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Member
Posts: 23
| Looking for opinions on the Martin All Around saddles. I currently run in a Marlene McRae, and like it, but am wanting something I can rope in too. The adjustable rigging sounds appealing... anyone own one, and have opinions - or an idea on what would be a better all around option?
My gelding is big (16 hands) and a free runner. I'm a heeler, and also rope calves at brandings, etc... but will mostly be running barrels with him. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I've never had an all around I had a Martin barrel saddle my grown daughter has a Marlene circle y, there is no comparison in quality , the martins are made well. Marlene's imo assembly line saddles can you see both of them to compare? Also look on the saddles for sale and see what's holding there value when you buy a Martin or Marlene you also pay for all the advertising they do I always go back to allen ranch saddles they could make you a all around the way you like it for the same money a martin, martin may be an assembly line saddle to |
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Member
Posts: 23
| I bought the Marlene just to get me through the summer - I didn't own a barrel saddle at the time, and ended up with this gelding through an unexpected series of fortunate events, so I needed something quickly that I could run him in to get me by.
Now that I know for sure he's something that I'm going to keep, and hopefully run long term, I'm wanting something better quality to use on him. I'll start entering him in jackpots again in April, so I don't have the time to wait on something custom. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
  
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | My friend has one, nothing overly fancy. It is really comfortable and light weight. I would love to have one, but my horses seem to need the Meleta Brown tree so I stick with that. |
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Member
Posts: 23
| I bought a Martin All-Around in Feb. of 2015. I think it's called a High Plans All-Around, or along those lines. I can't remember at the moment. Very comfortable saddle and I have been breakaway roping out of it with no complaints. It does not quite fit my horse as well as I would like so when I can scrape up the pennies, I am going to look into a Jeff Smith saddle. Overall, I like the saddle. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | I have a Martin All Around I bought in 2004 before the adjustable rigging came out. It is a great riding and roping saddle. Very comfortable. However, I ran barrels in it for about a year before getting a barrel saddle and it was definitely not the easiest thing to run barrels in. For one my seat was too big, but the main issue was the stirrup leathers do not easily swing like they do in a barrel saddle so it was harder to cue like I needed to at a fast speed. |
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Member
Posts: 23
| That was a concern of mine - I like my legs to be very free too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | jessie85 - 2016-01-24 7:12 PM That was a concern of mine - I like my legs to be very free too.
You can always have an all around saddle made with seat rigged fenders. Seat rigged fenders are made to correct this problem. Depending on the saddle maker, you may can ask for a seat rig all around.  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| KatieMac88 - 2016-01-24 5:59 PM
I have a Martin All Around I bought in 2004 before the adjustable rigging came out. It is a great riding and roping saddle. Very comfortable. However, I ran barrels in it for about a year before getting a barrel saddle and it was definitely not the easiest thing to run barrels in. For one my seat was too big, but the main issue was the stirrup leathers do not easily swing like they do in a barrel saddle so it was harder to cue like I needed to at a fast speed.
I have a Martin Sharon Camarillo all around and while I love it for roping I do not like it for working colts or running barrels because the stirrups leathers are so hard to move. I am also kind of short so the shorter leathers might make them a bit harder to move vs someone who was taller and had them let down further. But it is beautiful and very comfortable! |
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