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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
 
Location: Oklahoma | I am needing a saddle that helps keep me seated/balanced during turns. I've never had a horse really turn so hard (but I'm in love...) that I get left behind. Suggestions? I'm currently in a Billy Cook (probably about a 3" cantle). Any problems the horse would have are a result of my riding and my inability to ride as well I could (just getting back into running barrels). Open to suggestions! I hear a lot of good things about Caldwell, but I don't believe that will be in my budget unless I was to find something used. I also wanted to try the Crown C as the horse could probably develop his topline a little more and I'd like the flexibilty of going up in gullets as needed. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| You were in the process of buying a horse? Did you find one?
Honestly a saddle cannot cure poor riding (not saying this is your problem).
I suggest strengthening your core, getting a good fitting saddle, with the proper stirrup length for you. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | cheryl makofka - 2014-04-19 12:38 PM You were in the process of buying a horse? Did you find one? Honestly a saddle cannot cure poor riding (not saying this is your problem). I suggest strengthening your core, getting a good fitting saddle, with the proper stirrup length for you.
I couldn't agree more.  I was working with the trainer this week that just had my horse for over a month. She shortened my stirrups to the right length for me and that helped sooo much! Not saying shorter is better for you, just worked for me. Also, at the start of the year I started planking, doing situps, and pushups, and I have never felt better and more balanced on a horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Try riding without your stirrups some at home. Concentrate on usin your knees. When I was a kid, I had someone take my stirrups off of my saddle. It really helped.
ETA: As far as a new saddle, I'd say anything with a taller cantle can help keep you with a powerful horse. But, you might want to ride one first. I've heard some people say that the taller cantle beats up their lower back. I like mine, but that's just personal preference.
Edited by Nita 2014-04-19 3:05 PM
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | cheryl makofka - 2014-04-19 1:38 PM You were in the process of buying a horse? Did you find one? Honestly a saddle cannot cure poor riding (not saying this is your problem). I suggest strengthening your core, getting a good fitting saddle, with the proper stirrup length for you.
Yes!
Pending on how vet check goes, but I have found one I love!
I know that my riding isn't as strong as it was before I quit running.... I did notice when I was warming up that my stirrups did feel too long. I'm hoping shortening them will help some, but it looks like I'm gonna start putting my gym membership to use! |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Nita - 2014-04-19 3:00 PM Try riding without your stirrups some at home. Concentrate on usin your knees. When I was a kid, I had someone take my stirrups off of my saddle. It really helped. ETA: As far as a new saddle, I'd say anything with a taller cantle can help keep you with a powerful horse. But, you might want to ride one first. I've heard some people say that the taller cantle beats up their lower back. I like mine, but that's just personal preference.
What do you ride in? I never considered that it could beat up backs, but I see how it could. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Longneck - 2014-04-19 4:15 PM cheryl makofka - 2014-04-19 1:38 PM You were in the process of buying a horse? Did you find one? Honestly a saddle cannot cure poor riding (not saying this is your problem). I suggest strengthening your core, getting a good fitting saddle, with the proper stirrup length for you. Yes!Pending on how vet check goes, but I have found one I love!
I know that my riding isn't as strong as it was before I quit running.... I did notice when I was warming up that my stirrups did feel too long. I'm hoping shortening them will help some, but it looks like I'm gonna start putting my gym membership to use!
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2014-04-19 4:58 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I love my Double J Pozzi's and my Crown C's, its hard to get left behind in one of these, and another one that I like is the Martha Joseys, the older models, And love love my Caldwell |
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 Peecans
| I think its a lot of personal preference.
I my self do not like high backed saddles, or ones thar have forward hung stirrups for a hard taking off horse. I find those really hurt me and cause be to really jam on my horses back because I can't get off his back when the horse pushes off. I much pefer a saddle thats easy to get up in for a horse that has a powerful take off. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 616
Location: Texas | Longneck - 2014-04-19 12:21 PM I am needing a saddle that helps keep me seated/balanced during turns. I've never had a horse really turn so hard (but I'm in love...) that I get left behind. Suggestions? I'm currently in a Billy Cook (probably about a 3" cantle). Any problems the horse would have are a result of my riding and my inability to ride as well I could (just getting back into running barrels). Open to suggestions! I hear a lot of good things about Caldwell, but I don't believe that will be in my budget unless I was to find something used. I also wanted to try the Crown C as the horse could probably develop his topline a little more and I'd like the flexibilty of going up in gullets as needed.
If you feel like your saddle is hindering you , it may be
, but also if this is a new horse, the more you ride him the more you will get with him . It could be a little combination of both |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Keep your saddle.When you rate for the turn PUSH on your saddle horn, sit for the turn keep pushing on the horn when your horse fires for second you'll be in position to keep up with your horse and not left behind. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| What kind and size of saddle do you have now as that might make a difference. I went to a show today and my friend was riding in a billy cook and on her horse it was sitting downhill and pitching her forward. Maybe saddle you horse and take a picture so we can see you horwe and saddle and then sit on the saddle and get someone to,take a picture so we can see how the stirrups are adjusted and then post a video so we can see. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Longneck - 2014-04-19 4:16 PM
Nita - 2014-04-19 3:00 PM Try riding without your stirrups some at home. Concentrate on usin your knees. When I was a kid, I had someone take my stirrups off of my saddle. It really helped. ETA: As far as a new saddle, I'd say anything with a taller cantle can help keep you with a powerful horse. But, you might want to ride one first. I've heard some people say that the taller cantle beats up their lower back. I like mine, but that's just personal preference.
What do you ride in? I never considered that it could beat up backs, but I see how it could.
I'm riding my mare in a Martha Josey Ultimate Cash. One of the few Josey saddles that offer a 5 inch cantle. But, that's the one I found that fit her best. I ride my gelding in a Kelly Kaminski Shooting Star, again with a 5 inch cantle. I wouldn't have ruled out any of the other brands. I tried every different saddle I could for over a year, those were just the two that fit those horses best. I must just be getting old, lol. But, I feel like I can stay with 'em better with the deeper seat. I can still lose a stirrup and not sweat it much, finish my run and all. And I think that goes back to being taught to ride with my knees. I just feel like I can stay in the middle of my horse better in the deeper seat. Plus, I don't find they hit me in the back, but I have heard others say that's the reason they can't ride a five inch cantle. So, you might want to be sure it's not a problem for you before you spend the money. |
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 Crazy Chicken Chick
Posts: 36132
| cow pie - 2014-04-19 7:43 PM Keep your saddle.When you rate for the turn PUSH on your saddle horn, sit for the turn keep pushing on the horn when your horse fires for second you'll be in position to keep up with your horse and not left behind.
I will tell you this REALLY works! When I can remember to do it............LOL |
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 Expert
Posts: 1273
Location: South Dakota | The Pozzi will really hold you in. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I have a Billy Cook, Frontier Futurity, and now a Prorider (on an upgraded tree).
With my rocket mare Xena I cannot ride her well in the Billy Cook, just not enough either cantle or pommel to hold me in on her take off. The Frontier Futurity sits me centered and deep, but doesn't hinder my ability to get up when I have to. But she's a confirmed funny car take-off horse. On Zan, my Cadillac runner, I've used the Billy Cook great for years. I feel the Prorider is between the two and I could probably do fine on Xena with it, tho it feels great on Zan.
While I agree that a saddle won't make a bad rider good, and a good rider can make almost any saddle work, there are combinations that work better than others for each horse and rider combination.
I also think it will take you some time to get back into barrel racing and past any takeoff feeling like crazy speed. I would stick with what you have until you get that sense of speed up and going again, then see if you can find some other saddles to try out from friends and see what you think. Either that, or prepare to go through half a dozen or better saddles and end up getting more confused and broke! |
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| I guess I will disagree with keeping your Billy Cook ~ they are nice saddles, had a few, but definitely do not like the balance and seat in one of those as well as a Pro Rider or Pozzi. You're core definitley makes a lot of difference, but so does the position of the fenders and the seat of a saddle.......go with something you are more confident in and keep working on your riding both :) |
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Rad Dork
Posts: 5218
Location: Oklahoma | Thanks so much, everyone!I will work on strengthening my core and hopefully I can regain my riding abilities quickly! The horse is also more of a free runner than push styles that I rode in the past. Another adaptation to make! LolI did notice that my saddle looked a bit downhill on him when I saddled him up. If everything works out and he becomes mine I will get some pictures up for fit judgement! I should also say that I'm not too terribly fond of my Billy Cook. The horn is bent downward (horse flipped over and bent it years ago) and I've been wanting to get something new... particularly with a deeper seat and I'd like to have a normal (if not higher) saddle horn to grip.Eta: I also shortened my stirrups some to see if that helps me out.
Edited by Longneck 2014-04-20 9:27 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Sorry... I can't help it tonight.. I thought of this movie when I saw this post.. Remember this movie??? I can't quite see the saddle tho..
Ride 'em Slim!!!
 (slim-pickens_riding-the-bomb_enh-lores.jpg)
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 slim-pickens_riding-the-bomb_enh-lores.jpg (51KB - 229 downloads)
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| Nita - 2014-04-19 10:37 PM
Longneck - 2014-04-19 4:16 PM
Nita - 2014-04-19 3:00 PM Try riding without your stirrups some at home. Concentrate on usin your knees. When I was a kid, I had someone take my stirrups off of my saddle. It really helped. ETA: As far as a new saddle, I'd say anything with a taller cantle can help keep you with a powerful horse. But, you might want to ride one first. I've heard some people say that the taller cantle beats up their lower back. I like mine, but that's just personal preference.
What do you ride in? I never considered that it could beat up backs, but I see how it could.
I'm riding my mare in a Martha Josey Ultimate Cash. One of the few Josey saddles that offer a 5 inch cantle. But, that's the one I found that fit her best. I ride my gelding in a Kelly Kaminski Shooting Star, again with a 5 inch cantle. I wouldn't have ruled out any of the other brands. I tried every different saddle I could for over a year, those were just the two that fit those horses best. I must just be getting old, lol. But, I feel like I can stay with 'em better with the deeper seat. I can still lose a stirrup and not sweat it much, finish my run and all. And I think that goes back to being taught to ride with my knees. I just feel like I can stay in the middle of my horse better in the deeper seat. Plus, I don't find they hit me in the back, but I have heard others say that's the reason they can't ride a five inch cantle. So, you might want to be sure it's not a problem for you before you spend the money.
I ordered a Josey Ultimate. Didn't get the CASH but it does have a nice high back. I think you balance will be better in an Ultimate. My trainer sure loves hers and she is the one who told me to get one. Can't wait to get my saddle. |
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