Sycamore Creek Saddles
TAF001 D
Trail Saddles
Manufacturer: Sycamore Creek Saddles
Model: TAF001 D
Category: Trail Saddles
Purchase: After buying my awesome Rocky Mountain Horse, I found I needed a different saddle for him for both comfort, performance, and one that would encourage him to gait. Gaited horses generally need shorter bars on the saddle to allow shoulder freedom, so I searched online and found SycamoreCreekSaddles.com. I loved the styles and the price, for a custom made to fit all leather saddle, was $590.
Likes: The saddle is gorgeous! Hand made in Columbia, it rivals the quality of expensive saddles I've ridden. It's got memory foam for both my seat and the horses' back, and the fit is unbelievable.
The swell at the pommel really gives you a bucket seat style feeling - very secure. The stirrups are very comfortable and my heels are having an easier time finding their right position!
I have also noticed my horse getting used to having more freedom to move, and his walk has loosened up - with a little more time I believe we'll be gaiting all over the trails. =)
It's so nice I may look into having a non-gaited one made for my Standardbred mix. That quality for the price is really unbelievable.
Dislikes: The hardest thing about this was the style of rigging - which is a Y formation between two rings on the saddle. However, after a quick talk with Tony, the saddle maker representative, I changed it to staying tied on the front ring, a 2nd loop around it, and tying off on the back ring. This enables me to tighten on trail and not have the girth slip backward.
An easy and free fix! So it's really not a dislike. =)
Quality: Soft supple leather over a custom tree, padded with memory foam (no, i haven't tried riding with a wine glass on the saddle, but it's crossed my mind), and very unique thick metal stirrups that are very comfortable. The stirrup leather goes around the flap of the saddle, so it raises the entire side up for rigging when you flip it over the seat.
Came with a crupper - added inspiration to attack serious mountain trails!
Summary: After figuring out the saddle sits differently than a normal horses' saddle would, and figuring out my rigging technique, I would say this saddle is without a doubt the nicest I have ridden. Equal to a high end dressage saddle but with more security for the trails. I would recommend this to everyone!
Rating: 5
Author: Robin Coleman
Date: 2010-02-10
Usefulness Rating: 3.54167 out of 5.
24 reader(s) voted.
Other Reviews You May Find Interesting
Circle Y Just B Natural Treeless Saddle Trail Saddles
Circle P Leather All-Around Saddle Trail Saddles
Dixieland Gaited Saddles 1 Butterfly/1 Endurance Trail Saddles
Dixieland Gaited Saddles English Plantation Trail Saddles
Allegany Mountain Trail Saddles Cascade Wade with gear Trail Saddles
Big Horn Cordura Trail Saddles
Freedom Saddle/Casa Dosa Freedom West Saddle Trail Saddles
James Saddlery Champion Cox Poley Australian Stock Saddle Trail Saddles
Imus 4 Beat Endurance with Fenders Trail Saddles
Fabtron 7152-F (B-Full QH Bars) Trail Saddles
Dixieland Endurance round skirt w/ horn flex tree Trail Saddles
Dixieland Gaited Saddles Light Rider Saddle Trail Saddles
JT international/ king series saddles old timer....but all apply Trail Saddles
Down Under Saddle Supply Kimberley Synthetic Stock SAD 280 Trail Saddles
Jay Bauman Buena Vista Trail Saddles
Abetta Round Skirt Trail Trail Saddles
Fabtron Cross Trail 7752S Trail Saddles
High Horse by Circle Y El Campo Gaited Trail Saddles
Buffalo 3458 western trail/pleasure saddle Trail Saddles
Dixieland gaited saddles The lite rider Trail Saddles
