Saddle

Types of Horse Saddles

a saddle

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There are lots of different types of horse saddles, and that ain’t just because there are lots of different types of horses either (which there are, obviously), it’s mainly because there  are lots of different types of riding, and each type of horse back riding needs a different type of riding saddle.

You are probably aware that many ancient peoples were quite happy to ride their horses without any riding saddles at all, preferring to be bareback and get a better balance, understanding and connection between horse and rider, but these days if you want to ride on the roads, ride a horse in competitions or learn any of the horseback riding techniques involved in English or Western style of riding then you need to use the appropriate style of horse saddle.

Types of Horse Saddles

Let’s take a look at the different types of horse riding saddles, and how they are each uniquely adapted for the type of horse back riding they are used for . . . horses for courses, and, horse saddles for courses too (mmmm, I know that doesn’t sound quite right but what rhymes with saddles and means courses – exactly, nothing).

Horse and Rider

Horse and Rider using a general purpose saddle

General Purpose Saddles

I’ve just said that each different type of horse saddle is specifically adapted for a particular type of riding, and, well, a general purpose saddle is specifically adapted for general riding . . . which means that I’m contradicting myself already. Right, let me explain a little more.

The rider on the left is taking a lesson in a general purpose leather saddle, which is ideal for either a beginner or in fact an intermediate rider who likes to ride around with no particular purpose in mind (ha ha, got out of that one didn’t I).  The cut of a general purpose saddle (which is usually a leather saddle but can also be made from cheaper materials) is with forward flaps so can be used for hacking, basic jumping, dressage, hunting, just about anything really, although if you want to partake in any of those individual riding activities on a more professional basis then you’ll need a special riding saddle for the job.

Dressage Saddles

Dressage saddles are riding saddles which are specifically designed to be suitable for riding dressage (no, you don’t say). The biggest differences between a dressing riding saddle and a GP saddle is that the flaps are long and straight and they are designed to enhance the traditional position of the dressage rider with very long legs and an upright stance. Although these are generally leather saddles, they are often made from a more lightweight material to provide the rider with a nice closer contact with the horse for when they are performing those fancy moves.  Anyone who is interested in competing in advanced dressage competitions, or competitions which include a dressage section like eventing, really does need to use a properly designed dressage horse saddle.

A-ma-zing! You couldn’t hope to do those sorts of moves without a proper dressage horse saddle, mind you, the majority of us couldn’t actually do them with a proper dressage riding saddle either.

Jumping Saddles

Riding saddles which are designed for jumping are kind of the other extreme than the dressage riding saddle, designed to push the horse rider forward into the jumping position for jumping comfortably and safely over increasingly high fences. The seat of a jumping saddle is therefore much flatter than that of the dressage horse saddle, with much bigger, forward cut saddle flaps with added padding to give more protection and stability to the legs when the horse is jumping.

English: English jumping saddle (by Turf and T...
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Hunting Saddles
 
Hunting saddles are very much a typically English saddle, which are regularly used for charging across the English countryside in hot pursuit of a fox, or at least they were until it was outlawed and replaced with drag hunting. Actually, hunting is enjoyed in many other countries across the world, although it just seems so . . . quintessentially English. Okay, back to the riding saddles which are specifically designed for hunting – hunting often involves jumping over enormous hedges with frighteningly steep drops over the other side, so the riding saddle designed for hunting pushes the rider back into the saddle with their feet facing forwards in the hope of the rider not falling off in the process.  Leather saddles are usually used for hunting to match lots of the other traditional attire worn for hunting, and in order to make landings comfortable (lots of men go hunting you know) the pommel (front bit) and cantle (back bit) are cut lower than you would find in a GP saddle. Having said that, lots of general purposes riders can hunt very well in GP riding saddles.

 Ah, those were the days. Brings back memories, I can tell you . . .
 
Western Horse Saddles
 
Western saddles are what cowboys use . . . you must have seen them, usually brown leather saddles which have been intricately decorated with Western style designs. These leather saddles are designed to be tough and sturdy, just like the ranch hands who have traditionally spent many hours sitting in them (they’re fortunately very comfortable too). Western saddles have a horn on the front which helps balance and also gives you somewhere to wrap the rope around when you’re roping steers . . . yes, I’ve seen the movies. There are now various disciplines in Western riding, so naturally different types of western riding saddles have evolved. 
 
Close up of a western style saddle

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Side Saddles

From the roughness and toughness of the western leather saddle designed for ranch hands, to the side riding saddle, designed for European ladies of the middle ages. It was deemed to be very improper for a lady to sit astride a horse in those days, particularly since they only wore skirts, so the side saddle was developed so that ladies could enjoy horseback riding with their legs firmly crossed.  These riding saddles have two pommels to hold the legs of the rider in place, and women could even gallop and jump fences in these rather remarkable horse saddles.

She certainly knows her stuff about riding side saddle and these leather saddles doesn’t she?

Racing Saddles

Horse racing saddles are very small and lightweight, rather like horse racing jockeys actually. They are ridden with very short stirrup leathers and have a flat seat, jockeys rarely actually sit on the horse saddle anyway, they are designed to kind of perch above them. Some racing saddles are smaller than others, the riding saddles designed for flat racing being the smallest and lightest, whereas a riding saddle designed for steeplechase races (over fences) have larger flaps to hold the jockeys leg in a secure position as they go over the fences.