Why Use a Saddle on the Horse?

Jan 28, 2012
Chris Thomas

Saddles can Benefit Riders Greatly - C. Thomas

When it comes to horse riding, saddles aren't imperative. They can however be of great benefit to horse and rider.

Perhaps apart from pleasure riding or hopping on a horse out in the paddock, riding without a saddle isn’t commonly found when looking to structured lessons in a riding school, competition or on a paid trail ride. Saddles are important for the rider as well as someone providing tuition on horse riding.

Encouraging a Correct Seat and Balance

For a new rider, a saddle can provide a form of security. This is achieved by providing a comfortable seat to be in astride the horse’s back and stirrups for placing one’s feet in. In a saddle that is correctly fitted to the horse being ridden, the correct position on the horse’s back can be more easily encouraged.

This position helps to keep the rider balanced over the horse’s centre of gravity or point of balance. Stirrups allow for the rider to make better use of their legs and not lose control when first learning the rising or sitting trot. Although not best to encourage until the rider’s confidence increases, the pommel can also prove to be a good place for a rider to rest their hands to keep them low, or hold onto when first trotting.

Variations on Saddle Types

Because there are varying disciplines with horseback riding, there are many different types of saddles. Each of these is adjusted to best suit the discipline they’re used for. For example:

the western saddle has a longer stirrup and a horn in front for roping work
the dressage saddle has lengthened stirrups and a deeper seat for a more classical position on the horse
jumping saddles are often more forward cut with shorter stirrups to encourage the forward position often used when jumping horses
the racing pad is as light as possible and forward cut with short stirrups to help a jockey to be up off the horse’s back and in a forward position

Ill Fitting Saddles

Not every saddle is going to fit every horse. It is important when looking at getting a saddle for a particular horse, that it fits this horse correctly. Saddle fitting can help to ensure that there aren’t going to be pressure points, pinching or other issues that will make being ridden uncomfortable to the horse and cause potential pain and lameness.

Saddles are not the be all and end all to riding. They can however be particularly helpful when it comes to competing, being secure on the horse whilst learning to ride and encouraging a correct position.