Just For The Horsemen

[white avenger]

I have this ongoing argument with a friend of mine about what type of saddle is better, and I was just wondering what your opinion would be.

Which type of saddle do you prefer, the English type, or one of the various stock saddles, including the cavalry McClellan type?

I learned to ride using a standard Western stock saddle, and have never felt comfortable with the smaller ones.

 

[November]

Yay! A subject I actually know quite alot about! Haha. Im an english style rider so my preferred type of saddle is of course the english style as that is what I ride in the majority of the time. It basically comes down to what you and your horse are comfortable with. There isnt really any type that is better than the other, the most important thing is that it fits your horse correctly no matter what type of saddle it is. You also want a saddle that is going to fit the discipline of which you ride. Its no good going to a jumping event in a western saddle or vise versa.

There are also different types of english saddles, so depending on what I am doing, I use the saddle that fits my needs. Dressage saddles are dead comfy and put you in a good position to do flatwork and dressage, it has a deep seat and you ride with longer stirrups for close contact with the horse thru your legs and seat. Jumping saddles are just that, used for jumping and cross country work, I dont own a jumping saddle as I dont really jump huge obstacles, my limit is about 120cm single or a course of 90cm. They put your legs in a more forward position (with much shorter stirrups) and have quite a flat seat so you are able to get into a good jumping position for either showjumping, cross country or hunter jumping. The most widely used type is an all purpose/general purpose saddle which is basically a cross between a jumping and dressage saddle. It puts you in a reasonable position for general flat work and by adjusting the stirrups it puts you in an ok position for jumping also. The seat is not so deep as a dressage but not as flat as a jump saddle and is pretty versatile. We use AP saddles in RDA and many pony club kids use them too. If you're serious about jumping or dressage (or anything else for that matter) it is best to get the saddle that is design specifically for what you do.

In saying all that, if I am riding a breaker or a horse that likes to buck, I feel much more secure in a half breed saddle stock saddle (I think they are widely know as an Australian stock saddle). It has the knee rolls that stick out at the front and a deep seat with stirrups that make your legs sit forward just a fraction. Makes you feel very secure! We also use these at RDA and I used them for track work as well. It takes quite a bit to be thrown from one of those saddles, they dont put you in the best traditional position but they put you in a very secure position if you horse is acting up. Most of the pleasure/trail/bush riders I know use this type of saddle as they are comfy and secure for riding for a few hours.

I have ridden all sorts of saddles but besides the disiplines mentioned I dont know a whole lot about the others. Western Saddles are REALLY comfy but as Im not a western rider I dont know the details of those.

The absolute MOST important thing when you are looking for a saddle is that it FITS the horse. Bad saddle-fitting causes all sorts of problems, from small things like the horse getting sore, to turning your horse into a bucking bronco rodeo mount because it hurts when a rider is on their back. If they get into the habit of bucking or rearing it can be hard to break and many horses are sent the knackary deemed dangerous from something so simple as an ill fitting saddle. I could go on for hours about the importance of a good saddle fit but I've babbled enough! Its also no good getting a saddle that the rider doesn't feel comfortable but sometimes you have to compromise for the sake of the horse. So there really is no 'best' saddle, it just comes down to finding saddle that fits both you and the horse and puts the rider in a good position.

 

[white avenger]

In this area, up until a few years ago, at least, just about everybody rode western saddles, with an occasional McClellan (These were almost always the old hand-me-down rigs that someone's granddaddy bought from Army Surplus for $5). We did almost exclusively trail riding except for the few who "cowboyed" in the local rodeos. Recently, though, we have the Atlanta Steeple Chase, and English style events at the horse shows, so those folks with the puffy pants and funny little hats (not like honest jeans and Stetsons at all!) have invaded the area. I've ridden a friend's English saddle a couple of times, once out of curiosity and once just to see how it would feel on a long ride. As I said before, I grew up riding stock saddles, and anything else just doesn't feel right. I guess it all boils down to what you're the most used to.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Not that my opinion really matter but when has that stopped me before? I always thought the stock was the 'real' saddle for real riders (those that had to actually preform a function rather than perform) and English saddle was for playing about.

 

[Professor Walsh]

Being a woman, I'm not a horseman. Can I answer anyway? 😉

I prefer a saddle that perfectly fits the horse it's on, and doesn't hurt my fairly well padded rear end. For my own horse, it's a lovely German dressage saddle (even though I rarely ride around in tidy circles, I'm more of a trail riding girl, but I've also been happy in a McLellan in South Africa and in various other English saddles. As for the western kind, I've never sat in one of decent quality, so I have no idea if I like them.

After reading the poll options again, I have to add that even if my German saddle is what you'd call "English", and not very big (I have an Arab, so there's not all that much back to put the saddle on), the deep seat makes it feel quite secure. It doesn't give the "small" feel that a general purpose saddle often will give.

Aussie: Are you doing RDA work? Tell me more!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Being a woman, I'm not a horseman. Can I answer anyway? 😉

As if we would be allowed to stop you without all hell breaking lose.. 😉

 

[Silum]

Just For The Horsemen

What about the Horsewomen?

edit-

Ahh crap, see im not the only one to mention it. haha

---------- Post added at 09:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 PM ----------

white avenger agrees: To me, everyone who rides a horse is a horseman, regardless of sex, the same way I think of Wonder Woman and Supergirl as "superheroes." But if you prefer "horsemen-and-women," it's fine with me. Nothing sexist was intended.

Yea i was just playin, sorry. I desperately wanted to be part of a thread I have no business in.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

Being non specific to what type of saddle, who made it and what it is made of. The best type of saddle would, to me, be the type that still feels comfortable after riding for six hours and you don't need to walk bow legged ( or as if you had piles ) afterwards.

 

[November]

Not that my opinion really matter but when has that stopped me before? I always thought the stock was the 'real' saddle for real riders (those that had to actually preform a function rather than perform) and English saddle was for playing about.

LOL cos trying to stay in a saddle the size of a dinner plate takes no skill whatsoever [/sarcasm]

Stock saddles are popular because they are very secure and a hell of alot easier to ride in, especially if your horse is going nuts. But to get the rider in the correct position they arnt so great. Novice/beginner riders tend to get lazy in them and just slouch and let their legs ride too far forward (well my students do anyway 😛) and put themselves in an armchair postion which doesnt help the horse work correctly either. Its fine if you're not fussed about that though or if you already have an established good position.

Aussie: Are you doing RDA work? Tell me more!

Yeah I work as a RDA coach 3 days a week and care for the horses. We have all sorts of clients and horses to suit their needs. Our website is below (mods please remove it if its not allowed)

RDA Oakford - Riding for the Disabled Association of Western Australia (Inc.)

Im happy to answer any other questions you have about it too, there is so much when you are working with horses and kids its hard to keep it short 😛

 

[Skanky Vamp]

still feels comfortable after riding for six hours and you don't need to walk bow legged afterwards.

If you are riding high in the saddle for six hours and you don't walk bowlegged afterwards you may be doing something wrong.

 

[Professor Walsh]

Thanks, Aussie. My horse is about to become an amateur shrink, he'll be used in a psychiatric unit.

As if we would be allowed to stop you without all hell breaking lose.. 😉

I'm far too busy biting someone's head off somplace else just now, so I'd just raise an itsy bitsy hell. Not more than Dawn could cope with.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I'm far too busy biting someone's head off somplace else just now

Miss French? Is that you?

 

[Professor Walsh]

Miss French? Is that you?

 

[white avenger]

miromurr agrees: Can you still get reasonably cheap *old* McClellan saddles in your area? I'd like to own one someday.

I've seen McClellans on ebay once or twice, but they were the original ones, or claimed to be, so they sold very high. There is a reproduction being made, I don't know by whom, but it's popular with Civil War reenactors. I believe the price on it was close to $800. It's been so long since I've bought a saddle (I bought mine back in the '70's) that I have no idea whether that's high or not. The repo that I saw was in a catalog called, I beoileve, "U S Cavalry." They might have a web site if you would care to look for it.

 

[anyalover17]

Definitely English saddles. I can't ride in a western, mainly because I jump, and trying to jump while the horn is stabbing you in the gut is not fun.

 

[Blaze]

My first choice would also be english, but its probably only cause its what I use 😛 I also find that its a lot lighter in the horse and is really easy to find a perfect fit. I know at first if your use to a bigger saddle, you'll find that this one is unconfortable, but you get use to it really fast. I can easily ride 4 horses in one day or go for a trail ride and I feel really confortable. Also, my horse is really fast and high spirited so it get me a better controle with my seat I find. But again that is just my opinion as a jumper style rider.

Also, what are the price for the different saddle type in your region. Here I know that english sadles are ones of the least expensives. I got a really good close contact (for jumping) sadle and its very well baded, so really confy for me and the horse, for about 430$ (canadian) and it came with stirrups, saddle pad, girth, bridle, bit. Also, if you want to go for long rides, you might want to look into buying a confy sadle bad and possibly a half bad (used for english saddles) to minimise the movement of the saddle on the back of your horse or to ajust the fit.

-Blaze-

 

[white avenger]

Also, what are the price for the different saddle type in your region. Here I know that english sadles are ones of the least expensives. I got a really good close contact (for jumping) sadle and its very well baded, so really confy for me and the horse, for about 430$ (canadian) and it came with stirrups, saddle pad, girth, bridle, bit. Also, if you want to go for long rides, you might want to look into buying a confy sadle bad and possibly a half bad (used for english saddles) to minimise the movement of the saddle on the back of your horse or to ajust the fit.

-Blaze-

My saddle is over 30 years old, and at that time I paid over $200 for it. I've seen basically the same model in catalogs lately for over $1000, but there are, of course, much cheaper ones, made either primarily or entirely out of synthetic materials and maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I have no intention of riding on a plastic saddle. As I said, I've had mt saddle for over 30 years. I've taken care of it, and it's served me quite well. I seriously doubt that one of these cheap pieces of junk would last anywhere near that long.

 

[November]

My saddle is over 30 years old, and at that time I paid over $200 for it. I've seen basically the same model in catalogs lately for over $1000, but there are, of course, much cheaper ones, made either primarily or entirely out of synthetic materials and maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I have no intention of riding on a plastic saddle. As I said, I've had mt saddle for over 30 years. I've taken care of it, and it's served me quite well. I seriously doubt that one of these cheap pieces of junk would last anywhere near that long.

Good quality leather saddles are certainly worth paying for. I have a lovely english leather dressage saddle that doesnt fit any of my horses but I dont want to sell it incase I get a horse it does fit as it is such a nice saddle! My old leather AP was over 30 years old also but I chucked that because it didnt fit any of the horses here, it was nice leather but not made to be a good fit for the horse. One of the problems I find with older saddles is that the panels are too thin and are really quite uncomfortable for the horse. They get a numb back just as we get a numb bum when we are riding for long periods of time, so the larger the surface area of the panels, the better it is for the horse. They are also hard to alter when you need to use them on another horse, an expensive trip to the saddle fitter is the only way.

The synthetic saddles are very popular and they arnt all cheap and nasty. I have always been a fan of Wintec saddles and the interchangeable gullet is great and easy to adjust as your horses back muscles start to build up. I personally love them cos they are so easy to care for and fit. We have kids dribbling, dropping jelly or pouring water on them in lessons, or we take them to the river or the beach where they get covered in salt and mud, all we have to do to clean them is a wipe over with a wet cloth, its so easy and quick. Im sure they wont last as long as the old well made leather saddles but they are being made better and better with every release. Im not such a fan of CAIR though, give me the traditional flocking any day but even CAIR is starting to improve. All these new foams and pads are being developed for more comfortable and affordable good quality saddles.