Yes, I know what you're thinking. CobJockey, aren't you shopping for a Dressage saddle? Yes, yes I am. I have been for two years this month. Don't you not ride Western at all? No, no I do not. And that makes it all the more INSANELY ANNOYING that a nearly perfect Western saddle just fell into my lap with zero effort last weekend.
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| Ok you but a Dressage saddle plz |
I've been thinking I wanted a Western saddle for a while now, both to trail ride in and to pony Disco off of starting in a few months. But I wasn't going to put any effort into that search, it would practically have to show up at my door for me to pull the trigger.
And it did. I saw a posting on Facebook for a barely used Western endurance trail saddle that looked just stupid wide compared to most of the fence-rail-narrow Western saddles I see around here.
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| I mean, might have been made for a draft horse idk |
I thought, what the heck, it's 20 minutes from me, it's the right size for me, it looks like it might be wide enough for him, and I loved that it didn't have a horn but still had a place where I could wrap a pony rope. Connor will launch over a ditch for fun like one out of every ten times we cross one on the trail, and I am no fan of getting punched in the gut with a horn.
The seller agreed to meet me at the state park so I could try it with Connor, who, bless him, had to be like "not this again!" after I threw him on the trailer for the third time in three days on Sunday morning.
It was, well, not quite perfect, but as perfect as I deserve for putting zero effort into this saddle search.
Mary had expected it to be too wide from the photos, but it was bang on perfect up front. Even the angle of the panels was perfect.
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| Had to ask the sellers to bring a pad and girth, and also re-teach me how to girth it up. It's been like 15 years since I did up a western girth (er, cinch. I am Western stupid) |
The only slight question mark is the length. It's a hair longer than I'd strictly prefer on him. But after consulting with a trail riding buddy, Kate, Mary and several other bloggers (it takes a community to soothe my anxious soul) I think we can work with it, especially given how little I plan to ride in it.
We rode around the day riding area, through a creek, and w/t/c up and down a steep, muddy hill and it was great. Then I put Connor straight back on the trailer and brought him home, for what had to be one of the weirdest mornings he's ever had, lol. Good pony. I was tempted to stay and do some trails, but after his lesson with GP trainer the day before and two hours on the trailer right after, he deserved a day off. Another time.
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| Seller's husband in the background (who also rides) was like "That is a well-built little horse you've got there!" |
Now to buy a breastplate and a girth and a saddle pad and a whatever the strap on the other side of the saddle the girth attaches to is called and a saddlebag and...
Not gonna lie, I'm cracking up that they had to show you how to girth it up. And the piece you're looking for is an off/offside billet. I like a mohair cinch, but they can be a PITA to clean, so there are lots of other good options. Pro Choice makes a nice one I used for a long time. He looks so cute in a western saddle, what a good pony!
ReplyDeleteThat's it! Yeah I'm torn on girth materials. Yes, I am western stupid, lol. I did used to ride in one when I was ponying racehorses in high school, but that's been a hot minute.
DeleteWhat a nice find! It's hard to pass on a good deal, esp when it falls into your lap so effortlessly. Can't wait to see Connor all outfitted with the complete western tack look.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be so cute!
Deleteoooo love it! I regret selling my for funsies western saddle. One day I'll pick up another.
ReplyDeleteFunsies saddle, that's totally what it is. Although Lisa is mildly pressuring me to enter the Western classes at the Welsh show in October...
DeleteCute! Now you get to also shop for fun new saddle pads and maybe a split ear bridle...
ReplyDeleteOoooo he would look good in a split ear!
DeleteHow timely! I just emailed a friend this morning, asking questions about western saddle fit. I want to buy a western saddle so I can pony one of my horses on trail rides so two can get exercised at once when I'm short for time. I'm not comfortable doing that in a dressage saddle! And I know nothing about how to fit a western saddle. But I do know how to cinch up a western saddle. When I started taking lessons at age 5, I had to ride in a western saddle first, mastering all the gaits, before riding English and learning to jump. Looking back, it made a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI hope my experience will be as easy as yours. Maybe my friend will have the right saddle, sitting unused, in her tack room!
Hey you can cinch it, you're ahead of me, lol. I hope you find it easily too! It makes me feel good to have something I can pony safely off of, for sure.
DeleteI borrowed a friend's synthetic Western saddle for ponying Stella last year, but only rode in it once or twice. Like driving in my preferred smaller cars, I figure I'm safer in what I'm most comfortable in, not what is "technically" safer (a horn to dally to, etc.), and I definitely wasn't comfortable in that Western saddle (even though I grew up riding Western – well, mostly bareback). But that endurance model is intriguing, and if it fits your horse and you, GREAT!
ReplyDeleteYeah! Everyone has to find what they're secure in.
DeleteIt kills me that the best saddle I have for Bridget is also a western one I just have kicking around from back in the day (I think it might have come with my first horse?) Perhaps we need a Welsh Cob western dressage division? :D
ReplyDeleteNice find!
I mean, there's Western Dressage and there are Western Pleasure Welsh classes! I feel like that's enough to get you to dust off the western saddle. Honestly I bet B would love it.
DeleteI think it’s perfect. I’ve never seen a western saddle without a horn.
ReplyDeleteMe neither, but I love it!
DeleteI call this saddle fate. Now if only a dressage saddle would appear magically for you!
ReplyDeleteUm...stay tuned for tomorrow's post...lol
DeleteWestern dressage is totally a thing ;)
ReplyDeleteOh man, I think that would confuse the heck out of Connor lol. We may be-bop around the WP division at Welsh shows though! Easy points.
DeleteA good little balanced western is the BEST!
ReplyDeleteLove it! And Connor looks super cute. Now, of course, he NEEDS a pretty Western bridle to go with it.
ReplyDeleteThat looks really comfy! I've been thinking if I ever try working equitation, that a hornless Western saddle would be nice for it. It just seems weird to do a sport with cow-working origins, in a dressage saddle. And I don't know how people jump the hay bales in the EoH and speed phases with a horn in the way!
ReplyDeleteGoing to take a stab at Western Dressage? Oh and now you can do some of the Western classes at the cob shows!
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