Alright Western Experts! Help.

[jilllovesgus]

Okay, as most of you know, my horse Gus is unsound at the trot, so I am unable to do much with him. But, to keep him thinking I thought I could try him Western?

I know he's a thoroughbred, which are not often made Western horses (or so I believe) but it would just be an alternative to english, since I'll be riding him on trails and such. And he neck reins... so chances are he was probably broken Western first since he raced?

I was looking at saddles, but I'm really not sure what to be looking for. I ride at an English barn, so I don't know anyone who really does Western. Again, I'm not competing him Western or anything, just as more of something new to try.

Also, I was wondering about bits to use? He currently goes in a copper full-cheek snaffle, so would I just use that with a western bridle or...? Like I said, I'm totally retarded when it comes to Western.

By the way, my new horse, Toby, also goes Western, so buying a less expensive western saddle wouldn't be a waste of money. But the problem is, I'm wondering about how the saddle size would change from one horse to another? I know thoroughbreds and appendixes are build a bit differently, but my current english saddle, size 16", medium tree, fits them both.

So my questions are about saddle size for thoroughbred &/or appendix, bit to use, and such. So anyone willing to help, it'd be much appreciated! (Once again, just trying western as an alternative to english on the trail. Worse comes to worse, I abandon my hopes for Western and just go bareback!)

[And yes, I must sound totally retarded, as I've only ridden Western a few times... haha.] Any help would be much appreciated!

[silverleprichuan]

he can't trot so you are turning him western? Western horses jog which requires even more strength, suppleness, and balance then a normal trot.

[StarGirl]

Ok....

English saddle seat size is 2 inches more than what you would need in western...so if you ride comfortably in a 16" English saddle, most likely you will be comfy in a 14" western saddle...there are several fits in saddles....

Full QH Bars, which fit my old TB who was gigantic, then there is regular QH bars, Semi-QH bars (also fit my TB) and there's draft, but I doubt that would fit. The only thing you can really do to know is either ask a trainer who knows western (my trainer looked at my mare when I got her and said she looked like a full-QH bars kind of horse...she was right.lol.) or try a bunch of saddles on the horse.

If he goes well in the copper full-cheek snaffle and you're not planning on making him a western show horse, I'd stick with that, my old TB worked great in a full-cheek snaffle so I stuck with that, just stuck it in a western bridle. :D

Also, you would be surprised at how many TB's have been turned western down here, especially at the shows....just depends on the horse.

And you didn't mention girths, so I'll tell you right now my favorite western girths are the Neoprene girths, but that's me...:D

Anything else just let us know!

[jilllovesgus]

he can't trot so you are turning him western? Western horses jog which requires even more strength, suppleness, and balance then a normal trot.

No, I said we're only walking. And we found he actually is more sound today, so he's improving quickly. But for the time being, we wouldn't be doing any more than walking, and you can't trot on the trails where I am.


And thanks so much, StarGirl!

[DixieGirl]

Well I have a wintec western saddle. I payed about $350 for it adn I love it!!! It is very comfy and everything. Since you are 14 maybe you should try a 15 or 16 inch saddle.

For bits I use a tom thumb with copper rollers or you could use a tom thumb with copper mouth they really work just the same...just the copper rollers are there if your horse wants to ply with them!!

I hope you have fun riding western with Gus and I hope you enjoy Toby!!! :)

[DixieGirl]

Did you get my info??

[jilllovesgus]

Yep, thanks!

[DixieGirl]

No problem!!! Just remember to always have fun in a western saddle!!! :)

[alliekk]

actually, if you want comfort and a saddle that fits closely and comfortably, I'd go with a martha josey or billy cook barrel saddle. they are light weight and flexible. they are VERY well made saddles and I highly recommend one. they run anywhere from $500-$1200... also, check out chicksaddlery.com... they have AWESOME prices and pretty nice saddles. just remember, the cheaper they are, the lower quality they get. Be careful and ask around about certain saddles you may be interested in.

as for the bit, if he is soft and responsive in your full cheek then stick with it.

this is a martha josey for less than $800 on www.sipsey.com/saddles... Highly recommended!!!

[DixieGirl]

actually, if you want comfort and a saddle that fits closely and comfortably, I'd go with a martha josey or billy cook barrel saddle. they are light weight and flexible. they are VERY well made saddles and I highly recommend one. they run anywhere from $500-$1200... also, check out chicksaddlery.com... they have AWESOME prices and pretty nice saddles. just remember, the cheaper they are, the lower quality they get. Be careful and ask around about certain saddles you may be interested in.

as for the bit, if he is soft and responsive in your full cheek then stick with it.

this is a martha josey for less than $800... Highly recommended!!!

Isn't that a barrel saddle though?

[alliekk]

it sure is. Barrel saddles aren't meant for ONLY barrel racing. I would prefer a barrel saddle for everyday riding to anyone. first off, I have noticed that because they are so flexible it gives you the advantage of riding in it on any horse. I would ride in one for EVERYTHING if I had one. CASPER2002 has a billy cook and a martha josey and they fit ALL of her horses and are so so so comfortable

[luvs2ride1979]

You don't need a western saddle or bit to teach your horse how to go western. It's your cues that matter, not the tack ;).

To teach neck reining, just use your normal snaffle. Use your leg and seat to turn, use your normal rein cue, then add in the outside rein pressed to his neck. As he starts getting it, slowly wean him off the direct rein cue, so you end up with just seat/leg and outside rein against his neck.

To stop on a loose rein, start by adding more seat and a voice command. I like to lighten my seat for the stop by tilting my pelvis forward (so my seat bones come up and are barely touching the saddle). Your upper body stays upright and back, just your hips move. This helps your horse lift his back during the stop. I also squeeze with my knees. Just another "cue" for my horse. So, tilt your hips forward, squeeze lightly with your knees, pull back with your reins, and say WHOA. Do LOTS of walk/halt transitions using these cues. As he gets it, slowly wean him off your rein cue, until he'll stop of your pelvis tip and and knee squeeze.

I like a lighter seat because it allows the horse's back to come up and balance easier in the stop, and I use a deep seat when driving my horse's forward. I like to use clear signals for forward and whoa, so there's no mistaking what I want by the horse.

You should also teach him an "easy" cue, to slow his gait. I like to teach the stop first, that way I can just light squeeze with my knees or tilt my pelvis to slow my horse. This is your "half halt" without using reins. If you have taught the stop properly, this should only take a day's worth of practice. If you're having troubles, school the stop again, then go back to the reinless half halt.

Now you can start working him on a looser rein at all gaits! And hopefully he'll be good and sound by now too. Once he's going well at all gaits, you can introduce a shanked bit for "finish" work if you plan on showing. If you don't want to show, then there's no need to put him in a different bit.

This is how I trained my mare, and she's cross trained Dressage, HUS, and WP.

[luvs2ride1979]

it sure is. Barrel saddles aren't meant for ONLY barrel racing. I would prefer a barrel saddle for everyday riding to anyone. first off, I have noticed that because they are so flexible it gives you the advantage of riding in it on any horse. I would ride in one for EVERYTHING if I had one. CASPER2002 has a billy cook and a martha josey and they fit ALL of her horses and are so so so comfortable

There is no one-size-fits-all tree, not even flex trees or flex panel saddles (like Ortho-flex). You can have a saddle that fits most horses you put it on, or even all of your own horses, but that doesn't mean it will fit any horse in the entire state...

Checking saddle fit is very important.

To check for saddle fit, here is what works best.

1. Put the saddle on the horse with no pad, too high up over the withers.
2. Push the pommel down and back firmly and let the saddle settle/stop on it's own.
3. Repeat a few times to make sure you get the same spot. This should put the front concho 2" behind the edge of your horse's shoulder blade.
4. Have a helper put a hand on the seat of the saddle and press down very lightly (still no pad and no girth/cinch).
5. Run your hand flat on the horse with the tips of your fingers near the spine, from the very front of the saddle to the very back. You should feel no air pockets or tights spots, only even pressure.
6. Check under the pommel. You should have 3 fingers of clearance above the withers.
7. Step back and look. The saddle should set even on the horse, without popping up in the back (even when girthed normally).

If it sets too low on the withers, it's too wide (the back will likely be popped up too). If it sits too high over the withers and is tighter there than toward the back, then it's too narrow.

[Casper2002]

Alliekk is wrong. My marthyjosy and my other barrel saddle are not made for all my horses. They fit on semi bar horses or thoroughbred type horses. THEY DO NOT FIT STOCKY HORSES!!!! Barrel saddles are not for every one. And you cannot ride them in anything. A barrel saddle causes you to lean forward in the saddle which helps running for barrels. A western pleasure saddle or reiner allows you to sit more on your butt and make it so you can throw your self back which causes them to slow down or stop.

[alliekk]

I stand corrected, I guess it was just me observing the various body types that a barrel saddle fits.
I guess the only sure way for you to find a perfect saddle is through trial and error. I was assuming a barrel saddle would fit the body type of both Toby and Gus since they are both relatively narrow. good luck on finding a saddle

[MarshmellowManda]

before my surgery i rode marshal in a western saddle it was funnnn lol. it was a nice change. I know for a fact he was ridden western (not like all reining and all that fun stuff) but someone was trying to make he a pony on the track hehehe.