Types Of Horse Saddles

If you own a horse, it is pretty much assured that you own a saddle, but did you know that there are several different types of saddle that are built to cater to different riding styles. You may have just though your saddle was a saddle, but the truth is that you could have a saddle that is not as comfortable for your horse or even you because it is not the right type of saddle. There are general purpose saddles that can be used for just anything, but they may not be as comfortable for you or the horse as they should be; your cue to learn about the different types of saddles.

There are basically six different types of saddles, but that includes general purpose saddles which were already mentioned so that knocks it down to five types; English, western, hunt-seat, dressage and show saddles.

English saddles take after their name suggests because they are used widely in most English style riding disciplines. It is important to note that these saddles are not only used in English speaking countries, they are widely used in most countries for any equestrian or Olympic events. The point of English saddles are to allow the horse to be able to move freely, which is essential if the horse is to be running, reining, vaulting or anything similar. If the horse is restricted then he or she will not be able to perform as well as he or she could if not restricted.

Western style saddles are the stereotypical saddles you would see in movies. Theses saddles are usually seen on cattle ranches, at rodeos or on horses that are taking guests for rides. Western saddles are mean to help make the rider feel secure and comfortable, even for long periods of time. If you are to be riding a horse for a long period of time, especially on rough and rigorous terrain, then a western saddle is probably the best way to go.

Western and English style saddles are two of the most widely used saddles among horse enthusiasts, but there are also hunt-seat, dressage and show saddles that are used as well. Hunt-seat saddles were built originally to be used for fox hunting. Hunt-seat saddles are also widely used for shows and jumping events and are meant to keep the rider secure during these activities. If you are trying to show off your prized horse as best as possible, then a dressage saddle is the saddle for you. Dressage saddles are cut significantly deeper than other types of saddles so that your horse looks as good as possible. Show saddles are similar to dressage saddles except that show saddles are much more decorative.

There are also racing saddles that are built to allow a rider or jockey to lean as far forward as possible. There are many different types of saddles, but determining which type of saddle if right for you all depends on the style or type of riding that you do. Once you determine that then it should be relatively simple to choose the right saddle. Try doing a little more research on your own to learn more about the different types of saddles.