In the old west, cowboys tried to be as comfortable as possible for long journeys on their horses. They needed saddles that would serve the necessary purposes – a horn for wrapping their ropes while steering cattle, a place to attach their saddle packs, and a cinch that would not slip – but they also needed saddles that wouldn’t leave them sore and uncomfortable. With new technology available, saddles can now be made to further suit those needs, and to provide comfort and style to riders of all disciplines.
Both English and Western saddles are designed for the comfort of both the horse and rider. Before I take you through my top five in both types, here are some necessary key terms that you will need to understand before reading about the saddles:
Tree – the wooden, plastic or synthetic “frame” that lies within the saddle and holds its shape.
Padding – the fibers that surround the tree and make the saddle comfortable for the rider while filling out the shape of the saddle.
Dees – the D-ring features on every saddle the facilitate the use of accessories.
Close Contact – any saddle that is designed to hold the rider into the saddle, rather than a flat saddle that allows the rider to rise easily from the seat.
Pommel – the front of the saddle.
Cantle – the back of the saddle (also referred to as the “ridge”)
Leathers – on an English saddle, the straps that connect the stirrups to the saddle
Knee Rolls – on an English saddle, the swells at the front of the saddle where the knees go.
Now that we have explored the terminology, I’ll get on to the saddles. I’ve chosen these specific items for their durability, comfort, diversity, and price. They are not all made by the same company because different saddle makers have varying strengths. Some are better at producing close-contact English saddles, while others excel with Barrel-Racing Western saddles. Choosing your own saddle should be dependant upon your own personal comfort level and body shape, which will be a large factor in determining your center of gravity in the saddle.
When testing saddles at the store, make sure that you sit in them on a “hobby horse” before buying. Adjust the stirrups to your leg length and feel how easily you are able to slip your feet in and out of the stirrups. This will be a large factor in the safety of the saddle should something happen aboard your horse.
Also, make sure that the store allows returns. Should you take the saddle home and discover that it doesn’t fit your horse, you will need to make an exchange. Please remember that the comfort of your horse is equally as important as your own comfort, and saddles that don’t fit horses can cause back problems, muscle soreness, saddle sores, and alignment issues. When testing a saddle on your horse, make sure to use a clean saddle pad so as not to soil the undercarriage of the saddle in case you must return it.
ENGLISH
Cambridge Prix D’Ecole Close Contact Saddle
This is the saddle that I use, and I have had it for at least seven years. Every year, I take it back to Cambridge to have it re-stuffed, which is free with my warrenty on the saddle. It is an extremely elegant saddle, though I use it for both showing and hacking at the farm, and it is one of the most comfortable saddles I have ever experienced. Its seat is made with 100% memory foam, which aids in the comfort and adjusts to your own seat. The stirrup leathers and billets have a rawhide core to prevent stretch, and are double stitched by hand, which means that the leather never breaks. The entire saddle is easy to rise out of, which is great for jumping, and it is finished in Australian nut leather, which is extremely supple and durable.
Price: $499.00
Best Value At: PETsMART
Courbette Magic All-Purpose Saddle
Courbette is a famous name in English saddles, and for good reason. Although I don’t like their dressage or close-contact saddles, I have several of these All-Purpose saddles for my lesson horses, mainly because they fit almost every horse in my barn. The All-Purpose saddle is designed to “hold in” inexperienced riders, with a very deep seat and pronounced knee rolls for added protection. The Magic line of saddles are created for all-weather use, with waterproof, breathable leather that can be cleaned with just water. This saddle only comes in black and chestnut, but if you are an eventing or dressage rider, you can get away with the black version in dressage as well as jumping.
Price: $659.00
Best Value At: Courbette
Wintec Synthetic CAIR Close Contact Saddle
Wintec is another big name in English saddles, and the CAIR system of saddles is excellent for the beginning rider or for the older horse. Pressure points on your horse’s back are virtually eliminated by employing air panels that constantly adapt to the shape of your horse’s back, making your horse more comfortable and able to move more freely. This is great for older jumpers that require maximum impact absorption. I use it for some of my older lesson horses because these saddles never need to be re-stuffed.
Price: $499.00
Best Value At: Wintec
Courbette Youth Bernina Dressage Saddle
Another Courbette, this is a dressage saddle designed specifically for youth ages fifteen and younger. With thigh blocks and strong knee rolls, this saddle is perfect for the young and inexperienced rider, and is fancy enough to instill a sense of elegance for equestrian youths. Most Courbette dressage saddles are flat and uncomfortable, but the youth design has a sufficiently deep seat to promote confidence while still providing cushion and support. It encompasses the Courbette Swiss E-motion concept tree, which is designed to allow the horse’s back to raise during intricate dressage moves.
Price: $600.00
Best Value At: Courbette
Dover’s Circuit Close Contact English Saddle
Although I rarely advocate buying catalog saddles, Dover’s close-contact is a great saddle for everyday riding. It boasts French-style panels, front knee blocks and rear thigh blocks, and European tobacco brown leather. It is extremely durable for daily use, and although I don’t recomment the color in the show ring, it will certainly get you through several years of hacking and practice. This saddle comes with a free saddle cover when ordered from Dover online. It also is part of their Test Ride program, which means that you can return it within thirty days if you aren’t satisfied.
Price: $686.90
Best Value At: Dover
WESTERN
A-Betta All-Around Saddle
A-Betta saddles are the newest craze among western riding enthusiasts, especially through Kentucky and Tennessee. This is an extremely affordable saddle, and since it comes with A-Betta’s Acu-suede seat, you can always ride in comfort. It has a deep seat, flexible stirrup flaps, and a resilient, scratch-resistant Cordura nylon finish. Since it isnt a leather saddle, cleaning is a snap, and you don’t have to worry about it getting wet. If you are an endurance rider or if you enjoy trail rides, this is a great saddle to take out under looming thunderheads.
Price: $299.99
Best Value At: A-Betta
Simco Deluxe Trail Saddle
This is another great saddle for the casual rider, and it is a little more aesthetically appealing than the A-Betta. It has a natural oil pecan finish with a black seat and brown accents. Its Pro-Tuff tree is great for the flexibility of your horse’s back, and a wide gullet allows for horses with high withers. The saddle comes with a string girth and leather flank cinch with connector strap. I advise this saddle for beginning riders and casual riders.
Price: $429.00
Best Value At: Simco Longhorn
Circle Y Softee Show Saddle Package
Sometimes, it becomes exorbitantly expensive to buy all of your show gear at once. This saddle makes everything much easier. The saddle itself is a beautifully tooled leather saddle in a light fawn color with lovely silver accents. Its suede seat makes riding ultra-comfortable, and the Ralide tree fits most horses. I use this saddle for all of my western pleasure shows because it is light enough to show off your horse’s coat and comfortable enough that you can ride the bounciest of horses. It comes with matching headstall, breastcollar, and reins, each with matching engraved silver design.
Price: $1499.99
Best Value At: PETsMART
The Bear Trap Competitor Saddle
This is a great saddle with which to start your barrel racing career! It is designed for speed events (barrels, polls, etc.) with slim stirrups, suede seat, and a silver-laced rawhide cantle. It weighs a light 18 Ibs and has a fiberglass covered tree. I’ve used it with some of my students, and they all claim that it is comfortable and makes movement easy in the middle of a pattern. You can use it for practice and in the show ring!
Price: $579.99
Best Value At: Timberline
All-Around Roper Saddle
This is a saddle made by State Line Tack, and is one of the best roper saddles on the market today. You can’t beat it’s price, and it is sure to turn heads in the show ring. Expertly crafted to meet the rugged needs of team ropers, the All-Around is constructed on a fiberglass-covered, hardwood tree with laced, deep roper stirrups that hang slightly ahead of your center of gravity to promote better leg position. The handsome wild rose pattern is deeply hand-engraved, with a toast-colored 16 inch suede seat.
Price: $699.99
Best Value At: State Line Tack
