Cute Horses » Saddles

Pony Saddles – The Types of Pony Saddle Explained

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:39:01 +0000

The main variety of saddle used for general pony riding is the English Saddle. It has a spring tree as a foundation and is well padded for the comfort of both pony and rider. This kind of saddle allows the pony to move freely so it can jump, gallop or perform dressage.
The chief designs of English Saddle are:
The All Purpose English Saddle. As the name implies a general saddle useful for hacking, jumping (occasional), showing, dressage.
The Jumping Saddle is designed for show jumping, cross-country and fox hunting. The main distinction between this and the all-purpose saddle is how the forward-cut flap is designed to make it possible to use shorter stirrups to ensure the legs are in the perfect jumping position. The flap incorporates additional knee pads to support the knees.
The Dressage Saddle is designed for working on the flat, therefore the flap can be straighter cut than a jumping or all-purpose saddle, with the seat designed to be deeper and further forward, all to allow for the rider's straighter leg and body position. This saddle has less padding so the rider has more contact, and thus more fine control of the pony. Longer girth straps are used with a dressage saddle as they are fastened much closer to the pony's elbow .
The Showing Saddle is for use in showing, where the judges need uninterrupted views of the pony's conformation, thus it is small and light. It has a small amount of padding and not much support for the rider, with no knee rolls.
The Western Saddle was used as a working saddle, providing both security and comfort to cowboys riding the range across rough terrain, working cattle for extended periods of time. The Western Saddle has a horn on the front to be used to fasten a rope to control a cow. A western saddle usually has fancy decoration with tooled leather and silver plates, and is often decorated especially for the rider. The tree is bigger than an English saddle and without padding for that reason it is crucial for the pony's comfort to use a saddle blanket. A cinch is used with this saddle instead a girth, the cinch being attached to the saddle with a flat leather or nylon strap (the latigo). The stirrups are fixed to the saddle and do not separate in case of a fall by the rider.
The most important kinds of Western Saddle are:
The Barrel Racing Saddle is designed for the sharp turns and high-speed runs used in the rodeo event of barrel racing. It is a small, lightweight saddle with a flatter seat and high cantle and pommel to give the rider a more secure seat.
The Endurance Saddle is lightweight with a larger tree to spread the weight of the rider over a bigger area to make it more comfortable for the pony while engaged in long treks over uneven ground
The Show Saddle generally has a lot more tooling and silver decoration and a deeper seat than a normal Western saddle
The Treeless Saddle. Instead of the saddle having a rigid tree as a foundation the treless saddle has a fibreglass pommel and cantle to give a firm base. If your pony has a very broad back a treeless saddle will probably fit better than a standard saddle.

WESTERN SADDLE PKG NATURAL 16" HAND TOOLED *ROUGHOUT*

US $199.99
End Date: Monday Sep-06-2010 19:38:01 PDT
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How to Fit Horses with English Saddles : How to Use Saddle Pads for an English Saddle

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:38:46 +0000

Watch as a seasoned horseback rider explains how to use saddle pads in this free online video about saddling a horse in the English style. Expert: Kelli LaBar Bio: Kelli LaBar is a practicing aesthetician and makeup artist in Wilmington, NC Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC

Fleece Padded Astralian Saddles, Western Saddle, English Saddles Colin Dangaard

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:35:17 +0000

www.aussiesaddle.com - Colin Dangaard talks about the Fleece Padded Aussie or Australian stock saddle.

Girth Converter for English/Australian Saddles

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:39:10 +0000

GIRTH CONVERTER
Converts Aussie / English to Western
Great for surcingle conversion also

Product Description
Girth Converter for English/Australian SaddlesConverts billet straps on english and australian style saddles to western dee ring rigging. Great for surcingle conversion also. Polished steel heavy dee ring.... More >>

Girth Converter for English/Australian Saddles

Appreciating The Wide Variety Of Saddles Available Today

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:53:35 +0000

Appreciating the wide variety of saddles available today is all the easier once one learns bit about this fascinating and extremely useful tool for riding a horse. Basically, the saddle is a supporting device for a horseback rider. It's fastened to the animal on its back and is kept there by what's called a girth, for starters. These days, the most common type of saddle is the one intended for equestrian use, and which is also called an equestrian saddle. While not intended for use on a horse, there are a wide variety of other riding tools made for other animals such as camels, making this simple yet versatile device extremely common throughout the world. In history, many experts maintain that the saddle first made an appearance about 800 BC, though they were fairly crude and usually just made up of one or two padded blankets and a cinch -- called a surcingle -- that kept the pads attached to the back of a horse. Gradually, the saddle began to improve and by 200 BC a special saddle tree was added to it. By 380, stirrups made their first appearance as well. Generally speaking, almost all of the various kinds of saddle available today date their genesis to the 1700s and 1800s. Today, most such riding tools have been built specifically for one sort of equestrian or horse riding discipline or another. These include the classic cowboy, or Western, saddle as well as the sleek and minimal equestrian riding tool used in Olympic or other competitions. If a saddle is properly cared for and maintained, it can last for literally decades. There are many examples of the Western saddle (first pioneered by Mexican vaqueros in the 19th century) that are still being written by men and women who received the saddle from fathers who got them from their fathers who, in turn, received the saddle from their own fathers. The modern saddle as people know it today is the result of a segmentation into two different general types; the English and the Western saddle. A variation of the English saddle came into being as a means to improve the equestrian discipline of dressage, while certain variations of the Western saddle developed into the classic US Army cavalry saddle, the McClellan. Saddles and horses go together like peas and carrots, to quote one very famous movie character. They are as ubiquitous in the American Southwest as is John Wayne in any number of famous cowboy movies. They can come in a great many styles and are built to serve many different purposes. The famous equestrian saddle is often seen on the back of many an Olympic-caliber horse, as well.

WESTERN PONY SYNTHETIC SADDLE SET BLACK - 13" * NEW *

US $88.00
End Date: Monday Sep-06-2010 20:23:01 PDT
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Western Saddles: 7 Signs of Poor Fit

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:41:33 +0000

With a suitable quality saddle and a variety of saddle pads, you should be able to ride many horses of the same physical type with a single saddle. Such a saddle should comfortably clear a horse's withers, allow for free movement of the shoulders, be the proper length and shape for its back, and be well balanced to provide good weight distribution. That's proper saddle fit. If you ride horses of different breeds or significantly different sizes, then you'll need to invest in multiple saddles.
Wondering whether your saddle fits your horse? Below are 7 potential signs of a poorly fitting saddle. If you're seeing any of these signs with your horse, you should take another look at how your saddle fits.
1. White hairs. White hairs showing up in the saddle area can be a sign of poor fit. Over time pressure points can cause the hairs to loose pigment.
2. Dry spots. When you take off your saddle and pad after a long ride, what you want to see is an even wet pattern across the horse's back. Dry spots can be a sign of pressure points.
3. Sores or galls. In the saddle area, sores and galls can be a sign of several problems: a poorly fitting saddle, a poorly adjusted saddle, or poor quality cinches.
4. Rolling or rocking from side to side. A saddle that rolls to the side or rocks from side to side can be either a sign of poor fit or a sign of a rider who isn't balanced in the saddle.
5. Tipping up in back. Tipping is generally a pretty straight forward sign of a poorly fitting saddle and is usually cause by saddle tree bars with the wrong rocker and twist (angles) to fit the back of the horse.
6. Hindered movement by the horse. Restricted horse movement is a more difficult sign to detect and usually takes a more advanced rider to notice the difference in the way a horse moves under different saddles. A saddle that restricts a horse's shoulders will often impact how freely it moves out.
7. General crankiness under saddle. Many saddle problems are commonly misdiagnosed as behavior or attitude problems. Put yourself in your horse's place. How happy are you when you're wearing shoes that are one size too small?
Saddle fit isn't an exact science. It takes some savvy to determine whether or not you have a good fit. These 7 Signs of a Poor Fit are a good first step in building your saddle fit savvy.

SYNTHETIC TREELESS WESTERN/ENGLISH SADDLE 15" or 16"

US $89.99
End Date: Monday Sep-06-2010 20:18:01 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $89.99
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BEST SELLER!! Ride-Behind Tandem Saddle for Western Saddles

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:38:16 +0000

Product Description
This saddle addition is constructed of tough cordura nylon over shock absorbing foam with rigid thick foam padded cantle . The ride-behind tandem attaches firmly to the back of most western saddles. Complete with stirrups and adjustable nylon leathers. Nylon straps on these will provide handles.... More >>

BEST SELLER!! Ride-Behind Tandem Saddle for Western Saddles

Western Saddles – A Brief Survey

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:43:45 +0000

Trail Saddles The most popular type of saddle, trail saddles are designed for comfort over rough terrain and many miles. Designed for comfort they are lighter than ranch or roping saddles which are designed for heavier work. New materials and features often appear in trail saddles first due to their popularity. Some features include an easy to hold thin horn, a higher fork for stability, a deeply recessed cantle for comfort, wider stirrups treads and padded seats. Rounded or cut out skirts may also be present to further reduce the weight. Ranch Saddles Ranch saddles, also called buckaroo, cowboy or old time are heavy weight saddles designed for heavy work. Made for long hours in the saddle and for functionality around the ranch they may include comfortable deep seats, low swells to be out of the way when working and thick horns. Other features include plate rigging for better strength, a high cantle, double rigging and rope straps. Roping Saddles Designed for freedom of movement these saddles are made for heavy duty. Maximum freedom while roping and chasing cows is ensured by the saddle tree design and the strong horn. A wooden saddle tree covered with bull hide, a rounded low fork, double rigging and a deep suede or rough leather covered saddle all contribute to the ease of use while working. High cantles allow easy mounting and dismounting and the stirrups are forward hung to help the balance. Cutting saddles For cutting out single cows from the heard, cutting saddles were developed. A cutting saddle needs to endure good balance for the rider during extreme turning, starting and stopping maneuvers. Features include easy gripping with a tall thin horn, long flat seats, slim stirrups, low cantles and forward hanging fenders for extra balance. Reining Saddles For reining sporting events a purpose designed reining saddle is ideal. These saddles need very close contact between horse and rider for ease of execution of circling, spinning and sliding stop maneuvers. Subtle communication between horse and rider is ensured by the close contact which, if properly carried out will not be seen by the spectators. Because of the close contact reining saddles are also popular as training saddles. Endurance Saddles For competitions involving long rides of up to 100 miles, endurance saddles are needed. They must be light weight and well made to stand up to the long miles of riding. Bulk must be minimised while at the same time maximising close contact. In addition for the long hours in the saddle they must be comfortable for both rider and horse. Because they are designed for comfort they are also becoming popular for trail riding. They feature comfortable padded seats, no horns, lower weight short skirts, deep stirrups and multiple saddle strings for your gear. Show Saddles Show saddles, unlike the other types are designed primarily for their looks in the horse show arena. Fashion is important and designs change frequently. Ornate and deep tooling and decorative silver ornamentation are used extensively on show saddles. Designed for good looks rather than work these saddles follow fashions and change accordingly. For show saddles the latest fashion is important! Other features include deep skirts for more decoration turned stirrups with silver trims, and padded seats.

13" Blue River JR Roping Western Saddle

US $620.00
End Date: Monday Sep-06-2010 20:15:18 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $620.00
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Australian Saddles Explained

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:41:35 +0000

Mike Bergin of Down Under Saddle Supply explains how Aussie saddles are different from other types and why it is the top choice of many trail riders.

How to Fit Horses with English Saddles : How Use Riser Pads for an English Saddle

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:09:06 +0000

Watch as a seasoned horseback rider explains how to use riser pads in this free online video about saddling a horse in the English style. Expert: Kelli labar Bio: Kelli labar is a practicing aesthetician and makeup artist in Wilmington, NC Filmmaker: Reel Media LLC