This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > i have been told by our local saddle shop that Big Horn makes > a synthetic western saddle that comes in semi, full and > extra-wide quarter horse bars
That is my recollection too from the time I spent looking for a saddle earlier this summer. Another western saddle manufacturer, Circle Y, has at least one western saddle in the $1000 range that comes in an extra wide tree. I looked at this saddle at a tack shop. It seemed very nice, but the shop manager and I both thought the square skirts on this saddle would be too much of a good thing for short Fjord backs. Just a comment: In looking for a western saddle, I made the mistake of thinking that a "full" or "wide" tree meant a saddle was wider than one with "full Quarter Horse bars". These terms apparently mean about the same thing, I found out -- fortunately before I bought a saddle. I think some Fjords can take a saddle with full QH bars (full tree), but my guess is that many will need an extra-wide tree (extra-wide bars). I would not bother with a "regular tree" (semi-QH bars) for a Fjord -- unfortunately this eliminates almost all inexpensive saddles, since most of those have semi-QH bars. After looking at Wintecs, Australian saddles, and saddles from Circle Y and other western-saddle manufacturers, I finally bought a Tucker trail saddle. It is a Cheyenne model with round skirts, western "center-fire" rigging, and an extra-wide tree. It fits Sissel, my Fjord mare, very nicely. My saddle cost about $1100. There are several models available -- endurance, plantation (picture a cross between English & western saddles), old-time western (high backed), and Montreal trooper (unusual style -- hard to describe). You can customize most styles of saddles with round or square skirts, several different rigging (cinch attachment) options including English 3-billet style, the kind of decorations and color, etc. My saddle came complete with a neoprene girth (um, 34" length, I believe) and leather cinch ties (latigos). The saddles have a stuffed wool padding, not a sheepskin lining like traditional Western saddles. It weighs about 27 pounds, which is much lighter than many Western saddles. The leather is U.S. tanned -- heavy yet pliable, not "boardy" and stiff. It took about 6 weeks to get the saddle. I am happy with the fit and finish of the saddle -- it seems to be very nicely made. If you want more info about these saddles, see http://www.tuckersaddles.com/ DeeAnna
