| Buying the wrong western saddle is a very
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| | this deal - your horse. If the saddle
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| common occurrence in the western riding
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| | doesn't fit your horse well, than the
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| world. It's also a very expensive
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| | rest doesn't matter. Make sure you
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| learning experience. You can skip this
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| | understand the basics of horse fit and
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| painful lesson by avoiding the top seven
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| | determine beforehand whether the saddle
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| western saddle buying mistakes.
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| | will be a good fit for your horse.
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| 1. Buying Pretty - While we'd all like a
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| | 6. Buying One-Size-Fits-All - While you
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| nice looking saddle, letting looks drive
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| | shouldn't need a different saddle for
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| your buying decision is asking for
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| | every horse you ride, one saddle will not
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| trouble. The quality of the saddle
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| | fit every horse you run across. The best
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| materials and the construction are far
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| | approach is to choose a saddle that will
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| more important than the look of a saddle.
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| | fit the basic physical type of horse that
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| A poorly made saddle can look awfully
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| | you'll ride. For instance, I ride Quarter
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| pretty, especially to the uninitiated.
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| | Horses that are on the smaller size. I
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| Don't fall for this one.
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| | have a saddle that will fit most horses
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| 2. Buying Image - Have dreams of riding
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| | of this type. If you ride more than one
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| the range and working the cattle drive?
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| | type of horse, you'll need multiple
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| Or maybe riding to an NFR championship
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| | saddles.
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| buckle in barrel racing? While the cowboy
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| | 7. Buying Brand (or Endorsement) - This
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| and cowgirl dreams and imagery can be
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| | one is a little trickier. Buying a
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| strong and enticing, don't let those
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| | well-established brand is not a bad idea.
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| images determine your saddle choice.
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| | You just need to be aware that a number
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| Choose a saddle type that fits the actual
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| | of saddle brands have been around a long
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| type of riding that you'll be doing.
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| | time and the quality of their saddles
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| 3. Buying Cheap - Cheap saddles are not a
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| | have varied significantly over time. The
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| bargain. Poor quality materials and
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| | quality can also vary over their current
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| construction will shorten saddle life,
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| | product lines. Never just blindly buy by
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| and, more importantly, will cause
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| | brand without thoroughly inspecting the
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| discomfort and impair movement in your
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| | quality of the saddle in consideration.
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| horse. If you can't afford at least a
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| | Additionally, celebrity endorsement can
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| middle-of-the-road new saddle ($500 and
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| | seem like a stamp of approval, but it
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| up), then buying used is a great
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| | really doesn't mean more than that the
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| solution. Quality saddles last a long
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| | celebrity is receiving payment for use of
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| time, making buying a "pre-owned" saddle
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| | his or her name. Very few celebrities
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| a smart buy.
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| | have any input into the design and
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| 4. Buying Dumb - You need to educate
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| | construction of the saddles bearing their
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| yourself on some saddle basics before
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| | name.
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| buying. Ride in as many different saddles
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| | Many riders have a tack room full of
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| as you can. Talk to all the horse people
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| | saddles that didn't work out. Others are
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| you know about their saddles. Pick the
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| | constantly buying and selling saddles in
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| brain of knowledgeable saddle folks. And,
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| | search of just the right one. It doesn't
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| always, before purchasing a saddle, know
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| | have to be this way. If you do your
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| the seller's tryout and return policies.
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| | homework beforehand to truly understand
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| 5. Buying Selfish - You found a saddle
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| | your horse's and your own needs, you can
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| that's high quality, pretty, and fits you
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| | purchase the one saddle that will be a
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| well. You're all set right? Wrong. You're
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| | match for you, your horse, and your
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| forgetting one very important partner in
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| | riding activities.
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