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[bigdogmomjc]

Hi there,
I am looking for a western/trail saddle for my Icelandic, who is very round and mutton-withered.  I have read a lot about Crest Ridge saddles and would love to find one of the ultra-light models.  I need a 15 or 16 inch seat, short & round skirting, and the ring in the middle back of the skirting to attach a crupper to.  I currently ride in a Stubben English saddle and would like something I don't mind putting a lot of trail miles on, especially if I am caught in the rain, etc.   Please let me know if you have anything that might work.  Thanks!

[GalOnFire!]

The one I have for sale isn't an ultra-lite, but it is a lite.  EW tree.  Beautiful, practically brand new.  You can find it in the swap section.  If you send me a private message with your email, I would be happy to send you more pictures.

Kevie

[generallee]

I also have a saddle for sale that would work for your horse, its less than 20lbs, It is listed on Moss Rock Endurance, the custom  synergist saddle, I can email you more pictures if interested. 22" in length. 15" seat, comes with synergist sheepskin saddle pad and 28" mohair montana cincha.

[Iceangel]

Having 3 Icelandics you can not just buy any saddle that is wide and short backed. There is so much more to it.  If you are going the Crestridge route get Debra to do a fitting. The other saddle that I use is the Crates Meleta Brown Trail saddle and it has worked on Lukka for 6 years. It did not fit my other to wider backed and needing more rock Iceys.  The Meleta Brown is for a flat backed horse. A used Meleta is almost impossible to find.  You could also try some of the Abetta short backed wides. But get a saddle fitter to check them.  It took my 4 years to find saddles that fit my girls. Good Luck!  Btw, I am one of the very few that ride their Iceys in western saddles!!  Welcome to the very small group!!!

[Rmhorse]

Icelandics are very hard to fit. A lot of people use Treeless saddles on them, especially Sensation Saddles and EZ Fit saddles. I have an extremely hard to fit Rocky, and the only saddles that fit him are the Treeless saddles with no hard pommel. I ride him in a Sensation Hybrid and the other one that fit was a Rebecca Treeless Saddle, which are impossible to find. Both EZ Fit and Sensation have an excellent Demo program, where you can try them out for a good trial period.

I've tried or owned over 30 saddles on my horse!

[bigdogmomjc]

Having 3 Icelandics you can not just buy any saddle that is wide and short backed. There is so much more to it.  If you are going the Crestridge route get Debra to do a fitting. The other saddle that I use is the Crates Meleta Brown Trail saddle and it has worked on Lukka for 6 years. It did not fit my other to wider backed and needing more rock Iceys.  The Meleta Brown is for a flat backed horse. A used Meleta is almost impossible to find.  You could also try some of the Abetta short backed wides. But get a saddle fitter to check them.  It took my 4 years to find saddles that fit my girls. Good Luck!  Btw, I am one of the very few that ride their Iceys in western saddles!!  Welcome to the very small group!!!

Hi Iceangel - thank you for the advice!  I had a saddle custom made for my other horse (not an Icelandic) after trying a number of different saddles, and I do know it's best to have a custom saddle for a tricky-to-fit horse.   I ordered my last saddle from Dixieland and absolutely love it, but they don't make a really light model.  I was just hoping not to have to spend $1000+ this time around, but I also don't want something that won't work.  I would love to see your Icey in a western saddle!  Do you have pictures posted anywhere?

[Iceangel]

I will have to look for one.  I have lots with me in the saddle but may have to take one of her with just the saddle.

[bigdogmomjc]

The one I have for sale isn't an ultra-lite, but it is a lite.  EW tree.  Beautiful, practically brand new.  You can find it in the swap section.  If you send me a private message with your email, I would be happy to send you more pictures.

Kevie

Very nice saddle!  I think I am figuring out that I better go with a treeless or custom saddle.....or at least get the fitting measurements and see if someone can help me figure out what would fit my Icelandic.   Thank you for answering my post!  If I can figure out what he needs and yours seems like a good fit, I will get back to you.

[bigdogmomjc]

I also have a saddle for sale that would work for your horse, its less than 20lbs, It is listed on Moss Rock Endurance, the custom  synergist saddle, I can email you more pictures if interested. 22" in length. 15" seat, comes with synergist sheepskin saddle pad and 28" mohair montana cincha.

I couldn't find it on the Moss Rock site....did you sell it already?  Thank you for replying to my post.  I think I need to go with a custom or treeless.

[bigdogmomjc]

Icelandics are very hard to fit. A lot of people use Treeless saddles on them, especially Sensation Saddles and EZ Fit saddles. I have an extremely hard to fit Rocky, and the only saddles that fit him are the Treeless saddles with no hard pommel. I ride him in a Sensation Hybrid and the other one that fit was a Rebecca Treeless Saddle, which are impossible to find. Both EZ Fit and Sensation have an excellent Demo program, where you can try them out for a good trial period.

I've tried or owned over 30 saddles on my horse!

Thank you Rmhorse.  I have to admit I am getting overwhelmed trying to figure out what kind of a saddle to get......sounds like I need to save up and go for something custom or a really nice treeless.  I would definitely want to try out a treeless before I buy one.

[Iceangel]

Here is Lukka with her Crates Meleta Brown saddle. I have used it on her for 5 yrs and she has never told me it hurts like she did with earlier saddles.  Had 3 saddle fitters say it fit good 5 yrs ago and had one recheck the fit this summer.  She gaits in it beautifully! I was a little concerned in the length but the tree does flare up in the back.

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[Pamela N.]

I have an Icelandic whose gullet size is 8 1/2 inches.  Normally I ride him in an English saddle but I always wanted a Western saddle for him.  I must have tried 30 or more Western saddles and spent $100s on shipping for trial saddles.  Finally, I went with a custom tree western saddle--acually a plantation style.  It fits him beautifully.

I tried an Allegheny Mountain Trail saddle (AW tree) and loved the fit for me.  This saddle just about fit Blessi--it was just a shade too small through the gullet but this style saddle fits some Icelandics.  And I wish I had tride the Crest Ridge saddle series.

Good luck in you saddle search!
Regards, Pamela N.

[bigdogmomjc]

Here is Lukka with her Crates Meleta Brown saddle. I have used it on her for 5 yrs and she has never told me it hurts like she did with earlier saddles.  Had 3 saddle fitters say it fit good 5 yrs ago and had one recheck the fit this summer.  She gaits in it beautifully! I was a little concerned in the length but the tree does flare up in the back.

Oh my gosh - so cute!!!!  That saddle looks great!  Is it a specific tree size?

[bigdogmomjc]

I have an Icelandic whose gullet size is 8 1/2 inches.  Normally I ride him in an English saddle but I always wanted a Western saddle for him.  I must have tried 30 or more Western saddles and spent $100s on shipping for trial saddles.  Finally, I went with a custom tree western saddle--acually a plantation style.  It fits him beautifully.

I tried an Allegheny Mountain Trail saddle (AW tree) and loved the fit for me.  This saddle just about fit Blessi--it was just a shade too small through the gullet but this style saddle fits some Icelandics.  And I wish I had tride the Crest Ridge saddle series.

Good luck in you saddle search!
Regards, Pamela N.

What brand saddle did you end up getting?

[generallee]

Sorry I did not reply sooner, first chance I had to sit down with my computer. I just checked the Moss Rock Endurance site, my saddle is the 14th one down from the top. Good luck with a saddle, there are so many nice saddle brands out there right now, its so hard to choose. I also looked into treeless, and narrowed it down, Abby from Saddling Soultions was fantastic to talk to, her knowledge on treeless saddles is amazing. If I went treeless, I was going to try the startrek western saddle, that was the best choice for my fat, short backed, huge shoulder TWH!