Tex Tan
Trail/All-Around
Trail Saddles
Manufacturer: Tex Tan
Model: Trail/All-Around
Category: Trail Saddles
Purchase: This is a Tex Tan Tex-Flex trail saddle Semi-bars, 15" in medium-oil. Borrowed from a friend while training her Arabian gelding. She bought it from a local tack shop for around $1300 three years ago for her older high-withered Arabian mare.
Likes: It is very good-looking saddle, and fits the horses, who are a mother and son pair with substantial withers, broad shoulders, and wide flat backs, very well. There was no rolling or shifting while mounting and the horses seem relaxed and comfortable with it.
It is fairly comfortable to sit in, and there is enough saddle around you without getting in your way.
Dislikes: The flex wasn't that great, and very minimal. When tested off the horse, it takes a lot of strength to even see the flex make it to a few millimeters.
The saddle seemed overly wide and the leather was almost too smooth. When I was riding in it, I felt like I was popping out of the saddle every time I tried to shock-absorb/balance with my thighs. I also didn't feel much in the way of contact with the horse's sides, and I couldn't get my leg underneath me- it kept swinging forward, even while walking. I know some riders like to get their legs out in front of them, but I have a high basis in horsemanship and dressage, so I prefer to kept my leg back.
Quality: Very good quality leather, silver and colour. Despite the flex tree not flexing as much as I would like to see, it is a well-made tree as saddle trees go. Certainly a pretty enough saddle to show at open local shows in, and comfortable enough for long, slow trail rides.
Maybe a little expensive, but worth it if it fits.
Summary: Not so flexible and a bit wide and slippery through the jockeys, but overall a really nice saddle. Not my personal choice, but would be good for intermediate-beginner riders who are not as picky about close contact with the horse and want a good quality saddle to show locally or ride in.
Rating: 4
Author: Sarah from MacFarlane Show Horses
Date: 2007-03-03
Usefulness Rating: 3.17857 out of 5.
28 reader(s) voted.
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