Buying A Saddle For The First Time
Finding the right saddle can be quite a daunting prospect, especially for the first time. There is a lot of things to consider before buying one and the wide selection of styles, makes and models doesn’t make it any easier. It is a big expense and something all horse owners hope to get right first time but, once you find the right saddle, with the right care it can last for years.
So, that’s where we come in;
This site is an opportunity for horse riders and owners to research all they need to know about saddles in one place – from what horse saddles are out there, to consumer reviews and opinions. By bringing together comprehensive lists of makes, models and prices, saddle fitting advice and a saddle review service, we want to make as much practical information available as possible. Let us take away the hassle of choosing the right saddle for you and your horse.
History of the saddle and how it has developed
History denotes that man was domesticating horses as far back as 4000BC and it is believed that some form of riding coincided with this, albeit without a saddle. It is believed that it was around 2000BC that recordings of horses being ridden bareback were found. Cavalries of ancient Greece were charging the enemy bareback with no stirrups or form of padding.
The first saddles are believed to have originated around 800BC. They were a basic form of padding that had some sort of animal hide, rudimentary surcingle. Eventually, saddles would become a status symbol and increasingly decorative. There was nothing elaborate about the design, however, and did not have a solid tree, nor stirrups. It was made, simply, to provide a more comfortable and protected ride for the rider, not the horse.
Assyrian warriors, around 700BC, went into battle on decorative saddle cloths, which had straps resembling girths. A Scythian tomb in Siberia 500BC, there was a saddle cover found that was decorated in animal motifs made of lather, felt, animal hair and gold. They used cushioned saddles and girths.
By 300BC Sarmatians, a tribe of accomplished horsemen, were using saddles and had a breastplate and girth to ensure they stayed in place. 200BC a solid saddle tree was designed raising the rider above the horse’s back and distributing their weight onto either side of the spine.
The Roman Cavalry used saddles with a 4 horn design, believed to be for stability of the rider and for vaulting mounts. It was nearly 1000 years before saddles came to Europe and it has taken 300 years to come to the saddle design that we have today.
The development of the saddle was down to the need to meet demands of warfare. Knights of the middle ages contributed to the pommel and cantle being raised, as a knight that was separated from his horse was almost certainly in mortal danger. Wooden trees were strengthened to allow for heavier weapons and armour. Western saddles evolved from the saddles brought over to the Americas by Spanish Conquistadors. They were adapted to suit cowboys, built for comfort and endurance, with a horn that could be used to hold and tie livestock.
Modern saddles come in all shapes and designs. They take into account the horse’s welfare better than ever with studies into horse anatomy and movement being a massive contributor to saddle fitting. It has become a skill and art form making and fitting saddles that requires years of study and exam qualifications. With a huge variety of horse breeds, sizes, weights and conformation taking part in many numbers of disciplines, the variety of saddles have also increased.
Synthetic and more modern materials have been used in the development of saddles. This has meant that saddles that were once heavy and cumbersome are now lighter and much more versatile.