Saddle question

[Dutchgirl]

Hi everybody, i have a question about models in westernsaddles.
I know how a cutting saddle and a roper saddle are supposed to loo like, i also know that barrel saddles often have round skirts.
However, what are the differences between all the other models? (trail, reiners, pleasure saddles etc)
Is a pleasure saddle a pleasure saddle because it has a lot of silver on it, or is it a specific model? They often look the same to me.
So whats the difference?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Dutchgirl

[denise42]

I am going to say right up front that there are people on here that know a whole lot more about western saddles than I do.
However I just bought a Dale Chavez reiner. What I found when I was doing my research for my saddle was :
Eqiutation seats, and reiner seats are very simular.
Both put you in a balanced position. Which I have discovered makes it easier to ride. I can stand in my saddle at the trot with out hanging onto the horn.
Barrel saddles tend to have a higher cantel to help hold you in.
Pleasure saddles seam to have a seat some where between equitation and trail. some pleasure saddles are classed with show saddles,. Show saddles often come with alot of silver and an equitaiton seat. But pleasure can also be classed with the trail saddles which are a more basic saddle. Trail saddles tend to put you in a chair position. That seams to be more comfortable for a long trail rides. My old saddle was a park and trial with silver on it, and I had to work very hard to keep my legs under me.
I sat in a ton of different saddles in the last month and what I found to be most important to me was that I have a saddle that I am not fighting with all the time to maintain the position I want to be in.
I hope this helps some :p

[lawgirl]

Dutchgirl,
There are so many more western saddles above the normal, roper, pleasure, trail, cutting, barrel ect. Rather than try to explain them all in a post, here is a site that has just about everyone with a picture. Thought that may be a little more helpful to you.

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/westernsaddles.html

Let me know if that helped or if you have any questions.

Have a great day.

Wendy

[Dutchgirl]

Thanks fooks, i am a little more wiser.
I was just very curious about all the differences.
Since i am one of the few riding western and i get a lot of questions about saddles.
See you all.
Liesbeth
P.S. i started out with a Bona Allan, then i had a Billy Cook, then a Texas Longhorn (simco) At the moment i am riding a Bob Marshall sports saddle.(great)