Most of the time the weight doesn't matter to a fully trained horse. Horses are very strong creatures, and yes I am sure the horse enjoys a light weight saddle, but they are the type of animal that wants to please no matter the conditions. The only things that I can think of at the moment for the DO'S and DONT'S is to make sure, of course, you buy a proper fitting saddle. One that fits you and your horse. If your horse is used to an english saddle and you bought him a western, just walk your horse around for a little while so that he can get used to the new weight, and get the feel for the new saddle. Do light work in the saddle for a while too. If you really wanted to, you could do the same thing for the western to english saddle.
For Monty's bit, as you know is a soft snaffle with copper inside it. It's great for youngsters because it's real soft on their mouth, if you have soft hands. I still use the bit on my fully trained mares. So I would say yes you can use the bit throughout all stages of horsemanship.
Buying online can be dangerous if you don't go to the correct websites. But most the time it's ok. That's where I have gotten a lot of my stuff. But like anything, it's much better to buy something in person because you can always catch something wrong with the product before you waste your money.
The only thing you should look for in buying things online is if the site you're on has a good or bad rep for delivering on time, the products were in great condition, you got what you ordered (sometimes your order can get mixed up in the mail, that sort of thing happens). Things like that. Buying things in the store is like common sense. Same rules if you're buying clothes. Hope all of my jibber jabber makes sense and helps!

Thanks Syd for taking the time replying to my question. I am clear on the saddle and think that it absolutely needs to be fit to the horse for comfort and health sake. Is there a TYPE of bit for those who dont necessarily have a soft hand? Something in between? I did a search online and there are so many different kinds of bits that I am not sure what to get. I am looking for something that is humane and not torturous if you know what I mean! I am not shopping for good look of a bit and rein but rather something that is effective and humane.

If you are not sure that you have the necessary "softness" in your hands yet you could try starting out bitless. 2 years ago I returned to riding after a 32 year break (having not ridden since I was a teenager). We got a nice horse with a soft mouth which I real;ly did not want to spoil. So for the first 9 months I rode in a bitless (I used a Dr Cooks bridle but there are several different sorts). This meant I could be sure I would not pull on his mouth. Once I felt more confident & was more certain my hands were "independent" then I started with a snaffle bit. However I still ride bitless from time to time, either in a Dr Cooks, a simple rope halter or of course a dually.

On the saddle fit I recommend borrowing a "Port Lewis" pad, this tests your saddle fit while you ride and will tell you if the saddle is too tight or bridging.

Thank you so much Jules 970. I will certainly look into the products you mentioned. Your post was very helpful and thorough.

I agree a very helpful post, i have a four year old horse that i have owned for about 6 months, i have been riding him in a bitless bridle since i got him, is there any harm in continuing with bitless if he is happy and settled this way??

bitless is really nice as long as they have good flexion in both directions. They can do everything in a bitless with the same amount of control. I agree with the above post about using the Dr. Cooks bitless bridle. The Lightrider is also great. I have found it takes 5 minutes to get them used to it and then they are ready to respond. They are happy without the bit and appreciative also! As far as saddles go...your horse will love you for using a good quality bareback pad and will even help you get up there with a few minutes of work showing him/her how.

Little advert for us saddlers! I'm now longer in the trade commercially, but am a qualified master saddler and saddle fitter from the UK. In my opinion an good saddler should be able to give sound advice, and should let you try out saddles and bits before you buy. I used to run a bit hire service for just that reason, and never sold a saddle (at least to a custmer who asked me to fit it for them) without making sure that the saddle fitted the horse and the customer. I always insisted that the customer rode around in the saddle before buying it, not just a walk around the arena or field, but a real try out. All saddle fits were gauranteed for 3 months, with a free reflock once the flock or stuffing had settled down. A proffesional saddler should give a professional service, if you buy at 'super markets or on line you will save money initially, but I know from experience that many times that initial £50 saving just leads to more grief. I have had new customers who'd done that literally in tears as they told me how they'd spent all of their money on a saddle or bit that had not been right for them or their horse. Support your saddler if he or she is good, (dump them if not) In the UK you can go to the Society of Master Saddlers website for a list of reputable saddlers, and they are governed by the society, any complaints against them are investigated. As I say, I'm no longer active commercially, or even a member just now, so have no axe to grind.

This Goes For All Saddles.

First thing to learn when buying a saddle is how to check if the tree is broken or not. Be Careful of Saddles with Big Scraps. A Broken Saddle Tree can cause your horse to do Crazy Things for No Reason!

The next thing to learn is what Size Tree your horse needs. English and Western are Different. The wrong size makes your horse hurt. Again with strange reactions.

Then What size Seat do you need. If your Body weight changes often. What size and type of seat fits you at your different weights or do you need 2 saddles.

As Far as Bits go. It is very important that the bit is balanced. Check for any manufacturing flaws that could cause it to pinch or break. Many low cost bits are not balanced.

Hi there horselover,
I know exactly how bewildering the huge array of bits and saddles out there can be, and I've only just been successful in finding the right saddle for my new horse. I do have these words of advice though.
1. As so many others have said fit and comfort of both the bit and saddle are the most important things to consider. However, these are not the only things.
2. The next thing to think about is what do you want this bit and saddle to do for you? Do you want to compete, do you want to have better brakes and how much time you wnat to spend looking after your saddle are all important questions to ask yourself. If you want to compete, some organisations have specific rules regarding tack and saddlery, which you may want to consider. If you want more control over your horse's speed, it is often a case of trial and error in finding a bit that both you and your horse are happy using- don't just stick in the first bit you try and look no further! Although I'm sure you wouldn't! Also, your saddle is hopefully going to be a long-term investment, so get one suitable to the time you have available for caring for it. There are lots of really good synthetic saddles on the market now that require very little arduous cleaning, last for a long time and many are adjustable too, so I would seriously consider looking into this.
3. If your saddle is going to be a serious contribution to your day-to-day happiness (I'm serious!)try and buy through a reputable dealer. There are lots of groups on ebay that sell good quality new and second-hand saddles- don't be suckered by a ridiculously cheap price from a private seller- they're usually ridiculously cheap for a reason, be it age, wear or condition.

Finally, a note on my tack. I ride English style, and have now accumulated 3 saddles trying to find the perfect one! My horse is built like an aircraft carrier, but with high withers, so I started off with 2 Thorowgoods- one for dressage and one for jumping. These cost a couple of hundred pounds each new, and came with all of the interchangeable fixtures and fittings. However I wanted something that would perform better in the dressage arena and found my perfect saddle- an Amerigo Vega. It was half price but still very expensive, but it has increased my performance and comfort dramatically. We found it on the internet but got it from their(the seller's) shop. My bit is a Neue Schule Verbinden snaffle, which suits my horse down to the ground. He is light and responsive off it, and foams up every time I ride him. This type of bit tends to suit horses and ponies with a short, small mouth, as it is thin but kind and double-jointed. Good luck in finding a saddle and bit suitable for both you and your horse. Let us know how you get on!

Plus(I forgot to put this in!) I have read somewhere that if you are riding out in a bitless bridle or halter (I don't know if this includes a dually) and you cause damage to someone else's property or harm them, your third-party insurance will not cover you as you have not taken adequate steps to control your horse. I don't know if this is correct, but I would check wiht your insurer before going bitless! Again, all the best in your saddle search!

Hi - This is sort of related. When buying our tack including saddle from a master saddler, we didn't get a martindale. I am very new to horse care but did a little research and it seemed superfluious - possibly harmful.
What are your thoughts??
PS the saddler was great and our third attempt to find someone who gave me confidence of a correct fit.