THE SADDLE FILES / MODEL REVIEW
American Saddlery Antar 915/916 review: a secure seat with divided lifting impressions
The Antar has comfortable, secure-seat accounts from Arabian and Morgan owners. Its approximately 30-pound listing produced both light and heavy handling impressions, while one buyer disliked the much darker, redder finish.
In the saddle: at a glance
RIDER PRIORITIES / EQUIPMENT / OWNER EVIDENCE
KEY FEATURES
- 4-inch cantle
- 25-inch skirt
- Arabian Equi-Fit tree
- Double-C in-skirt rigging
YOUR RIDING PRIORITIES
- Consider it for
- Riders wanting a secure seat in a documented Arabian-tree configuration
- The tradeoff
- Manageable weight for one owner can still be a difficult lift for another.
- Before committing
- Confirm 915 or 916 seat size.
PROS
- Owners describe a comfortable, balanced seat.
- Some riders find the complete saddle manageable.
CONS
- The finish can look darker and redder than expected.
- The listed weight can still be a difficult lift.
Trail-saddle assessment
Research judgments · 5-point scale · Horse fit is not scored
Consistent comfortable and secure-seat descriptions.
Directly conflicting lifting impressions.
Build praise with a concrete color complaint.
No detailed equipment-use evidence.
How to read these bars
Research judgments from original owner accounts; horse fit, health effects and load approval are not scored.
1: serious shortcomings; 2: drawbacks outweigh benefits; 3: mixed experience or setup tradeoffs; 4: repeated positives with caveats; 5: strong consistent evidence without a material unresolved limitation. Not rated means evidence is insufficient. These scores are not averaged into an overall star rating.
Read the original owner accountsThe 915 and 916 are seat-size codes
The retained listing assigns 915 to the 15-inch seat and 916 to the 16-inch seat. Both sit within the same Antar Arabian family; do not count the two sizes as independent models.
| Detail | Listed configuration |
|---|---|
| 915 / 916 | 15 / 16 in seat |
| Tree | Steele fiberglass-covered Arabian Equi-Fit |
| Gullet and bars | 6½ in; Arabian bars |
| Skirt | 25 × 11½ in |
| Weight | Approximately 30 lb |
Successful breed examples are starting points, not prescriptions
The original accounts include small, round Arabians and a Morgan. One buyer reports a happier horse after previous saddles failed, but behavior alone does not diagnose the earlier problem or prove that this tree suits every similar horse.
Use finish and equipment to distinguish alternatives
The Antar has a 4-inch cantle and stainless Double-C rigging. The Austin Arabian II lists a 5-inch cantle, brass three-way plate and greater approximate weight. Those concrete differences are more useful than treating both Arabian-labeled saddles as interchangeable.
Pros & Cons Analysis
Pros
- A Morgan owner values the secure position, a small-Arabian owner reports comfort, and another buyer found a satisfactory seat after two unsuitable purchases. These experiences support a trial without establishing a breed-wide fit guarantee.
- Two owners call it light, including one using it on a short-backed Arabian. Another finds it heavy to lift. The disagreement is useful: handling must be assessed by the buyer, not inferred from an average adjective.
Cons
- One owner likes the comfort but dislikes the delivered color compared with the photograph. Request images of the actual Chestnut or Medium Oil example if color is a deciding factor.
- A satisfied owner explicitly finds the saddle heavy to lift despite managing it. That does not contradict others’ lighter impressions; rider strength, reach and mounting height differ.
Give the Antar a lifting trial as well as a fitting trial
Your next ride
The Antar is worth trying for its secure-seat feedback and documented compact proportions.
Manageable weight for one owner can still be a difficult lift for another.
American Saddlery Antar 915/916 trial notes
Use these as reminders during your trial or seller conversation.
- Confirm 915 or 916 seat size.
- Lift the complete saddle at your usual height.
- Inspect actual color and assess the horse fit.
When this recommendation changes
The Antar is worth trying for its secure-seat feedback and documented compact proportions. Confirm the correct seat code, assess the complete lift and inspect the actual finish. Arabian branding and positive breed examples do not settle an individual horse’s fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Antar light enough for every rider?
No. Two owners describe it as light, while another finds it heavy to lift. The listing says approximately 30 pounds; try the complete saddle at your normal lifting height.
Technical Specifications
| Model / scope | American Saddlery Antar 915/916 Merchant |
|---|---|
| Intended use | Western trail Merchant |
| Seat sizes | 15 in (915) or 16 in (916) Merchant |
| Seat construction | Not documented in the retained exact-model listing Merchant |
| Cantle height | 4 in Merchant |
| Tree construction | Steele fiberglass-covered Arabian Equi-Fit Merchant |
| Tree / bar options | Arabian bars Merchant |
| Published gullet width | 6½ in Merchant |
| Main materials | Leather; border tooling; Chestnut or Medium Oil Merchant |
| Rigging | Stainless Double-C in-skirt Merchant |
| Skirt length | 25 in Merchant |
| Skirt drop | 11½ in (listing labels width) Merchant |
| Swell width | 11 in Merchant |
| Horn dimensions / type | 3½-in height; 2-in diameter; leather covered Merchant |
| Published saddle weight | Approximately 30 lb Merchant |
| Hardware | Not documented in the retained exact-model listing Merchant |
| Included equipment | Not documented in the retained exact-model listing Merchant |
| Stirrup system / footbed | Leather-covered Visalia; 2½-in leathers with Blevins buckles Merchant |
Circle Y Julie Goodnight Teton 1760
a balance-focused seat with a lower-cantle tradeoff
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