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 Expert
Posts: 1367
  
Location: mi | I had a caldwell loved it but was not the right tree for my new guy. I can replace it with the correct tree used for right around $3K give or take a few hundred depending on the year I find.
But the Roo's are very interesting to me. I love a saddle that I can feel my horse under me. And would just love to give one a try. But A they are not super easy to find used. B I would be guessing at the right tree... and C the dollars... Yikes they are more like $4K used.... Is it worth the hunt, the wait and the cost? |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I have 2 Roo’s and LOVE them. I also have a Caldwell and my Roo’s make my Caldwell feel bulky although I still like it. You can feel everything in the Roo’s, they sit you like you are riding bareback. |
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | I LOVE LOVE my Roo! I have a mare that is super hard to fit. With the store I had a lot of different saddles/trees to try on her. Everything either pinched her shoulders or would roll. There is no one around my area with this saddle and I was scared to spend that much money if it didn't work. I spoke to them on the phone, sent 6 pictures and a video of her back. They suggested a tree and it arrived in about 3 months. Just amazing! Its worth every cent and it fit perfectly on her! She moves out more freely and I feel very secure in the seat. Yes it is hard to find a used Roo, no one wants to give them up! |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Like the above poster, I had a very hard to fit horse and after buying and sending back 5 different saddles I decided to try the Roo. I also sent pics, had it made and it fit great- hallujuia! I liked it so much I had another one made for my other horse even though his Caldwell fit him great. I didn’t think I would like anything better than my Caldwell. Mine were quite pricey, I think you can a new one for around $3500 if you go with the Wrangler- I think that is what they call it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | there is a reason you cant find them used! I want to try one! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 784
Location: USA | I switched to Roo from Caldwell, I was a die hard Caldwell fan..... Haven't had a chance to ride in it much because of winter... so far the few rides I have done I love it. I like how it fits my horse, much better than the caldwell. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: Georgia | I am a caldwell and PSC girl now, I would LOVE to try a Roo. Id sell both my saddles for one if I liked it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Ok you all have convinced me to stick it out and try to find a used. I have my old saddle that works just fine. Fits the horse and myself both fine so I will suffer with that until I save up for my Roo. In the mean time. Seat size? true to size? I know the caldwell I had was tighter then other brands in the same size...... What about the roo's? |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | ajs2002 - 2019-01-28 1:41 PM
Ok you all have convinced me to stick it out and try to find a used. I have my old saddle that works just fine. Fits the horse and myself both fine so I will suffer with that until I save up for my Roo. In the mean time. Seat size? true to size? I know the caldwell I had was tighter then other brands in the same size...... What about the roo's?
No idea on the saddle,BUT THAT BABY IN YOUR AVATAR IS ADORABLE! |
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Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | I had heard that the saddle seat runs a large. I agree I got a 13.5 and it fits more like a 14". The way I sit in it, I really don't notice an difference. I'm feel very secure. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| ajs2002 - 2019-01-28 11:41 AM
Ok you all have convinced me to stick it out and try to find a used. I have my old saddle that works just fine. Fits the horse and myself both fine so I will suffer with that until I save up for my Roo. In the mean time. Seat size? true to size? I know the caldwell I had was tighter then other brands in the same size...... What about the roo's?
They just sit you different, so they feel like they run big. I would say a 1/2" smaller than what you usually ride would be good. But I know some who have gone an entire size smaller and been good as well. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Everytime I *think* I've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 saddles I want to try when in the market for my next one (hopefully this summer....I need one!), there is a thread about another saddle maker that makes me go ohhhh. I need to look into that one too.
I'm going to end up spending a small fortune on a saddle now and I blame y'all. 
I'm only teasing, of course. But now I've gone down the rabbit hole of adding a Roohide to list. Haha. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Everytime I *think* I've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 saddles I want to try when in the market for my next one (hopefully this summer....I need one!), there is a thread about another saddle maker that makes me go ohhhh. I need to look into that one too.
I'm going to end up spending a small fortune on a saddle now and I blame y'all.
I'm only teasing, of course. But now I've gone down the rabbit hole of adding a Roohide to list. Haha. |
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Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | I had never heard of Roohides until I attended a Kristen Weaver-Brown Clinic. I did all kinds of research and I too sold 2 saddles to justify buying one. I am so glad I took the plunge!
 (Roohide.jpg)
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 Roohide.jpg (58KB - 214 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 863
| Well I'm the odd man out here, LOL but I rode in a friends Roohide, was too big, too clumsy, I stick to my Caldwells. The tree didn't fit my horse though either so I guess that didn't help my decision |
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 Veteran
Posts: 255
Location: Where Tall Corn Grows | I have a Roohide Brumby. It's ok, but nothing to write home about. I bought it used and I'm thankful. I can't bring myself to spend 5-8K on a saddle. |
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Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Wild1 - 2019-01-30 10:30 AM Well I'm the odd man out here, LOL but I rode in a friends Roohide, was too big, too clumsy, I stick to my Caldwells. The tree didn't fit my horse though either so I guess that didn't help my decision
The fit definitely makes a difference. The one that feels perfect and so comfortable on my one horse does not fit my other and feels like a totally different saddle on him. |
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Expert
Posts: 1414
| I bought a used one a few years ago and I love it. The seat is too big to run barrels in and it's too narrow for my mare but I still really like it. I love me a Caldwell saddle but am really impressed with the Roo. I found another used one in a different tree (and 1/2" smaller seat) but it was still too narrow for my mare and that seat was a little too small for me to be comfortable. I sent pictures to them and they said she'd need to have a custom tree made for her. At this point I can't justify spending that kind of money when I run barrels twice a month.
If I got serious about running again I wouldn't hesitate to spend the money. Really nice saddles. |
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 Did I miss the party?
Posts: 3864
| Have had both Caldwell and Roohide. Caldwell's are still #1 for me and I know what trees work for what horses. But if they didn't make Caldwell, I would have Roohides. Roohide's are nice saddles too. |
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Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | Correct me if I'm wrong, but another HUGE incentive is if your horse saddle fit changes, or you get a new horse, you can send the saddle back and have the tree switched out. Its $500 I think to do that. That was a huge incentive for me to get the saddle. |
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