The World of Equestrian Saddles

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English Equestrian Saddles Dissected

Like all saddles, the foundation of any English equestrian saddle is a solid tree. The saddle tree can be made of wood, fiberglass or plastic, depending on the manufacturer, though it is traditionally made of wood. This is the skeleton of the saddle. A poor tree will make a poor saddle. The tree should also fit the horse’s back comfortably. A saddle tree cannot be adjusted, so proper fit is essential. Ill-fitting equestrian saddles will pinch and cause discomfort, maybe even interfering with how a horse moves.

Horses will let the rider know if a saddle does not fit properly by pinning back their ears during the ride or kicking or bucking. The rider may also notice if the horse is not moving as freely as normal. After the ride, if some areas beneath the saddle are sweaty and others are dry, the saddle is not fitting the animal correctly.

Working up from the saddle tree, the next part of an English horse riding saddle is the panel. This is the part of the saddle besides the tree that comes into contact with the back of the horse. Covered with leather, it usually contains some sort of padding, either wool, foam or other material. No matter how much padding is in the panel, it cannot compensate for a poorly fitting tree.

The girth on equestrian saddles is the English version of the Western cinch. It is a finely woven strap that wraps around the horse’s belly from one side of the saddle to the other, securing it in place. The girth should be fastened tight enough to keep the saddle securely in place, but not so tight it causes the horse discomfort or pain. It should be placed a couple inches behind the horse’s elbow to avoid any interference with the horse’s movements.

The stirrups and leathers are usually purchases separately from the saddle. Stirrups are made of iron or steel and are slid onto the leathers to hang in place. Stirrup leathers are sized to fit the rider.

The upper portions of English equestrian saddles are where you find the differences between the styles. Even though they differ, however, the parts are still basically the same. The saddle flap is located on the sides of these horse riding saddles, hanging down between the horse and rider. Some will have more padding beneath than others, depending on the saddle style. The skirt is another layer that overlaps the saddle flap, covering the buckle where the stirrup leathers attach to the saddle. This makes it more comfortable for the rider by shielding the thigh from the buckle hardware.

The seat is smooth and hard to support the rider. Depending on the riding style’s needs, the English equestrian saddles will have seats that are either deeper or shallower. For example, a jumping saddle’s seat will be shallower than a dressage saddle. The pommel is in the front of the saddle, and is smoothly rounded, helping the rider keep his or her seat.

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While English equestrian saddles kind of look similar, there are in fact a few different types. Each type has distinct features that make them appropriate for their intended uses. Be sure to get a suitable saddle for the style of riding you prefer.

Dressage Saddles

Dressage saddles feature straight, long flaps and stirrups that are positioned directly beneath the seat. They also have higher pommels and cantles to keep the rider centered in the deep seat. Equestrian saddles for dressage position the rider upright and still, with the legs close to the horse’s barrel for better communication between horse and rider. In dressage, the observer should not be able to tell the rider is giving cues to the horse, and the dressage saddle helps accomplish this.

Jumping Saddles

In contrast, jumping or huntseat equestrian saddles have a shallow seat, allowing the rider to rise to meet the jump easily. The flaps of these equestrian saddles are shorter and are angled forward to support the rider’s knees with padded rolls. The stirrups on these horse riding saddles are kept at a shorter length to aid the rider in assuming the proper jumping stance.

All-Purpose Saddles

If you like to ride in several types of English events, an all-purpose saddle may be the best choice. This style of equestrian saddle is actually a combination of a jumping saddle and a dressage saddle. The depth of the seat is between what you find in these two styles. The saddle flaps also fall between the two extremes. If you prefer riding English pleasure riding, this may be the right saddle for you. Versatile and comfortable, they let you choose whatever activity you want without changing saddles. If you compete, an all-purpose equestrian saddle will work fine for you in the amateur levels.

Lane Fox Saddles

Lane Fox saddles are specialized for saddleseat competitions. They are also used for showing gaited horses like Saddlebreds and Tennessee Walking Horses. Lane Fox saddles are not usually used by the pleasure rider, since they are not as comfortable or secure as other equestrian saddles. Lane Fox saddles are known for their longer, wider flaps and flat seat. There are also no knee rolls or sweat flaps.

Side Saddles

Side saddles are specialized equestrian saddles that are available in both English and Western styles. While rare, some riders do prefer these horse riding saddles to more traditional riding styles. Usually they are used in side saddle competitions only. Side saddles were designed for ladies wearing long skirts, so they feature one or two horns in front to secure one knee. Side saddles have flaps of different lengths. One is very long, to go beneath the legs of the rider. The other side is rather short. Besides the few riders who prefer this style, side saddles can also work well for riders who cannot sit astride any more due to previous injuries.

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Check out this video about different types of saddles.

goldengaitsequestrian.com

Duration : 0:4:47

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Technorati Tags: Equestrian Saddles, Horse ridding Saddles

Anyone with little experience mounting equestrian saddles will want to check this one out.

Technorati Tags: Equestrian Saddles, Horse Ridding Saddle

I found this good article about Saddle fit. Check it out guys.

Rules of Thumb for Saddle Fit By William Savage

In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to the horse when purchasing a saddle I came across several “Rules of Thumb” to bear in mind. There’s a wealth of information available on the subject of saddle fitting, some of it contradictory. It’s easy for the first time (or even second time) saddle buyer to get confused . The following Rules of Thumb are designed to help a prospective buyer get pointed in the right direction.

The Rules :

Rule of Thumb #1: All equestrian saddles don’t fit all horses. This would seem obvious, but the novice might buy a saddle with only the rider in mind. While it’s obvious that a Belgian, Quarterhorse, and Haflinger would each require a saddle of a different size this is still a good rule to keep in mind.

Rule of Thumb #2: Some western saddle (trees) fit most western or stock horses. There is truth to this statement. A Western Saddle built on semi-quarter horse bars will fit most cow ponies and similarly an English saddle on a medium tree will fit most horses. Either way, you have maybe an 80% chance of success. But if you have to go through the hassle of returning a saddle or have to suffer with a poor fit those aren’t necessarily the best odds.

Rule of Thumb #3: If you purchase a saddle based on appearance alone, it won’t fit (Murphy’s Law applied to saddle buying). Well, we all do things like this occasionally, probably more with automobiles than with saddles. It’s hard to turn down something that appeals to the eye. But most experienced horsemen and horsewomen wouldn’t buy based on looks alone - would we?

Rule of Thumb #4: Like other things in life, the more information you gather, the better your chance of success. What this says is that if you’re going to purchase a saddle, the more you know about equestrian saddles and the more you know about the horse(s) in question, the better your chance of success (a good fit) will be. You needn’t be an expert - just take the time to learn a few things like, why fit is important, the basic parts of the saddle tree, etc.. A corollary to this rule is - find out what the saddle maker or retailer needs in the way of information to get you the saddle you need. If they don’t ask for some information find another retailer.

Rule of Thumb #5: If you don’t know a lot about horses, get someone who does to help you out. Put another way - If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t do too much of it. This is probably the best rule for the novice to follow. Get a friend or acquaintanceequestrian who knows a lot about horses, or your vet or your local outfitter - anyone you feel you can trust - to help you out. They can tell you what measurements to need to take or, by looking at the horse, whether you really need to take any. Getting some expert assistance can save you lots of grief downstream.

Rule of Thumb #6 (Golden Rule): You won’t know for sure if the saddle fits until you put it on the horse and go for a ride. This rule has all sorts of implications. “Measuring” the horse for saddle fit can range from visual inspection to withers tracings to molds and high tech measuring devices. The more you measure the better the fit you are apt to achieve but at some point it can be overkill because you never achieve a “perfect fit”. The only way to validate good fit is to put the saddle on the horse and go for a ride.

More detailed information on saddle fit plus a number of related articles can be found at [http://www.your-guide-to-gifts-for-horse-lovers.com/saddle.html]www.your-guide-to-gifts-for-horse-lovers.com/saddle.html. Copyright © 2005 W. Savage. All Rights Reserved. William “Bill” Savage, a retired, engineer lives on the Goose Bay Ranch in Montana where he spends time with family, horses, and his web site. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Savage http://EzineArticles.com/?Rules-of-Thumb-for-Saddle-Fit&id=50820

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