English vs Western

I'm looking forward to the Horse Fair in a few weeks. It's the first horsey thing I've looked forward to in a long time, which means I'm on the road to recovery. I'm contemplating on whether or not to donate my Western Saddle to Horse Haven of Tn. There's nothing wrong with it, I bought it at the same horse fair two years ago, and it's probably been ridden in at least five times. It's in great condition save for the seat, which has been used as a scratching post by the cats, even though I've literally begged for the cover that Diane made to be kept over it. The cover isn't quite big enough for it, so the back of saddle, the high part of the seat in back that is, and the seat of the saddle, have slight damage. It's purely cosmetic.

It's a nice saddle that can either be used to get a few dollars for the rescue, or they can use it. Problem is, it won't fit my horses. I don't want to use a saddle that will hurt when I have my fat butt in it. On the other hand, my english saddle fits my mare right nicely, but I don't know what I did with the stirrups, as Diane had lent me her safety stirrups and I had returned them and didn't put the ones that came with the saddle back on. It's also a little more akward for me to mount in an English saddle, there is a -whole- lot less of it there to hang onto as you swing up, though Deigh loves the close contact of the English rather than the bulky western. I need to save up and get a nice well made Aussie stock saddle. (Not the kind with the blue padding underneath, those will -not- bend with a horse when it turns and will dig into the shoulder when you do make turns) They're styled in a perfect harmony of a western and english saddle. Good ones run -really- high, however. I guess if I can buy that horse Diane found for me, I'll really have to spend a lot of money on a saddle and take the utmost care of it.