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| Home | Resources | Horse Saddles |

English, Western and Australian Horse Saddles - Which One Should You Choose?
By: Taylor Turnstone

When you are in the market for a horse saddle it is important to know what kind or riding you are going to do. The horse saddle has to fit you just right, so it is important that you try out different ones and different styles until you find one that you are comfortable with. The main types of saddles for the serious riders are English, Western, and Australian. Each of these saddles has something different to offer the rider.

English saddles are used in all of the Olympic equestrian events. This saddle was designed to give the horse the freedom to move around, jump and run. In England as fox hunting grew in popularity, so did the English saddle. This saddle allowed the horse to be able to jump fences and move quick and fluidly. This is the saddle that is called upon during long riding trips and is viewed as the most comfortable for not only you but your horse as well. It is important that you get a proper fit on this saddle because if it is doesn't fit correctly, it could cause your horse to buck and rear. If the horse catches you off guard with one of these motions you risk injuring yourself and your horse. Some styles of English saddles include dressage, jumping and racing saddles.

Western saddles are known as the cowboy saddle. This is the saddle that you are going to put on your working horse. This saddle was designed to keep the rider secure on the bumpy trail. Orignally designed for the cowboys on the cattle ranches that had to spend everyday on their horses. The western saddle is also used in horse riding lessons because the size and the style gives the beginner a greater feeling of security. This saddle is heavy and it is important to make sure that the saddle fits the horse perfectly because if it doesn't you risk injury to your horse. There are actually many different styles of western saddles, suited for different functions, such as barrel, show, racing, trail to name a few.

The Australian saddle is all about the riders comfort. The saddle spreads the bearing weight throughout the rider's body, making sure that their rear end and thighs support equal amounts of their body weight. This is the saddle that is used by the people that are confident in their riding abilities. If you have a horse that you trust than you have no reason to have a bulkier, more heavy saddle. If you truly do not believe that this saddle could be comfortable just by looking at it, than rest assure this saddle had been worked on and improved for over two decades

Whatever your riding style is it is important that you purchase the proper saddle. The right saddle is not only what keeps you safe and secure, but also your horse. If the saddle is misfitted then it will rub the horse, leaving them with open sores. Any open sore can lead to infection which could have devastating effects on your horses health. A perfect saddle fit makes for a happy rider and a happy horse.


Article Source: Articles Engine

You can learn more about English Saddles and Western Saddles at our Horse Saddles and Tack website.