dianeguinn - 2015-05-15 11:11 AM

I have been riding original Bob Marshalls since the early 90's, back when everyone was asking me what kind of saddle it was. lol I've also won over $100K+ barrel racing in them. I actually had Bob Marshall show me how to position the saddle, etc. There is a LOT of misinformation put out there by so-called "experts". Bob Marshalls are not in any way, shape or form like a treed saddle. Don't expect them to ride like one and don't expect them to be positioned on a horse's back like one. When they first came out, Bob was really good to explain how they work and how to rig them and why, but now, they could care less, and I feel like that's why a lot of people are dissatisfied with them. I average around 10 horses a year through my barn, and they are all different sizes, shapes, etc. I have been riding BM's for around 25 years. I'd say that's multiple horses w/all different builds and riding styles. They do NOT trap you in, and I have fallen out of them more times than I can count. In fact, I almost got blown out the back last night on the 3rd when my horse really fired leaving the barrel. As for soreness, in all that time, I've never had a sore backed horse from the saddle. I've cured several that came to me sore from being ridden in very high dollar treed saddles. If you want to pm me with specific questions, I will be glad to tell you what I've learned from riding and competing on 200+ different horses in these saddles. Not everyone likes the feel of them, and not every horse likes them, but they've sure kept me off the saddle buying merry-go-round. I go through way too many horses to buy a new saddle for every different horse. ;)