Re: Saddles

[Lynn Kinsky <lkinsky@silcom.com>]

>I have a Tennessee Walking horse and two gaited mules.  My saddle is 20
>yrs old and isn't the best fit for my mules.  I'd like to have a new
>saddle(s) made.  In your experience who makes the best trail riding
>saddle for gaited horses & mules?  Generally saddles for gaited equine
>have a deeper seat and don't throw you forward.  I sit the running walk
>instead of standing or posting the trot.
>
>If a survey was taken of all competitive and endurance riders who ride
>gaited horses I wonder what the most frequently used saddle would be?
>
>Do any of you ride a Tucker saddle?  What brand saddles should I
>consider?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Kat

I ride Peruvians and I favor any saddle that allows me to sit light and
centered and fits my horses without inhibiting their shoulder movement.
While I don't have to post a trot I still need to be able to lift slightly
to absorb the ups and downs of the trail -- some "gaited horse/paso"
saddles put my legs too far forward to allow this to be done easily.

My main saddle at this point is an Ortho-flex Officer's Patriot -- but it
is a little bit long in the bars for some of my shorter backed horses.  For
them I have been borrowing a friend's Collegiate Marathon -- very
comfortable.  I've done a little riding in a Marciante endurance saddle:
that also seems to work well.

Lynn Kinsky (Santa Ynez, CA)
http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky