As well as being comfortable, Western saddles are one of the most recognizable types of saddle in the world alongside English saddles, and they come in a huge range of different styles. Trying to find the right one for your horse can be overwhelming so we've created this guide to help you make the right purchase.
Below, we're going to take a look at the different saddle styles, what to look for when selecting one and ultimately how to choose the best Western saddles for your needs.
Different Types of Western Saddles
There many different types of western riding activities and therefore many different types of saddles to suit them. For the comfort of you and your horse, you must choose the best Western saddle for your activity. Below we've listed the most common types.
Ranch Saddles
Ranch saddles are designed with comfort in mind to accommodate the long hours spent in the saddle while working on the ranch. They have a deep seat that offers extra comfort and are generally heavy weight making them sturdy and secure on the horse's back. Ranch saddles will usually feature double rigging for extra strength.
Trail Saddle/Pleasure Saddle
Trail saddles are lightweight and comfortable making them the best Western saddles for trail riding. They usually have a padded seat for extra comfort when you're out on the trail and they come in a huge range of different styles and designs. You'll find plenty of D rings and leather ties on a trail saddle so you can securely attach all of the trail gear that you'll need for the day.
Trail saddles are often used in conjunction with a breastplate to stop the saddle from slipping when your trail takes you over sloping terrain.
Roping Saddle
Roping saddles are designed to be used with any kind of roping activity or event. They provide the maximum amount of free movement for the rider which is essential for roping cattle. These saddles need to be sturdy so they're designed with a well-anchored horn, a strong tree and a heavyweight stable design. Roping saddles will often feature a textured seat too which gives the rider extra grip in the saddle.
Cutting Saddles
Cutting saddles are designed to give the most contact with the horse making them a good choice for training, reining as well as any type of cutting activity. They're also designed to give the rider plenty of room for maneuverability and are one of the most versatile types of Western saddle.
Reining Saddles
These saddles are the perfect choice for using in any kind of reining competition or events. These saddles are designed with a deep seat and forward stirrups encouraging the riders to position towards the cantle to counteract the pull from a rope. Reining saddles also provide lots of contact with the horse making them a good saddle to use for training.
Barrel Racing Saddles
Barrel racing saddles are designed with a deep, roughed out seat designed to hold the rider in place during the rapid, fast turns of barrel racing. These saddles are small, short and lightweight too allowing for plenty of maneuverability for horse and rider. This makes them a good choice for other types of gaming events too.
Also Read: The Best Horse Breeds for Barrel Racing
Endurance Saddles
As well as being sturdy and lightweight, endurance saddles are the most comfortable saddles making them perfect for long hours of riding. They will have a padded saddle seat and lots of D rings and ties for carrying trail gear. These features make endurance saddles great trail saddles too.
Training Saddles
Training saddles are designed with a low pommel and cut out skirts to give the rider more contact with the horse. They'll often have rings and ties for attaching training aids and a padded suede seat, designed for extra grip and comfort.
Show Saddles
Show saddles are usually eye-catching and are designed to look good in the show ring. They're very ornate with extensive tooling combined with silver trims and usually have a padded, suede seat. Show saddles are used more for their appearance than their practicality as a working saddle.
Western Saddle Fitting Guide
When it comes to selecting a new saddle, you have to find one that fits both horse and rider.
For The Rider
To make sure that the saddle fits you as the rider then first you have to find out your seat size. You can do this by sitting in a chair and measuring the length of your thigh.
Start at the knee and measure to the back of your buttocks with a measuring tape. Western style saddles are generally available in different sizes of seats ranging from 12 inches for a child, up to 17 inches for a large adult.
The seat size may vary between different saddle brands because of factors such as the seat depth, seat slope and the fork angle.
For The Horse
When it comes to choosing the correct size saddle for your horse then you need to determine your horse's tree or gullet size. To do this you should assess your horse's back and withers.
If your horse has raised prominent withers then you will need a narrower gullet/tree size. If your horse has little to no withers then you will need to opt for trees with a wider fit.
Western saddles are usually available in five tree sizes ranging from 5 inches for a pony up to 8 inches for a draft horse.
Used vs New Horse Saddles
Sometimes buying a used saddle can be a more cost-effective choice if you don't have the money to invest in a high-quality new one. A high-quality leather saddle, if taken care of, can last for a lifetime. This means that often, used ones will have many years of wear left in them.
Saddles produced by quality brands are not only more durable but they're often more comfortable for horse and rider. As long as the used saddle is in good condition, then chances are that it will outlive a cheaper new saddle.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Saddle
Buying a new saddle can be a big investment so you must choose a suitable on. Below we’ve listed the most important things to consider so that you choose the best Western saddle for your needs.
Function
If you ride in a specific western activity then choose a saddle that's fit for purpose, choose a trail saddle if you're mostly out on the trail for example. This will maximize you and your horse's performance and safety. If you enjoy riding in different styles then choose a versatile saddle such as a cutting saddle.
Materials
Western style saddles will generally be available in two types of material, leather or synthetic.
Leather saddles are more attractive to look at and are more durable but require a lot of maintenance to keep them in good condition. You will need a special saddle soap to keep the leather in pristine condition.
Synthetic saddles on the other hand require less maintenance and are often cheaper to buy. They're more lightweight too and are often weather and scratch proof making them a great option for trail saddles.
Professional Advice
If you're not very experienced in buying saddles then don't be afraid to seek out advice from experienced horse people. Try asking experienced horse owners or manager from your barn for advice. For more precise fitting, you can also hire the service of a professional saddle fitter to ensure a perfect fit.
Design
Western saddles come in many different decorative designs but it's important not to choose your saddle on appearance alone, no matter how much you love the design. Always choose a saddle that's designed with you and your horse's comfort and safety in mind with personal style as a secondary preference.
Adjustability
With the modern advancement of saddle making, you will now find a range of adjustable, well balanced saddles on the market. These are a good choice for if the saddle needs to be used on several horses. Adjustable saddles will also adapt to any changes in your horse's condition and shape over time. There are several types of adjustable saddles on the market that include treeless saddles, flexible tree saddles and also saddles with adjustable bars.
Brands
When it comes to buying a Western saddle then you should take into consideration the brand. The highest quality western saddles will be produced in the United States. Popular and trusted equestrian brands to look out for are Dakota, Circle Y and Tucker Saddlery, to name a few.
Best Western Saddle Reviews
To help you in your search to find the best saddle, we've reviewed five of our favorites below.
1. King Series Synthetic Trail Saddle
If you're looking for a high-quality synthetic saddle that's perfect for endurance or trail riding then this one from Kings Series is the one to choose. It's made with a durable, scratch resistant material making it great for trail riding. This saddle has synthetic skirts, fenders and a sued leather padded seat and stirrups for maximum comfort. This is a lightweight western saddle that weighs 14 pounds and it's available in a range of sizes.
2. Wintec Full Quarter Western Saddle
This is a scratch resistant durable synthetic leather saddle which means it looks like leather but requires less maintenance and it's weather resistant. These features make it a perfect choice when it comes to trail saddles that will be used in all weather conditions. It has a patterned Equisuede seat which provides extra grip and comfort. This is a wide, heavyweight saddle weighing between 18 and 21lb and it comes with a five-year warranty.
3. Y&Z Enterprises Premium Leather Barrel Racing Saddle
This is a durable, shock absorbing, leather saddle that wouldn't look out of place in a show ring. It has hand tooled, fern leaf patterning on the pommel, cantle, skirt, fender and stirrups and a quilted suede seat. It also features a close contact skirt for enhanced communication and padded ergonomic stirrups for extra comfort. When you buy this saddle, you'll also receive a matching breast collar, headstall and reins.
4. Open Store Wade Tree Premium Western Roping Saddle
This is a sturdy and durable piece of tack that's great for roping. It's made from high-quality cowhide and has an attractive tooled finish. The suede seat gives the rider a good grip and it has a wide pie horn that's reinforced with mule hide for extra stability and durability. You can attach lots of gear to this saddle as it features leather ties and D rings. Matching headstall, reins, and breast collar are included with the saddle.
5. Acerugs Premium Leather Treeless Western Saddle
This is a treeless saddle with a deep, padded seat and a well padded fleece underside. It's produced with a close contact design and has lots of D rings and straps making it a great trail saddle. The quality leather is finished with an attractive hand tooled floral design and it comes complete with matching the headstall, breast collar and reins.
Top Choice
When it comes to quality, design and comfort then the Acerugs Western saddle with Premium Leather gets our best recommendation. As well as being durable and comfortable for you and your horse, it also looks fantastic with its floral hand tooled design. This saddle looks great and is highly functional making it a great overall choice. On top of all this, it's a reasonably priced product that has the support of many happy customer reviews. In our opinion, this is the best saddle to invest in.
Conclusion
It's easy to become overwhelmed by the many types of Western saddle on the market, especially if you're new to Western riding. It's important to choose a saddle that's been made specifically for your riding style and make sure that you measure yourself and your horse correctly to find the right size. A poorly fitted saddle is not only uncomfortable, it can also injure your horse. By following this guide then you'll be sure to find the best Western saddles for your needs.
