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Location: Texas | Hello, I'm looking at getting a Charmayne James barrel saddle for my mare. She's 14.2 and about 1200lbs. I haven't tired it on yet waiting till this afternoon. I'd just like opinions on them and how they fit your horses. Below is one similar to what I'm looking at. Thanks!
https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-sprint-us&q=cactus+s...
Edited by Tiffany1261 2018-05-09 10:21 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
 
| I LOVE them!!! I tend to ride flatter backed rounder shouldered horses and they fit like an absolute glove! I have one thats made by cactus and the other a Reinsman. Both awesome! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | They are nice saddles, but didn't fit a whole lot of horses. I had one horse it fit great and that was pretty much it. They have a lot of rock in the tree. They are not for a flat, wide back like you might think. I also had trouble keeping my butt down in it. I really liked the quality of Cactus saddles. I wish they would come out with something new/better. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | The problem with a Charmayne James by Cactus for me is that the twist was to wide for me it would pop me up out of the saddle when I did try one out.. |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| TheDutchMan01 - 2018-05-09 9:03 AM
They are nice saddles, but didn't fit a whole lot of horses. I had one horse it fit great and that was pretty much it. They have a lot of rock in the tree. They are not for a flat, wide back like you might think. I also had trouble keeping my butt down in it. I really liked the quality of Cactus saddles. I wish they would come out with something new/better.
CJ uses THREE different trees. THe " Wide" tree with lots of bar flare IS for a wide backed flatter shouldered horse. The other 2 trees are different. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | FLITASTIC - 2018-05-09 12:08 PM TheDutchMan01 - 2018-05-09 9:03 AM They are nice saddles, but didn't fit a whole lot of horses. I had one horse it fit great and that was pretty much it. They have a lot of rock in the tree. They are not for a flat, wide back like you might think. I also had trouble keeping my butt down in it. I really liked the quality of Cactus saddles. I wish they would come out with something new/better. CJ uses THREE different trees. THe " Wide" tree with lots of bar flare IS for a wide backed flatter shouldered horse. The other 2 trees are different.
This ^^^  |
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Location: Texas | It didn't fit her :( anyone have suggestions for saddles that fit smaller narrower horses? |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| Tiffany1261 - 2018-05-09 2:45 PM
It didn't fit her :( anyone have suggestions for saddles that fit smaller narrower horses?
A Caldwell TG is designed especially for those type of horses. Also Corriente saddles are made for that to. Depends on your budget. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | A older Martha Josey saddle would be worth the try. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I always have a lot of luck with my Deb Sibley. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| stayceem - 2018-05-10 1:35 PM
I always have a lot of luck with my Deb Sibley.
I need to trade mine for a wider tree, I feel like mine is too narrow, although no horse yet has shown signs of being sore. Maybe I'm using too thick of a pad. What do you use? |
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| FlyingJT - 2018-05-10 5:04 PM
stayceem - 2018-05-10 1:35 PM
I always have a lot of luck with my Deb Sibley.
I need to trade mine for a wider tree, I feel like mine is too narrow, although no horse yet has shown signs of being sore. Maybe I'm using too thick of a pad. What do you use?
I use a CSI pad or 5 star for competing but haven't used almost anything for regular use. I also thought mine was too tight in the shoulders but never had soreness. I talked to Deb about it and she said to repeat the name to myself "flex" tree. If you mess with my saddle everything flexes a little bit so I think its not a constricted tightness like a normal saddle. It made sense to me and made sense why I didn't experience a lot of issues with shoulder soreness. I have noticed mine is bridging a little and need to figure that out but I have ridden in it 11 years and yet to make a horse sore.
Recently bought a Marlene M by Cactus and its not nearly as forgiving. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| stayceem - 2018-05-10 5:19 PM
FlyingJT - 2018-05-10 5:04 PM
stayceem - 2018-05-10 1:35 PM
I always have a lot of luck with my Deb Sibley.
I need to trade mine for a wider tree, I feel like mine is too narrow, although no horse yet has shown signs of being sore. Maybe I'm using too thick of a pad. What do you use?
I use a CSI pad or 5 star for competing but haven't used almost anything for regular use. I also thought mine was too tight in the shoulders but never had soreness. I talked to Deb about it and she said to repeat the name to myself "flex" tree. If you mess with my saddle everything flexes a little bit so I think its not a constricted tightness like a normal saddle. It made sense to me and made sense why I didn't experience a lot of issues with shoulder soreness. I have noticed mine is bridging a little and need to figure that out but I have ridden in it 11 years and yet to make a horse sore.
Recently bought a Marlene M by Cactus and its not nearly as forgiving.
That does make sense. I am a saddle hoarder so I've only been using mine on horses that are narrow but I love riding in it. It's the most comfortable thing I got.
Thanks! |
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Charmayne James barrel saddle