Horse question(s)!?!?

Question

What is the difference between all the saddles? Which one do you prefer? Which one do you use? Which ones have you used? Which one do you recommend for a beginner?

Answer 1

It really is about preference in the type of riding you want to do and the feel you prefer. How are you going to use your horse and for what sort of sports and activites? I have used all these and prefer dressage or hunt.

English - hunt seat is used in riding and jumping. You have to "post" the trot, it is very comfortable and this is a good saddle. You can find an all purpose English saddle for eventing and all types of basic riding.

English saddle seat is also called a flat saddle it is used on gaited horses. You have to post the trot but this saddle is not good for jumping. These are cut way back in front because the horse carries his head and neck higher. I find these saddle seat uncomfortable too.

English Dressage is a good all around saddle it has a deep seat and you ride with a longer leg than a hunt seat. It is very comfortable.

Western is used for roping, parades, cutting cattle and barrel racing. I find western saddles a bit bulky with a lot between me and the horse and its more difficult for me to have accurate leg pressure like I can with an English. I just don't find them as comfortable. There are as many types of western styles as English, such as roper saddles, pleasure saddles and saddles for barrell racing and stock. They vary in comfort but most are comfortable to other people. Western saddles all have a horn in front that while you can hang onto to it is really for tying a rope around.

Austrailian saddles can be in between English and western, many are rather like dressage saddles and they are very comfortable.

What ever saddle you get it is a big investment that will last you for years. Just like shoes, they take a while to break in.

Answer 2

The main types of English saddles are; jumping, dressage and all purpose. The all purpose saddle is generally recommended for beginners as you can do both dressage and jumping at the lower levels. When you have been riding for some time and feel that you want to specialise that is when you decide to have either a dressage saddle or a jumping saddle. I have owned an all purpose saddle and then a dressage saddle. But if I was going to do jumping I would get a jumping saddle. All purpose saddles are usually cheaper than the other kinds.

I don't know much about western riding. I have ridden in one and found it to be very awkward and uncomfortable, but I think it is because I learnt to ride English style. Also the western saddle was very heavy to lift up onto the horse. English saddles are much lighter.

Decide if you are going to learn to ride western or English before you buy a saddle. If you buy an English saddle you need to get advice about fitting it to your horse. Some horses are wider than others and some have large withers (spine over the shoulder) which need to be accommodated by the saddle or it could be uncomfortable for your horse, and even make him sore. Best of luck with your riding.

Answer 3

It really depends on what style of riding you are interested in. English or western are the two most popular saddles. I've never used an English saddle because it's not the style of riding I chose. I do find that the western is very comfortable. I would recommend starting with a western saddle for beginners so you can feel more comfortable on a horse. I know with the English style you have to learn to post and all that jazz. Something I don't really care for. But if you are just riding for pleasure, or want a comfortable way to learn, use a western.

I suggest using a search engine and entering "western saddles" or "english saddles. You can get an idea of what they look like, how much they cost.. ect.

Answer 4

English saddle is close contact with the horse. western is more relaxed weather ur walking or running. western saddle has a horn- its mainly for ropers. there is also a Australian saddle and it looks like a cross between English and western. i have ridden in all three... i ride mostly western now but still enjoy all. u need to find a trainer that can give u a couple lessons in both, that way u can decide which is comfortable and right for u. u can ride any as a beginner but i would suggest both like i said before, so u can decide. keep a open mind about all forms of ridding. they are all unique, great, and fun. good luck

Answer 5

The style of the saddle depends on the style of riding you want to do. The western saddle is probally offers the most comfort to the rider. They are bigger based and have the horn. Western riding is usually slower paced unless you are reining, cutting, calf roping or doing anyhting "cowboy". English style riding, which is more faced paced and alot less of a saddle. English is the jumpers and three day eventing (cross country). Saddle Seat is like riding a board, the saddle is pretty much flat and it is fast paced, hgigh stepping action. The dressage saddle for Dressage which is close to English but it is advanced and years of training. You have the endurance and Aussie saddles as well. But before you pick a saddle you want to pick a style of riding. I have done all disciplines of riding and always loved English because of the jumping. I loved the excitement of 3 day eventing which includes Dressage, the fast paced cross country course and stadium jumping. But my family bred Quarter Horse and since I showed and wanted the all around titles I rode English and Western. I hated Saddle Seat primarily because I did not like the breeds used a lot for that style and I hated the Saddle. But Western is probally the easiesy for a beginner and one that you will feel the most comfortable at learning.

Answer 6

I have two one all purpose english it is an event saddle made for light dressage work and light jumping and cross country work. Sort a mid range saddle useable for all english things. But not good for upper level riding.
I also have a western saddle it is a park and trail type saddle. I do not rope but I could off this saddle or do almost anything esle western I need to. It too is sort of an all purpose western saddle.
I ride in both and it depends on what I am going to do that day what saddle I use.
For training in the arena mostly use the english one but for trail riding or working cattle or riding fence line I use the western.
I like both and I feel that by riding in both types regularly that my riding ability is better.

Answer 7

Saddles come in a large variety and which saddle you use depends on your discipline and comfort. I use an all purpose english saddle or jumping saddle. For a begginer i would reccomend a basic western saddle. (some riding schools start with western saddles because it is probably more comfortable with the saddle horn) but if you really want to eglish, an all purpose english saddle would be best.

Answer 8

I use a bucking saddle(i break horses) it is aan all around good saddle. It is good for locking your legs into if your horse gets spooked, and it is also very comfortable. The saddle needs to be riden and broke in, before it gets comfortable, i suggest you buy one and use it. You can always buy a different one afterwards. Try buying a used saddle they are usually in good condition, If you live in Florida get the magazine Horse and Tack they have good deals on saddles. Another name of the saddle i use is a roping saddle, just depends who you talk to. Stay away from vinyl made saddles, stay with the leather saddles, it takes more care but they are worth the time .

Answer 9

My farrier comes each and every 6 weeks or so. The vet comes once contained in the spring and once in fall for basic vaccinations. We actually have the vet examine each and each and every horse's tooth and assemble a fecal pattern. it isn't mandatory to have the horse's tooth floated each and every 12 months. Our horses are often high-quality for 2-3 years at a time. If someone does favor a flow, we are able to agenda yet another appointment for the flow(s). Then, obviously, the vet would must be called out if there's an issue. My appaloosa gelding hasn't ever considered a vet outdoors of basic visits. My Shire go mare pronounced a vet for an allergic reaction some months in the past, yet it really is all she's mandatory in almost 3 12 months's time. each and each and every horse's nutritional needs are distinct. till steered otherwise with information from a vet, a horse must have get precise of entry to to loose decision forage. A mixed grass hay is solid. Our hay is regularly orchard grass, with some brome, timothy and bluegrass jumbled in. If not something else, a horse must have some type of diet supplement or a nutritional balancer. constrained grazing and grass hay does infrequently enable for far type contained in the horse's eating routine and they'd fall short on some needed foodstuff. Many horses honest nicely on forage on my own, yet many do not. in the journey that your horse is a harder keeper, a collection formulation pelleted feed is probable ideal. finally, you're ideal off chatting with an equine nutritionist and arising a feeding agenda that works for you and your horse, because each and every horse and everybody's administration practices and needs are distinct. I presently use a kimberwicke on my draft go mare. i'd not propose this bit to purely everybody. that's an English bit however that's a leverage bit which ought to purely be used with information from the right hands and contained in the right circumstances. I also use a D-ring snaffle. D-rings are somewhat uncomplicated and use direct rigidity. they don't pinch the corners of the mouth like some O-rings. Egg butt snaffles, and complete-cheek snaffles are solid English bits to boot.

Answer 10

All I know about saddles is Western has a saddle horn and English does not.