As I was getting ready to begin my ride from California to Texas, I knew I would need a special saddle. I have a lot of trouble with my left knee which has been broken twice and with my right leg which was broken two years ago. I needed to find a saddle that had a free swinging fender to allow a full range of motion for my legs. I found it in the Steele Mountaineer. It is an endurance saddle and mine was in the western style. It was also a concern that I was riding a Quarter Horse with low withers and a wide back. This saddle was perfect. I had full contact with my horse because there is not a lot of heavy skirting as on my western saddle. In combination with a saddle pad that had full side silicone gel inserts, it was a fabulous fit on my horse. I never had a single minute of pain in my legs, even after grueling 25 mile days in extremely rugged terrain. My horse was never sore backed from the saddle. It has a deep seat and more than enough dee rings to attach additional gear. The saddle stayed in place no matter how steep the trail was up or down. It is the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden, bar none. Steele saddles come in a variety of styles, both English and Western style. They have something to fit every need. I recommend them highly.  – Andi