Hello to all you horse lovers! Are you in search of a new horse saddle and not sure exactly what to look for? Buying the right one is very important because there are many types of saddles that are designed for specific things.
Some saddles are meant for pleasure riding, while others provide a more comfortable long-term effect, for those that ride for long periods of time and often. In this guide, we will answer some of the questions that people often ask when purchasing a horse saddle.
We have even researched and found five of the top options on the market. Each one provides different experiences, but only you can decided which one will best suit your riding needs. Keep in mind, what is right for one rider might not be right for you.
Top 5: Horse Saddles Review
Product Image & Rating (Out Of 10) | Product Name | Price |
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This Carved Leather Horse Saddle is manufactured by Zohran, and it is made out of quality buffalo harness leather. There have been some comments made about a distressed appearance that has the occasional blemish, but this does not affect the overall quality of the saddle.
The leather that is used has irregularities in consistency, which makes each saddle unique. It has a Belvin style buckle and an original branded thread. The style of the saddle is a western pony style, and it can be used in trail rides and basic riding.
The tree is flexible, which allows it to be fitted comfortably to the horse without causing any unnecessary pressure to the horse, and the padded seat makes it comfortable to ride for longer periods of time.
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This quality made saddle is made out of leather, and it is designed specifically for those that wish to show jump. It is designed to be lightweight, which makes it easier for your horse to make smoother jumps.
This AceRugs Jumping Horse Saddle comes with a 30 day return policy, and the instructions for returning will be in the package upon delivery. Like other saddles, it has adjustable stirrup leathers, which allow you to fit the stirrups to your individual needs.
It is designed with padded flaps and a medium-deep soft padded seat that makes it comfortable for the ride, but it also has padded panels for the horse's comfort. It can be used for most traditional uses, but it does have a lower pommel and slightly forward flaps that are designed for rides that want to jump.
It even has a set of D-rings on the right side of the saddle that are meant to attach a show number attachment when riding in a show ring. It does have longer flaps and a high cantle that make it suitable for flat work, as well.
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This beautiful Orlov Hill Leather Co Horse Racing Saddle is made out of 100% leather, and the floral design on each one is hand tooled for a unique aspect to every saddle. It is designed for horse barrel racing, and it is accented with stainless steel fittings.
It has a nylon reinforcement on the leather stirrups that help provide extra safety, while riding, and this saddle has made several best seller lists, like Sports & Outdoors and Equestrian Saddles.
Although this saddle has an attractive floral design that is meant to draw attention in a racing competition ring, it is also suitable for trail riding. It can also be used by both male and females.
It is designed to be lightweight, which gives the horse more freedom when running and competing, and it comes with a matching headstall breast collar. The tree is meant to fit a full quarter horse, and the bar seat is made out of a padded black suede material.
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This AceRugs Pleasure Trail Horse Saddle is designed as a pleasure trail and barrel racing saddle. It can be purchased in seven colors: green, blue, brown, red, pink, black, and purple. It is designed out of a synthetic Cordura material.
The padded seat is soft to provide a pleasurable ride, and the underside of the saddle is made out of a soft synthetic fleece material. This saddle is best for pleasure riders. It is not meant to be ridden hard.
Some customers have found that the stirrups are placed in an awkward position, but if you are looking for a beginner saddle, this might be the best choice for your needs. It can be used by people of different weights, and it is adjustable to fit most horses comfortably.
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This All Natural Western Horse Saddle is manufactured by AceRugs, and it is made out of all natural cowhide western leather. The color is that of antique oil, which gives it a rustic and natural look, and it comes with a breast collar, headstall, and reins.
The floral design is hand carved with basket weaved tooling, and it has been named in a few best seller lists, like Equestrian Saddles and Sports & Outdoors. The tree is made of a well balanced wood and fiberglass.
The seat has a unique hand quilt stitched seat design, and it has padded adjustable stirrups that make it more comfortable for the rider and the horse. The underside of the saddle is padded with a soft fleece that helps to make sure that it is comfortable against the horse.
SADDLE MEASUREMENTS
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Buying Guide
Riding horses can be an excellent way to reduce stress and have fun, but many people still make a solid living riding horses in one fashion or another. After purchasing a horse, the saddle will be one of the most expensive investments that comes with owning a horse.
Yet, there are many purposes for owning a horse, and there are different saddles that are suitable for different things. Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself when purchasing a saddle:
Manufacturer
When purchasing a saddle, there are several well-known manufacturers that are known for producing quality horse saddles. Even though there are quality saddles that are made by other manufacturers, your best bet is to look at some of their saddles, especially when purchasing the saddle online.
Online purchased saddles cannot be seen or felt prior to purchasing them. Therefore, the picture might look excellent, but when you receive the saddle, it could be crafted badly. Before making your final selection, research a little on the manufacturer of the saddle you are considering.
You want to look for some sort of guarantee or backing of the saddle by the manufacturer to ensure that you are covered if you receive the item and something is not to your liking.
Materials
Most quality saddles are made out of some sort of leather, fiberglass, and fleece. It is important to note that leather saddles tend to have blemishes and inequalities that make each saddle unique.
So, if you receive a saddle and something looks a little different in coloring than in the picture, this does not mean that the leather used was defective in any way. It is important that you ensure the undercarriage of the saddle has a soft material, like fleece, that is designed for the comfort of the horse.
Hard saddles with no undercarriage can cause uncomfortable pressure to the horse, which could cause them to buck or even have health issues that could result in extra veterinary visits.
Style
It is important to note that not all saddles are suitable for all riding styles. If you are a beginner, you could get away with a less expensive all-around saddle that is designed for you to learn with.
There are saddles that are designed for specific jobs, like barrel racing, trail riding, rodeo work, ranch work, trick riding, and many others. There are some saddles that work well for several of these types of jobs, but it is important you know what you plan on doing with your horse before choosing a saddle.
For instance, if you are a trick rider, you need specialized saddles that will support your weight comfortably on the horse during your various tricks. They tend to protect the pressure points of the horse's back to ensure that the tricks do not cause pain to the horse.
However, if you are looking for a pleasure saddled for trail rides, you could get away with a less expensive type of saddle that is still quality made but more comfortable for longer periods of riding for both you and the horse.
Comfort
For anyone that has ever ridden a horse, they can tell you that if you ride for long periods of time it can be uncomfortable. Therefore, you should look into saddles that will provide a comfortable seating position for you, while riding.
However, it is also important to think about your horse. After all, your horse is the one that has to bare the weight of the saddle. You need to ensure that the saddle you purchase will do its job, but will also provide comfort to your horse's back.
The wrong saddle can cause irreparable damage to a horse and cause it to go lame and even injure it permanently, rendering it unable to be ridden. Keep this in mind when you are purchasing a saddle. Ensure that the saddle has a good reputation for being comfortable for both the rider and the horse.
best horse saddle
After researching and reviewing the saddles above and the different aspects you should consider when purchasing a saddle, we have come to the conclusion that the best all around saddle is the Zohran Hand Carved Leather Barrel Pleasure Trail Horse Saddle.
Not only is this saddle beautiful, it is lightweight, and it provides a comfortable ride for both the rider and the horse. It is made out of quality buffalo harness leather, and it comes with a free tack, as an extra bonus.
Horse saddle Commonly Asked Questions
What are the different types of horse saddles?
Different types of horse riding will require different saddles. There are 10 main saddle types for you to choose from:
- General purpose saddle: This saddle type is a good option for beginners to consider. They can be used for different types of riding. The saddles are designed with flaps that will help with jumping, hunts, and dressage. This is also a common saddle you'll find at a riding school since they can accommodate riders of different sizes easily.
- Jumping saddle: This type of saddle has a flatter seat that will push the person riding the horse forward to help them maintain the ideal position for jumping over a fence on their horse.
- Dressage saddle: These saddles are designed for flat-work competitions. The design features a deep, U-shaped seat that can help the rider maintain his or her balance.
- Racing saddle: These saddles are lightweight and smaller than other models. They have a very flat seat since jockeys hover, rather than sit, when they ride.
- Australian stock saddle: Designed to be comfortable and provide extra padding, this is a good saddle type for people who spend a lot of time riding a horse.
- Western saddle: This may be what you picture when you hear 'horse saddle.' They have a horn at the front to help with balancing and are designed to be more comfortable to ride for extended periods of time.
- Hunting saddle: To help riders hunting and jumping over hedges in the English countryside, this type of saddle is designed to push the weight of a rider to the back of the saddle and keep their feet forward in the stirrups.
- Treeless saddle: This saddle type may be good for horses with back that don't fit traditional saddles well. They give the rider a closer contact with the horse and are very lightweight.
- Side saddle: Traditionally used by women since it was improper for them to straddle this horse, this saddle lets the rider sit with their legs crossed and to the side.
- Youth saddle: This smaller saddle type is designed to fit on ponies for young riders. They may have a front handle to aid in balance.
How can you tell if a saddle fits your horse?
When a saddle fits your horse properly, it can help your horse remain calm and comfortable during the ride and create an enjoyable experience for you as well.
When the saddle is placed on your horse, it needs to look even. There should be space for you to stick two fingers between the horse's withers and the saddle gullet to ensure a proper fit that is not too tight.
After taking a short ride with your horse with the saddle on, you can remove the saddle to look at the sweat pattern. With a properly fitting saddle, you should see sweat everywhere there should have been contact between your horse's back and the saddle. If you see random spots with no sweat, it means that contact between the saddle and the horse's back was not made in that spot, which indicates and improper fit.
Finally, look for the actions of your horse when you switch their saddles. They may start acting differently, which can indicate something is wrong with the fit. If your horse bites their saddle, stumbles more than normal, doesn't want their back touched, lays their ears back, or refuses to move for you, it could be because their saddle does not fit correctly.
How can you tell if a saddle fits you properly?
Finding the right saddle fit for you is just as important as making sure it fits your horse properly. If your saddle isn't the right size, it could pose a safety risk or make you uncomfortable as you ride.
One sign that your saddle isn't the proper size for you is if it has too much room. If you slide around and the saddle makes you feel unsafe, it is probably a sign that it is too big.
If a saddle is too small, it may make it challenging for you to balance as you ride. If you are having trouble with your balance, it might be time to look for a new saddle.
Another indication that your saddle isn't the right size for you can be your legs hanging off the front of the flaps. This usually indicates that the saddle you have is too small for your body. You want to feel like you are sitting in a secure and natural position when you're riding.
Finally, if you end the day with back or body aches after riding, it can be a sign that your saddle isn't a good fit for you. You may be adjusting your riding position to make the saddle 'fit' and contorting your body in such a way that it is leaving you in pain.
Do I need a saddle to ride a horse?
You can ride a horse without a saddle, but you'll likely be glad to have a saddle. To ride without a saddle, you will need to have better coordination and balance, since saddles often help with these when you ride. If you're planning to ride your horse for any period of time, you'll also be more likely to get tired more easily if you ride without a saddle.
The experience for horses is different without a saddle as well. Whereas a saddle helps filter out some of your movements and jolts, this buffer won't be there. Some horses won't like the feeling of giving you a ride without a saddle and may be resistant, or even buck you off.
How much does a horse saddle cost?
The quality of a saddle, type of saddle you're looking for, and other features can impact the price you can expect to pay. Many saddles cost somewhere between $100 and $500, but you could easily pay even more than this if you choose to have a saddle custom-made for your horse.
Final Verdict
Yet, even though this is the all around saddle that we have found, it is important to note that that does not mean that it is the best saddle for your situation. You need to research some things yourself to make sure that it is the best fit for you and your horse, prior to purchasing it.
After all, saddles are not meant for one-size-fits all. Your friend might have one saddle that is perfect for them, but it might be the worst purchase of your life, based on your riding needs. Always keep this in mind and remember to make an informed purchasing decision based on your needs and wants and not of someone else.
