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Location: midwest mama | I have an old bear trap saddle that I have barrel raced in for over 20 years. It is perfect for me, and has worked on every horse I have ridden in the past. It DOES NOT work for the horse I have now - it is too tight in the shoulders. It makes him really mad and really sore. :(
I got a new (to me) Shiloh Contender that fits him perfectly. When I ride in it I love it, however when I barrel race in it it does not work well for me. It tips me forward in the turns and my feet go out behind me. I even went so far as to have it modified by hobbling the stirrups forward and I am using bucking rolls - it is better, but still not the "feel" I am looking for.
I know there are a lot of barrel saddles available out there, so here's my question:
How in the world do you ever figure out what saddle is going to work for you & your horse?
I don't even know where/how to get started. I can't buy saddle after saddle just to figure out they don't work for me and/or don't fit my horse.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is overwhelming!
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Bump....
The only way I can ever tell is to try the saddle, or one like it, on my horse. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Contact meleeta brown. You can send pictures of your horse's back to her and she can send a demo saddle to try. That is what I did. I will receive my demo saddle this week. I am soo hoping it fits. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Buy one try it like it keep it don't like it sell it and repeat |
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | I was the same boat. Bought a Martin saddle a few years back. Kept throwing me forward. I saw an ad about double js new Latricia duke saddle how it was higher in the front and holds you in better. They have saddles they can loan you, so I called them and they shipped me one and I liked it but my horse didn't so I drove to yoakum and they had a tree to fit my wide horse. I liked the pozzi better, so they loaned me a pozzi for a couple of weeks and I wound up buying a pozzi and I love it. I don't have that problem of getting thrown forward and they are much lighter than a Martin. Now they don't just give you a loaner, they charge you what that saddle would cost you if you were to buy it, but when you return it to them they credit your card. There's no way you could buy one them resale it without loosing money on the deal unless you bought old used ones and you really dontwant to buy one that's already shaped to fit another horse that was misshaped to begin with unless they barely used it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| SG. - 2014-09-22 7:47 AM
Buy one try it like it keep it don't like it sell it and repeat
and repeat, and repeat, and repeat again!  |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | roanrider - 2014-09-22 10:25 AM SG. - 2014-09-22 7:47 AM Buy one try it like it keep it don't like it sell it and repeat and repeat, and repeat, and repeat again!
7th time was the charm for me. LOL. I was able to sell all of the rejects for what I paid, so I was only out shipping and paypal fees to try each one as long as I wanted.
I disagree with whoever said do not buy used saddles. That's the way to go when you're searching and if you're smart about what you pay, you will be able to get all or nearly all your money back if you sell. New saddles, you automatically take a hit if you resell. Demo saddles are great if one is available that you want to try, but if that's all you do, you unnecessarily limit your options. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | The next race you're at, look around, ask people if you can try their saddle!
See what the specks are on your shiloh-measure it, walk around at a race and measure peoples saddles (with their permission of course). If you don't like the shiloh but you need the width, I think you need to try a Camarillo-not the old 38 tree-OR the meleta brown-they will keep your feet down. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | I would try ones out at barrel races, there's a wide selection to choose from and everyone there feels your pain about saddle shopping. I tried on 3 different ones at one race and liked how one especially fit, but it was too small for me to ride in to see if I like it also. At another race I was able to find it in a bigger size and the lady (who I didn't even know) was kind enough to let me put it on my horse and go lope her around for a bit in the warm up pen to see if it fit me as well. I was sold. It fit my horse and I loved the way I sat in it, I felt like I could actually ride my horse. I'm trying to get the saddles that are too small for me and don't fit my horse sold so I can buy this new one. I feel your pain though. Saddle shopping is awful. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| If there are any big barrel races around you that have lots of vendors it may be worth the trip if there are a few saddle makers there. Caldwell came to my area of Texas for the Diamonds and Dirt and I hauled my horses there to try their saddle- fell in love of course. |
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Location: midwest mama | Argh! The problem with trying other people's saddles at a barrel race is that it is really tough to catch people after their runs, etc. Makes it so complicated.
We don't really have any big shows with vendors close enough for me to haul my horse to. I have sat in a lot of saddles in vendor booths at the NFR, but it's just so hard to tell how it would feel on my horse much less fit him. There are just so many saddles out there I don't even know what brands/styles to start with.
I guess I should just have a saddle maker make one for me but that's a risk too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| OldSchoolCowgirl - 2014-09-22 2:45 PM
Argh! The problem with trying other people's saddles at a barrel race is that it is really tough to catch people after their runs, etc. Makes it so complicated.
We don't really have any big shows with vendors close enough for me to haul my horse to. I have sat in a lot of saddles in vendor booths at the NFR, but it's just so hard to tell how it would feel on my horse much less fit him. There are just so many saddles out there I don't even know what brands/styles to start with.
I guess I should just have a saddle maker make one for me but that's a risk too.
We have a saddle shop that is a dealer for many different brands of saddles. They usually have several hundred saddles, new and used. They have an arena and a round pen - bring your own cinch and pad; try out as many saddles as ya want!! The owner is also a saddle maker and happens to know and understand fit. Got anything like that near ya??
fyi ... this is NE KS. |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | lindseylou2290 - 2014-09-22 2:58 PM OldSchoolCowgirl - 2014-09-22 2:45 PM Argh! The problem with trying other people's saddles at a barrel race is that it is really tough to catch people after their runs, etc. Makes it so complicated. We don't really have any big shows with vendors close enough for me to haul my horse to. I have sat in a lot of saddles in vendor booths at the NFR, but it's just so hard to tell how it would feel on my horse much less fit him. There are just so many saddles out there I don't even know what brands/styles to start with. I guess I should just have a saddle maker make one for me but that's a risk too. We have a saddle shop that is a dealer for many different brands of saddles. They usually have several hundred saddles, new and used. They have an arena and a round pen - bring your own cinch and pad; try out as many saddles as ya want!! The owner is also a saddle maker and happens to know and understand fit. Got anything like that near ya?? fyi ... this is NE KS.
Can you tell me exactly where this place is and what brands of saddles they have? Please and thank you!! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| OldSchoolCowgirl - 2014-09-22 2:45 PM
Argh! The problem with trying other people's saddles at a barrel race is that it is really tough to catch people after their runs, etc. Makes it so complicated.
We don't really have any big shows with vendors close enough for me to haul my horse to. I have sat in a lot of saddles in vendor booths at the NFR, but it's just so hard to tell how it would feel on my horse much less fit him. There are just so many saddles out there I don't even know what brands/styles to start with.
I guess I should just have a saddle maker make one for me but that's a risk too.
I feel the same way. That is why I am looking at saddle companies that offer demo saddles. I believe double j has a demo program and as I said before Meleeta does. I just am not comfortable going up to people I don't know and ask of I can try their saddle. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | Take your horse to a saddle shop or store. Try lots different ones don't go by looks first
Ride several different ones after fitting your horse to find the one that fits both you and your horse. My daughter just bought a saddle today after lots of shopping. It was not the saddle she thought she needed but the one that fit her and her horse like a glove. When you find the right one you will know it and have no doubts or reservations. The key is keep an open mind and don't get stuck on brand names. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I believe crown c has a demo program, I have heard of a few who had the saddle shipped to their place no cost to them |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Try a debra sibley or melita brown. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I went to a tack shop with many different brands and knowledgable people.
If you're going to a big race with a Facebook event page, try reaching out before hand to folks there if you know what you'd like to try and maybe you can set up an "appt" with them to try it. |
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