American Saddlery
Ekto Five
Barrel Saddles
Manufacturer: American Saddlery
Model: Ekto Five
Category: Barrel Saddles
Purchase: I bought this saddle from tacksouth.com for $478.
Likes: This was my first barrel saddle since I was just beginning to barrel race and I didn't quite want to dump $2,500 into a saddle I wasn't sure I was going to use a lot yet. It was comfortable from day one and I like how you sit in the saddle and not pitched forward like some barrel saddles. It has held up incredibly well for such an inexpensive saddle and still looks nice. I recommend the swept back swells like this saddle has for the beginner barrel racer. They help keep you where you need to be when you're just starting out. I would rather go to a saddle without them now since I have become a better rider, but they are good for the beginner, I think.
Dislikes: I wish the saddle would have come with aluminum stirrups as these stirrups are slippery and I have lost them in the middle of a run. It is also difficult to get the stirrups to develop a henley twist which I wish the saddle had just came with originally. I have done a lot of soaking, oiling and broom handling and they still lie flat! That can be annoying.
Quality: The saddle came very dry. I had to do A LOT of oiling to make it look like real leather. Face it, you buy a cheaper saddle and the leather will not be great. However, I believe the saddle and the leather hold up very well to wear.
Summary: For the money, I think this saddle is adequate bang for your buck. I think this saddle is ideal for the beginning barrel racer. I will now be trading up for a Martin saddle (since I'm now convinced that this is something I will be doing a lot of) but if you're just starting out and not sure if you want to spend $2,500 on a new saddle yet, then this is the saddle for you. It will carry you well and hold up to all your new training and hours of practice.
Rating: 5
Author: Sheena
Date: 2007-11-12
Usefulness Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
2 reader(s) voted.
Other Reviews You May Find Interesting
Hilason HSTO517-15Western Treeless Square Skirt Saddle With Floral Carving Tan Barrel Saddles
Frontier Saddlery Barrel Saddle Barrel Saddles
Simco Longhorn Seminol Wind Racer 72230 Barrel Saddles
Hilason Western Flex-Tree Square Skirt Saddle with Floral Carving Dark Tan Barrel Saddles
Hilason Saddlery Inc. HSTO - Saddle Barrel Saddles
Simco Seminole Wind Barrel Saddles
Hilason Western Flex-Tree Round Skirt Saddle Barrel Saddles
Hilason Treeless Western Barrel Saddles
Hilason Saddlery New Treeless Saddles Barrel Saddles
Hilason Western Barrel Racing Saddle Barrel Saddles
Hilason Treeless Barrel Saddle Barrel Saddles
Cactus Saddlery Charmayne James Barrel Saddles
Pro Rider Custom Barrel Saddle Barrel Saddles
Rocking 'R' 16.5" model 375 / 376 Barrel Saddles
Rider's Choice GW Crate Bear Trap Barrel Saddle Barrel Saddles
Sugar River Western Saddles and Horse Tack Sugar River Barrel Rough-Out SR-B5 Barrel Saddles
Alamo Saddlery Colonial Tooled Barrel Saddle Barrel Saddles
Circle Y Proven Barrel Saddles
Cactus Charmayne James Barrel Saddles
Circle Y Bob Marshall Barrel Saddles
