Walden Farm and Ranch

Discovering the Most Common Types of Western Riding Saddles

In This Article

The most common saddles for Western horse riding depend on the specific purpose or discipline you need it for. Each saddle is made with the right horn, seat, and cantle of the job you need it for.

The best place to buy the most common saddles is where you can find top quality saddles for the best price. Whether that be a used saddle at your local tack shop or online, or a new saddle, we'll show you the best places to buy the most common saddles.

Most Common Saddles For Western Horses

There are many types of Western horse saddles and they're all set apart from English saddles because of the saddle horn.

Where To Buy The Most Common Saddles

You can find horse saddles new or used. If you're on a budget, think about buying a high quality used saddle instead of a low quality new saddle. It's the quality of the construction that's most important.

Finding used saddles online is probably the easiest way, but you need to make sure the store takes returns, has great customer service, and will stick with you until you get the right size and are completely happy. This is one of our favorite place to buy them online.

Another option is your local tack shop. You can find used and new saddles there and should be able to get the help you need with sizing and returns.

Check local marketplaces, like Facebook Marketplace, for anyone selling saddles in your area.

All Purpose Western Saddle

The All Purpose, or All Around, saddle can be used for a number of different activities like ranch work, roping, barrel racing, and trail riding. And if you decide you're going to stick with any discipline in particular, then look for a saddle more suited to your event.

The All Purpose saddle commonly works for beginners to advanced riders. It's build with a deep comfotable seat, high cantle for security, and a strong, stout horn for roping. Cowboys and Cowgirls of all ages can use this as a beginner saddle or just to have for different tasks around the ranch.

Barrel Racing Saddle

Barrel racing saddles are commonly used for the high speed timed rodeo event Barrel Racing. In this event, a rider maneuvers he horse through a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the shortest time possible.

The barrel saddle is lightweight with a deep seat, short skirt, tall thin horn, and high cantle for balance and security during fast maneuvers.

Reining Saddle

Reining saddles are designed for the rodeo event Reining. In this competition, riders guide their horse through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops, all done at the lope or gallop. It is often described as a Western form of dressage.

Reining saddles are lightweight, offer close contact, and have a low horn for better visibility and a deep narrow seat for stability.

Cutting Saddle

Cutting saddles are designed for the rodeo event Cutting. In this competition, a horse and rider work together to demonstrate the horse's athleticism and ability to handle cattle. The horse and rider have two and a half minutes to separate two or three attle from the herd.

Cutting saddles are made to help the rider balance and stay in control of the horse. They have a deep seat, high cantle, forward-leaning horn, and a shorter, lighter build for freedom of movement.

Roping Saddle

Roping saddles are used for roping cattle. This can either be in the rodeo event Team Roping where two riders on horseback work together to rope and tie, or dally, a steer as fast as possible. They can also be used on the ranch during regular tasks.

Roping saddles need to be built tough to withstand the rigors of the push and pull of livestock against the rope which is attached to the saddle horn. These saddles are heavy with a strong metal reinforced tree and horn, roughout or suede seats, and forward-hung stirrups for a secure position and easy dismount.

Show Saddles

Designed to impress in horse shows, these saddles are decorative and support good posture. They're often custom-made for a perfect fit and can be used in various show events.

Show or Equitation saddles are commonly designed to impress the judges in horse shows. They also support good posture and form for the rider who demonstrates abilities to win the competition.

Show saddles are beautifully decorative, often with ornate silver and gold and the highest quality materials. They're often custom-made for a perfect fit and can be used in various show events.

Wade Saddle

The Wade saddle is commonly used for long hours of cattle work. It's a sturdy saddle with strong construction and a lighter build than the ranch saddle. It's a favorite among many cowboys and cowgirls.

The Wade saddle has a notably large wood post saddle horn, slick fork design, and no swells. Most Western saddles have protruding swells, but not Wade saddles. This design is especially useful for cowboys in activities like roping, dallying, and controlling cattle.

Wade saddles have grown in popularity because of their comfort and versatility with a nod to tradition. It's commonly linked with working cowboys and ranchers who prefer custom-made, well-fitting saddles for themselves and their horses.

Ranch Saddle

A Ranch saddle is a type of saddle used for roping and dallying cattle and performing hard work on the ranch. They are similar to Roping saddles, but these are not made for the sport of Team Roping.

Made for the rigors of ranch work, ranch saddles are tough, will keep you comfortable during long hours working cattle, and will last for years and years.

Ranch saddles are big, heavy, and have a sturdy reinforced tree, strong horn, deep seat, and high cantle. They're made for comfort and standing tough for years to come.

Trail/Pleasure Saddle

Trail riding is commonly does with an All Around saddle or trail saddle. They are lightweight with extra attachments and dee rings for gear. They provide comfort with a deep seat and moderate to high cantle, and are shorter and lighter to allow more freedom for your horse to move.

Mounted Shooting Saddle

Mounted shooting is a competitive sport that involves riding a horse to negociate a shooting pattern. This sport requires shooting skills and horsemanship to shoot balloons with an Old West style revolver.

Mounted Shooting saddles have a low horn, long fenders, and a deep seat to for stability and freedom of movement during competitions.

Youth Saddle

Youth saddles are commonly designed for ponies and young children. They have a seat size of less than 15 inches and can fit a wide range of ponies. They're designed to be comfortable and safe, helping young riders learn proper riding techniques.

Treeless Saddle

Treeless Saddles offer the closer contact of bareback riding with the support of a saddle. These saddles lack a hard tree structure, allowing for even weight distribution on the horse's back. They're flexible and popular for trail riding, endurance riding, and dressage.

Made from leather and padding with a smaller pommel and cantle, these saddles are lightweight and provide more freedom. They are commonly used for horses that are hard to fit with saddle trees.

Treeless saddles are commonly less secure than saddles with trees and it is often recommended to use a cinch and girth for support.

Western Dressage Saddle

Western Dressage is a sport that involves a series of a basic tests performed by horse and rider. Competitors scored on how well they perform each movement within the test, ranging from walk, trot or jog, and canter or lope at lower levels to lateral work and flying lead changes at higher levels.

Made for Western dressage, these saddles have a deep seat, high back, and low, wide horn. They're often decorative and designed to help riders maintain a balanced and upright posture.

Australian Saddle

Australian saddles, or Australian Stock saddles, are designed for cattle work and long hours in the saddle. They can be used for trail riding, roping, and other disciplines. These versatile saddles are a nice combination of comfort and utility.

Australian saddles have a deep seat, high back, and a low, wide horn. They are adapted from the English General Purpose Saddle, but have a deeper seat, higher pommel (with or without a horn), and extra padding, particularly around the knees.

Endurance Saddle

Endurance riding is a discipline where a horse and rider cover long distances over varied terrain. They're commonly used by competitive endurance riders.

Endurance saddles are designed for a riders comfort and long hours in the saddle. They're extremely lightweight, have a padded seat for comfort and shock absorption, a long forward-cut flap for leg support, and multiple attachments for equipment like saddlebags and water bottles.

Endurance saddles allow the horse to move freely. They have a wide gullet to prevent pressure on the horse's spine and withers, panels for even weight distribution,

Mexican Saddle

There are 3 types of Mexican saddles, but the most well commonly known is the Charro saddle. It is traditionally used by Charros by skilled horsemen who participate in Charreada, which is similar to rodeo, and is a strong cultural tradition in Mexico.

Charro saddles are commonly known for their intricate tooling, colorful patterns, and ornate silver accents, making them a unique and decorative piece of riding equipment. They are often crafted from high-quality leather and designed with a deep seat, high horn, and wide stirrups to provide added comfort and security to the rider.

The Mexican Montura, a simple, practical saddle, was primarily used for cattle work and ranch activities by Mexican Cowboys, or Vaqueros. But it served as the blueprint for the first American cowboys to add and modify it for what they needed to work the ranch. This led to the evolution of the Western stock saddle as we know it today.

Vaquero Saddle

A Vaquero saddle, or Buckaroo saddle, is a special kind of saddle that comes from the vaquero tradition in horsemanship. This saddle is made to be comfortable and useful for both the rider and the horse. They're good for long, hard days of cattle work and for tasks that require covering long distances, like herding cattle.

Buckaroo saddles have a high cantle, deep seat, and a large, strong horn for roping cattle. It's intricately decorated with tooling and silver conchos, reflecting the pride and craftsmanship of the cowboy who owns it.

It is a symbol of the Vaquero tradition and the cowboy lifestyle, reflecting the historical and cultural significance of the American West

Final Thoughts

These are the most common saddles for Western riding. Each type of saddle is designed for specific riding disciplines and activities. Whether you are a professional rider or a beginner, it is essential to select the right saddle that meets your needs, as well as your horse's. By understanding the different types of saddles available and their features, you can make an informed decision and ensure a comfortable and safe riding experience for both you and your horse.

Richard Sutherland

 RichardSutherland@bitsnspurs.org

Richard is a western lifestyle author for Bits N' Spurs, the weekly newsletter that keeps pace with today's rodeo. His articles are featured on dozens of rodeo and Western related websites and provide a window to the world of cowboy culture.