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Veteran
Posts: 138
 
| We don't race, we show western dressage and may start doing some sorting, but most of the info I have found on treeless saddles has been on this forum, so I thought I would ask!
I am looking for input on the Circle Y Just B Natural saddles. My mare has been very, very hard to fit. She has large shoulders, not much wither, and is an inch higher behind than in front. I found one saddle that fits her well, but it is a training saddle and I am looking for something a bit more finished looking for shows. So far I have tried...Billy Cook...Circle Y treed...Bob's...Martin (which actually fit really well, just haven't found one I like within my price range yet), and a few other off brands. Nothing has fit yet, so I am thinking about trying one of the Just B Natural saddles from Circle Y.
Any input would be appreciated! |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | My mare sounds built similar to yours. She has large, wide shoulders, low withers. I've had a heckuva time trying to find something that will fit her, including a JBN. It didn't fit her well at all. Was very smug over her withers. The rigging also seemed set back too far, which (in my mares case) caused the saddle to not sit still. It was constantly riding up over her withers. I couldn't tighten it down enough to keep it in place. I've also had several Dakota saddles, Hereford, and two billy cooks. My old billy cook fit her best by far. But still not great. Hubby ordered me a Corriente and it fits her perfectly.
Personally, I wouldn't go JBN. Although I liked the saddle, it just didn't work. Good luck! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Have you tried a ranch cutter? Their trees are normally a little wider with flatter bars. You could look at brands like HR, Reinsman, Cowboy Collection (Jeff Smith), Martin, Cactus, etc... |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| Oh yeah, forgot to add Rocking R and Big Horn to the list of ones that didn't work. SRS didn't work either. I was/am hoping that maybe a JBN will be the magic fix. There are a couple that we have come really close to having work, but then they are all too tight in the very front and sometimes in the concho area too. I had have heard that Corriente runs narrow? |
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Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | My Corriente is wider than my billy cook and the JBN.
If you do order one, are you able to do the "try out" on it before buying? I'd recommend that to be safe. I wish I did. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I have a gelding that fits your description other than the withers. He has a shark fin.
I LOVE my JBN. The only problem I have is having to cut the wither connector strap across the front of my pads because it pulls down tight. With it cut, no issues.
I tried 6 different saddles on him before I switched to JBN/treeless. I've never looked back. Reinsman (2 diff models), Steinhoff, Martin, and I can't think of the other ones.
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| ~BINGO~ - 2016-10-20 12:38 PM
My Corriente is wider than my billy cook and the JBN.
If you do order one, are you able to do the "try out" on it before buying? I'd recommend that to be safe. I wish I did.
The one I am looking at is used, no trials. That is why I am trying to gather as much info as I possibly can.
Do you know what you Corriente measures? My training saddle is a 7 inch gullet. |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| RedHead84 - 2016-10-20 12:35 PM
Have you tried a ranch cutter? Their trees are normally a little wider with flatter bars. You could look at brands like HR, Reinsman, Cowboy Collection (Jeff Smith), Martin, Cactus, etc...
I tried a Martin and really liked it. It was a ranch-type saddle. I haven't found one yet in the right tree size, seat size, and under $2000 yet though. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I tried one and it is on my top ten list of saddles I hate. Really cheaply made for the money.
I had a real wide shouldered horse and none of the treeless worked on him. He would actually crow hop and he was very laid back so I know it was really bothering him. The only treeless I didn't try on him was the wider Bob Marshall.
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 Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: South | Nevertooold - 2016-10-20 12:52 PM
I tried one and it is on my top ten list of saddles I hate. Really cheaply made for the money.
I had a real wide shouldered horse and none of the treeless worked on him. He would actually crow hop and he was very laid back so I know it was really bothering him. The only treeless I didn't try on him was the wider Bob Marshall.
I thought I was the only one with this opinion. For what they cost they are not worth the money IMO. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | draftmare - 2016-10-20 11:51 AM
RedHead84 - 2016-10-20 12:35 PM
Have you tried a ranch cutter? Their trees are normally a little wider with flatter bars. You could look at brands like HR, Reinsman, Cowboy Collection (Jeff Smith), Martin, Cactus, etc...
I tried a Martin and really liked it. It was a ranch-type saddle. I haven't found one yet in the right tree size, seat size, and under $2000 yet though.
sending you a PM  |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| trobertson - 2016-10-20 4:17 PM
Nevertooold - 2016-10-20 12:52 PM
I tried one and it is on my top ten list of saddles I hate. Really cheaply made for the money.
I had a real wide shouldered horse and none of the treeless worked on him. He would actually crow hop and he was very laid back so I know it was really bothering him. The only treeless I didn't try on him was the wider Bob Marshall.
I thought I was the only one with this opinion. For what they cost they are not worth the money IMO.
Well, I am bummed to hear that.
I had some reservations about their newer softee leather. Seems to me like it would not hold up to prolonged use. This saddle that I am looking at does have some wear on the jockeys, but other than that looks to be in good shape for the couple of years that the seller has used it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: South | draftmare - 2016-10-21 7:34 AM
trobertson - 2016-10-20 4:17 PM
Nevertooold - 2016-10-20 12:52 PM
I tried one and it is on my top ten list of saddles I hate. Really cheaply made for the money.
I had a real wide shouldered horse and none of the treeless worked on him. He would actually crow hop and he was very laid back so I know it was really bothering him. The only treeless I didn't try on him was the wider Bob Marshall.
I thought I was the only one with this opinion. For what they cost they are not worth the money IMO.
Well, I am bummed to hear that.
I had some reservations about their newer softee leather. Seems to me like it would not hold up to prolonged use. This saddle that I am looking at does have some wear on the jockeys, but other than that looks to be in good shape for the couple of years that the seller has used it.
What I mainly didn't like was the way the leather was. Looked and felt so cheap :( . When I pay that kindof money for a saddle I want quality, not something that looks like it will fall apart after a few years or days of riding. It may have just been the one I bought new, but I have my doubts. I sold the saddle right after purchase. I felt like my faithful 13 year old Billy Cook was made much better and of better quality if that tells you anything. I also felt like if I was ever in a Jam- the quality of the JBN saddle would get me hurt. Whereas I know my Billy Cook would hold up. Just try one before you buy one is my only suggestion, and really give it a good look over. |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| There is a tack shop about an hour from me that carries them. I am going to make the trek down there tomorrow I think.
Another concern I have is that nobody is exactly snatching these saddles up. I know in fall with people having to buy hay and Christmas spending around the corner, saddles are moving slower, but some that I have come across have been for sale since July or earlier.
 I don't want to be stuck with one if I decide that I don't like it!
Edited by draftmare 2016-10-21 12:24 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 129
Location: South | draftmare - 2016-10-21 12:22 PM
There is a tack shop about an hour from me that carries them. I am going to make the trek down there tomorrow I think.
Another concern I have is that nobody is exactly snatching these saddles up. I know in fall with people having to buy hay and Christmas spending around the corner, saddles are moving slower, but some that I have come across have been for sale since July or earlier.
I don't want to be stuck with one if I decide that I don't like it!
Yelp- makes you wonder doesn't it? :) |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| But on the flip side I am also super "over it" as far as dragging saddles back and forth to the tack shop. I am also not feeling super confident in the fit of other treed saddles, and the prospect of buying them online. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | draftmare - 2016-10-20 8:48 AM We don't race, we show western dressage and may start doing some sorting, but most of the info I have found on treeless saddles has been on this forum, so I thought I would ask! I am looking for input on the Circle Y Just B Natural saddles. My mare has been very, very hard to fit. She has large shoulders, not much wither, and is an inch higher behind than in front. I found one saddle that fits her well, but it is a training saddle and I am looking for something a bit more finished looking for shows. So far I have tried...Billy Cook...Circle Y treed...Bob's...Martin (which actually fit really well, just haven't found one I like within my price range yet), and a few other off brands. Nothing has fit yet, so I am thinking about trying one of the Just B Natural saddles from Circle Y. Any input would be appreciated!
What brand is the training saddle you have? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | If your looking at Treeless Saddles, stick with a Bob Marshall original.. |
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Veteran
Posts: 138
| Southtxponygirl - 2016-10-21 1:47 PM
draftmare - 2016-10-20 8:48 AM We don't race, we show western dressage and may start doing some sorting, but most of the info I have found on treeless saddles has been on this forum, so I thought I would ask! I am looking for input on the Circle Y Just B Natural saddles. My mare has been very, very hard to fit. She has large shoulders, not much wither, and is an inch higher behind than in front. I found one saddle that fits her well, but it is a training saddle and I am looking for something a bit more finished looking for shows. So far I have tried...Billy Cook...Circle Y treed...Bob's...Martin (which actually fit really well, just haven't found one I like within my price range yet), and a few other off brands. Nothing has fit yet, so I am thinking about trying one of the Just B Natural saddles from Circle Y. Any input would be appreciated!
What brand is the training saddle you have?
It is a Silver Mesa. Oddly enough the two other Silver Mesa saddles that I have tried didn't even come close to fitting. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Despite the rather mixed reviews, my sister had a JBN that I rode in several times on my horse and really liked it! It isn't the most expensive looking saddle, but I had no issues with the construction and found it very comfy. My horses went well in it also. Mine is very large shouldered but with medium-high withers. |
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