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 Veteran
Posts: 206
Location: Downsouth | Have you checked out Martin's BTR? It has forward hung stirrups and a deeper seat. I ordered one in January, should be here by May. You and I are looking for the same results. I hope this saddle is the answer. |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
  
Location: Dubach, LA | Try shorter stirrups. You don't want to have them too long. You sure can't control your legs and seat with long stirrups. |
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| I've been searching for the perfect saddle for what seems like forever, here is my experience...
Caldwell - LOVE, I have the rocket tree. Mine has a semi-high rise which helps give it a deep pocket. It is SO BALANCED and really sits you down on the horse not on top of the horse. I agree with their opinion on placement, which I think contributes to the way it sits you.
Double J Lynn McKenzie - sat me in a more 'neutral' position, didn't force me to sit back but didn't pop me forward either. I really like the way they are rigged. Had better success with this saddle on more of a push style horse.
Bob Marshall - I bought mine used with the suede already smoothed out, which made it way less confining. I used it with a corrector pad that had all the front shims in for a downhill horse, worked great for what I needed - kept her comfortable and me not falling forward.
Merrill - This saddle has the exact seat that you described, really sits you on your pockets with your feet in front of you. I absolutely LOVED riding in it, HATED competing in it. I was running an extreme push style horse at the time, who was big and powerful - I would catch major air leaving every barrel. I would imagine it to be a different experience on more of a free runner.
Double J Pro - sits you down and back, but not to the extreme, like the Merrill - but more so than the Lynn McKenzie. I also had the Double J Charmayne Record Breaker - pretty sure these morphed into what is now the Pro because they fit very similiar to me.
Circle Y Kelly Kaminski Studded Croc w/Flex tree - has a higher rise, adjustable stirrups and nice pocket. Very important to get a larger seat than you would normally - it will have the opposite effect and shoot you forward if you don't.
Stoney w/5" cantle and med tree - very balanced and neutral position, rode this saddle for years - probably should have never sold it.
Black Rhino (About the Horse) - excellent fit for the horse with a balanced, neutral position for you.
Shiloh/Cecil Phillips Kim Thomas Edition w/forward hung stirrups - really, really comfortable and the forward hung stirrups made it easy to keep my feet in front but didn't force them there. Nice height to the pommel which I would expect to also give stability when running. I only used this on a horse that I had in training so never got to make a "run" in it. It didn't fit my open horse.
Shiloh Contender - my most recent purchase, since my Caldwell does not fit my colt yet. Really liking it so far but have not made any runs in it. I find it to be more of a neutral position, similiar to the way the Lynn sat but with a higher pommel and wider swells, it has a nice pocket to sit down in but doesn't force you there.
I agree with the others regarding the core strength factor and the shorter stirrups for balance. I am not tall but have longish legs and a short torso - have always been fit with an emphasis on my core but barre 3 (combo of pilates/yoga/ballet) made a very noticable difference in my balance and ability to stay with my horses and/or make adjustments in a run. IMO, the larger seat is up for discussion, saddles with a higher rise and a taller cantle, most definitely need to be bigger or they will do the opposite of what you want. If you find one that sits you almost perfect but maybe a tad big, think about adding bucking rolls for more security, although be careful adding them to a saddle with a high cantle or you could get the 'pinball' effect.
Also, possibly think about getting a used cutting saddle with a deep pocket as a daily rider - it will help re-train your body's muscle memory - not to mention they are so, so comfortable.
Side note: I could really tell a difference between handmade (caldwell, stoney, merrill, black rhino, shiloh) versus the others as far as consistency, *feel* and finishing.
I've owned others but left them off this list since they are hard to find.
Edited by wishingforsun 2017-03-29 6:16 PM
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 9:59 AM
Yep I have the Allison rigging on the Bob Marshall. I am borrowing a Performance right now with a 15" seat. Everyone is telling me the seat is too big, but I'm actually loving the saddle. I noticed immediately that It's keeping my feet forward more than the Bob Marshall. I need the Saddle Fairy to just bring me the perfect saddle. I'm hearing so much about staying with the larger seat for better sit-back. Thank you all so much for the input. Keep it coming.
Just wanted to say I LOVE the pup in your avatar |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
| Caldwells are awesome I love my promax but I will say I have a Vernon purdy that fits all 5 of my horses which are all built differently and it sits u perfect and balanced and my horses all engage butt and elevate shoulders without me having to help them to do it- I will be purchasing another Vernon purdy asap |
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Location: OK | Check out Robbie Phillips, I rode Old Style Ammermans for years and liked them now I have a new Robbie Phillips and really like it. One thing to think about, if you are not long legged make sure that your fenders are not bunched up, I am 5' 3" and have had some of my fenders shortened so they could swing free. I did not like the Dbl J I do have a martin I won and it rides fine but is pretty heavy. My Martin is the BTR.
Edited by StillRiding 2017-03-30 11:23 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | Double J Pozzi tree! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Hoot&Holler - 2017-03-29 8:07 AM Anybody have thoughts on the Circle Y Flex2 tree? Am I going to have the same issues with a Flex tree as I do with "dashboarding" in my Bob Marshall? (Love that term!)
Don't bother. Those trees suck. Not necessarily bad to ride in, but not good for the horse's back and all around cheaply made saddles. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| Look at how your sitting are you sitting back on your pckets rolling your hips or riding the front end. I try to ride the back end with very little weight to none in my stirrups unless I am stoppeng works for me. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Just had another, thought. Check your saddle fit. If the gullet is too wide it will sit down in the front and tip you forward. It may not be a seat issue at all. |
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Folks on-line