There are many different styles of English riding commonly practised all over the world. Each of these different disciplines has a special saddle, specifically designed to enhance performance in that area. This means that the term “English Saddle” doesn’t just refer to one type of saddle, it encompasses a range of different styles.
In this guide, we're going to take a look at the different types, how to fit them, and the things you should consider before buying an English saddle. Armed with this information, you'll be able to confidently pick out the best English saddles for your needs.
Different Types Of English Saddles
Each style of saddle is perfectly crafted with special saddle features, to enhance the performance of each individual riding discipline. When it comes to identifying them, usually, the clue is in the name. You'll find small, light racing saddles, jumping saddles, and working hunter saddles, to name just a few.
Below, we'll outline the most common types of English style saddles you'll find on the market.
Dressage Saddle
Dressage saddles are made with a high pommel and deep seat making the riders position more upright. They have distinctively long, unpadded flaps, and lengthy billet straps compared to jumping saddles. These give the rider a long leg position which leads to a more centralized balance. Dressage saddles usually have a drop girth which allows the horse more freedom with shoulder movements.
Close Contact Saddle
Close contact saddles are also known as a jumping saddle and they allow lots of leg and seat contact with your horse. This enhanced close contact comes from the forward position of shorter stirrups, and minimal amounts of knee padding. These, together with the shallow seat and low pommel give a more forward position making them the perfect jumping saddles.
Endurance Saddle
These saddles are designed to be comfortable for when you ride over a long period of time. Though they have plenty of padding to provide comfort to you and your horse, they are usually lightweight. Generally, endurance saddles will come with a longer panel which provides better distribution of the rider's weight more evenly over the back of the horse which gives more support over long distances.
Cross Country/Eventing Saddle
This style of saddle is similar to the close contact saddle which gives freedom of movement to horse and rider when jumping. They generally have thicker knee rolls and a deeper seat for extra stability in the sometimes unstable conditions of cross country jumping and eventing.
All Purpose English Saddle
As the name suggests, these are very versatile close contact saddles that may be used for all styles of English riding. All purpose saddles allow free movement for horse and rider making it a good jumping saddle as well as being good for groundwork. Knee blocks can be added to all purpose saddles to adjust the seating position.
Pony/Lead Line Saddle
These saddles are generally smaller but wide enough to fit around stocky ponies. They have a small seat and short skirt and flap making them the perfect children's English saddle. They usually come equipped with a strap on the pommel for little hands to hold onto.
Best English Saddle Brands
When it comes to choosing a top quality English saddle for your horse, prices can soar into the thousands. The high quality, performance, durability and elegance of these high-end saddles makes them very appealing. When it comes to prestigious saddles, there are several brands to choose from.
Pessoa saddles based in the USA are world leaders in innovation when it comes to English saddlery. As are Bates with their unique, "easy change" gullet system. For custom designs and elegance then Stubben and Iberstatel are leaders in creativity. For the ultimate in quality and performance then Passier is one of the most expensive brands and they have many orders from world champion, equestrian riders.
If you're looking for the best English saddles for quarter horses, Collegiate are a good brand to choose. Or if you're looking for a high-end synthetic saddle then choose a Wintec saddle.
How to Measure for an English Saddle
An English saddle is measured at the seat to fit the rider, and at the gullet to fit the horse. Below are some guidelines on fitting and measuring.
For The Rider
To measure your seat, sit down on a chair and use a tape to measure the length of your outer thigh.
Start at your knee and end at the hip, include your rear in the measurement. This is your seat size. To measure the seat size of a saddle, you need to start on the side of the pommel and measure across the top of the saddle, in a diagonal line, ending at the centre of the back of the seat.
Check your seat size against a saddle chart to find your ideal saddle size.
For The Horse
The gullet is the channel that runs underneath the saddle and is supported by the tree. Generally, gullet sizes will come in four sizes: narrow, medium, wide, and extra-wide. You can usually guess the gullet size of your horse just by looking but for more certainty, you can measure across your horse's withers to find out the gullet size.
When fitting a saddle, stand your horse square on a flat surface. Don’t use a saddle pad, use a thin sheet or towel instead. Place the saddle forward of the withers and slide it back to the natural stopping point. No part of the saddle should sit on the spine and there should be plenty of clearance in the gullet.
Check the pommel around the withers, you should be able to fit three or four fingers in the space between them. If the tree is too narrow the saddle will sit high on your horse, if its too wide the saddle will sink into the back and withers.
How To Choose The Best English Saddle
In order to choose the best saddle for your needs it's important to consider the following things:
Your Riding Discipline
If you’re dedicated to one discipline, such as jumping for example, then it's a good idea to invest in a jumping saddle or one suited to your style. Often, in a show or competition, using the correct type of saddle is compulsory. If you like variation and want to practice a little bit of everything then an all purpose English saddle would be your best choice.
Horse Conformation
Our horses are individuals and some horses will fit well under most saddles. Other horses aren't so easy, think of high withered thoroughbreds for example, or horses with a dipped back. Take into account any of your horse's special features when choosing a saddle.
Materials and Adjustability
Synthetic saddles have come a long way and there are now many elegant designs to choose from. Soft fabric saddles can be more adaptable to size, and comfortable, as they aren't so rigid. They're easy to maintain too, as well as being very lightweight and weatherproof.
Leather on the other hand, though more expensive, will last many years if maintained correctly with the use of the best saddle soap.
The physique of our horses will always change depending on their work age and diet. Luckily, many saddles are now adjustable and can be changed along with you and your horse's requirements. By choosing a saddle with an easy change tree you can also adapt the saddle to suit different horses.
Our Top 3 Saddles on the Market
AceRugs All Purpose English Saddle
This elegant leather saddle can be used for all styles of riding and is one of the best all purpose saddles. It has lots of D rings making it perfect for loading up for trail riding. You'll find extra comfort in the padded, deep seat and knee rolls. Overall, this is a great value product that comes with stirrup leathers and irons and is also available in two colors, black and brown.
Manaal Synthetic English Saddle
This treeless saddle is very accommodating to horse and rider. It's soft and giving to your horses back and has no solid components. The changeable wither iron arch makes it a good fit for most horses. It's easy to maintain and the seat is removable for ease of cleaning. It comes in a range of attractive colors too. It's all purpose design makes it a good choice if you're a jumper, trail rider or hunter.
Silver Fox Starter Set
This is a great value saddle for anyone just starting out with English riding. It comes complete with stirrups, leathers, girth and bridle, so you have everything you need to get going. It's an all purpose English saddle which makes it good for jumping and flatwork, and it comes in a choice of three colors too.
Conclusion
When it comes to quality and value then the AceRugs all purpose is a good close contact saddle to invest in. It looks good and is very durable, practical, and will be sure to meet all of your needs as a jumping saddle as well as for flatwork. It's one of the most popular saddles on the market.
Delving into the world of English horse saddles might seem like a little bit of a minefield at first with so many different ones to choose from. The fact is, most of them are very similar but have small variations to give an extra edge in specific disciplines. If you take all of the things in this guide into consideration then you'll be sure to make the right choice when it comes to finding the best English saddles on the market.
