Western vs English saddles

Amber Hughes

Amber Hughes

Fergals mummy
May 4, 2007
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Saltash, Cornwall
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Hey everyone

Can I ask your opinions on what you prefer regarding western and english saddles?

I have always ridden english but after my fall and being out of the saddle I have been getting into natural horsemanship and have been watching people in western saddles thinking that looks soooo comfy!!

From what I can gather are these facts true:
  1. Western more comfortable for horse and rider?
  2. Western saddle harder to fall off in haha?
  3. Are they easier to fit to horses then english saddles?

The only thing I can think of is people may laugh at me riding around on my western saddle but if my bum doesnt hurt then what the heck

So when I do get back into riding I am considering getting a western saddle like this one cos its gorgeous.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sedona-16-Wes...oryZ3178QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

whats your experience of western saddles please?


Thanks xxxx
 
Point 1 - debatable, depends on you, the horse and the saddle
Point 2 - generally, but doesn't mean it is impossible to fall off a western, and the horn on the front blimmin hurts if you whack it with your stomach (can u tell I'm speaking from experience!!)
Point 3 - definitely not correct, it is as important to get a properly fitting western saddle as it is an English one.

Why would people laugh at you? Their loss I say, and Western is becoming so popular in this country that I don't think anyone has reason to laugh.
 
bexj said:
Point 1 - debatable, depends on you, the horse and the saddle
Point 2 - generally, but doesn't mean it is impossible to fall off a western, and the horn on the front blimmin hurts if you whack it with your stomach (can u tell I'm speaking from experience!!)
Point 3 - definitely not correct, it is as important to get a properly fitting western saddle as it is an English one.

Why would people laugh at you? Their loss I say, and Western is becoming so popular in this country that I don't think anyone has reason to laugh.
Click to expand...


oooo hadnt thought about the horn hitting you!!! bugger that sounds painful!!

so are they so much more comfy does it make it easier to sit to things? my balance is quite good anyway but im scared and lost so much confidence from braking my back and ankle that im a bit sketchy now

as to fitting the saddle it would be no good buying one from the internet then - bum!!!! they are so much more cheaper but i suppose i could measure my horse then see if one fits and sell it again if it doesnt - then the problem again of me having loads of time off my horse is going to lose shape then build it up again so may have the issue of buying one using it then gettin another

real dumb question but i doubt u can adjust or reflock a western saddle?

thanks

xx
 
yes western saddles can hurt if the horn hits you,lol, I haven't managed to fall out of mine yet, although my mum did fall off a western saddle,lol.

Mine are treeless, and are lovely on my bum.

The one in the link looks a bit dodgy and cheap to me, although I have not seen one in the flesh so could be wrong:)
 
Hi,

Regarding adjustable western saddles - there are ones with slightly flexible bars which will allow the horse to bring its' back up. There are treeless ones (like the Barefoot Arizona) which work out cheaper than a good quality treed one, and will adjust shape to the horse. I am afraid it is not that easy to get a saddle to fit your horse. You might be lucky, but from my experience the synthetic western saddles hardly fit any horses at all.

There is no flocking under a western saddle which is why it is vital to get a good quality pad.

Good luck and if I can help - please let me know :)

Maria :)
 
They make Endurance type western saddles...without the horn.
Also depends on the type of horn. A flat wide very short horn seen on some of the old Wade western saddles are not going to bother you like what you see in reining, cutting, barrel racing saddles.

Front to back they will give you more saddle security and less likely to come off those directions. But side to side....every bit just as bad as English saddles.

I have to admit, if my horse had a longer back I would ride western again. Sadly her back is just too short to fit any western saddle.

Is important to have good fit just like with English saddles. However the western saddles have much more weight spread over the entire saddle unlike the English saddle. So it might take a bit longer for you to notice the fit is not quite right.
Have always found it easier to fit a western saddle to a horse who's back is long enough for it.

Another saddle I like but not designed for my horse is the old Portugese bull fighting saddles...boy are they secure saddles but not everyone's cup a'Tea.
Good Australian saddle with big ears are also quite secure.

As for being comfy...really does depend on the make and model of saddle..just like english saddles..not all are created equal. I would recommend Demo-ing any saddle you are interested in.
 
The 19th c. traveller Isabella Bird wrote passionately about the greater safety riding astride in a Mexican (Western ) saddle. A well known Bishop had died riding back in the Uk and she felt his life would have been saved if he had ridden in a Western saddle.

She was speaking, though, of a treed Western saddle which rests on bars running either side of the horses back bone. Such a saddle holds you well in place and the horn is there for holding onto.
But some English saddles also seem to hold you in place. I rode recently in a treed dressage saddle which amazed me, because the back (cantle) and knee roles held me in position far more than I was used to.

If you extend the definition of Western saddles to include treeless, there would not seem to be any additional support or safety - you'd be back to there being little difference between treeless Western and treeless normal. I rode my friends horse in a treeless in Texas. It doesnt stretch as far back on the horse as a Western with apron.

I decided against riding Western in the UK because of the relative scarcity of saddlers able to supply and fit Western saddles. It is hard enough to find a good saddler even if one keeps to the cultural norm. But if I get really old and am still riding at 80, a Western saddle may be a good idea.
 
I like to ride western, but unforntunalty bacause i ride a small pony the western saddle are quite heavy, I'm currently selling my western saddle on ebay. I find the western style so comfortable, as i suffer from back problem due to a riding accident.
 
There are companies out there that have made trees for shorter backed ponies, wide horses, big withers, no withers, etc. The wholesaler I use I chose specifically for their attention to training, fit, and a wide range of trees (36 atm in total). It is so very, VERY important to fit the saddles really well otherwise they can do alot of damage. :)
 
I learnt to ride on English saddles, and a couple months ago, I took my two girls out for a ride (one loose and me on the other... yes, crazy indeed!!) And I was some glad I was riding on the western saddle!!! That horn can come in handy when your horse is going full blast and you get scared and loose your strirrups!!!! :D
 
don't forget the different in weight.

My western saddle weighs around 38lb. So when I am looking at what a particular horse can carry - I have to be skinnier to ride western ;)

As to sitting in a western saddle - at western gaits yes (e.g. jog, lope) as they are smooth gaits. Try doing a working trot however, and you may find you need to go rising. And then you have to work out how to rise with a horn right in front of you !

Also bear in mind that - like english saddles have styles (GP, Event, WP, Dressage) so do western (roping, cutting, pleasure etc etc etc).

The different saddles sit and support the rider in the most appropriate way for the discipline they are riding in.
 
When I was younger the normal weight for a western saddle was 50 to 60lbs.
(I sure can't pick up that weight any more!)

Here in the western part of the States is much easier to find good fitting western saddles.
Do not think it would be as easy in the UK, sadly.

Even the best western saddle makers out this way, can't make a western saddle only 22" long over all and fit an adult. I asked them all. Do know of a couple that will make a 23 1/2" long ones but that tiny bit, makes all the different in the world to an Icelandic. So there are limits.
The standard western saddle lenght here is 26" to 28" long.

Western saddles an posting...did that for years...no way I would sit my Arab's trot!!
You will have to do what is called, " Military" posting. Bit hard at first but once you get the hang of it...very easy to do and less work than the traditional way.;)

As for Aussie saddles... I love them!!! Secure, the well made ones are very comfy,, just a great all around design.
Sadly.. my Grey Icelandic..decided after 6 months not to like it. Though it looked like it fit perfect.
If I went that route again..would have to have a custom one made. But then again the custom price isn't that much more than a real Aussie made saddle.
 
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HI I ride in a treeless saddle and a western. With both i do not hhurt the next day (got a dodgy hip) unlike riding english. If you are thinking of going for a western for security of the pommel think again the worst thing you can do is grab on!! Have you thought about going treeless with western fenders??
I have a farely old western parade saddle which i bought from a friend it;s over 15 yrs old and i still payed £250 you get what you pay for. There are lot's of nasty western style ones out there. My treeless i love and will never go back to english, even my pony is more responsive as you can feel there back working. If you can borrow one to try i would advise before buying.
Here's to western saddle's and western games yahoo
 
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