Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Saddle - Betty Edgar



Hi Trina,
This subject has been covered many, many times on Ride Camp and you can
find much info about saddles in the archives.

I'd suggest that you visit as many tack shops
as possible and sit in a variety of saddles.  The first thing you have to
decide is:  Western or English.  Then consider the many styles of each so
you
have a large selection to chose from.

I grew up riding bareback, then Western in whatever old saddle I could beg
or borrow from relatives.  Then many years of career and family before
having a horse again and at that point I was in the same position as you.  I
think I started out with an inexpensive Western, don't remember if it was a
roping saddle, a trail saddle, a show saddle, what it was.  But I didn't
feel very comfortable in it and started looking at English styles.  Found a
cheap used one and as I got used to it I found that I really liked the
English style for pleasure trail.  That particular English saddle was a flat
show saddle and not very secure but it sure made me a better rider :)  I
discovered that trying to trail ride in a flat show saddle, or a forward
seat jumping saddle was a lot of work.  Some of the all purpose English
saddles have a deep enough seat and put your feet in line with hips and
shoulders so that you naturally stay in a balanced position, but the
dressage saddle is the best for doing that.

Eventually I started competitive trail, then endurance, and rode several
different horses and tried several different saddles to get one that fit the
HORSE as well as feeling comfortable to me.  Now, after probably close to
20,000 miles of riding I definitely prefer a dressage saddle and presently
have an inexpensive Wintec Pro Dressage which I love.

The saddle quest is an ongoing thing for most people who ride very much.
It's critical that it fit your horse well and you may need some professional
help to get that right.  After all the above comments on saddles I didn't
even
mention the various endurance style saddles that are now on the market.

Good luck with your new horse and saddle search.

Betty





=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=