Types of Saddles for Adult Horseback Riders

One of the most important pieces of tack that a rider will need is a saddle. Until a rider is more experienced, a saddle will be needed to teach the rider how to ride and to keep them balanced on the horse’s back. They also are more comfortable than riding bareback for both the horse and rider.

There are numerous saddles out there that cater to the particular sport that a rider wants to get into. Most riding schools will start with a general purpose saddle that is versatile and useful for those just learning to ride in general or just beginning to learn a sport. Other saddles are split into two groups: English and Western. From there each saddle is modified to set up riders for success in their chosen sport.

English Saddles — For English riding sports the basic components of the saddle are:

1. Tree- The foundation of every saddle. Usually made of wood, it supports the seat upon which the rider sits and is made of leather or synthetic materials.
2. Seat — The part where the rider sits. It can be different depths depending on the ideal position for the rider for the particular sport.
3. Pommel — The raised are in front of the saddle. It can be higher or lower to compliment the seat for rider position.
4. Cantle — The raised back of the saddle that works with the seat and pommel to keep the rider in position.
5. Saddle Flap- The flap underneath the rider’s leg and is in various shapes and lengths depending on the riding discipline.
6. Knee Roll — Sits at the front of the saddle flap and can be flat or thick depending on the support the rider needs.
7. Billets — The straps that the girth attaches to hold the saddle in place. They have adjustable holes to make sure the girth is the appropriate tightness. Only two billets are used at any one time, but there are three available in case one breaks.
8. Girth — Separate strap that goes underneath the horse and attaches to the billets to hold the saddle in place. There are various styles and types of materials that they’re made of.
9. Iron — The iron piece that holds the rider’s feet. Despite the name, they’re usually stainless steel.
10. Stirrup — The straps that hold the iron onto the horse. They’re long and have a lot of holes to adjust to the length of the rider’s leg and are attached to the billets.

Western Saddles- For Western disciplines each western saddle includes:

Tree — Like the English Saddle, the tree is a wood base upon which the seat and other components are attached.

Pommel — The raised component at the front of the saddle. Often larger than the English counterparts, it also is usually topped with a Horn.

Horn — The raised piece on top of the pommel. The rider can grab it for support, or use it to attach a lasso to it in certain sports.

Cantle — The back of the saddle that provides support from behind.

Rigging — All of the straps and connections needed to hold on the stirrups and the cinch which connects the girth to hold the saddle in place.

Girth — Strap that wraps underneath the horse and attaches to the cinch to hold the saddle in place.

Jockey — The leather flap that sits over the components underneath the rider’s leg.

Stirrups — The straps and place where the rider’s feet rests. They’re often wider than English stirrups.

All of the above components make up the basis for every saddle whether English or Western. Changes between each component contribute to the designs for each of the different kinds of saddles.

Here are some of the various saddles available:

English —

• General Purpose Saddle— For most beginner riders the general purpose saddle will likely be your first saddle. They allow for easier balance and can be used in beginner and intermediate riders for anything from hunt seat jumping to dressage. They are also better able to accommodate a variety of sizes in a riding school that has a lot of different riders.
• Dressage Saddle — For riders that become serious in dressage, they have the option to move to this more specialized saddle. The deeper seat is better for balance and they’re often made of thinner material so the rider can have better contact with the horse.
• Jumping Saddle — Riders that concentrate on learning to jump have their own specialized saddle. They are angled forward to make it easier for the rider to get into proper jumping position and padded in front to make the rider more secure.
• Hunting Saddle — Riders that ride in fox-hunts have a different shape. These riders have different obstacles to jump as they navigate through natural land features. Instead of being pitched forward, these saddles have a backward angle with stirrups that keep the rider’s feet more forward so they can brace and stay in the saddle.

Western Saddles:

• Ranch Saddle (Western) — Designed for true ranch work, they’re designed to be comfortable for riders who spend many hours riding. Due to the nature of their work, they help keep the rider balanced during sharp turns.
• Pleasure Saddles (Western) — Available with a variety features, the basic pleasure saddle is for more casual riding. They’re designed to be comfortable for long rides and help keep the rider in proper riding position.
• Roping Saddles (Western) — As it suggests, the roping saddle was created to aid in the chasing and roping of cattle. An important feature is they’re designed to help keep the rider from falling off. They also have a stronger horn (the part of the saddle that sticks up in the front for gripping) to support the strength of the pull from a roped calf.
• Cutting Saddle (Western) — In this sport, the horse and rider demonstrate speed and sharp turns as they herd cattle. They are designed to to help keep the rider balanced.
• Reining Saddle (Western) — Reining is a sport with sudden stops and acceleration. The horse and rider go through specific patterns to demonstrate speed and agility. They are built to help the rider stay balanced while also allowing close communication.
• Barrel Racing Saddles (Western) — As the name suggests, these saddles were created for barrel racing. They help keep the rider in the saddle while the horse makes very tight turns.
• Endurance Saddles (Western) — For people who ride very long distances over various terrain, the endurance saddle is a good choice. They’re specifically made to be very comfortable over those long distances.
• Show Saddles (Western) — For other kinds of Western shows, these more ornate and aesthetically pleasing saddles are used. The exact looks can vary as fashions change.

Knowing the kind of saddle that you are using can help you understand how it helps support you and lets you take advantage of its uses to make you a better rider. Be sure you are using the correct saddle for your discipline.