Equestrian Life is an online community for horse people.
We bring together horse people across all disciplines, breeds and sports.
We invite you to connect with others who love horses as much as you do.

About Horse Saddles

Current Rating:
Views: 2,895
Favorite: 1
Categories: Western, How-Tos

URL:
Embed:
Share

About This Video

Horse saddles are available in both synthetic materials and in leather, and they should fit both the horse and the rider well for the best riding experience. Choose the highest quality saddle that is still affordable with advice from a riding instructor in this video on equestrian living.

Member Comments
Add A Comment Now

Make this Community Strong:

Be the first to add a comment!

You Must Log In In Order To Participate in the Discussion.

Video Transcript

We're going to talk about saddles, particularly the western variety. When we first get into horses there's a whole lot of things we need to learn about the equipment. If we're going to choose a saddle, we might often be kind of persuaded into what we consider synthetic saddles. The material a saddle is made out of is a very important feature. This being of different kinds of synthetic materials and of course our leather saddles that are more traditional. However we can look at some of the benefits of a synthetic saddle, it's not my personal choice but for those starting out and or for someone who has any physical disability whatsoever, a synthetic saddle is a very lightweight saddle. You can get, as this one is, a large seat size, you can get different styles and makes but the synthetic nature of it allows it to be much lighter. You can literally hose it down, they require very little maintenance. However I think the downside of your synthetic variety is they don't really give you that true comfortable feel that you've become used to when you ride in a good quality leather saddle. When we move on to the leather saddles, this is the more traditional. We have different seat varieties, this being one of my youth saddles, it's also we won't go into the type necessarily but you have different skirts, you have square skirts, barrel skirts, your fender size, those kind of things. We want to pick the best saddle that we can afford. That's a tricky decision. Sometimes you can go out and buy a brand new saddle that can be upwards of 4,000 dollars for a highly competitive person. You can find a good quality leather saddle maybe new for a thousand dollars. My best advice is to shop a lot and look for the best quality used saddle for your first saddle. You're going to enjoy your ride much better if you find one that fits you well, fits your horse and has only been lightly used. They are out there, those are my favorite choices. But if you have to go to the new then you want to just think about what is your budget and try to stay within it but find the best quality that you can afford. There are lots of been around forever name brands, those are always very dependable as well as custom made saddles that were made out of somebody's small shop that had a lot of history and reputation.



Advertisement
Share This Video
Related Videos
Where to Buy a Custom-Fit English Horse Saddle
To buy a custom-fit English horse saddle, buy a saddle from a tack shop that fits the horse.
Best Horse Riding Gear to Wear
The best horse riding gear to wear should include comfortable riding pants...
Getting Ready for a Dressage Show
Get ready for a dressage horse show by cleaning the bit and the stirrups...
Getting Ready for a Hunter-Jumper Show
To get ready for a hunter-jumper horse show, make sure the tack is well-cleaned...
Getting Ready to Show Your Horse
Getting ready for a horse show requires thoroughly cleaning all of the tack...
Preparing for a Horse Show
To prepare for a horse show, know the rules and regulations for the show...
Clipping a Horse
When clipping a horse, use a size 10 blade to clip the muzzle, the whiskers, along the jaw...
About Horse Show Jumping Fences
Horse show jumping fences will vary depending on the level of the horse show and the class.
How to Train a Horse to Stop
Train a horse to stop by walking the horse forward, pulling back on the reins and using your...
How to Train a Horse to Canter
Train a horse to canter--once the horse is comfortable trotting--by encouraging the horse with...

See All 904 Related Videos

About The Producer
Expert: Kath Kentala

Growing up, Kathy Kentala participated in 4-H programs and competitions. Her expertise is in training children and novice horse riders.

More Videos By Kath
How to Groom a Horse
Grooming a horse requires using a variety of brushes to loosen the dirt out of the fur...
How to Tack a Horse
To tack a horse, first lay down high-quality saddle pads that protect the wither bone...
Horse Training Halters
Horse training halters begin with a simple rope halter that gets the animal used...
How to Tie Rope Horse Halters
When tying a rope horse halter, approach the horse slowly and calmly...
Caring for Saddles
Caring for saddles requires storing it in a covered area with a saddle cover...
Where to Buy a Custom-Fit Western Horse Saddle
Buying a custom-fit Western horse saddle is the ultimate purchase...
Horseback Riding Tips
Horseback riders should always find a well-fitting helmet, understand the proper...
How to Play With a Horse
Playing with horses is a process of gaining their respect through training, reinforcing good...
Horse Bridles & Bits
Horse bridles and bits are available in a variety of sizes, metals, materials and shapes...
How to Saddle a Horse
Saddling a horse requires providing adequate saddle pads placed correctly on the back...

See All 32 Videos

View Your Corral
View Your Profile
Link To Equestrian Life
Find Friends!