Ok I've been kind of shopping around for a trail saddle.. need something with shorter rounded skirts for Jasoor as he's smaller with a short back, but wanted good weight distribution and no fabric saddles (blech) and of course the ones I want are $1500.. So yeah.. uhmm... not doing that right now lol

I've got a trail saddle here on trial and I'm going to ride in it tonite, but was wondering if anyone had used one of the elevated seat trail saddles on their Arabians and what they thought of them? I'm not sure of the technical term, but the seat is suspended above the tree apparently for shock absorption. I think they are pretty big with the endurance riders and I like the concept...especially with my chiropractor and neurologist both screaming at me to avoid the bounce and concussion with my back.

I tried this saddle on Jasoor last night and it looks like it sits really high on his back.. it's hard to explain and I think part of the problem was my thick saddle pad, so going today to get a thinner pad and a shorter girth as it has very long billets and I'll take some pictures, but I'm curious if anyone else has ridden in one of these types of saddles and what they thought. This is a King Series trail saddle, it looks antique lol but it's kind of cool in a retro sort of way and that doesn't bother me, I'm looking for comfort for myself and my horse on the trails as I already have a show saddle that is awesome.

I distance ride in All Purpose Hunt saddles (2 Stubbens and 1 Passier). Sometimes I can get my military saddle copy (think McLellan) to fit a horse so I will use it. It's got bars for the tree and can be a bit long for a short backed horse - mainly my issue with it is you sit so far above the horse's back that if you have a spooker you are lost.

i rode the APs exactly like Dalriada for years, after trading my passier for hay one bad year and then riding a loaned stubben i moved on to the wintec, my SO rides a tucker. did your saddle 'sit down' when you mounted to get you close 'enough' to the horse. i haven't seen the saddle you are talking about but like her i would think closer so you don't 'spook off' easy would be better.

but all in all saddles are almost as individual as each horse and person riding, get what fits and is comfortable for both you and he. don't rule out western saddles or dressage saddles or ap's or ANYTHING that works. all make good trail saddles if they work for the team.

i use sprenger stirrups, they have a 'floating' foot bed, some use 'endurance padded stirrups' how the stirrup leather/fender hangs and how the stirrup feels are as important the saddle seat to you. and to your horse by improving your riding time and balance by comforting both of you? hope that makes sense.

This is the saddle except I found one used Old Fashioned King Series Trail Saddle

I do have to say I LOVE the stirrups just what I've sat in it on the saddle stand. It's very comfortable and I've been told it does sink down closer to the horse when you get on, I will see how I like actually riding in it tonite on the gelding.. not trying a froggy greenie with a new saddle until I'm sure I like it first LOL I know the friend I am buying it from has a very jumpy, froggy horse and she stays on quite well (and she's about my size too so that helps in determining if it will work for me as well) It's very deep seated and feels well secure.. it's just the overall fit I'm concerned with right now and the only people I've known that used the floating seats (?) are the gaited horse people lol So wanted some other input

but if you talk to gaited horse people who have also ridden arabs there is a big simalarity, especially as you get to extending and speeding up the walk and developing the 'all day trot' ..

good luck, usually it's one of those if it works it's all good. if it doesn't you'll know pretty quick. talk to the gals at trumbull mountain saddlery (it's online), if you end up continuing your search, they will do a loan program and let you try out a saddle for 10 days and they have some nice used trail saddles, one of them is a distance rider with arabs.

what have you got for saddles? usually i tell folks to start going in what they've got if they have something they like and see what else is around, alot of folks at rides will let you test drive their saddles a bit too.

oh, yours doesn't have a horn does it? sorry i didn't look at the picture first.

after a while you will probably want to get rid of the horn... one way or the other. some folks have saddle makers cut them off.

pomels make just as good or better grab handles if you think you need one. but the first time you climb a steep hill or have to jump something or duck something and end up with a big round bruise on your belly, you'll get rid of the horn.

lol nah been trail riding for years with a horn, they don't bother me I'm just looking for something for trails and the occasional CTR.. nothing too serious there. I will look with Trumbull Mountain if this one doesn't work.. thanks!

I ride treeless for miels and miles. love it. I hate being too far away from the horse

Ok I officially love this saddle. It looks a little different and I think that was throwing me off, but I got a much thinner Equigrip pad and a 26" girth for it instead of the 24 that was on it and it's just lovely to ride in.. wow...

I don't think it looks half bad on him either

Pictures

cool, see if you can find someone to show you how to finish off the latigo in the rear billet ring. y rigged. it will keep the rear of the saddle from moving around and causing sore loins and keep the girth from riding up under his elbow and causing gauls so easy. there is a description of how to do that on both sides on the tucker web site.

congratulaltions on the saddle.

Thanks lol yeah I was wondering about that. I do hate the nylon latigo straps so that's going to have to go to leather, but beyond that i love it