i wanna be a buckaroo!

[tahoespirit]

hi! new here. have been "lurking" for a bit. wanted to introduce myself. hoping that when i'm brave enough to ask, someone will be kind enough to give me some advice...

in the meantime... i'm wendy. i'm 44. got my 8 yr old paint gelding may of 2004. although i rode as a kid, he is "my first horse" and i love him to pieces. some would call me obsessed. other may call me crazy. but i like to think of myself as finally sane. and w/out spirit, the later might be more true.

i am a hunter rider by training, and when i found that my little cow horse needed assistance becoming a little hunter pony. i became disheartened w/ what trainers in my area were suggesting. draw reins etc... i knew that there had to be a better way. so i found a great intructor who has been riding w/ bob king and buck brannaman for a while. and through her, i met a terrific trainer, who rode w/ peter campbell for a long time, that i sent spirit to for 60 + days for a sort of "restart."

i havn't given up on my english riding. but i can honestly say spirit and i are never more relaxed and happy when we are "playing" w/ the cows! all new stuff to me, but i'm hooked.

so, hello all!!!!!

[FrancaV]

Hi! Welcome, Wendy! Hope you like it here. Go ahead and ask for advice any ol' time - seems to be a pretty friendly bunch of good horse folks hanging about.

I am so glad you found two great people to help you with Spirit. I don't know Bob King, but Buck Brannaman and Peter Campbell are both excellent references as far as I'm concerned. :) Aren't cows fun? I'm glad you and Spirit are enjoying your time together.

I'm going to be away for a bit over the next couple of months so my mare is going to spend some time with Peter Campbell's wife, Trina. "Summer camp" for Seven will no doubt include some cow work, colt ponying, and anything else Trina might need an equine partner for while she's there. Trina put a bit of mileage on Seven for me a couple of years ago and did a fantastic job. Though she's too busy to take in horses much any more she's doing me a big favor by taking Seven in and giving her some work to do while I'm gone. Seven loves to have a job. I'm really looking forward to the fun Seven and I will have when we both get back home!

[tahoespirit]

thanks for the welcome. ck out cowboyschool.net, that's bob kings site. and my trainers is sbarjranch.com

also, i'm joining an organization in my area. ck out sebuckaroo.com, it's just getting off the ground. i'm really excited about it.

also, how do you post pic's on this forum? sorry. i'm such a comp. idiot.

[BuckarooMan]

Most of your photo hosting sights have a image code that you simply paste into the forms.

Welcome to the EH there is a wealth of knowledge around here and every one is willing to share so don't be afraid to ask about any thing you may have a question on.

[tahoespirit]

thank you... so, here we are. this is "mud eye cody" aka spirit and me!!!
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0325.jpg

[red]

All right . that does it. I have got to learn how to post a picture, too..good one, Tahoe Spirit...looks like you are pretty buckaroooooooooy to me.

love,
red

[tahoespirit]

thanks! i was lucky enough to be riding in my clinicians wifes daisy wade saddle in this pic. here it is. i just love this saddle.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0320.jpg

although i do have a pretty nice quality english saddle. i just have a wintec synthetic western. and i'll post a pic of WHY i will HAVE to invest in a decent western saddle. but i'm going to have to work a lot of O/T to get it. sheesh. the saddle i want is min. 3,000. whew... don't think i'll be doing that, but maybe i could find a used rough out mc call for 1,000. ya think?

[tahoespirit]

ok, this is embarr. but oh well, atleast spirit looks good. my clinician was flagging us. fun fun fun! notice the saddle.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/whoasaddle.jpg

[BuckarooMan]

Tighten that rear cinch or get a saddle with a back cinch and you wont have that problem LOL. I just bought a custom LJ saddle an base price rough out no frills starts at 3500 just so you know.

[tahoespirit]

LOL!!!! my wintec doesn't have a rear cinch. I would consider getting one, but I'm going to try and sell the wintec and put the $$ towards a new saddle.
Thank you though!
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/spiritandi2.jpg

[BuckarooMan]

No worries I bet thats a neat feeling when your saddle starts to rock forward. Oh an by the way thats a nice looking peice of horse flesh you got there Iam a sucker for paints and buckskins an palominos

[Excess]

I absolutely LOATHE Wintec Western Saddles. Flat out loathe. Although I completely understand that it was what you could afford at the time. I even had a Wintec saddle once. I have seen very few horses that go well in one of those saddles. Most of the time they act like a VICE on the withers.

One horse I knew in particular was an excellent horse. She rode well, never had an issue. The person was riding her in some prehistoric leather saddle. She wanted to get a new saddle and all she could afford was a Wintec. Well in two months that mare was rearing, biting and bucking. I went out to analyze her back and she had a massive lump where the back skirt of the saddle would sit and her withers were sore. I'm convinced it's the worst made saddle out there. If one has to go synethic I recommend Big Horns.

That being said, I high recommend taking your time if you can in raising $ for your saddle. In my quest for a saddle I have bought a Wintec ($300), a no-name Leather saddle ($200), then thought I'd "splurge" and bought a Riensman ($1000) then thought I'd "really splurge" and bought a Tucker Trail Saddle ($1500). None of these saddles I kept for more than year because they just didn't hold up. So by now I've spent $3000 on crappy saddles. Well I still didn't have $3000 total as I've been selling the previous saddle to pay for the next saddle. So I sold the the Tucker and I had a little less than $1500. I only had a little bit of extra $ at the time so I bought a McCall's Great Basin Association - $2500.

And while the McCalls is a much better saddle than I have ever had, I do wish I held out and bought an LJ or a Frecker. And I will eventually buy one of those. And by then I would have spent even more!

Sooooooo learn from my mistake - if your horse is doing well in the Wintec or can handle it for another months or however long it'd take to save $ for a saddle, then take the time so you can get the best possible saddle that you can afford.

Check out the Classifieds on here. And also check the classifieds at www.tacktrader.com you can find decent saddles on there.

Welcome to the board!

[Weebonilass]

I have a friend who has two horses that go well in the Wintec western. My horse goes well in his Wintec English, so broke down and bought a new one, giving up on the used ones after saddle number 10. It didn't fit him right... I never even sat in the saddle.

I'm impatiently waiting on my name to come up to the top of the waiting list for a Henderson saddle. The Hendersons are neighbors to Kent Frecker and the Henderson brothers even worked for Frecker's Saddlery for awhile, but then went out on their own with Kent's help. The Henderson even supplied the Freckers with saddles, stirrups and hardware to help them get off the ground. Since then the father has joined the team.

They have a new lightweight saddle that I've put my name in for and it'll run around $2400. The folks I know that have bought the saddles just love them. I'm excited to get mine :) It's more than I ever expected to pay for a saddle, but I'm putting aside a couple hundred a paycheck and by time the saddle is done, I'll have the money saved.


http://www.hendersonsaddlecompany.com/

[tahoespirit]

thanks buckarooMan! I think he's pretty cute! he's taken pretty good care of me too!

Excess- thanks for the info. i agree. i've got a closet full of "mistakes"
I set up a little "tack for sale" table at a schooling show recently. and people thought i was a real tack store. lol!!!

I agree that the wintec is nothing but a vice on the shoulders. it's awful. i bought it before i knew anything. well, i still don't know much, but i really really had no idea at that point.

since my last clinic, the stupid thing is sitting in the tack room. i've just been riding in my english saddle. I'm not buying another thing until i can get the saddle that will be right.

[tahoespirit]

hi ginger. thanks for the info on henderson. i ck'd out the site. i've been visiting w/ paul van dyke recently. www.vandykesaddlery.com
he was rec. by bob king. and i trust bob a lot. i'm really wanting a custom. i don't know what to do. just can't decide. i could prob. find a used mc call for 1200 to 1500. and i could come up w/ that a lot sooner. but, like excess says, do it right from the beginning. i'm already out 300. for the crappy wintec. lol!!!

[Weebonilass]

Tahoe,

That's why I decided to wait for one. I have a really large Arabian and an "off the shelf" saddle simply won't fit him. They are either not wide enough or too long.

Bob Henderson will be at the Brent Graef clinic in MO come July and he'll be taking the last minute measurements for me of my guy and then heading back to Idaho and within a couple of weeks get started on Ah Men's saddle. I'm really excited about the whole thing :) It'll be nice to have a really, really nice saddle to call my own.

[reata]

WOW!!!! how exciting!!! :)

[BuckarooMan]

3 more months!!!!! I should have mine by the end of August early September whooohoooo. Its going to be nice to ride in comfort again.

[JRW]

If I had so much money I didn't know what to do with it, I would buy a saddle from Lisa Skyhorse.

http://www.skyhorse.com/sky/html/skyhorse-saddles.html

Check her website out. Real works of art!

[FrancaV]

Ooh, they are beautiful! I was skeptical at first because I tend not to like a whole lot of carving, stamping, and silver. But several of Lisa's Pleasure Saddle designs appealed even to my simple tastes. I like the animal and petroglyph carvings at corners and edges, and the Navajo blanket seat insert was a really cool idea. A number of those saddles would look wicked good on my "saddle unicorn".

I didn't see any I'd want to put on my horse and ride in, though - I'm kind of fussy about some things in a riding saddle. But with enough money to throw around I imagine I could get Lisa to build one more or less to my specs. My saddle is not the piece of artwork Lisa's are, but it is very comfortable for me and my horse. (My mare lets me know when a saddle is Not Right, LOL.)

I prefer the tree in my saddle (it has plenty of flare for the shoulders), the rigging (skirt leather and fleece between the plates and my horse) and the fender/stirrup position. (I can move them far enough back that my legs are under me instead of way out front. Lisa's saddles look pretty good in this regard, too ... can't always tell from a photo.)

I think I've posted this photo before but here's my saddle unicorn wearing my mare's saddle:

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/3642/1332151493036196287S600x600Q85.jpg (http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1332151493036196287MiKGVp)

[red]

I like the Wade model, but wish she had taken a better picture of the skirts..love the braiding, would hate to hafta rope in it tho...the first scuff on it would make me sick..I like the one with the butterflys on it, too...
Gald I don't have to choose one, because it would be hard to pick..I like a plain old saddle..not much tooling on my personal using saddle....but for fancy, outrageous, these are sure over the top.

love,
red..

[red]

yipes. one of those saddles is $20,000. you can buy a lot of hay with that kinda loot...and in some places, half of a good pick-em-up truck...
stickin with my old Chavez wade...had it since 92...still, I want a Frecker..and that will be my next saddle..for sure.

love,
red.

[BuckarooMan]

Thats why you get rough outs cause you never know when you scratch them LOL

[tahoespirit]

been real busy guys, but wanted to show you the saddle i am currently using and have the option to buy. my trainer, (wonderful guy that he is) has given me the below picured saddle to use or purchase. it's an association tree, maker is bob marrs, of amarillo. i googled him and found out that in 2006, he won the will rogers lifetime acheivement award in saddlemaking for the western academy of arts. so that's pretty neat. been riding in it for a week now.
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0610.jpg

[tahoespirit]

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0609.jpg

[tahoespirit]

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0608.jpg

[tahoespirit]

it's been sitting in my trainers tack room forever he has told me. i have gotten it cleaned up a bit. i have to decide if i want to buy it. it was made custom for scott in 1993. i love the tooling and the horse on the skirt.

[tahoespirit]

and... any recom. as to the best/most affordable place i can order some monels. regardless of purchasing THIS saddle, i want a pair of my own. i was thinking 4 inch shiney silver. what do you think? i found a man in arkansas who will make a monel on a nettles stirrup for about 180. in the meantime, a friend has given me a pair of stirrups to use. i'm hoping i can get some pic's of the saddle ON spirit tomorrow.

[red]

gosh dang me, we are a lucky bunch..to have a treasure like that sittin in the tack room waiting to be reborn...whooooohooooooo!!! Just lookin at the pictures, make me happy...tell ya what, if you don't want it, I wanna go on the record as I have first dibs...lol.
It is a treasure, and not just because of the wonderful tooling...hope that it works out for you Tahoe Spirit..sweet little saddle.
I just got some monels from Lost Buckaroo, and love them...got em at the Californios, so I got to put my feet in lots of pairs..I ended up with a 3 and a half inch, because my feet are small, but secretly, I wanted the big puppies... sad to say, they were just too big, tho, and The Macia's helped me choose..and I am sure happy with em.

love,
red

[BuckarooMan]

Try Trina Weber I have a pair of 6inch bells in brass from her that are wrapped around nettles.

http://www.weberstirrups.com/index.html

[FrancaV]

That's a good-looking saddle - I'd love to see a photo of it on your horse when you get around to it. :)

[Scout]

I've had 2 saddles made custom. Hindsight being what it is, some thoughts.

If the issue is that a horse is hard to fit, if you have a tree that is specific to that horse at that point in time, will it be generic enough to fit other similarly built (narrow, wide, etc.) horses or do you have a saddle that will only fit that horse? Horses change a great deal with age and fitness. If you're buying for a young horse, will it fit them several years out and will your budget handle a "do-over?" The first one I had made was for a very close coupled, difficult to fit youngster.

I am not articulate enough to translate the feel I want in my saddle. I know it when I feel it, but have difficulty putting into words (particularly over long distance) the exact feel I'm going for.

In a stroke of incredible luck, I sat in a Frecker in a store and immediately knew that the fit/feel were perfect for me. I didn't mean to buy a saddle that day and had to sell another saddle to pay back my savings, but I never regretted it. I can't adequately describe what it is exactly that is so right for me -- but I know it when I feel it!

I have 90 degree horses and then a wide body -- so needed a wide tree saddle. I rode some really outstanding saddles -- one in particular felt GREAT. Came to find out that there was something about it that put one thigh to sleep -- I couldn't tell a person exactly what the spot was that caused that. A scosh too wide in one little spot? What if that had been a custom saddle?

For my second custom saddle, I sent the first Frecker that is so perfect for me to Kent Frecker and asked him to replicate the fit and feel for me, but on the right tree for my mare. David Rigby (works in Ken't shop) built the second one and stitch for stitch, feel for feel -- there is no qualtiative or feel difference. David Rigby can build a saddle for me any day! The saddle is impeccibly built.

What fits me great may not fit others who are built differently from me. Ending up 100% happy with a custom saddle is not a given. But if you try some that are already built, you might find "the one."

One last thought on rough out -- one of the best things that I get from riding rough out is I have an objective measure of how evenly I ride -- I can see if I'm crooked from the marks in the rough out. As I try to correct it, I'll brush it up and see if I can make the pattern get even. I sit deeper on one seat bone than the other -- I'm crooked! Less so today than years ago though.

[BuckarooMan]

I will add this too scouts post I am having a saddle built by LJ Saddlery and I can say this allot of the custom saddles need one on one with the saddle maker. By this I mean getting my saddle built for me was way more difficult that getting fit for a suit but I liked that john was so detailed about every measurement about my body type and the types of horses I usually ride. Most not all custom saddles are one on one some are just mail orders that you piece your parts together and then it gets sent off to some random guy in that particular saddle shop.

[tahoespirit]

here are a couple pic's of spirit in the saddle. it's pretty comfortable. i ended up having to remove the rear cinch, b/c where my feet fall, there is no where to cue spirit. don't know if its a fit prob. or me. does the saddle look placed right?

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0648.jpg

[tahoespirit]

and the second pic
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l302/mudeyecody/IMG_0651.jpg

[tahoespirit]

scott had latigo on both sides to adjust the cinch b/c he is always riding diff. horses. he said he had taken one off to use on another saddle. so, i will have to have the latigo moved to the other side, or just get another. also, if i do use the rear cinch, i will have to get it repaired. the "thing?" that you can hobble the rear to the frount. it is broken. i kinda rigged it for the pic's w/ a piece of bale twine. but, like i mentioned, i've just taken it off all together.

[tahoespirit]

red- thank you- i'll be sure to let you know if i decide not to purchase it. i'm hemming and hawing over here. i just don't have the knowledge or experience to know if this is the right saddle for me and it's a lot of $$$ so i'm thinking i will just take my time. trainer and owner of the saddle will be coming here to ga for a clinic in july. so he can see me ride in it and help me. i trust him completely.

[tahoespirit]

franca, thanks and here's the pic's. scout- very good info. thank you. and i really u/s the difficulty of putting those "feelings" into words. lol! i don't even u/s the "feeling" yet. LOL!!!

[red]

the little thing is called a connector strap...(will wonders never cease)...I think the back cinch is gonna fall just right, when you get the leeetle strap..in a pinch, I have (gulp) used a chin strap..but they really do make a nice little strap just for that purpose and then a shu-fly,...you will be in fine shape...Sweet little horse..

love,
red

[tahoespirit]

red, thanks, he is a sweetie. has to be to put up w/ my ignorance. hmm... connector strap. LOL! ok, so where do i get one? is that somthing that is commonly carried at tack stores? there is a pretty big western tack store in atlanta that i can go to.

[BuckarooMan]

Bailing twine works just great for about any misc piece of tack thats broken so do zip ties in a bind. I have two dog collars about 20inch in my cantle bag for emergency strap fixes

[reata]

Gosh Tahoe that saddle reminds me alot of mine.. but i don't have the fancy carving!!! Mine is OLD too .. Has yours got Blevins or lacing??/

[tahoespirit]

hi reata- they are blevin buckles. the saddle was made in 1993. really love the way the saddle looks. just don't know if it's right for me. since i ride alone, i have to wait for my trainer in mid july to see me ride in it. very frustrating. the fenders are long. i'm short. and you can see by the pic's that it's all fender, then stirrup. is this ok? don't know. i think what i'm feeling, is that it's not right. and, it's very heavy. i am having difficulty throwing the saddle on gracefully. poor spirit. he's putting up w/ so much. LOL.

[red]

alllllrighty then. Tahoe Spirit..Let the saddle tell you. how do you FEEL in it? Safe? Secure? Balanced? No feet or legs falling asleep? Not shifting your weight around in it, because it just isn't "there". Find the sweet spot...rock back and forth in it, let your muscles relax..go ride, up hill down hill, arena, at all gaits..it is not just how a saddle LOOKS..(tho pretty never hurts..lol). Have you ridden in it enough to see what sort of sweat pattern is on her back? When you run your hand underneath the saddle blanket in the front, how comfy is that there. Murder to get your fingers underneath, or a pretty smooth glide with effort? Those are just a few things to check on..Ultimately no one can tell you how a saddle feels to you. I think you said you had been riding in a synthetic saddle? From way back posts. Maybe I am wrong. But there is a lot of leather on that saddle because it is a working saddle, and is balanced.
Even a used saddle, as this, takes some getting used to...here is your tip.
Your trainer person used this saddle on a ton of horses, you say. Number one, it is too expensive of a rig to have ruined, so it musta fit him well, and musta fit the majority of horses he rides well...otherwise you would not see the wear on it..that there is. 1993 is just the right age for a saddle to be in it's prime. The good news, is, should you opt to purchase it, it will serve you well, for years and years..

love
red

[tahoespirit]

red, THANK you. i think you caught on to my frustration. i took some of your advice and applied it to my ride this am. very smooth gliding hand under pad w/ saddle on.
yes, feel safe. secure. sit comfy. i notice that on my right leg, right above my knee, somthing isn't right. need to pay more attention to that in next ride. on left side, my foot works it's way out of the stirrup. i'm constantly adjusting my foot back in. don't know if that's me or what...

any advice regarding the length of the fenders? can you see in the pic's how there isn't anything but wide fender and then stirrup?

you must be right. saddle will take some getting used to. being an english rider, sitting in this saddle almost feels like getting strapped into a ride at six flags or somthing. i certainly feel "in" the saddle. the pommel area is high and when i post, i feel like i'm bumping it all the time. could that be a bad sign, or again, just getting used to. w/ the wade saddle, there seemed to be more "room"

really appreciate everyones help and opinions. it takes a villiage... ya know? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Weebonilass]

I will add this too scouts post I am having a saddle built by LJ Saddlery and I can say this allot of the custom saddles need one on one with the saddle maker. By this I mean getting my saddle built for me was way more difficult that getting fit for a suit but I liked that john was so detailed about every measurement about my body type and the types of horses I usually ride. Most not all custom saddles are one on one some are just mail orders that you piece your parts together and then it gets sent off to some random guy in that particular saddle shop.


BuckarooMan,

This is why I decided that I was destine to have a Henderson saddle (who were trained by the Frecklers). I was having a next impossible time fitting my horse, was almost to the point of buying a flex panel when I realized the used saddle was as expensive as going with the Henderson. I was a little concern about fit since he's such a unique shape, then found out that one of the Hendersons will be at a clinic I'll be attending for saddle questions.... perfect.. esp the timing.. my name is due to come up on the list sometime the end of July and Mr Henderson would be here the first of July. He can take the measurements, go home and it'll just be about time for them to build the saddle. No way for me to screw it up :)

Oh and he's 11, so shouldn't do much changing... just a wider and taller than normal Arab, who is still short backed.

[FrancaV]

I was a little concern about fit since he's such a unique shape, then found out that one of the Hendersons will be at a clinic I'll be attending for saddle questions.... perfect.. esp the timing.. my name is due to come up on the list sometime the end of July and Mr Henderson would be here the first of July. He can take the measurements, go home and it'll just be about time for them to build the saddle. No way for me to screw it upThat should work out great, Ginger! Always good to have the saddlemaker see the horse and take the measurements when possible, but so often it isn't. Lucky you!

[AWSpinks]

scott had latigo on both sides to adjust the cinch b/c he is always riding diff. horses. he said he had taken one off to use on another saddle. so, i will have to have the latigo moved to the other side, or just get another. also, if i do use the rear cinch, i will have to get it repaired. the "thing?" that you can hobble the rear to the frount. it is broken. i kinda rigged it for the pic's w/ a piece of bale twine. but, like i mentioned, i've just taken it off all together.

I am pretty late in getting in on this but here it goes any way.

First of all did you buy this saddle? If not DON'T tell Red and tell me because I will!

I think the saddle could go a little further forward on your horse. I think you were right in taking the back cinch off. The way that saddle is rigged you won't need it. All those things are good for is getting in a horses way.

I too ride with latigos on both sides. Much easier for adjustment. It only makes sense.

The only thing I would add to the saddle is a breast collar that attaches through the swells. However if the saddle stays put and doesn't slide back I would even bother with that. However you will find that on some horses it is a necessary evil.

On your fenders it may be that you don't have them pulled all the way up. Grab the stirrup leather (the underside that is 3" or so wide) and pull down while "pushing" the fender up.

Wes

[tahoespirit]

thank you very much wes. i appreciate your info. i'm still "working" on getting used to this saddle. i've ordered a pair of 3" bell bottom monels from trina weber from the advice of buckarooman. they will be arriving this week she advised me. very excited about that.

so, in my situation, i don't rope. if i do start doing more than sorting, i would prob. be interested in doing groundwork. (everyone tells me i'm crazy, but i think it looks fun) it's not necessary to have a wade tree saddle right? i think "i" fit in the saddle pretty good. and i think it fit's spirit pretty good. so, i'm leaning towards buying it. i will be making p/ments on it. whew, it's a bunch of money.

from your opinion, you seem to like it, if later on, i decided to sell it, sounds like i might not have any problem. is that kinda what you think?

the maker, bob marrs, seems to have good credentials. i guess he's a pretty well liked saddlemaker.

don't know why i'm hemming and hawing on this. i guess i'm so used to my english saddle and my old wintec, plastic saddle, it's pretty different w/ this one. it's solid as a rock. i feel like i'm getting strapped in to a ride at six flags. lol!!!! good thing. i feel pretty secure in it. i have a private lesson, a workshop and clinic w/ scott, the saddle owner, and my trainer, (www.sbarjranch.com) this coming weekend. so, i'm excited for him to see me ride in it and tell me what he thinks too.

[AWSpinks]

I have a friend that has a couple of Bob Marrs saddles that belonged to his father in law. They are very nice saddles.

A person never NEEDS a Wade tree saddle. What you need is a well built saddle that fits a variety of horses and suits you. I have seen plenty of junk built on all sorts of styles of trees. I have ridden several Assoc. style trees and liked them just fine.

Something you might consider however is you might want to try other saddles. This would give you an idea of what suits you. If the saddle is too heavy there are well built, strong saddles that are built to be lighter.

I don't ride english but my wife has shown huntseat for a number of years. She says a good western saddle will remind her of a good english saddle in the way it lets her feel the horse.