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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
   
Location: Louisiana | We are going to surprise my mom with a new saddle for Christmas. Hers is too small, and worse, doesn't fit her horse. She's been making due, but it's starting to make him sore. Just from what we've tried on him, I think he's going to need semi bars. How can I try to measure him? We are going to buy used to be able to buy nicer, so I need to have a good idea what to look for in measurements. He's built funny so I'm not above paying to have him fitted. This will probably be a forever saddle. He just really needs one to fit him!! She prefers a lower cantle and pommel, hates treeless. She really likes a cutting-type saddle. Thanks in advance!! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| If you could post pictures of the horse people may have ideas.
Why do you think semi quarter horse bars, does this horse not have a top line, is he more Arabian built? |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | He is supposedly cow bred QH who was never registered, but he really has some Arabianish qualities and comes from people who raise and train both. My husband swears he's not full QH.
He is kindof narrow built but does have a decent sized shoulder.
Her current saddle is an older Billy Cook and it is way too right in the shoulder. A saddle maker helped to show her how to adjust her pad and saddle to make it better, but it is still making him a bit sore through the back. It doesn't help that the saddle is too small for her.
She just can't afford to purchase one right now. But I don't want to just buy something.
We went to a Josey clinic last fall and I had her try out one. The "regular" bars were tight in the shoulder, and the "wide" was way worse. Which leads me to think he needs a narrower saddle that sits higher up? I'm not an expert. He has a decent wither, not high, but he isn't round either.
She uses a 5 Star that she won last year so I know she has a nice foundation.
Her horse is 5 or 6 now so I think he's about as big as he's gonna get.
I plan on sneaking over while she's at work one day this week. I'll take some pictures!! |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | My phone doesn't like to post pics, but I will try. These are just pics I found on her FB page that can help give an idea of how he's built. He's not wide at all. And his head is probably bigger than it looks LOL, it's huge. And has a dish.
He's far from perfect, but he is something for her to have fun on and the kids can ride too. My little cousin does kiddie barrels and he never attempts to leave a walk. But it isn't any fun when your horse is sore. |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Ok of course the pics didn't post... I'll get better ones this week and post them from my computer. Until then, I appreciate any insight anyone may have!!! |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Sounds like a Meleta Brown may be just the saddle you need. I am not sure how far away you are but you are welcome to try mine. I also have a Circle Y flex tree, not a treeless, that fits that type of horse well and mine is a mounted shooting saddle not a barrel saddle so the cantle and swells are a bit lower. The Circle Y is much lighter than the Meleta but I can already tell it won't hold up near as long. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Barnmom - 2015-09-20 10:32 PM Sounds like a Meleta Brown may be just the saddle you need. I am not sure how far away you are but you are welcome to try mine. I also have a Circle Y flex tree, not a treeless, that fits that type of horse well and mine is a mounted shooting saddle not a barrel saddle so the cantle and swells are a bit lower. The Circle Y is much lighter than the Meleta but I can already tell it won't hold up near as long.
My first thought as well. I've seen used original tree meletas for around $1600-$1800. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | The older Cecil Phillips saddles and the Shiloh built on the CP tree fit a horse like that and also sit flatter like a cutter. |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Thank you ladies!!!
I'm no expert in fit, but I know when one doesn't lol. I got lucky with mine. T-Bo loves his treeless, and my old trophy saddle fits my other guy pretty good.
Mama knows her saddle doesn't fit, but I'm sure some of you mamas understand. She's always been on the backburner. I got married in May, and my little sister's wedding is next year and she just hasn't spent any extra on herself.
I will look into everything y'all suggested. And Barnmon, thank you so much for the offer to try yours, but I just don't know how I can make that happen without her knowing lol. I may be able to convince her my hubby needs to "tune up" her horse and haul him with me when I go your way! Haha, I'm about 2 hours from Opelousas. :) |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Ok so I went out to my mom's and tried my best to measure her horse, and compared her saddle to the best fitting saddle in the trailer. Which ended up being a trophy youth prorider lol.
I think the youth saddle fits him bc he's a bit narrow.
I ended up buying a Kelly Kaminski flex tree by Circle Y. It's the Extreme Performance edition and I really hope it fits. It isn't very wide, and with the flex, I'm hoping he'll have shoulder room. If not I have time to sell it and buy another before Christmas lol. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | dashnlotti - 2015-09-23 10:49 PM
Ok so I went out to my mom's and tried my best to measure her horse, and compared her saddle to the best fitting saddle in the trailer. Which ended up being a trophy youth prorider lol.
I think the youth saddle fits him bc he's a bit narrow.
I ended up buying a Kelly Kaminski flex tree by Circle Y. It's the Extreme Performance edition and I really hope it fits. It isn't very wide, and with the flex, I'm hoping he'll have shoulder room. If not I have time to sell it and buy another before Christmas lol.
Let us know how it works out, I think its really sweet of you to try and help your mom out with such a special Christmas present!! |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | HorsesNHarleys - 2015-09-24 6:59 AM
dashnlotti - 2015-09-23 10:49 PM
Ok so I went out to my mom's and tried my best to measure her horse, and compared her saddle to the best fitting saddle in the trailer. Which ended up being a trophy youth prorider lol.
I think the youth saddle fits him bc he's a bit narrow.
I ended up buying a Kelly Kaminski flex tree by Circle Y. It's the Extreme Performance edition and I really hope it fits. It isn't very wide, and with the flex, I'm hoping he'll have shoulder room. If not I have time to sell it and buy another before Christmas lol.
Let us know how it works out, I think its really sweet of you to try and help your mom out with such a special Christmas present!!
Aww, thank you!!
It ships on Monday so I'm hoping I have it by next weekend. Then I'll sneak it over and see how it does. I'm excited like it's my saddle lol. I was just looking for something that seemed like it would fit, and I got lucky and found a newer, well taken care of saddle that's even a little flashy! It has all the nice upgrades, like the pad, leather lined underside instead of fleece. And a nice inlay in the seat. Flashy, but not too much. Crossing my fingers it works!!! |
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