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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
 
Location: Southern Oregon | I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I use a Merrill on mine. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 428
Location: God's country | I'm interested in this as well. Have one built this way. Also not having much withers. Not the best combo, lol. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | Ditto. Seems like a huge money maker if someone comes out with one lol. |
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Location: northeast | I have to say, I've owned them all Martin,Caldwell,cactus and the best fitting saddle that's reasonably priced and fits a horse like that is a triple creek! I am not a rep or spokesperson for them! Great saddle wish I got one sooner! It fits my horse great!
Edited by Junior 2015-09-01 9:24 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| I have had the best luck with a pro rider wide tree ( using a 7.5 gullet ~ special order).....and a reinsman pad that has a build up area around the shoulder....prs i think it may be called? has a little hexagon shape around shoulder area. I have tried so many saddles it makes my head spin........My horse runs downhill, yet still has pretty good defined withers |
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Expert
Posts: 1531
Location: Oklahoma | Treeless |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I like something with a bit more front end in it like a cutting saddle and that encourages me to sit deep and on my pockets, otherwise I feel like i'm about to kiss my horse between his ears with every move he makes. I had two Jeff Smith saddles made a couple years ago. They are set up like a cutter with a higher pommel, nice pocket in the seat, and the fenders hang just slightly in front of my hip. I love this saddle and even on my super downhill hard turner, i'm never out of position.
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-01 5:28 PM I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues.
As tall as you are I really think you'd like a cutting saddle like Herbie suggested with a little more front end. Cutters with a seat smaller than a 16" are a little tougher to find, but they're out there. I'm having a 14" built right now on a Bob Marshall cutting tree and I love the way the tree looks and sits just on the stand.
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | Herbie - 2015-09-02 7:07 AM
I like something with a bit more front end in it like a cutting saddle and that encourages me to sit deep and on my pockets, otherwise I feel like i'm about to kiss my horse between his ears with every move he makes. I had two Jeff Smith saddles made a couple years ago. They are set up like a cutter with a higher pommel, nice pocket in the seat, and the fenders hang just slightly in front of my hip. I love this saddle and even on my super downhill hard turner, i'm never out of position.
I did try her in a roo hide and LOVED the way it felt. Felt so much more natural instead of riding a down hill horse. My friend just purchased a jeff smith cutter in her size so I plan on stealing it for a ride or two too see if it fits me and her. |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 7:51 AM
cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-01 5:28 PM I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues.
As tall as you are I really think you'd like a cutting saddle like Herbie suggested with a little more front end. Cutters with a seat smaller than a 16" are a little tougher to find, but they're out there. I'm having a 14" built right now on a Bob Marshall cutting tree and I love the way the tree looks and sits just on the stand.
YES.... My height is always a large factor in choosing a saddle as well. I really felt at home in the roo hide, it is just hard to convince my SO that I need to spend that much on a USED saddle. I am still working on him. My friends Jeff smith that she just bought is a 15.5 and that was what the roo hide was so I am hoping I get the same feeling from it. I think my only complaint about the roo hide was I am so use to having a taller cantle. All of my horses in the past where very powerful out of their turns and would run you right out that back of the saddle, so I have gotten use to having that security of the taller cantle. I am slowly starting to figure out with a good seat(pocket) I dont have to have that taller cantle.
I REALLY like the looks of that tree! |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | We've discussed it a little on here already, I think a lot of barrel racers....especially the ones that don't ride in a 13" seat need to start considering a cutting saddle.
Too many people ride a saddle that's way too small for them in the seat and have no idea how much easier it would be to ride their horse in a saddle that fits both of them. Cutters have flatter bars and are closer fitting to the horse. Your legs are right where you need them and you aren't perched up on top and out in front of your horse completely tipped over making them even more sore because you're completely off balance and yanking on their face.
I made a run in my daughter's Allen Ranch barrel saddle recently on her mare and was blown away at how easy it was to ride her. I had never made a run on that mare and never even ridden in that saddle. I was right where I needed to be and totally balanced for the whole run. I have a tendency to ride a saddle that's too big for me though...I have VERY long legs and long arms on a short torso and feel like I need more room to be able to push back. This saddle was a 14" and perfect for me, so I bought one for myself and sold my 14.5" Caldwell that I loved because it's just absolutely too big for me and I could finally see that after making a run where I wasn't fighting the saddle the whole time. |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-02 10:00 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 7:51 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-01 5:28 PM I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues. As tall as you are I really think you'd like a cutting saddle like Herbie suggested with a little more front end. Cutters with a seat smaller than a 16" are a little tougher to find, but they're out there. I'm having a 14" built right now on a Bob Marshall cutting tree and I love the way the tree looks and sits just on the stand. YES.... My height is always a large factor in choosing a saddle as well. I really felt at home in the roo hide, it is just hard to convince my SO that I need to spend that much on a USED saddle. I am still working on him. My friends Jeff smith that she just bought is a 15.5 and that was what the roo hide was so I am hoping I get the same feeling from it. I think my only complaint about the roo hide was I am so use to having a taller cantle. All of my horses in the past where very powerful out of their turns and would run you right out that back of the saddle, so I have gotten use to having that security of the taller cantle. I am slowly starting to figure out with a good seat (pocket ) I dont have to have that taller cantle. I REALLY like the looks of that tree!
They hand carved the bars in this tree and made the cantle a bit higher and put a higher rise in it. I cannot wait to get it covered in leather. I'm going back and forth on design, but to make it lighter I think I'll go with a single skirt design with inskirt D's and have it look like a stripped down cutter with a hard seat....maybe an inlay, lol. I'm trying to find pretty hardware for it right now. |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 8:05 AM
cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-02 10:00 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 7:51 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-01 5:28 PM I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues. As tall as you are I really think you'd like a cutting saddle like Herbie suggested with a little more front end. Cutters with a seat smaller than a 16" are a little tougher to find, but they're out there. I'm having a 14" built right now on a Bob Marshall cutting tree and I love the way the tree looks and sits just on the stand. YES.... My height is always a large factor in choosing a saddle as well. I really felt at home in the roo hide, it is just hard to convince my SO that I need to spend that much on a USED saddle. I am still working on him. My friends Jeff smith that she just bought is a 15.5 and that was what the roo hide was so I am hoping I get the same feeling from it. I think my only complaint about the roo hide was I am so use to having a taller cantle. All of my horses in the past where very powerful out of their turns and would run you right out that back of the saddle, so I have gotten use to having that security of the taller cantle. I am slowly starting to figure out with a good seat (pocket ) I dont have to have that taller cantle. I REALLY like the looks of that tree!
I personally like the hard seats. My roping saddle in HS was a hard(slick) seat and I loved that saddle. Never felt slick or out of place. After I took a sabbatical from roping all of my barrel saddles have had some sort of covered seat. I thought I NEEDED it for the secure feeling, until I rode in that **** roo hide and realized the secure feeling comes from the overall fit of the saddle not the seat covering or the cantle height. Right now I am ridding in my cj cactus, but I am looking for other options. I was eye balling a shiloh contender until my friend drug home that dang jeff smith. I had looked at the jeff smith saddles and the roo hides quite a bit. I think I get hung up on the wording instead of going with what will work. Running barrels in a cutting saddle doesn't "sound" right even though I suppose it just might feel right. |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-02 10:25 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 8:05 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-02 10:00 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 7:51 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-01 5:28 PM I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues. As tall as you are I really think you'd like a cutting saddle like Herbie suggested with a little more front end. Cutters with a seat smaller than a 16" are a little tougher to find, but they're out there. I'm having a 14" built right now on a Bob Marshall cutting tree and I love the way the tree looks and sits just on the stand. YES.... My height is always a large factor in choosing a saddle as well. I really felt at home in the roo hide, it is just hard to convince my SO that I need to spend that much on a USED saddle. I am still working on him. My friends Jeff smith that she just bought is a 15.5 and that was what the roo hide was so I am hoping I get the same feeling from it. I think my only complaint about the roo hide was I am so use to having a taller cantle. All of my horses in the past where very powerful out of their turns and would run you right out that back of the saddle, so I have gotten use to having that security of the taller cantle. I am slowly starting to figure out with a good seat (pocket ) I dont have to have that taller cantle. I REALLY like the looks of that tree! I personally like the hard seats. My roping saddle in HS was a hard (slick ) seat and I loved that saddle. Never felt slick or out of place. After I took a sabbatical from roping all of my barrel saddles have had some sort of covered seat. I thought I NEEDED it for the secure feeling, until I rode in that **** roo hide and realized the secure feeling comes from the overall fit of the saddle not the seat covering or the cantle height. Right now I am ridding in my cj cactus, but I am looking for other options. I was eye balling a shiloh contender until my friend drug home that dang jeff smith. I had looked at the jeff smith saddles and the roo hides quite a bit. I think I get hung up on the wording instead of going with what will work. Running barrels in a cutting saddle doesn't "sound" right even though I suppose it just might feel right.
There's a nice Jordon Peterson Contender on Ebay right now. I can't remember, but I think it's a 15.5". |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 10:50 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-02 10:25 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 8:05 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-02 10:00 AM rachellyn80 - 2015-09-02 7:51 AM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-09-01 5:28 PM I need some opinions on what are the best saddles and why for a horse who is built down hill? She has a big build, just never seemed to level out and I am having saddle fit issues. As tall as you are I really think you'd like a cutting saddle like Herbie suggested with a little more front end. Cutters with a seat smaller than a 16" are a little tougher to find, but they're out there. I'm having a 14" built right now on a Bob Marshall cutting tree and I love the way the tree looks and sits just on the stand. YES.... My height is always a large factor in choosing a saddle as well. I really felt at home in the roo hide, it is just hard to convince my SO that I need to spend that much on a USED saddle. I am still working on him. My friends Jeff smith that she just bought is a 15.5 and that was what the roo hide was so I am hoping I get the same feeling from it. I think my only complaint about the roo hide was I am so use to having a taller cantle. All of my horses in the past where very powerful out of their turns and would run you right out that back of the saddle, so I have gotten use to having that security of the taller cantle. I am slowly starting to figure out with a good seat (pocket ) I dont have to have that taller cantle. I REALLY like the looks of that tree! I personally like the hard seats. My roping saddle in HS was a hard (slick ) seat and I loved that saddle. Never felt slick or out of place. After I took a sabbatical from roping all of my barrel saddles have had some sort of covered seat. I thought I NEEDED it for the secure feeling, until I rode in that **** roo hide and realized the secure feeling comes from the overall fit of the saddle not the seat covering or the cantle height. Right now I am ridding in my cj cactus, but I am looking for other options. I was eye balling a shiloh contender until my friend drug home that dang jeff smith. I had looked at the jeff smith saddles and the roo hides quite a bit. I think I get hung up on the wording instead of going with what will work. Running barrels in a cutting saddle doesn't "sound" right even though I suppose it just might feel right.
I love how these saddle fit you! I'm curious about trying a cutter style like Herbies - I like my saddles I've got, but I could be a saddle hoarder! :D
After having a JP Contender that I had to sell, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 340
| I'm considering a cutting saddle too... my question is, if my barrel saddle is a 15" with 7" gullet and semi quarter horse bars, what size cutting saddle should I consider? the 15" is a little small (but it fits my guy so I tolerate) and I'd probably actually need a 15.5. I've loped for cutters before and loved the saddles but how do they compare size wise to the barrel saddles?
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | I have a horse built downhill and the JP Contender threw me forward. I bought a Kim Thomas Shiloh - it's built on a modified Buster Welch tree and sits you back like a cutting saddle. It works for me and this horse. |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | Dreamingofcans - 2015-09-02 1:33 PM
I have a horse built downhill and the JP Contender threw me forward. I bought a Kim Thomas Shiloh - it's built on a modified Buster Welch tree and sits you back like a cutting saddle. It works for me and this horse.
Thank you for the feed back. That is what I really needed to know. I was eye balling the contender on ebay even though it might be a bit big for me |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| Can you explain how the feel in a cutter is different than in a barrel saddle? I'm riding a Caldwell right now with a high rise. I have tried a Wright, a Coats original and G-G and don't care for any of them after having that high rise in the Caldwell. I am needing to find myself a second saddle and it's not going to be a Caldwell. Was thinking about a Tami Semas. |
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