Western saddles

Saddles designed for western riding. Made of high-quality leather, elegant finish. A wide range of sizes and colors will satisfy everyone.

What do western saddles look like.

Western flares made of natural leather. They are available in various sizes – 16 ”, 17 ” and 18 ”. Wide benches allow for precise weight distribution, and thus increase the comfort of the horse. To all Western saddles can be supplemented with additional accessories, such as a bridle, reins and a breastplate. The element that distinguishes this saddle is also its design, i.e. stylish ornaments that blend in perfectly with the color of the leather.

Western style riding It has been gaining popularity for a long time and the group of its supporters is still growing. If you are a new adept of Western style riding and would like to learn more about western saddles and their construction, in this post we have prepared the most important information for you.

You will learn how the western saddle is constructed and what function the individual elements perform. We will also explain what you should pay attention to when choosing a saddle, depending on its intended use.

Where did the western saddle come from?

The cowboy saddle is designed similar to the previously used Mexican saddles vaqueros – cattle breeders living in South America. From the very beginning, it was supposed to be a saddle designed to travel long distances on the horse’s back, and thus comfortable.

The first western saddles were created from a combination of Moorish and Spanish combat saddles. The former provided the horse with a great deal of freedom of movement, while the latter’s task was to give the rider maximum support and safety, and the ability to control the horse in all conditions.

Over time, western saddles gained new functionalities that were to facilitate the riding of cowboys and help them in their daily work with cattle, such as e.g. a horn.

Although many of these elements play a rather ornamental role today and only a small part of the saddles are used on the ranch , western saddles are still manufactured with their traditional appearance. An example of this are, for example, decorations and ornaments on the leather, most often with floral motifs or silver fittings.

How is a western saddle built?

Terlica (tree) – As in classic saddles, the tree is the basis of every western saddle. Its job is even distribution of the rider’s weight on the horse’s back. It is also a kind of frame on which the entire saddle is built. The tree must be made of a very durable, but also sufficiently flexible material that will be able to absorb shocks.

Traditionally, trees of western saddles were built of high-quality wood. Today, however, more and more often wood is replaced with synthetic materials, such as, for example, the glass fiber from which they are made Western Balotade saddles . This type of material is characterized by high durability ( the tree is practically indestructible in normal use ), and at the same time their use makes the saddle lighter.

All visible parts of the saddle are covered with leather. The most commonly used leather is buffalo, tanned leather. The underside of the saddle is lined with natural or synthetic sheep fur. Its main task is not so much to add additional insulation between the saddle and the horse ‘s back, but rather to provide traction so that the saddle does not slide on the pad.

Fork (fork / swell) – this is the front part of the saddle. The most classic, though rare, is the so-called A-fork without swells. This part of the saddle grows larger and larger swells it was intended to hold better in the saddle while riding on kicking horses. From the point of view of adjusting the saddle to the horse’s back, you should pay attention to the width and how big the space under the fork is.

Back bow (cantle) – the western saddle’s rear pommel is always relatively high, although its height may vary depending on the model. The higher the bow, the greater the safety and stability in the saddle. On the other hand, however, a very high bow limits the rider’s range of motion or a quick entry and exit. For the same reasons, the angle of inclination of the bow is also important (the more inclined the bow, as in the model Balotade Hidalgo , the greater the freedom of movement in the saddle).

Horn – the horn used to be used to wrap the rope while catching cattle, but today its role is mainly decorative. The saddles used in some Western competitions have a higher cone to make it easier to grab on in others, and a lower cone so that it does not interfere with low hand holding.

Rigging – These are metal rings and leather straps. Together, they form a structure that keeps the saddle in the correct position on the horse’s back. There are different types of rigging depending on where the rings are attached and their number.

Rear girth (cinch) – Some of the western ones, in addition to the standard girth, also have a second, rear girth. Its purpose is to stabilize the saddle on the horse’s back . As well as preventing it from sliding forward during sudden movements. Therefore, it is rarely used in calmer competitions such as reining and western pleasure.

Western stirrups What distinguishes the western stirrups from their classic counterparts is their length, which can be up to 12 cm. Narrower stirrups are sometimes used in speed competitions, as it is more difficult to lose such stirrups.

Puśliska can be attached to benches or (much less often) to a fork.