Saddles and Bridles » Selecting the Right Saddle

English & Western Saddle Parts and Measurements

Admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:03:13 +0000

Here are all the important bits to English and Western saddles. There are many similarities, and some important differences. New English saddles usually don’t include the girths, stirrup leathers or stirrup irons. These are sold separately. New Western saddles always include stirrups and cinches, but sometimes you may want to buy a better cinch.

When buying a previously-owned saddle, it will usually come with cinches and stirrups, but be sure to ask to confirm! Read our saddle-buying tips article before making an offer or placing a bid.

Measurements for English all-purpose, eventing, close-contact and dressage saddles usually range from 14″ to 19″ using 1/2″ increments. Saddle seat or cutback saddles usually measure from 17″ to 22″ using 1″ increments. Measurements for Western saddles sizes usually range from 13″ to 17″ using 1″ increments.

Tweet This Post

Western Saddle Buying: Top 7 Buying Mistakes

Admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:55:31 +0000

By Beth Stefani

Buying the wrong western saddle is a very common occurrence in the western riding world. It’s also a very expensive learning experience. You can skip this painful lesson by avoiding the top seven western saddle buying mistakes.

Buying Pretty. While we’d all like a nice looking saddle, letting looks drive your buying decision is asking for trouble. The quality of the saddle materials and the construction are far more important than the look of a saddle. A poorly made saddle can look awfully pretty, especially to the uninitiated. Don’t fall for this one.
Buying Image. Have dreams of riding the range and working a cattle drive? Or maybe riding to an NFR championship buckle in barrel racing? While the cowboy and cowgirl dreams and imagery can be strong and enticing, don’t let those images determine your saddle choice. Choose a saddle type that fits the actual type of riding that you’ll be doing.
Buying Cheap. Cheap saddles are not a bargain. Poor quality materials and construction will shorten saddle life, and, more importantly, will cause discomfort and impair movement in your horse. If you can’t afford at least a middle-of-the-road new saddle ($500 and up), then buying used is a great solution. Quality saddles last a long time, making buying a “pre-owned” saddle a smart buy.
Buying Dumb. You need to educate yourself on some saddle basics before buying. Ride in as many different saddles as you can. Talk to all the horse people you know about their saddles. Pick the brain of knowledgeable saddle folks. And, always, before purchasing a saddle, know the seller’s tryout and return policies.
Buying Selfish. You found a saddle that’s high quality, pretty, and fits you well. You’re all set right? Wrong. You’re forgetting one very important partner in this deal – your horse. If the saddle doesn’t fit your horse well, than the rest doesn’t matter. Make sure you understand the basics of horse fit and determine beforehand whether the saddle will be a good fit for your horse.
Buying One-Size-Fits-All. While you shouldn’t need a different saddle for every horse you ride, one saddle will not fit every horse you run across. The best approach is to choose a saddle that will fit the basic physical type of horse that you’ll ride. For instance, I ride Quarter Horses that are on the smaller size. I have a saddle that will fit most horses of this type. If you ride more than one type of horse, you’ll need multiple saddles.
Buying Brand (or Endorsement). This one is a little trickier. Buying a well-established brand is not a bad idea. You just need to be aware that a number of saddle brands have been around a long time and the quality of their saddles have varied significantly over time. The quality can also vary within a brand’s current product lines. They might have great roping saddles but just average barrel saddles. Never just blindly buy by brand without thoroughly inspecting the quality of the saddle in consideration. Additionally, celebrity endorsement can seem like a stamp of approval, but it really doesn’t mean more than that the celebrity is receiving payment for use of his or her name. Very few celebrities have any input into the design and construction of the saddles bearing their name.

Many riders have a tack room full of saddles that didn’t work out. Others are constantly buying and selling saddles in search of just the right one. It doesn’t have to be this way. If you do your homework beforehand to truly understand your horse’s and your own needs, you can purchase the one saddle that will be a match for you, your horse, and your riding activities.

Beth Stefani is the publisher of www.western-saddle-guide.com, a comprehensive online resource for understanding, choosing, and caring for the western saddle and accessories that are right for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Stefani

http://EzineArticles.com/?Western-Saddle-Buying:-Top-7-Buying-Mistakes&id=299330

Tweet This Post

Western Saddles: 7 Inspection Tips For Buying Used

Admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:50:24 +0000

This is a very useful article regardless of whether you’re buying an English or Western used saddle! –Ed.

By Beth Stefani

When you’re looking for a quality western saddle, a used saddle can be a smart choice. The best saddles will last a lifetime with proper care. So, like luxury cars, a quality used saddle can be more aptly described as previously-owned. You can buy a lot more saddle for your money in the used category.

But buying used requires close inspection of the saddle prior to buying. A used saddle is bound to have some wear and some scuffs and scrapes. That’s to be expected. What you’re really looking for are structural problems. The following are the top 7 used saddle inspection tips.

Saddle Tree. The saddle tree is the foundation of a saddle, so if it’s not solid nothing else matters. To test the tree, set the saddle on its fork, nose down. Press down hard on the cantle and twist, looking for bending which is an indication of a broken tree. A broken tree is a deal breaker. DO NOT purchase a saddle with a broken tree.
Leather Quality. High quality leather will be thick, soft, and supple. It has a much longer life, especially if well cared for. Low quality leather will be thin, often cracked, and will not keep its shape. Avoid buying used saddles with low quality leather. There’s no bargain there.
Leather Condition. Check whether the jockeys and skirts lie flat or curl up. Curling is a sign of either poor quality leather or leather that is used-up. It’s pretty much impossible to get curled leather to lie flat again. If the leather looks to be of good quality (thick, doesn’t curl), but looks dried out, a good cleaning and conditioning can do wonders and bring back a lot of its luster.
Underside Fleece. Expect to find a good amount of wear and dirt here, but excessive wear may require having the fleece replaced which isn’t cheap. Also, uneven wear can be a sign of a badly designed saddle that doesn’t fit well and should be avoided.
Stitching. Check the stitching to make sure it’s intact. Minor problems can be repaired, but a saddle with a lot of rotting and missing stitching should be avoided.
Surface. While a quality saddle can last a long time, the care it receives will impact its lifespan and its appearance. Saddles are made to be used and passing on a quality used saddle because of some scratches and scuff marks is a mistake. But, you’ll have to determine what you can live with.
Parts Inventory. Do a check to see which parts might be missing. Most parts (stirrups, stirrup hobbles, billets, cinches) can be easily replaced (and many will prefer their own choices anyway), but missing parts should factor into the price.

Buying a used saddle can be a very smart choice, IF you carefully inspect the saddle prior to purchase.

Beth Stefani is the publisher of www.western-saddle-guide.com, a comprehensive online resource for understanding, choosing, and caring for the western saddle and accessories that are right for you. Visit Western Saddle Guide for more tips and information about western saddles and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Stefani

http://EzineArticles.com/?Western-Saddles:-7-Inspection-Tips-For-Buying-Used&id=302067

Tweet This Post

Fitting the Right English Saddle

Admin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:17:39 +0000

Dr. Joyce Harman, veterinarian and renowned saddle-fitting expert, shows how a horse will indeed perform better and remain sounder longer when his saddle accommodates his conformation. This DVD show you clearly how to make sure that your English saddle is properly fitted to your horse and you, which is the key to successful and comfortable horsemanship. Just click on the link below to order.

English Saddles: How to Fit: Pain-Free

Tweet This Post

Fitting the Right Western Saddle – Must Read

Admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:15:56 +0000

A saddle is much more than just a hunk of leather that you strap to a horse and sit on. There are many factors that play into correctly fitting a Western saddle to you and your horse. To ensure the best fitting Western saddle for both of you, check out these books written by Joyce Harman, DVM. A veterinarian and horse lover, she has devoted many hours to studying the physiology of both horse and rider

This is her brand-new book (available in June 2008) that discusses how to give your horse a pain-free fit via a combination of the right saddle and saddle pad. If you are serious about riding, and your horse’s comfort, this is the book for you. Just click on the link to pre-order.

The Western Horse’s Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book: Soundness and Comfort with Back Analysis and Correct Use of Saddles and Pads

If you want to learn how to fit your horse properly for a Western saddle, this DVD is available now and is great viewing. Click on the link to order this DVD today.

Western Saddles: How to Fit: Pain-Free

Tweet This Post

Getting The Right Saddle For Your Horse

Admin — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:09:50 +0000

By: Dennis Conner

Ensuring that you select the right saddle for your horse is vital. It not only affects the position in which the rider will sit, and therefore can be beneficial in preventing back ache or muscle pain, but it also affects the horse. No responsible horse owner would want their steed to be in discomfort and pain and so choosing the best saddle is very important. There are companies available who will measure your horse and recommend the saddles that they think are most appropriate but as with most things this service costs money. I highly recommend this service as it ensures that you will not be causing any distress to your horse when you ride it.

Once the correct saddle has been purchased it is important to remember that positioning the saddle on the horse’s back is also vital in ensuring your horse is comfortable when ridden. There are three main muscles in the horse’s back which can be affected by the use of a badly positioned saddle. It is important to familiarize yourself with these and their locations before attempting to position the saddle on your horse. This will give you an idea of where the saddle needs to sit in order to be most comfortable for the horse.

In addition to the muscles which can be affected by the saddle you must remember that the saddle is positioned on the horse’s back and so this can have an effect on the spine and its vertebrae. Remembering this should remind you of how important this lesson is and that you cannot afford to take risks with your horse if you want it to lead a long and painless life.

Firstly, place the saddle on the horse’s back, forward of the wither. Once you have done this, slide it back along the back of the horse until it cannot comfortably go any further. This will vary dependent on the shape of the individual horse but the lowest point of the saddle should correspond to the lowest point of the horse’s back. If the saddle is in the correct position, the saddle tree will not be pressing on the scapula (the shoulder of the horse) but will rest in the natural grooves behind them. The most common mistake is to position the saddle too far forward and this then causes the saddle to press on the muscles in the scapula causing pain, impeding movement and creating the possibility of saddle sores.

Once you have learned how to position the saddle you will find it comes naturally after a time. It is worth taking the time to do it properly though if you wish to remain the owner of a healthy, happy horse.

Article Source: http://www.allthebestarticles.com
The author is a regular contributor to Saddle Advice where more information about saddles and saddle sources is freely available.

Tweet This Post