I am very impressed with your saddle.

I received the saddle last night and have taken photos of various angles for you to see.  The saddle is so different from anything I have ever ridden in!  It puts me in a completely different seat and I feel so much more balanced.  It took me by surprise when my horse first moved out and I could literally feel his muscles under me.  The saddle makes me so much more aware of how I am moving with my horse instead of just sitting plopped on a giant western saddle, unaware and unable to really feel contact with my horse.  I will most definitely be ordering one from you, but I want to take it to my next lesson and be sure it is fitting properly.  My only question with the fit is if the flare on the bars is correct for Trooper.  He is narrow, but then flares wide.  Most regular bars are too narrowly flared and pinch him close to the shoulder.  The wide QH bars are too wide at the top and put pressure on his withers, but the flare is better by the shoulder.  Can you tell by the picture if the gullet and bar width is sitting on him properly?  Is there a way I can check or test for it?

I am very impressed with this trail saddle.  Your craftsmanship is beautiful and the quality is obvious.

Thank you so much, Blessings, DeeAnn McKeithan

Merry Christmas Steele

So far the Steele saddle has fit all three of my geldings, I have ridden in it as much as I can with this horrible winter weather.   My Buckskin is a Paso/Morgan Cross, not gaited.  I like the Steele addle on him as well.

Three of my friends are also purchasing Plantation Steele saddles after trying mine out on their horses!    It has been so cold I haven’t had a chance to look again and try and find another serial number.
Laura in West Virginia

This is the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden

I received my Steele saddle on 9/5/11.  It’s been 7 weeks since receiving it in early September and I have ridden just about every day since.  I want to thank you for taking the time to send the tree to me on several occasions to get the fit just right.  The end result is a very light weight trail saddle that fits my horse and me perfectly.  I think that is quite an accomplishment considering my horse is approximately 16.3 – 17 hands barefooted and weighs about 1300 lbs. (maybe a little more).  I trail ride and challenge him with anything and everything that comes our way.  I originally wanted to purchase one of your Steele saddles in part due to the light weight so I would be able to lift it up on my horse as I get older (currently 67).  What I have discovered is not only will I be able to saddle my horse for many years to come but I will also be in the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden.

Thank you,  Frank Johnson

P.S.  We plan to purchase a Steele Saddle for my wife.

“If it weren’t for Steele I wouldn’t be riding

In April of 2009 I broke my left femur just below the hip and as a result I was left with a rod in my leg. Before the accident I trail rode for hours at a time, but afterward, the new hardware and the scar tissue from my 5 operations made it too painful to sit in the saddle for more than an hour. I was riding a Tucker and thought if any saddle would enable me to ride comfortably, it would be the Tucker. I had decided that I would have to give up the hobby I love…then my friend introduced me to the Steele Saddle.

I sent for a loaner trail saddle and from the first ride I knew this was the answer. Because of the limitations in the flexibility of my hip, and the rod in my leg, my Tucker saddle made my leg and pelvis uncomfortable. The Steele saddle keeps my pelvis straight and allows my legs to ride forward rather than straight down. By keeping my weight off my pin bones, and by forcing me into the “pocket”, not only am I more comfortable, but I am more secure in the saddle. No matter how my horse moves, I remain comfortably seated.

We consulted with Eric, sent him photos and after gaining his input I ordered my Steele custom saddle and I could not be happier. I can now ride comfortably for hours on end.
I encourage everyone, especially anyone who has given up riding or is limited because of a hip, back or leg injury to try a Steele Saddle.
You will love it and your horse will thank you!”  Lena Cook

I never write these types of letters, but

I never write these type of letters, and can hardly believe I’m writing this about a saddle. My Rocky Mountain Horse has been in over 15 saddles in 4 years. WE have never found a saddle we liked: most of them don’t fit him, or me. ( I am physically challenged). I am also particular (“picky”) about saddle leather quality and workmanship. I’ve lost hundreds of dollars on saddles.

My Rocky was started by an unscrupulous trainer right after I bought him as a 3 year-old. As a result, he’s very sensitive and still reacts fearful to discomfort or horses too close to his behind. Finding a trail saddle that he can actually deal with has been a challenge. I finally put him in a popular treeless saddle, which he could handle, though it caused numerous issues for me. I couldn’t get on him unless I stood on something tall, like a picnic table, we dealt with the saddle not staying put (which required a special $ 345 saddle pad), but even then the saddle would not stay 100% centered because of my physical issues and lack of staying perfectly balanced in the saddle. Eventually I got terrible back aches from this, not to mention that he has the most uncomfortable gait. No “ride the glide” in this horse.

On our last major trail ride, my husband took pictures and there were about 5-6 pictures he took riding behind me. I was surprised too see that in every picture I was leaning slightly to the left or right. So my saddle quest started again.

I’ve always heard about your trail saddles, and since you have the BEST demo program, I thought well, Why not try a Steele saddle?

I called on a Wednesday and had a Demo by Friday! Just in time for a big trail ride. I tacked up Whiskey and waited for the usual frown lines, ear pinning, tail swooshing, his usual reaction to most saddles. (Many saddles  fail at this stage), but he was calm. So I got on him, with my husband holding his bridle, because by this time, I can expect the head to go up and a fear reaction. But Whiskey just looked bored, so we rode around the yard and he was fine. Took him out on the trail that day, and he was the most content and “happiest” I’ve seen him under saddle.  After the second trail ride, I placed my order.

Yesterday was our 3rd ride out in this saddle. (we ride a lot). We were out with friends on gaited horses, and for the first time ever, I got Whiskey up into the finest, smoothest, fastest gait ! He was like a train, with perfect collection and just going and going. It was amazing. This horse is 7 years old and I had given up on him ever gaiting well. I nearly cried from joy.

Other benefits have been my friends commenting how straight I ride, no more back aches for me, and my horse actually being fine with horses behind him, even ones that bump him from behind. I figure that maybe he was associating any saddle pain with the horses behind him, though I’m not sure how to explain that part.

All in all I really love everything about your trail saddles, both my horse and I are 100% content which is really a miracle. My husband didn’t even flinch at the price since I promised him this is the last saddle I’ll ever buy.

Thanks a million. Anne-Marie Florida

I love my Plantation Saddle

I love my Plantation Saddle that I got almost 4 years ago.  It just gets more comfortable and my horse loves it. Never a saddle sore or any back problems. AND it looks great!

Thanks Mary Figueras