Horse Saddle

Owning a horse would be pretty pointless, or more or less painful, if you do not have a saddle to ride the horse with. If you were to attempt to ride a horse without a saddle, then you might succumb to an incredibly painful ride. A saddle is meant to fasten to the horses back comfortably while also providing a sturdy seat for the rider to sit on comfortably. Several hundred years ago, saddles were still used, but they were cruder, essentially just being a pad roughly tied to the horses back. Saddles have evolved quite some time since then and have now there are different types of saddles for different styles of riding as well.

While there are different types of saddles, let’s take a look at the basic foundation in which a saddle is set up. The actual foundation in which the saddle sits atop is called the saddle tree. Naturally there is a seat as well where the rider sits, this also includes the pommel and the cantle which are the front and back of the seat. A cinch strap is essentially just a strap that goes around the horse that holds the saddle in place. Stirrups hang down from the saddle and are there for the rider to put his or her feet in when riding. The components listed above are the basic, essential components to a saddle without going into too much detail.

There are so many different types of horse saddles that can be bought, each different type catering to a different style of riding. Two of the most widely used types of saddles are English and Western. English saddles are widely used in many different Olympic and equestrian sporting events around the world. Western saddles are built to keep the rider comfortable for long periods of riding over rough terrain; western saddles are the type of saddle most commonly seen in movies and at the rodeo. There are various other types of saddles used as well such as military, police, hunt-seat, racing, dressage, pack and show saddles. Essentially, no matter what kind of riding you do, there is most likely a specific style of saddle that is meant for your style of riding.

When shopping for a saddle, it is important that you bring along an individual or friend that knows a lot about horses and saddles, otherwise you may end up buying the wrong horse saddle. It is important that before buying a saddle you hop up on top of it and make sure that it is comfortable for you to sit on. It is also equally as important to make sure that the saddle fits your horse in every aspect. The saddle needs to be fitted for both you and your horse to ensure a proper yet comfortable fit for both parties involved.