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 Member
Posts: 23
| I know this has been discussed before, but I want to bring it up again considering newer saddles that have come out. I am looking for a saddle that will make me REALLY sit back and keep my feet forward in the turns. I know a larger seat and longer stirrups will help, but I just don't know what kind of saddle to try - Martin FX3? Performance saddle? What REALLY keeps your butt down and feet forward? | |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
  
Location: North Dakota | Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 6:24 AM I know this has been discussed before, but I want to bring it up again considering newer saddles that have come out. I am looking for a saddle that will make me REALLY sit back and keep my feet forward in the turns. I know a larger seat and longer stirrups will help, but I just don't know what kind of saddle to try - Martin FX3? Performance saddle? What REALLY keeps your butt down and feet forward?
I don't want this to come across as rude or mean, but no saddle is going to MAKE you keep proper position in the saddle.
That's up to the rider.
Of course, you may have saddle designs that work better for you or that you prefer. But I guarantee most good riders can run a barrel pattern in ANY saddle (barrel racing saddle or not) and keep good body position. Because it's not really the saddle that "makes" you have good body position. It's practice, training, and muscle memory; and to some degree, physical fitness. Now, that is by no means a hit on people who have a few extra pounds. Not at all. I know many larger-sized ladies who can ride the hair off anything (and a few 100 pound twigs that flop around like a sack of potatoes). So maybe better worded as "muscle strength and conditioning" to be able to ride effectively.
Anyway .... there's my two cents. Spend more energy working on YOU, instead of saddle searching.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 959
Location: Borger, Tx | I have to agree with r beau on this. However, I have an FX3 that does help in keeping my feet forward BUT it's not going to make you keep your feet forward, I have had a few instances where I got my body to far forward and my feet ended up way behind me:)
Don't know if this helps any, I hope it does!
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Regular
Posts: 57
| I have no personal experience with them, but the new Jeff Smith C3 saddles look like they could be whaat you're looking for. They have a really deep seat, and looks like the stirrups are forward. | |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | it's all about your body position and balance when you ride. Have someone video and you can see it, its all about muscle memory. | |
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 Saint Stacey
| I do agree it's about body position. But with that said, a poorly balanced saddle DOES throw a rider off considerably. I rode a friend's saddle once. It was her pride and joy (trophy saddle she won). After I rode it, I told her she needed to ditch it. It was TERRIBLE! It threw you forward and was next to impossible to get your feet in front of you if you needed them to be there. Saddle balance makes a HUGE difference, no matter how good of a rider you are.
My daughter rides a Double J that she really likes. I've been eyeballing a custom made Performance Saddle Company saddle.
If you feel your feet are getting behind you, you can always tie your stirrups forward with a piece of parachute cord. Just run it around the fender and underneath the seat jockey and tie both ends to the breast collar D's to pull the stirrups forward. Just use it as a temporary thing as the cord will start wearing through the fender leather. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | Yes body position I'm sure the op knows that and probably tries hard but wants a saddle that will help her achieve that more, my recommendation would be a Tammy Fischer, it's got a high back and front so you sit very deep, and the rigging of the new ones make my feet sit Perfectly underneath me aso I can really sit and keep my heels down perfect. My bob Marshall swung my feet behind me, you can change the rigging but I just really like the Tammy for those purposes.
In a hard saddle I liked the Josey ultimate or pro riders with the higher backs but nothing sits you deep like a treeless. | |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | SKM - 2017-03-30 6:10 AM I do agree it's about body position. But with that said, a poorly balanced saddle DOES throw a rider off considerably. I rode a friend's saddle once. It was her pride and joy (trophy saddle she won). After I rode it, I told her she needed to ditch it. It was TERRIBLE! It threw you forward and was next to impossible to get your feet in front of you if you needed them to be there. Saddle balance makes a HUGE difference, no matter how good of a rider you are. My daughter rides a Double J that she really likes. I've been eyeballing a custom made Performance Saddle Company saddle. If you feel your feet are getting behind you, you can always tie your stirrups forward with a piece of parachute cord. Just run it around the fender and underneath the seat jockey and tie both ends to the breast collar D's to pull the stirrups forward. Just use it as a temporary thing as the cord will start wearing through the fender leather.
This^^^^ !! A saddle is there to enhance your GOD given talent to sit a horse. And believe me they can take away your center of balance as well. Rode a Crown C for a few years, until I flew off over the front of my horse and hit the fence when he front ended me at the gate instead of rolling up to the fence and keeping his butt under him . If I'd have had the saddle I ride in now, Double J, I likely would have been able to keep my seat and stay in the saddle. | |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| r_beau - 2017-03-29 1:28 PM
Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 6:24 AM I know this has been discussed before, but I want to bring it up again considering newer saddles that have come out. I am looking for a saddle that will make me REALLY sit back and keep my feet forward in the turns. I know a larger seat and longer stirrups will help, but I just don't know what kind of saddle to try - Martin FX3? Performance saddle? What REALLY keeps your butt down and feet forward?
I don't want this to come across as rude or mean, but no saddle is going to MAKE you keep proper position in the saddle.
That's up to the rider.
Of course, you may have saddle designs that work better for you or that you prefer. But I guarantee most good riders can run a barrel pattern in ANY saddle (barrel racing saddle or not) and keep good body position. Because it's not really the saddle that "makes" you have good body position. It's practice, training, and muscle memory; and to some degree, physical fitness. Now, that is by no means a hit on people who have a few extra pounds. Not at all. I know many larger-sized ladies who can ride the hair off anything (and a few 100 pound twigs that flop around like a sack of potatoes). So maybe better worded as "muscle strength and conditioning" to be able to ride effectively.
Anyway .... there's my two cents. Spend more energy working on YOU, instead of saddle searching.
I have to disagree with you. While rider strength and ability are top priority, a saddle that truly fits you and your horse is key! When you're on a truly competitive horse, you need all the help you can get. A saddle that isn't right for your body type and center of gravity is going to seriously work against you when you're making the backside at 28-32 mph.
When I found my Lynn saddle, the first time I rode it, it felt like coming home.
I went through Triple Creeks, Merrills, Martins, CJs, Cervis, the Wright
saddle I fell out of twice, and a treeless that I hated. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| classicpotatochip - 2017-03-30 10:33 AM
r_beau - 2017-03-29 1:28 PM
Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 6:24 AM I know this has been discussed before, but I want to bring it up again considering newer saddles that have come out. I am looking for a saddle that will make me REALLY sit back and keep my feet forward in the turns. I know a larger seat and longer stirrups will help, but I just don't know what kind of saddle to try - Martin FX3? Performance saddle? What REALLY keeps your butt down and feet forward?
I don't want this to come across as rude or mean, but no saddle is going to MAKE you keep proper position in the saddle.
That's up to the rider.
Of course, you may have saddle designs that work better for you or that you prefer. But I guarantee most good riders can run a barrel pattern in ANY saddle (barrel racing saddle or not) and keep good body position. Because it's not really the saddle that "makes" you have good body position. It's practice, training, and muscle memory; and to some degree, physical fitness. Now, that is by no means a hit on people who have a few extra pounds. Not at all. I know many larger-sized ladies who can ride the hair off anything (and a few 100 pound twigs that flop around like a sack of potatoes). So maybe better worded as "muscle strength and conditioning" to be able to ride effectively.
Anyway .... there's my two cents. Spend more energy working on YOU, instead of saddle searching.
I have to disagree with you. While rider strength and ability are top priority, a saddle that truly fits you and your horse is key! When you're on a truly competitive horse, you need all the help you can get. A saddle that isn't right for your body type and center of gravity is going to seriously work against you when you're making the backside at 28-32 mph.
When I found my Lynn saddle, the first time I rode it, it felt like coming home.
I went through Triple Creeks, Merrills, Martins, CJs, Cervis, the Wright
saddle I fell out of twice, and a treeless that I hated.
I agree with PotatoChip. Even if you're the best rider with the best center of gravity, a piece of junk saddle that pushes you one way or another, holds you in unbalanced positions, and fights against you is the worst feeling in the world. I like your analogy about "feels like home". A saddle that's right for you and your horse should feel like your most comfy pair of slippers. The right saddle gives you confidence and the wrong saddle can break your confidence. | |
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| r_beau - 2017-03-29 12:28 PM
Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 6:24 AM I know this has been discussed before, but I want to bring it up again considering newer saddles that have come out. I am looking for a saddle that will make me REALLY sit back and keep my feet forward in the turns. I know a larger seat and longer stirrups will help, but I just don't know what kind of saddle to try - Martin FX3? Performance saddle? What REALLY keeps your butt down and feet forward?
I don't want this to come across as rude or mean, but no saddle is going to MAKE you keep proper position in the saddle.
That's up to the rider.
Of course, you may have saddle designs that work better for you or that you prefer. But I guarantee most good riders can run a barrel pattern in ANY saddle (barrel racing saddle or not) and keep good body position. Because it's not really the saddle that "makes" you have good body position. It's practice, training, and muscle memory; and to some degree, physical fitness. Now, that is by no means a hit on people who have a few extra pounds. Not at all. I know many larger-sized ladies who can ride the hair off anything (and a few 100 pound twigs that flop around like a sack of potatoes). So maybe better worded as "muscle strength and conditioning" to be able to ride effectively.
Anyway .... there's my two cents. Spend more energy working on YOU, instead of saddle searching.
Practice, training, and muscle memory along with physical fitness does make a difference, however so does having the right saddle. I bought a used saddle once that had the stirrups hobbled way forward and I couldn't even lope a circle in that sucker! Thank goodness it was an easy fix, but it did prove to me that a good saddle you are comfortable in is a must. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 338
Location: NE TX | I absolutely love my Deb Sibley. Make sure you get the Herman Oak upgrade. Don't be in a hurry to get it though cause it does take them a while to make them if you don't buy one already made. | |
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | classicpotatochip - 2017-03-30 10:33 AM r_beau - 2017-03-29 1:28 PM Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 6:24 AM I know this has been discussed before, but I want to bring it up again considering newer saddles that have come out. I am looking for a saddle that will make me REALLY sit back and keep my feet forward in the turns. I know a larger seat and longer stirrups will help, but I just don't know what kind of saddle to try - Martin FX3? Performance saddle? What REALLY keeps your butt down and feet forward? I don't want this to come across as rude or mean, but no saddle is going to MAKE you keep proper position in the saddle.
That's up to the rider.
Of course, you may have saddle designs that work better for you or that you prefer. But I guarantee most good riders can run a barrel pattern in ANY saddle (barrel racing saddle or not) and keep good body position. Because it's not really the saddle that "makes" you have good body position. It's practice, training, and muscle memory; and to some degree, physical fitness. Now, that is by no means a hit on people who have a few extra pounds. Not at all. I know many larger-sized ladies who can ride the hair off anything (and a few 100 pound twigs that flop around like a sack of potatoes). So maybe better worded as "muscle strength and conditioning" to be able to ride effectively.
Anyway .... there's my two cents. Spend more energy working on YOU, instead of saddle searching.
I have to disagree with you. While rider strength and ability are top priority, a saddle that truly fits you and your horse is key! When you're on a truly competitive horse, you need all the help you can get. A saddle that isn't right for your body type and center of gravity is going to seriously work against you when you're making the backside at 28-32 mph. When I found my Lynn saddle, the first time I rode it, it felt like coming home. I went through Triple Creeks, Merrills, Martins, CJs, Cervis, the Wright saddle I fell out of twice, and a treeless that I hated.
This. I grew up riding jumpers and pride myself on having a really nice seat. I have even galloped a few of my horses in flat tack at the house. An ill fitting barrel saddle that doesn't put you in the right position to jockey a horse can be HUGE player in your confidence, lack of balance, poor riding, poor timing, and even sore horses. Even if a saddle fits a horse when you sit it up there, if it doesn't place you, as the rider, in the correct position to distribute your weight evenly and where it should be, there's no way your horse won't be sore.
I have ridden almost everything out there at one point of the other, and yes, like classicpotatochip says, when you sit in the one that makes you ride balanced, etc, it just feels like home and your confidence level goes way up.
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 Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Posts: 2411
Location: Wisconsin | The Martha Josey is your best bet for a store boughten., unfortunately i have found they dont make them the way they did years ago. ...I just ordered one of Jeff Smith Saddles and they are doing forward hung stirrups for me. | |
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Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Posts: 2411
Location: Wisconsin | Misschick77 - 2017-03-29 2:56 PM I have no personal experience with them, but the new Jeff Smith C3 saddles look like they could be whaat you're looking for. They have a really deep seat, and looks like the stirrups are forward.
They are not made with a forward hung stirrup but you can ask that they do so...this is the tree i ordered. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| nettieb3 - 2017-03-30 10:06 PM
Misschick77 - 2017-03-29 2:56 PM I have no personal experience with them, but the new Jeff Smith C3 saddles look like they could be whaat you're looking for. They have a really deep seat, and looks like the stirrups are forward.
They are not made with a forward hung stirrup but you can ask that they do so...this is the tree i ordered.
I love love love my C3. I have a super quick horse, with the right rider he could definitely be in the 1D, but I myself am not a 1D rider (yet). Besides the fact that every saddle on him rolled, I just did not feel comfortable because he is so dang quick that all it takes is for me to miscue and put a leg on him, and we're going the other direction.
No, it's not going to make me a 1D rider, that's up to me. But it's given me the confidence to go a little faster knowing I have less of a chance of going airborn LOL
As far as being "forward hung" specifically, they're not but if you just look at them when they're on a horse, they naturally hang forward just a bit. Such a balanced ride you really don't even need forward hung. | |
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Best saddle to keep my feet forward and butt DOWN!