10 Most Popular Saddles of 2013: #1

This post is part of a series exploring the 10 most popular saddles from Horse Saddle Shop over the first half of 2013.

#1: Fabtron Lady Flex Tree Trail Saddle 7152 | Price: $699.95

We have seen a lot of great saddles over the past few weeks - from ranch, to barrel, to different styles of trail saddles. But over the past few years, nothing has come close to touching the popularity of the Fabtron Lady Flex Tree Trail Saddle. Coming in at #1 on our list of Most Popular Saddles of 2013, let's explore what makes this saddle so desirable.

If you are having a deja vu moment, you're not alone. Our #3 most popular saddle was the Fabtron Lady Trail. What's the difference? The Lady Flex Trail is built on a Ralide Flex Tree which allows your horse a little more freedom of movement underneath the saddle.

The Flex Tree has a couple other advantages. It is very light weight (one reason this saddle weighs so little), it's durable, and it can be manufactured to exact specifications every single time. We also like that there aren't any joints on this flex tree. It's one solid piece so there won't be any loose joints or weak points to worry about like a typical wood tree.

Another key feature of the Fabtron Lady saddles is the narrow twist designed with the female configuration in mind. This means the front of the seat is going to be a little more narrow for a more comfortable ride - especially noticeable after a long day of riding.

Other things we like about this saddle include its versatility. It can be made in a 15", 16", or 17" seat and special ordered with youth fenders to match the configuration of any rider.

The padded sued seat and 5" tall cantle with cheyenne roll will keep you secure in the saddle, while the long saddle strings will keep your gear nice and secure all day long.

A Ralide tree, Cordura material, and short 24" skirt helps to keep the weight down. Weighing in at only 21 pounds, this saddle is manageable for any rider.

Don't let the price fool you, this is not a "cheap" saddle. Fabtron is made in the USA with high quality leather and Cordura materials.

If you check this saddle out at www.HorseSaddleShop.com, you'll notice that we include a FREE Trail Riding Package with this saddle. The Trail Package includes a leather breast collar, leather brow band headstall, and leather split reins. So if you already have a nice saddle pad, you're ready to ride.

You can get more information on this saddle including a video review, over at HorseSaddleShop.com.

10 Most Popular Saddles of 2013: #3

This post is part of a series exploring the 10 most popular saddles from Horse Saddle Shop over the first half of 2013.

#3: Fabtron 'Lady Trail' 7152  | Price: $592.50

A saddle made with the female rider in mind, the Fabtron 'Lady Trail' 7152 takes our #3 spot in our Top 10 Saddles of 2013.

Now, just to be clear, this saddle isn't exclusively for a woman. But it is designed with features that appeal to a smaller rider.

Beginning with the weight, those that sometimes struggle to tack up or lug a large saddle around will appreciate the meager 22 pounds of the Fabtron Lady Trail. A short 24" Cordura skirt and fenders mixed with the American made leather jockey, pommel, and cantle make for a weight saving design. The Cordura fabric is exceptionally durable and resilient to wear.

The seat comes in an extra padded, rough-out design, available in 15", 16", or 17". Not only will you enjoy the extra padding on long trail rides, but the tall 5" cantle with cheyenne roll will provide exceptional back support all day long.

We like the long saddle strings for extra gear on the trail, but beyond that, you won't find too many other frills on this saddle. Not to worry though, for the price, you can always add a couple conchos or some silver to make it your own.

If you've ever sat in a synthetic saddle in person, many times they can be completely underwhelming. Not only are they synthetic, but they are made cheaply overseas. Not something that we would ever consider selling to our customers.

But this American made Fabtron is different. You'll be overwhelmed by the quality of the leather and craftsmanship of the saddle. Just read the reviews and see what our customers are saying. This saddle exceeds expectations every time.

When you buy the Fabtron Lady Trail, you're buying a saddle that will last years on the trail, and keep both horse and rider comfortable while doing it. All without breaking the bank.

You can get more information on this saddle over at HorseSaddleShop.com.

10 Most Popular Saddles of 2013: #4

This post is part of a series exploring the 10 most popular saddles from Horse Saddle Shop over the first half of 2013.

#4: Fabtron Haflinger Saddle 7186 | Price: $675.00

If you're a Haflinger or draft horse owner, I'm sure you've felt the squeeze when looking for a saddle. There isn't as much demand for an extra wide saddle as there is for something like an American Quarter Horse. Hence a drastically smaller selection of Haflinger and draft saddles.

That's why we have worked directly with Fabtron to bring you this Fabtron Haflinger Trail Saddle 7186, coming in at #4 on our list of Top 10 saddles for 2013.

In years past, we began to notice a trend of customers needing an extra wide saddle for a short backed horse. Makes sense, right? Well nobody made one! So we took our best selling Haflinger saddle, the Fabtron 7182, and worked directly with Fabtron to design the saddle YOU wanted. The result was the 7186. Now one of our top selling saddles and something you will only find at Horse Saddle Shop.

The shorter skirt allows your Haflinger freedom of movement without interfering with his hips. It also cuts down on the weight of this saddle coming in at only 22lbs! The weight of a cordura saddle is one of its best features. You'll really notice and appreciate it when tacking up a Haflinger or draft horse. A few less pounds to lift above your head is always a welcome improvement.

This saddle doesn't come with a lot of bling or detailed tooling. Just a simple, quality made saddle designed to get the job done.

It's short, it's light, and it doesn't break the bank. That's what has propelled this saddle to the #4 position in 2013.

You can get more information on this saddle at HorseSaddleShop.com.