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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
