THE SADDLE FILES / MODEL REVIEW
Fabtron Easy Rider review: light trail handling, with the underside worth inspecting
The Easy Rider earns useful comments about easy lifting and a practical trail setup. A detailed report of protruding staples and poor stitching makes arrival inspection central; missing strap keepers and stirrup comfort are separate equipment questions.
In the saddle: at a glance
RIDER PRIORITIES / EQUIPMENT / OWNER EVIDENCE
KEY FEATURES
- Leather upper with Cordura skirt/fenders
- 16/17-inch seats
- 26-inch skirt
- Six-piece saddle string set
YOUR RIDING PRIORITIES
- Consider it for
- Trail riders wanting leather appearance with less handling weight
- The tradeoff
- The detailed staple complaint warrants inspection before riding.
- Before committing
- Inspect underside fasteners and stitching.
PROS
- The leather/Cordura build is easy to handle.
- It can provide comfortable everyday trail seating.
- Trail attachment points are useful to a rider carrying gear.
CONS
- One delivered saddle had protruding staples and untidy stitching.
- Missing keepers change strap management.
- Original stirrups and nylon equipment may not suit the rider.
Trail-saddle assessment
Research judgments · 5-point scale · Horse fit is not scored
Several comfortable rides, with initial seat and stirrup reservations.
Specific easy-saddling and low-weight accounts.
A detailed underside and stitching complaint outweighs vague quality praise.
Useful luggage fittings but repeated missing-keeper concerns.
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 accountsLook underneath before judging the ride
The most consequential account combines a good fit and appealing materials with protruding staples. Those findings can coexist. An attractive top view and a comfortable first sit do not complete the inspection.
Inspect the delivered Easy Rider
- Check the underside for exposed fasteners and rough areas.
- Examine stitching and loose threads before removing labels.
- Ask the seller to resolve defects before a ridden trial.
A supplied cinch does not mean every detail is ready
The listing includes a cinch, tie strap, off-billet and six-piece string set. Owners nevertheless describe absent keepers and equipment replacements. Separate the listed package from the setup you personally need.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Keepers | Owners report an unfamiliar strap-management arrangement. |
| Stirrups | One comfort report follows the addition of straights. |
| Rear cinch | An owner added one; do not assume the pictured package includes it. |
Use the family distinction when considering fit
The Easy Rider lists 16/17-inch seats, a 26-inch skirt and a seven-inch FQHB description. The Fabtron Gaited family uses different tree wording and should be evaluated as another model. The successful Quarter Horse and gaited-horse accounts here cannot choose between those trees for you.
Pros & Cons Analysis
Pros
- Owners describe straightforward saddling on a wide-shouldered Quarter Horse and during mountain riding. Another calls the surface easy to clean after several months. These accounts support handling and maintenance advantages without establishing a complete packed weight.
- Pleasure riders and a husband trying the saddle report a comfortable seat. The 3–4-month owner initially found it less comfortable, and one rider needed stirrup straights; seat and knee comfort therefore need separate evaluation.
- A mountain-trail owner specifically values the dees and strings for carrying equipment. That supports checking luggage attachment options, but the owner’s stock work and cutting do not constitute verified roping approval.
Cons
- A buyer found staples projecting from the underside and loose or haphazard stitching despite liking the seat and horse fit. Their hammer-and-pliers repair should not become a buyer instruction: stop use and obtain a seller or saddler assessment of the actual defects.
- Two owners independently note the absence of a latigo keeper; one also mentions a cinch keeper. Establish how the actual straps will be secured rather than assuming the usual arrangement is present.
- One buyer added stirrup straights for knee comfort and another switched the nylon latigo and added a rear cinch. These modifications qualify favorable reports and should be included in the practical setup discussion.
Make inspection part of the Easy Rider decision
Your next ride
Try the Easy Rider for manageable lifting and everyday trail comfort if its tree and seat suit your pair.
The detailed staple complaint warrants inspection before riding.
Fabtron Easy Rider 7172/7174 trial notes
Use these as reminders during your trial or seller conversation.
- Inspect underside fasteners and stitching.
- Confirm how cinch and latigo tails will be secured.
- Try supplied stirrups before adding comfort accessories.
When this recommendation changes
Try the Easy Rider for manageable lifting and everyday trail comfort if its tree and seat suit your pair. Proceed only after the underside and stitching pass inspection and you have a workable keeper and stirrup arrangement. The light build is useful; it does not excuse exposed fasteners or an uncomfortable leg setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Easy Rider include a latigo keeper?
Two captured owners report no latigo keeper, even though the listing includes a tie strap. Ask about the actual delivered keeper arrangement rather than assuming it follows from the included strap.
Technical Specifications
| Model / scope | Fabtron Easy Rider 7172/7174 Merchant |
|---|---|
| Intended use | Western trail Merchant |
| Seat sizes | 16 in 7172; 17 in 7174 Merchant |
| Seat construction | ½-in closed-cell padding Merchant |
| Cantle height | 3½ in with 1½-in Cheyenne roll Merchant |
| Tree construction | All-around tree; construction not specified Merchant |
| Tree / bar options | Full Quarter Horse bars Merchant |
| Published gullet width | 7 in merchant description Merchant |
| Main materials | Leather top; Cordura fenders and skirt Merchant |
| Rigging | Dropped C-plate front; double rigging Merchant |
| Skirt length | 26 in Merchant |
| Skirt drop | Not documented in the retained exact-model listing Merchant |
| Swell width | Not documented in the retained exact-model listing Merchant |
| Horn dimensions / type | Not documented in the retained exact-model listing Merchant |
| Published saddle weight | Approximately 22 lb Merchant |
| Hardware | Solid brass accents; stainless buckles Merchant |
| Included equipment | Six-piece string set, off-billet, tie strap and cinch listed Merchant |
| Stirrup system / footbed | Quick-change stainless buckles Merchant |
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