Overview Of English, Aussie and Western Saddles

December 6th, 2008 |

Author: Horses // Pets, Livestock, and Wildlife // ArticlePros.com

The saddle is surely one of the most important considerations when horse riding (well not if you are bare backing!). To control the horse properly, the rider should sit on the horse back with much comfort so that his or her body weight can be distributed on the horse back keeping the balance of the horse itself. There are a number of different sizes and designs of horse saddles. There is available the English Riding and Western saddles in varying types. At the time of selection, one should consider the simple fact whether he or she will feel more comfortable to ride the horse with much pleasure in the preferred style, for instance, English saddles are very much attuned to riding horses in English style and so on.

However the discipline of English riding is not restricted to England alone, the usage is spread all over the world. The saddles are designed in such a way so that there will be the least chance of the physical discomfort whilst jumping or galloping over the hurdles or racing along on uneven ground. Basically the English saddle is made of a solid tree over which padding and leather coverings are added. Conventionally, the tree of an English saddle is manufactured with laminated layers of high graded quality wood with the reinforcement of spring steel and inclusion of a riveted gullet plate. These trees are called spring trees. However with the times proceeding, the saddlers prefer other materials that have superseded wood. There is also the underside of a Dressage saddle which displays the panels, gullet, sweat flaps inclusive of the billets panels. This is a very vital section of the English saddle which helps to keep the perfect balance of the horse.

The conventional hunting saddle, which is designed with a low pommel and cantle without any padding is also popular. A long way back during the 18th century, most riders preferred to use the high-pommel and cantle saddles which were equipped with a wooden frame for classical dressage. Actually this type of saddle was also used for cattle work and traversing long distances upon the horses. The saddle is basically manufactured with leather materials and therefore it is soft and flexible. The English saddle is very popular and well known in the world, this saddle is not only used to ride the horse gently but also in sports, jumping, cattle work, racing and polo.

There are a number of features which are available in the English saddle like the flatter appearance, pair of pads which are fixed to the underside of the seat. There is the absence of a horn in the English saddle. The English saddle is generally filled with foam, air and woolen materials. The English saddle is decorated with the design in such a perfect way that the length. angle and height of the cantle including the angle of the flaps and depth of the seat give extra elegance and durability to the saddle. The English saddle and the Western saddle provide excellent variety in use, however there is a difference between the two types of saddles in outward appearance and styles. Basically in past the Western saddles were used by cowboys who had to spend a long time controlling the herds of cows in the grazing fields. In comparison to the English saddles, the Leather Western saddles are much more weighty.

Never the less, the animal feels comfortable under heavy saddle as the Western saddle keeps perfect balance, distributing the body pressure over the area of the horses back. Furthermore, there is the nice arrangement of the contoured cattle fenders and of the stirrups that help the rider to be much more comfortable and protected during riding. Western saddles are designed with wooden trees which are further covered in either fiberglass or rawhide. The wooden trees can also be covered with materials like ralide which is a type of a polyethelene. There are many western saddles which are designed with ornate carves in leather and silver. The synthetic type English saddles are much lighter than the Western leather saddles. There is a lack of panels in Western saddles, however there is the arrangement of the upgraded pommels and cantle in the Western saddles.

Aussie saddles are very convenient and comfortable for the horse rider and the horse itself. The Aussie saddles are very effective for trails. It is less weighty and the thigh fenders will provide the additional security to the horse riders. In comparison to the English saddle, the pads of the Aussie saddles are much larger and much more durable. Pads of the English saddles are very thin. The length of an Aussie saddle is longer by a few inches in comparison to the dressage and flap length. On the other hand the western saddle lets the flaps reach the horse’s sides which can be a little uncomfortable for the horse. The difference between the Aussie saddle and the Western saddle is that the Aussie seat is not deep therefore one can sit a little bit forward in the Aussie saddle.

On the Aussie saddles one can make the proper utilization of the English saddle pad or numnah or Indian mat. Frankly speaking, the Australian saddles are well combined with the versatility of English and the comfort and style of the Western saddles. The English pads are very short to get fitted properly. On the other hand Aussie pads are much more flexible and comfortable to get well fitted with the saddle.

Article courtesy of the Australian Online Horse Network!

Colleen Millis is the Founder of The <a href="http://www.horsecentre.com.au">Australian Online Horse Network </a>and the CEO of <a href="http://www.dustydays.com>Dusty Days PTY LTD Australia.</a> Colleen is married and the mother of 3 children.