to see seat size and which rise I liked better. Also hate the wait time , but am willing to wait for what will work best for me and my horse. |
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Veteran
Posts: 237
| If you go to the BBR in Oklahoma she will have her stuff there. I have 4 now. I love them ALL ProMax is my Favorite!! but I have the maxxed out and the TG for my high withered ones. You cant go wrong I usually ride a 13 to 13 3/4 they keep me from going out as I have a paralized left leg that has no feeling. Good Luck and Happy Caldwell shopping!!!
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 Voice of Reason
Location: NOT at Wal Mart | Only saddle I ride and I too have tried many. Love Caldwells!
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | obestobbe - 2014-02-21 10:16 AM If you go to the BBR in Oklahoma she will have her stuff there. I have 4 now. I love them ALL ProMax is my Favorite!! but I have the maxxed out and the TG for my high withered ones. You cant go wrong I usually ride a 13 to 13 3/4 they keep me from going out as I have a paralized left leg that has no feeling. Good Luck and Happy Caldwell shopping!!!
Awesome! I have really been eyeing these! They seem to be the only saddle that I can't find a single negative thing said about them! |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | Same here... I have never heard a negative thing about the saddle itself. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I remember one bb had bad customer service, she thought something was wrong with the tree, and Caldwell would not stand behind their product, they would not look at it.
To me this is a deal breaker |
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 Expert
Posts: 2151
| I was initially impressed then once I learned more about saddle trees & saddle construction I became less impressed. Really do your homework before you spend the kind of $ they are asking for them these days. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I spoke with Charon the other day, and she was very nice and helpful. I could not find any used ones that would fit my horse though, so I am test riding a Martin next week.
I have heard the H3/Performance Saddle Company saddles are somewhat similar as well. I need to get more pictures of my horse's back and get back to the owner, Kari. She seemed nice over emails. :)
I have never ridden in any of them, but I have heard good things. :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | achipintime - 2014-02-21 12:21 PM
I was initially impressed then once I learned more about saddle trees & saddle construction I became less impressed. Really do your homework before you spend the kind of $ they are asking for them these days.
I am curious as to what has you less impressed. If you don't want to broadcast it then PM me. I have ridden in pretty much all of the major brands at this point and all have their ups and downs. A blanket statement like you made does t help me. Tell me what you ride and why you ride it and what you like about it. I am not trying to be snarky, I am seriously wanti g to know. |
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 Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| I have a ProMax I bought used. It solved fit issues I was having on 2 horses.
The leather is very nice and it is very well made. A drawback is that it is fairly heavy.
After I had it for a few months a stirrup broke. I could tell there had been a knot in the wood where it broke.
I emailed Caldwell and they asked me for pictures of the stirrup and the serial number of my saddle to verify the stirrups were, in fact theirs.
I sent the pictures and offered to ship the broken stirrup to them. They said the pics were fine and sent me a new pair of stirrups.
I don't think I even paid shipping. |
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 Ima Non Controversial Girl
Posts: 4168
Location: where the wind blows | justcruzin - 2014-02-21 9:18 AM Only saddle I ride and I too have tried many. Love Caldwells!
Ditto. Drove my husband crazy buying and selling saddles. Finally took a chance on a used Caldwell. Not sure I will ever ride in anything else other than my Vic Bennett reining saddle. I've got a pro racer for narrower cutting build and a pro max wider cutting build. I bought mine used but talked to Charon on fit. She is knowledgeable. There is a utube video with Charon describing the different trees. I'm on iPhone so can't link it right now. But if you google you should find it. I found so many saddles tipped me forward I sit where I need to be in my Caldwell. And quality is second to none. |
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Voice of Reason
Location: NOT at Wal Mart | achipintime - 2014-02-21 10:21 AM I was initially impressed then once I learned more about saddle trees & saddle construction I became less impressed. Really do your homework before you spend the kind of $ they are asking for them these days.
What dont you like about them? I have ridden in Caldwells since my first one in 2002. I have tried or owned many other brands to include a Coats that I had custom made. None of them ride like a Caldwell, or are built like a Caldwell. In 12 years I have not once has any problem with one of their saddles. I sold one to a BB that was almost 20 years old and still going strong! |
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 No Name Nancy
Posts: 2715
Location: never in the right place | I have a TG and while I like it, it hurts my seat bones to ride for any length of time. I like everything else about it. Don't know why this one is so hard. It fits my high withered horse great and I use it on my wide flat backed horse also but I really have to tighten it up or it rolls a little. I have been searching for a saddle to fit the wide one and am finally getting to try a Meleta Brown Freedom in the new wide width. Can't wait for it to come. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | cheryl makofka - 2014-02-21 1:11 PM I remember one bb had bad customer service, she thought something was wrong with the tree, and Caldwell would not stand behind their product, they would not look at it. To me this is a deal breaker
If I listened to one BB on this board who had bad customer service, I would never buy anything. |
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Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | Murphy - 2014-02-21 11:11 AM cheryl makofka - 2014-02-21 1:11 PM I remember one bb had bad customer service, she thought something was wrong with the tree, and Caldwell would not stand behind their product, they would not look at it. To me this is a deal breaker If I listened to one BB on this board who had bad customer service, I would never buy anything.
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Voice of Reason
Location: NOT at Wal Mart | Murphy - 2014-02-21 11:11 AM cheryl makofka - 2014-02-21 1:11 PM I remember one bb had bad customer service, she thought something was wrong with the tree, and Caldwell would not stand behind their product, they would not look at it. To me this is a deal breaker If I listened to one BB on this board who had bad customer service, I would never buy anything.
Aint that the truth! |
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