What You Should Know About Buying a Saddle

A few days ago, I ran across a question on one of the Q & A sites about buying a saddle. Even though I do not have horses now, I did grow up with horses, and I know a bit about selecting a saddle. It's actually a pretty big topic, so I decided to write an article.

There are quite a few parts to a saddle. If you are unfamiliar with saddle construction, this can be confusing. In this article, I would like to list and describe the parts of a good saddle for you. I hope this will help you know what to look for and how to ask intelligent questions when shopping.

The basis of any saddle is the "tree". There are two types: a rigid type and a spring type. If you want to ride English, you will probably find a saddle that has a spring type tree crafted from very thin, flexible plywood that has been shaped over a fiberglass base. This provides extra durability. Thin strips of steel are positioned inside of the base of the saddle - both front and rear - for "spring". This makes your ride more comfortable and makes the saddle easier on your horse's back.

If you are looking to ride Western, your saddle will be likely to have a rigid tree. A rigid tree is made of wood or fiberglass. It is covered with leather and has steel plates affixed to the underside for strength.

There are also saddles that are termed "treeless". These have a fiberglass base that is not stiff or rigid. Other than this type, a saddle should be solid without a lot of "give" when you handle it. If you are looking at second-hand saddles and the one you are looking at seems too floppy or flexible, the tree is probably broken. Don't buy it.

Of course the tree is covered with an attractive and useful exterior that will make riding comfortable for you and your mount. Here are the parts that make up any saddle:

At the front of the saddle, you will find the pommel. This is where you will find the saddle horn on a Western saddle. The horn is for holding your lariat if you intend to do some lassoing! The pommel rests on your mount's shoulders (withers).

In the rear, you will find the cantle. It rises up slightly on an English saddle and several inches on a Western saddle. It keeps you from sliding off backwards! The middle of the saddle, where you place your bottom squarely, is called the seat. Positioned at various places on your saddle, you will find D-rings and saddle strings. These are for attaching accessories and for carrying saddlebags, bedrolls, canteens and other needed equipment.

You will place your feet in the stirrups to mount and dismount and also for support while you are riding. On an English saddle, you will have stirrup irons. These are plain, metal stirrups shaped like a capital "D" lying on its back. On a Western saddle, the stirrups are a little larger and covered with leather. They are more square-shaped than D-shaped. Sometimes they have a leather covering across the front to protect the toes of your boots. Despite being more elaborate than English stirrup irons, Western stirrups are simply called "stirrups".

Your stirrups are held on by stirrup leathers. These are attached to the saddle by the stirrup bar. There is also another flap of leather above the stirrup bar called the skirt. Sometimes the stirrup leathers are actually made of leather. Sometimes they are made of webbing. Buckles allow you to adjust them up or down to the length of your legs. On the stirrup leathers, you will find the keeper. This this is like the little loop on your belt that keeps the end of your belt from flapping around. The keeper holds the leathers in place so that they don't shift around and cause problems and chafing for you or your mount.

The stirrup leathers and associated buckles are covered by the flap. This is made of leather and protects your legs from injury caused by the rough buckles and straps. An English saddle may have knee rolls. These are pads at the front of the flap that pad and support your knees. You would only really need them if you were involved in jumping, steeple-chase, or dressage. For simple, pleasure riding, they are unnecessary.

Under the skirt, you will find the outer panels attached. Their purpose is to protect your mount and keep his back comfortable by distributing your weight properly. On a Western saddle, they are padded with or wool or sometimes with felt. An English saddle will often just have smooth leather here. No matter which is present, you will also want to use a good saddle pad or saddle blanket to protect your saddle from sweat and your horse from saddle sores. Choose a good, thick pad in a natural fiber that can be washed. Keep it clean and check it frequently for burrs to prevent injury to your horse's back.

If you turn your saddle over, you will see the gullet. This is a groove that extends from the front to the back of the saddle. This allows air to circulate under the saddle to keep your mount's back more comfortable. It distributes your weight evenly to the sides of your horse's back and keeps your weight off his spine.

The saddle is held on by the girth or cinch strap. This is a strap that fastens to both sides of the saddle and is passed beneath your mount's stomach and tightened to keep the saddle in place. An English saddle usually has a leather girth. A Western saddle usually has a girth fashioned of soft cord in a natural or artificial fiber. Any girth can be covered with a girth pad to make it more comfortable. Some saddles also have a flank strap positioned behind the stirrups. This is an additional "girth". It is not necessary for basic pleasure riding and is uncomfortable for your horse. Unless you plan on very challenging riding (e.g. mountainous) you don't need it.

When selecting a saddle, look for solid construction and high quality craftsmanship. This does not necessarily mean a lot of fancy tooling or attachments. You want high quality, sturdy leather and strong smooth seams. Buckles, D-rings and straps should be sturdy and well made. If you are looking at second-hand saddles, be sure the saddle is clean and has been well-maintained. It should be free of wear and tear. If the leather seems dry, avoid it. It is likely to tear. A well-maintained saddle will have been cleaned with saddle soap and oiled regularly so that the leather is clean, supple and sweet-smelling. If the saddle is dusty, dirty, dry, damaged, moldy smelling, or in any other way unpleasant, don't buy it.

I hope this article has helped you to become familiar with both Western and English saddles. I wish you the best of luck in finding the perfect saddle for you and your mount.

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