The saddle is one of the most important pieces of horse riding apparel, so there are several things to keep in mind when deciding on horse saddles for sale. First, the riding style must be identified. Usually, this is either English or Western, although there are also specialty ones for activities like polo, dressage, jumping, and racing. In English riding, the rider holds one reign in each hand and tells the horse to turn by gently pulling one reign, which applies pressure to a bit in the horses mouth.
Western-style riders hold both reigns in one hand and tell the horse to turn by shifting their weight or laying the reigns against the horses neck. The western ones are larger and heavier than English saddles and were originally designed for hard-riding cowboys. The riders weight is distributed evenly across the horses back, which allows the horse and rider to be comfortable on long rides.
Dressage saddles allow the riders leg and the horse to have the most contact. The flaps are cut straight and narrow and these saddles have a different cut than an English saddle.
For jumping, a hunt seat saddle is used. This saddle was originally designed for fox hunting and it affords the rider a better position for jumping.
Horse racing requires a flat racing saddle. These are extremely lightweight and have very short stirrups so the rider can lean forward as far as possible.
No matter the activity, the next question is the type of saddle. There are leather saddles, suede saddles, and saddles made from synthetic materials. Leather saddles are the most well known, and a high quality leather saddle can last for years. Synthetic saddles can be lightweight and easy to clean, but may not have the longevity of a leather saddle.
The most important factor for saddles is comfort, for both the rider and the horse. A saddle that does not fit properly can cause back muscle bruising on the horse. Saddle sizes are measured in inches, from the pommel to the cantle. There should be two to three inches of space between the rider and the back of the saddle when seated. In addition, the saddle should stay firmly in place without slipping and it should fit the horse tightly across the shoulders and back without digging in.
There are many all around western saddle to choose from, so it is important to remember your anticipated riding activities when choosing a horse saddle for sale.
