Used Western Saddles

Arabian Style western

16" Hand Made Arabian Style Western Saddle by Circle S $495.00

16" Hand Made Arabian Style Western Saddle by Circle S $495.00

Are these different classes, or could these two horses compete against each other?

I'm interested in hunt seat (on the flat), and I was wondering how a good hunt seat horse should look/move/ carry himself. Looking around on the web, there seem to be two distinct different hunt seat styles. At first, I thought one (moving like a western pleasure horse with a low headset) was for stock horses, and one (more high stepping, high..almost Arabian-like headset) was for others, but my horse (a paint) at it turns out was shown looking like the first picture, so now I'm just confused! Are these two separate classes?

Depends what your showing...
• If your showing an arab youd have the high headset like the first picture.

• if your showing on the AQHA circuit you'd want a nice low headset (almost western) like the second pic.

• if your showing warmbloods (ie. trillium) youd want something in between, like framing but not high nor low.

as for movement, there gaits should be ground covering, flowy movement, but not high stepping (want to make it look easy). they should be well turned out with braided mane and tail

and finaly, yes these two could compete against each other as long as its not a breed class (specifique breeds). Ive competed on an arab with a bunch of quarter horses at a local show but if you were to do that youd want to make them look like this:

http://www.equineformsinc.com/images/02chestmare.gif

hope this helps!

16" Hand Made Arabian Style Western Saddle by Circle S $495.00

16" Hand Made Arabian Style Western Saddle by Circle S $495.00

Arabian Horse Quadrille - english and western style mixed

What are the costs of these things?

Okay, I have a few questions. I want a horse really badly. But I want to know the costs of some of the things. I know they're expensive, but I want a close to exact answer. (I want to ride English style, not Western)
1. What do you think of these breeds? Irish Hunter or Arabian? I'm not a super experienced rider, so give me suggestions if either of these aren't that good for beginners.
2. What about the cost of English tack? Saddle, bridle, etc.
3. What is the cost of vet bills, farriers and things like that.
4. The cost of food?
5.And lastly, where can I buy or lease a horse in Nebraska? Or somewhere in the area?

1. neither of those breeds are good for beginners. most arabians tend to be so jumpy and alert. my half arabian mare is green and spooks alot, and even though i'm an advanced rider, she stills jumps so far to the side that i fall right off. If you get a horse that is "too much horse" as a beginner, it can really ruin your confidence. On the other hand, arabians and irish hunters are very athletic and smart, so if you find a sound, older (teens), quiet one, go for it!
2. A good saddle will be around $600, more or less, and i'm getting a good bridle from my tack shop for $50, but normally they're around $100, $30-$50 for the girth (don't get synthetic, it doesn't breathe and can give a horse a rash). Halters are about $20, all the brushes, etc. will be about $50, plus $50 for the farrier every 8 weeks (that's just for a trim, not shoes), board, grain is about $12, hay is about $5 a bale X 50 bales will last two months for a horse.
3. It's about $200 for a yearly checkup and shots for my horse, plus at least one $500- something dollar emergency vet bill per year. When my horse coliced two years ago, it was $360, when she stepped on a nail this year, it was $570, just to give you an idea. The farrier for me, for just a trim (my horse is barefoot) is $50 every eight weeks. A bag of grain is $12, hay is about $250 every two months.
Hope this helps!!