Types of Saddles & How to Choose The Best?
Get Your Saddle On.
Equestrianism has significantly evolved through the years, and the saddle remains an integral part of the sport. But even if you ride for pleasure, the choice of the saddle can have a considerable impact on your enjoyment.
A saddle provides comfort and helps with balance, and can have specific uses depending on what activity you perform.
Western and English Saddles
Western saddles developed as a way to provide comfort and utility for cattle ranching. They have horns on the front and are bulkier and more comfortable than English saddles.
English saddles are flatter and less accommodating but are used for several equestrian activities like racing, dressage, showjumping, polo, and more.
More than a Dime, More than a Dozen
If you are new to saddles, you may feel like going for a safe and cheaper option. Don’t! If you do your research and put in that extra bit of money, you will notice the benefits. But even with a big budget, what you pick should be what you need.
General Purpose Saddles are generally found in riding schools as they can accommodate many kinds of riders. They have slightly rounded flaps and lack knee pads. They are used for dressage, jumping, hunting, and other activities but are not recommended for higher-level riders.
Dressage Saddles have a deep seat and long and straight flaps. They support the rider in sitting upright and allow the horse more unrestrained movement. Novice riders are not recommended buying these saddles, as dressage requires plenty of effort and time.
Jumping Saddles have a flatter seat and large flaps with padding at the front. They push the rider slightly forward and protect the lower legs during jumps.
Racing Saddles are lightweight and small to avoid weighing down horses while racing. They have flat seats over which the riders hover while crouching on the stirrups. In addition, flat racing saddles have more minor flaps than steeplechase saddles, which provide lower leg support during jumps.
Ranch saddles are big, heavy, and sturdy. They have deep seats and high cantles and are built to maximise comfort for long hours of ranch work.
Roping saddles are very heavy with reinforced leather to stay strong under pressure. They have solid trees and thick horns to dally off and provide excellent freedom of movement during roping.
Endurance Saddles provide greater comfort for horses by distributing the weight over a more significant portion of their body. If you plan on travelling long distances and trail riding, the endurance saddle is highly recommended.
Pony Saddles as the name suggests they are used on ponies. They are small with a handle at the front and are meant to seat children.
The saddle market is large and varied, and you will indeed find what you need if you look hard enough. Be sure to have your horse measured professionally and pick a saddle that suits both of you. And you will reap the rewards while riding.
