Oryx
Sizes Available: 16” seat
Style: Standard full leather, Phantom and Phantom – No Skirts
Approx. Weight: Standard 7.5 – 8kg; Phantom 5.5kg; 5kg
Purpose: Endurance, leisure and trail riding.
- Description
- Additional information
- Brand
- Gullet Size Guide for Horses
- Saddle Seat Size Guide
- Standard Horse Saddle Leather Colours
- Reviews (0)
Oryx Endurance & Trail Saddle – Built for Southern African Conditions
Introducing the Oryx Saddle, the latest addition to the Dusty Hooves Tack and Saddles range. Designed for endurance, leisure, and trail riders in Namibia and South Africa, this saddle offers a perfect balance of durability, comfort, and practicality for riders covering long distances over tough terrain.
📏 Sizes Available
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16” seat size
🎨 Leather Colours
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Available in Black, Brown, and Tan
🪶 Approximate Weight
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Standard Full Leather: 7.5kg – 8kg
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Phantom: 5.5kg
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Phantom No-Skirt: 5kg
🐎 Oryx Saddle Key Features
Specially engineered for big-shouldered horses. The Oryx provides a deep, secure seat and a generous 12” cantle for optimal rider support. Its 4” (10cm) spine gullet and 9” (22.9cm) front gullet ensure ample clearance for horses with both high and low withers, reducing shoulder pinching and improving comfort over long rides.
The short, straight bars make this saddle suitable for a wide variety of horse types, including draft breeds and trail horses. A high swell design offers added security in rough or uneven terrain, while the adjustable neoprene pad system allows you to customise fit with ease.
⚙️ Custom Fit Pad System
The Oryx includes velcro-lined skirts that let you attach three different thickness neoprene pads (2x 10mm, 2x 14mm, 2x 18mm) for tailored fitting to your horse’s shape. This helps evenly distribute rider weight, improves saddle contact, and reduces pressure points — ideal for endurance saddles in Namibia and trail saddles in South Africa.
⚡ Available Options
Girth Choices:
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Wool Girth
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Neoprene Girth
Fender Options:
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Full Leather
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Reduced-Weight Fenders
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25mm Stirrup Straps with either Leather Sleeves or Wool Socks
🏇 Oryx Phantom Model – Lightweight Trail and Endurance Saddle
The Oryx Phantom swaps heavier veg-tan leather for neoprene rubber between two layers of chrome leather, dramatically reducing saddle weight while maintaining durability and strength. Standard with 25mm stirrup straps and leather sleeves, it’s a top choice for serious endurance and distance riders.
🏇 Oryx Phantom No-Skirt – For Short-Backed Horses
A specialist option within the Oryx range — this no-skirt model is designed for horses with short backs, offering the same lightweight construction as the Phantom, but without skirts to reduce saddle length and increase flexibility.
📦 Order Your Oryx Saddle Today
Available now at Dusty Hooves Tack and Saddles — your trusted source for endurance saddles, trail saddles, and big-shouldered horse saddles in Namibia and South Africa.
Contact us for pricing, colour options, and custom orders.
| Weight | 15 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 45 × 45 × 45 cm |
Brand
Dusty Hooves Tack and Saddles
Franco C saddlery
Gullet Size Guide for Horses
Gullet Size Guide for Horses
| tart=”441″ data-end=”456″>Gullet Size | Measurement (inches) | Measurement (cm) | data-start=”507″ data-end=”519″ data-col-size=”md”>Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow | 5” – 5.5” | 12.7cm – 14cm | Fine-boned horses with high, narrow withers (e.g. Thoroughbreds, Arabians) |
| Medium | 6” | 15.2cm | Average horses with moderate withers and shoulders (e.g. Warmbloods, Quarter Horses) |
| Wide | 6.5” | 16.5cm | Broad horses with wider shoulders and low to medium withers (e.g. stock horses, cobs) |
| Extra Wide (XW) | 7” – 7.5” | 17.8cm – 19cm | Very broad horses, often with flat or mutton withers (e.g. draft crosses, heavy Warmbloods) |
| start=”1288″ data-end=”1310″ data-col-size=”sm”>Draft / XX-Wide | 8”+ | 20cm+ | Draft breeds and extra wide-bodied horses (e.g. Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons) |
🐎 What the Different Gullet Sizes Are For
- =”1501″ data-end=”2295″>
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Narrow Gullet (5”–5.5”)
For horses with high, narrow withers and slim shoulders. Prevents pinching at the withers and ensures clearance without instability. -
Medium Gullet (6”)
The most common size for average-built horses with balanced proportions. Provides even contact and avoids pressure points. -
nd=”1846″>Wide Gullet (6.5”)
Ideal for wider horses with broader shoulders and lower withers. Ensures freedom of movement in the shoulder and prevents tightness. -
Extra Wide (7”–7.5”)
Suits very broad horses or those with flat, mutton withers. Offers extra shoulder room and distributes weight evenly across the back.</li>
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Draft / XX-Wide (8”+)
Specifically designed for heavy breeds. Provides a stable fit for large horses with wide backs and flat withers.
📌 Quick Tips: How to Check Saddle Gullet Fit
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You should be able to fit 2–3 fingers between the saddle pommel and the horse’s withers when the rider is seated.
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Check that the saddle doesn’t pinch the shoulders when the horse moves.
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Look for even sweat patterns under the saddle after a ride.
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The saddle should sit level on the horse’s back, not tip forward or back.
Saddle Seat Size Guide
Saddle Seat Size Guide
🔸 English / Endurance / Trail Saddles
| Seat Size (inches) | Fits Rider Clothing Size</th> | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 15” | Small Adults or Teens | Petite adults, small builds |
| 16” | Medium Adults (Ladies size 8–12 / Men’s 28–32) | Average riders |
| 17” | Medium to Large Adults (Ladies size 12–16 / Men’s 32–36) | Common size for most adult riders |
| 18” | Larger Adults (Ladies 16+ / Men’s 36+) | Taller or broader riders needing more room |
| 19”+ | Extra Large Adults / Heavy builds | Extra security and comfort for larger frames |
📝 In Endurance and Trail saddles, a 16” seat is typically equivalent to a 15” Western saddle seat in feel.
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🔸 Western Saddles
| Seat Size (inches) | Fits Rider Clothing Size</s |
|---|
trong>Best Fornd=”1364″ data-col-size=”sm”>13”YouthChildren”1408″ data-end=”1494″>14”Small to Petite Adultsd=”1494″>Shorter or smaller builds15”Average Adults (Most Men / Ladies size 8–12)The most common Western saddle size
16”Larger Adults (Men’s 34+ / Ladies 14+)Riders preferring a roomier seat17”+Extra Large or Tall RidersHeavy builds or those who prefer a more open seat
📝 Western saddle seats typically feel one size bigger than an English seat. For example, a 16” Western seat is like a 17” English seat.
📌 How to Choose the Right Seat Size
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When seated, you should have about 3–4 fingers of space behind you at the cantle.
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Your knees should comfortably rest at the saddle’s knee rolls or fenders without overreaching.
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The seat should allow you to maintain a balanced, centered position without feeling cramped or sliding around.
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In endurance riding, a slightly roomier seat is often preferred for comfort during long rides.
✅ Quick Conversion: English to Western Seat Size
| English Size | Western Size Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 16” | >15” |
| 17” | 16” |
| 18” | 17” |
Standard Horse Saddle Leather Colours
🎨 Standard Horse Saddle Leather Colours at Dusty Hooves
We offer our saddles in a carefully selected range of durable, practical, and classic colours, ideal for both professional and recreational riders in Namibia and South Africa.
| d=”541″>Colour Name | Description | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Deep, solid black with a formal, timeless appearance. Perfect for show, dressage, and riders who prefer a bold, classic look. | Dressage, show, endurance, and Western saddles |
| Brown | A rich, traditional riding brown. Durable and versatile, it hides marks well from bushveld or trail use and ages beautifully with time. | Stock, endurance, trail, and work saddles |
| Tan | Light, warm golden brown. This colour matures to a lovely caramel tone over time and is popular for its clean, natural look. | Trail, endurance, and leisure saddles |
📌 Notes for Riders
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Black is ideal for formal competition or for those who prefer a sleek, professional saddle that pairs well with modern tack and bridles.
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Brown remains the most practical option for everyday riding, especially in trail and endurance riding conditions where dust and scuffs are part of the journey.
- ta-end=”1696″>
start=”1567″ data-end=”1574″>Tan is perfect for riders wanting a lighter, classic saddle colour that gains natural character and charm the more it’s used.
data-end=”1864″>All Dusty Hooves Tack and Saddles leather colours are chosen for their durability, ease of care, and ability to withstand Southern African riding conditions.
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