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 A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
 
Location: Southern Oregon | I purchased a NEW to me Cactus barrel saddle a few months back. It fits my horse like a glove, but Im having a hard time getting use to it. How long do I give it before finding a different saddle? I hate the thought of even selling it. I LOVE this saddle and how well it fits my mare, but Im not to sure about how I feel when I am riding in it. |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
  
| Honestly, I think if you don't "feel it" as soon as you sit in it, you aren't ever going to like it. I went through two saddles (including a Cactus) and the first one I bought without trying it out - bought it based on measurements. First time I sat in it (and this was the Cactus) I knew it wasn't going to work, but I kept trying and after two months I gave up and sold it. Bought a new saddle from a brand I've had before - they didn't disclose they'd changed the tree and so I put it on my horse and it didn't fit bad but not as good as the old one I had. Got in the seat and I didn't like it from the second I sat in it. I stuck with it for almost 4 months, then gave up and it collected dust in my trailer till I sold it. Tried a completely different brand on and it fit my horse and when I got it I sat it in and I went, ahhhhhhh. Good luck to you - when I was a kid the prospect of saddle shopping always sounded like so much fun and now that I had to do it - not a fun experience!  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I am with you...had a Martha Josey that fit my horse perfectly and a Crown C that fit my other horse perfectly but I hated riding in them. Because of the fit I was getting in my horse's way or not letting them run. Now that I have sold them both and gotten something that both horses and I are comfortable in our times are much better. If it doesn't feel right...just get rid of it. I know it sucks, saddle fitting and shopping can be such a pain. |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | It's extremely frustrating! I am very disappointed. I really thought I would LOVE this saddle, and it does fit my mare so perfectly. I think I am going to give it a month more. Maybe it is also feeling off since I am just now speeding her up. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-06-04 1:15 PM I purchased a NEW to me Cactus barrel saddle a few months back. It fits my horse like a glove, but Im having a hard time getting use to it. How long do I give it before finding a different saddle? I hate the thought of even selling it. I LOVE this saddle and how well it fits my mare, but Im not to sure about how I feel when I am riding in it.
If you dont like it now I'm betting you wont like it a month from now, I would start looking for another one. What was your last saddle? My most favorite out of all my saddles is my Caldwell.  |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | I haven't really LOVED any of my saddles. I have ridden billy cook, several circle y's, alamo, cactus, hereford, textan, courts and a few local saddle makers saddles. I rode in my friends ROO HIDE cutting saddle and feel in love. lol....I didn't even want to ride in it, she convinced me to try it out. |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-06-04 6:48 PM
I haven't really LOVED any of my saddles. I have ridden billy cook, several circle y's, alamo, cactus, hereford, textan, courts and a few local saddle makers saddles. I rode in my friends ROO HIDE cutting saddle and feel in love. lol....I didn't even want to ride in it, she convinced me to try it out.
I think there is someone on here that knows a saddle maker that makes a barrel saddle on a cutting saddle tree. Maybe she will see this and give you their contact number. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cowgirl_3207 - 2015-06-04 6:48 PM I haven't really LOVED any of my saddles. I have ridden billy cook, several circle y's, alamo, cactus, hereford, textan, courts and a few local saddle makers saddles. I rode in my friends ROO HIDE cutting saddle and feel in love. lol....I didn't even want to ride in it, she convinced me to try it out.
You need to talk to Herbie about the Jeff Smiths saddles, they are a really nice looking saddle and Herbie loves the heck out of them. If I was not so saddle poor I would love to try out a Jeff Smith like what Herbie has.. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | HorsesNHarleys - 2015-06-04 6:52 PM cowgirl_3207 - 2015-06-04 6:48 PM I haven't really LOVED any of my saddles. I have ridden billy cook, several circle y's, alamo, cactus, hereford, textan, courts and a few local saddle makers saddles. I rode in my friends ROO HIDE cutting saddle and feel in love. lol....I didn't even want to ride in it, she convinced me to try it out. I think there is someone on here that knows a saddle maker that makes a barrel saddle on a cutting saddle tree. Maybe she will see this and give you their contact number.
You are thinking of Herbie |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Do you feel like you are doing the splits in it? What model is it? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Nevertooold - 2015-06-04 7:35 PM Do you feel like you are doing the splits in it? What model is it?
I rode in one a few times and I felt like I was doing the splits and my feet would get behind me, I dont know why but my feet just would not stay where I wanted them. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Southtxponygirl - 2015-06-04 7:39 PM Nevertooold - 2015-06-04 7:35 PM Do you feel like you are doing the splits in it? What model is it? I rode in one a few times and I felt like I was doing the splits and my feet would get behind me, I dont know why but my feet just would not stay where I wanted them.
Same thing here. |
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Veteran
Posts: 170
| I went from a cactus CJ to a Jeff Smith :) I needed a higher cantle and smaller seat as my mare is powerful and was leaving me behind. I am iN LOVE. It's on the Buster Welch tree and it fits both my mares amazing. It's by far the most secure saddle I've ever rode in. I am tempted to sell my other cactus and buy a Tami Semis or another JS, I'm very impressed!
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Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | MNcanchaser7 - 2015-06-04 9:07 PM
I went from a cactus CJ to a Jeff Smith :) I needed a higher cantle and smaller seat as my mare is powerful and was leaving me behind. I am iN LOVE. It's on the Buster Welch tree and it fits both my mares amazing. It's by far the most secure saddle I've ever rode in. I am tempted to sell my other cactus and buy a Tami Semis or another JS, I'm very impressed!
ohhh I LOVE that saddle!!!! |
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A Gopher's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 5094
Location: Southern Oregon | Does anyone who how much bar flare the Jeff Smiths have at the shoulder. My mare has just a little bit of withers with a pretty BIG shoulder. That is why I had to go to a charmayne James cactus. I want to say Mine has a 13 or 14 inch bottom of the bar flare. It's hard to explain how I am feeling when I ride in it. I noticed the issues when I picked back up on my lessons, after being off with having kids ect. I pride myself on being a very correct rider, and I felt like I just couldn't get with my horse at all. uggggg I felt like I was everywhere, but where I needed to ect. I also purchased I think about a 1/2 size bigger then I needed in the seat. I have put on some weight with having kids and life in general so I bought a whole seat size bigger then my other saddles. I just really really liked the way I felt in that roohide. I felt extremely centered and like I was actually riding my horse and just a saddle. If that makes sense? |
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Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| The Cactus I bought (editing to add mine was the Brandie Halls model) was too narrow for my gelding and pinched his withers. I would love to try the Tami Semas saddles by Jeff Smith but I cannot afford one. I ended up buying a 12 year old Charmayne James by Double J (back when she was still with Double J) and it's the one I sat in and went, ahhhhhh. From the FIRST time I sat in it. I call also say that my horse started working better and was much more relaxed in general as well - it fit him too. Honestly I think if you don't like how your saddle feels now it won't feel right a month from now. The biggest issue I had with the CJ cactus is I felt like I was sitting on it and not in it and I couldn't sit my butt down like I like to. Does that make sense? This older Double J allows me to do that. I have not tried the newer Double J's so they may be different. Good luck - finding the right saddle for both you and your horse is difficult. But when it happens I guarantee you will have that ahhhh moment! 
Edited by brlraceaddict 2015-06-05 11:09 AM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | MNcanchaser7 - 2015-06-04 9:07 PM I went from a cactus CJ to a Jeff Smith :) I needed a higher cantle and smaller seat as my mare is powerful and was leaving me behind. I am iN LOVE. It's on the Buster Welch tree and it fits both my mares amazing. It's by far the most secure saddle I've ever rode in. I am tempted to sell my other cactus and buy a Tami Semis or another JS, I'm very impressed!
Do I spy a RunningRoan tack set??
OP: I rode in a Crown C last summer and I didn't enjoy riding it in it. I was not comfortable doing general riding/warming up, but it fit my gelding and I felt secure in the turns so I sucked it up. Once he got hurt I put the Crown C up for sale and had him fitted for a Pozzi. I love, love, love that saddle. It's extrememly comfortable and I can't wait to make a run in it and see how it sets me. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | I have a Running P trophy saddle that I absolutely loved on my push style gelding. I bought a free runner that I really need to sit down on and I now absolutely hate it. It rocks me so far forward that sitting down is impossible. I tried a Shiloh on my free runner and LOVEDDDD it the second I sat in it. I have since sold the free runner and am just starting a colt on them. I only put my barrel saddle on when I go to a race or rodeo tho. Otherwise I am in my rope saddle or a cutter. |
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