Saddles are one of the more expensive pieces of horse tack and buying a new one can cost quite a lot of money. It's a worthy investment though because a good saddle is essential for you and your horse's safety and comfort when you ride. In this guide, we're going to take a quick look at the different types of saddles on the market. This will give you a clearer idea of what to look for in your search for the best horse saddles.
Different Types of Horse Saddles
Generally, horse saddles will come in two different styles, either English or Western. Western-style saddles are usually much bigger and heavier than English saddles and are more ornate and decorative. If you like to ride Western-style then you will need a Western saddle and for English riding disciplines, you'll need an English saddle.
English Saddles
English saddles are traditionally made from leather, are sleek and elegant in design and are always dark in color. They're compact and lightweight compared to Western ones. This is because they're designed to help the free movement that's required of both horse and rider in the sporty, English riding disciplines. Below we'll take a look at all of the different ones you may encounter on the market.
Dressage Saddle
A dressage saddle will be made with a high pommel and deep leather seat which makes the rider sit more upright. They have long, unpadded flaps, and lengthy billet straps which keep the rider's legs in a long position. This is ideal for creating the centralized balance that's needed in dressage. As well as this they have a drop girth which allows the horse more shoulder movement.
Close Contact Saddle
A close contact saddle is also called a jumping saddle and they are made to provide the most contact between rider and horse. These saddles have very little knee padding, a shallow leather seat, and short stirrups that sit in a more forward position when you ride. Overall this saddle encourages a forward seat that's perfect for any kind of jumping.
Endurance Saddle
The best endurance saddles are lightweight and designed to be comfortable for riding over long periods. They have plenty of padding and a longer panel which distributes the rider's weight more evenly over the horse’s back. They'll usually have lots “D” rings for tying on equipment too.
Cross Country/Eventing Saddle
These saddles are similar to close contact saddles because they allow the maximum amount of free movement for horse and rider when jumping obstacles. They'll usually have thicker knee rolls and a deeper leather seat for extra stability.
All-Purpose English Saddle
This is a versatile, close contact saddle that's designed to be used in all the different styles of English riding. An all-purpose saddle allows lots of movement for horse and rider making them good for jumping and groundwork. Some all-purpose saddles even let you add knee blocks so you can adjust the seating position when you ride different styles.
Western Saddles
Western horse saddles are traditionally made from leather were mostly used for working and ranch activities. This means that they're big, heavy, stable and offer more comfort than English saddles. Western-type saddles are a lot more decorative too, they often have hand-carved “tooling” designs in the leather as well as ornate, stitching and metallic conchos. Discover the different types of Western saddles below.
Ranch Saddle
A ranch saddle is designed with a very deep, comfortable seat to accommodate long hours of work riding on the ranch. They're sturdy and heavyweight, to keep the rider stable on the horses back.
Pleasure/ Trail Saddles
Trail riding saddles have to be comfortable and lightweight to carry the rider for long hours on a trail ride. They'll usually have a padded seat for extra comfort and plenty of “D” rings and leather ties to attach your trail gear.
Roping Saddle
A roping saddle is designed to allow the rider plenty of free movement that's essential for roping cattle. These saddles are heavyweight and sturdy with a well-anchored horn and a strong tree. A good roping saddle will also have a textured seat for extra grip and comfort.
Cutting Saddle
A cutting saddle is made to allow maximum contact with the horse when you ride which makes them a good saddle to use for training, reining and any other type of cutting activity. They allow the rider lots of movement and are the most versatile Western-type saddle.
Reining Saddle
Reining saddles are designed with a deep seat and forward-set stirrups to encourage a back leaning position which helps to counteract the pull of a rope. They make good training saddles too because they allow a lot of contact between horse and rider.
Barrel Racing Saddle
These saddles are made with a deep, roughed out seat to hold the rider in place throughout the rapid pace and fast turns in barrel racing. They're small and lightweight too, allowing maximum maneuverability for horse and rider.
Endurance Saddle
These are the most comfortable types of Western-style saddle and are perfect for spending long hours in the saddle, particularly when it comes to trail riding. They have deep, padded seats and plenty of “D” rings and ties for carrying trail gear.
Training Saddle
A training saddle will have a low pommel and cut out skirts which give the rider more contact with the horse. They’ll often feature a deep, textured, suede seat for extra grip and comfort in the saddle.
Show Saddle
Western show saddles are usually pretty stunning to look at and are made to impress in the show ring. The saddle features of a show saddle include extensive leather tooling, silver trims and a padded, suede seat.
Sizing and Saddle Fit Guide
When you’re buying a new horse saddle it needs to fit you as the rider, as well as your horse. The measurement for the rider is known as the seat and for the horse, it's called the gullet or tree size.
Your saddle must fit well, a poorly fitting horse saddle may cause pain and injury to a horse and can put you at risk during a ride. To learn more about fitting and tree measurements for a new saddle, take a look at our guidelines below.
For The Rider
To find a saddle that fits you correctly then you have to find out your seat size. Saddle seats come in a range of sizes starting with 12 inches for children going up to 17 inches for a large adult. To find out your seat size, sit in a chair and use a tape to measure the length of your outer thigh. Measure from the knee and finish at the hip, including your rear in the measurement.
For The Horse
The next size you will have to determine is the gullet or tree size of the horse. Generally, the tree fit will come in four sizes: narrow, medium, wide, and extra-wide tree. Often you can tell just from looking if your horse has a narrow or wide tree. Think of a narrow, high withered thoroughbred horse compared to an extra-wide draft horse to get an idea of the different widths of saddle trees.
What is the Most Comfortable Horse Saddle?
Western-style saddles are considered to be much more comfortable than English ones. This is because they are sturdy, padded and the rider's weight is more distributed on the horses back. English saddles can be comfortable too and are often used for trail and endurance riding.
If comfort is your priority when you're looking for a saddle then choose a Western trail or endurance saddle. For the most comfortable English style saddle, choose an endurance or all-purpose.
How to Choose a Horse Saddle
Buying a new horse saddle can be a big investment so you must choose a suitable on. Below we've listed the most important things that you may want to consider when you’re searching for the best saddles for horses.
English Saddle vs Western Saddle
A Western-style saddle isn't suitable for English riding and vice versa. It's difficult for a horse to jump in a Western saddle and you'd struggle to rope a calf from a dressage saddle. There is an exception to this when it comes to trail riding.
Because of their comfort and practicality, Western-type saddles are the top choice for a trail ride.
However, if you plan on jumping lots of hurdles when you're out on the trail then an English saddle might be a better option.
An endurance saddle either Western or English is the best saddle for trail riding.
Choose your saddle according to your riding discipline or for general riding, consider buying an all-purpose horse saddle.
Material
Leather is the traditional material for saddle making and is a preferred choice amongst horse owners today. This is because leather is comfortable, looks elegant and has outstanding levels of durability.
A leather saddle is expensive to buy though, and it will also need a lot of regular care and maintenance. You will need extra care products such a good saddle soap to keep the leather in good condition.
Saddles made from synthetic materials are becoming ever more popular, they’re cheaper to buy and much easier to maintain. Modern designs mean that synthetic materials can look just as good as leather saddles and they’re often weather-resistant too.
Adjustability
The great thing about adjustable saddles is that the tree can be adapted to fit a horse’s natural change in physique that can occur over time. This adjustable tree can be widened or narrowed and sometimes they have special pockets where you can add foam “shims” for extra support. An adjustable tree system is a good choice if you want to use the saddle on more than one horse.
New or Used
Buying a used, high quality, saddle can sometimes be a better option than buying new, cheap horse saddles. A good quality leather saddle can last for a lifetime if it’s been well taken care of, and often used saddles can have years of wear left in them. As long as the used saddle is in good condition, then potentially it may outlive a cheaper new one. If you're buying a used saddle always check that the tree isn't broken.
Special Saddle Features
If you like to ride in all weathers then you should look for a weatherproof saddle. If you’re looking for a saddle for trail riding then make sure the saddle has plenty of “D” rings or leather ties. However, if your horse has conformation problems in the back or is extremely narrow or wide then you may want to choose a flexible tree-less or adjustable saddle.
Brand and Budget
When it comes to buying a good quality, leather saddle, English or Western then prices can come in excess of 5000 dollars. You don't have to spend this much to get a decent saddle though. Prices for budget saddles start from around 175 dollars with a wide range in between.
When you find a saddle that you like, always take a look at the brand and do a bit of research. If you want a high-quality saddle then look for high-end brands such as Stubben, Collegiate, and Dakota. If you’re on more of a budget then AceRugs and Double T offer reasonably priced, good quality saddles. However, if you’re looking for a synthetic saddle then Wintec are leaders in the synthetic range.
Professional Advice
If you're new to horse riding and or have little experience when it comes to saddle fitting, don't be afraid to seek advice from a professional. Most saddle shops will have their own fitters that you can talk to. Failing that, you can always ask for advice from more experienced owners and riders in your barn.
The 5 Best Horse Saddles
To help you in your search to find the best horse saddle, we’ve reviewed five of our favorites to get you started.
1. Acerugs Western Saddle
This is a popular Western saddle from AceRugs and it covers all of your western riding needs. It’s a lightweight saddle with a reinforced fiberglass tree, that's versatile and can be used in a range of different riding activities. High levels of comfort are also guaranteed for both horse and rider as this saddle features a padded seat and thick, fleecy underside. It’s synthetic, which means it's durable and easy to maintain and it's available in a huge range of colors for you to choose from. This saddle kit comes with a matching breast collar, headstall, reins and pad.
2. Leather All Purpose English Riding Starter Kit
This is a great budget kit to invest in if you're just starting out with English riding. The premium leather saddle comes with all the accessories that you need to get going, including stirrup leathers, stirrup irons, girth, bridle and reins. It’s perfect for using in all English riding disciplines including equitation, jumping and dressage. Comfort for horse and rider is guaranteed as this saddle features a medium deep seat, padded flaps and concealed knee rolls.
3. Brown All Purpose English Saddle
This is a premium, brown leather saddle that will suit every type of English riding. Its well crafted to a traditional style and comes at an affordable price. The concealed knee rolls, padded flaps, and medium deep, padded leather seat makes it comfortable, well balanced and great for general riding. It’s got lots of “D” rings for attaching trail gear and it also comes with stirrup leathers and stainless steel irons so you can get riding right away.
4. Acerugs Texas Western Saddle
This is a durable and attractive Western saddle with silver Texas star conchos. Its made from synthetic Cordura material with nylon binding edges which means that it's durable, lightweight, easy to maintain as well as being water-resistant. This saddle also has plenty of stainless steel “D” rings, a heavily padded, soft suede seat and adjustable padded fenders, which makes it great for trail riding. Your horse will also find this saddle comfortable because it has a well-padded, fleece underside. As a bonus, it comes with matching breast collar, reins, headstall and pad.
5. Acerugs Premium Black Leather English Saddle
This is an attractive black leather saddle from ace rugs that’s made with premium cowhide. It has a deeply padded seat and padded knee rolls to give you a secure balanced seat. The features of this saddle make it good for use in all different types of English riding disciplines and it also has plenty of stainless steel “D” rings for attaching trail gear. With this saddle, you also get three bonus items included in the price, a heavy-duty girth, stirrup leathers and stirrup irons.
Conclusion
Acerugs Western Saddle is supported by many happy customer reviews. It's a great all-round, lightweight saddle that not only looks good but is comfortable and durable too. This is a fantastic saddle at a great budget price and it’s definitely the best trail saddle to invest in.
Trying to find the best horse saddles may seem a little bit overwhelming at first, but by following this guide, you’ll be sure to make the right decision. Choose one according to your riding discipline and make sure you take the time to find the right size. A good saddle will be sturdy, shock-absorbing and comfortable, and if you treat it well it will last you a long time.
