Western saddles are a great choice of saddle as they allow you to take part in rodeo activities and ranch duties with ease. They are also considered to be very comfortable on long distance rides. There are several types of western saddle, but the trail saddle is the most common and is a good all rounder.
When it comes to choosing which Western Saddle to buy, this can be quite difficult. There are so many to choose from, all with different features. To make it easier for you, we have put together a list of the best western saddles and provided some information on how to choose the right one for you. Keep reading to find out more.
The Acerugs Western Pleasure trail saddle is made from synthetic cordura material which is very lightweight, with a soft synthetic fleece underside for extra comfort. The seat has additional memory foam padding for a soft riding experience, and the stirrups are padded. You can easily ride for hours on this comfortable saddle
This western saddle has a double reinforced fibreglass tree for durability, and the adjustable blevins buckles allow you to get a comfortable fit. The horn measures 3 inches, the swell 12 inches, the skirt 24.5 to 28.5 inches, and the stirrups 28 to 34 inches.
The saddle comes in a choice of colors – brown, black, blue, or turquoise- all with a beautiful crystal accent trim on the skirting and tack set and Texas star conchos for some added bling and style! Each saddle comes with a matching headstall, reins, breast collar and saddle pad. This not only saves you money but provides a matching set.
The whole saddle weighs approximately 18 pounds, which is very lightweight due to the use of synthetic materials. This makes it an ideal saddle for young horses to get them used to being tacked.
This attractive saddle comes in a choice of pink with pink detailing, or pink with blue detailing. It is made from premium quality leather with a wooden base and a fiberglass wrapped tree.
The hand carved detailing and hand stitching accents on the seat, pummel and skirt of the saddle create a unique style, and the silver conchos provide extra decoration.
There is also hand sewn silver beading, a two tone crystal trim, and basket weaving on the pommel. This saddle is perfect for the show ring and will certainly get your horse noticed.
The saddle has a soft fleece underside and a well-padded seat with decorative quilt stitching on black suede. This provides comfort and additional grip while riding. The stirrups are made from aluminium which means they are durable and the blevins buckles are adjustable for a snug fit.
This saddle comes with a matching headstall, reins, and breast collar. The horn measures 3 inches, the swell 12 inches, the cantle 4 inches, the seat 14 to 16 inches, the gullet 7 inches, the skirt 24 to 26 inches and the stirrups 25 to 39 inches. The whole saddle weighs approximately 26 pounds.
The Y&Z premium leather western saddle includes a headstall, breast collar and reins. It is completely hand carved with fern leaf detailing and a beautiful basket weave design on the pommel, cantle, skirt, denfer and stirrups. It comes in a traditional chestnut brown and pink color. There are silver conchos for easy accessory attachment.
The saddle has a soft fleece underside and padded ergonomic stirrups for ultimate comfort. The padded suede seat has a quilt stitched pattern. The saddle also features a high-tech close contact skirt for improved communication between the horse and the rider.
This saddle is well balanced, with a wood and fiberglass tree. The seat measures 14 to 18 inches, the gullet 7 inches, the skirt 25 to 28 inches, the horn 3.5 inches, the swell 12 inches, the cantle 4 inches and the stirrups between 30 and 40 inches. The saddle weighs approximately 26 pounds.
The Blue Lake Premium Leather Western Saddle is made from premium leather, with a wooden base wrapped in fibreglass.It comes with a matching headstall, breast collar and reins. The saddle is fully hand carved with a beautiful basket weave design on the pommel, cantle, skirt, fender and stirrups.
The saddle has a soft fleece underside to help your horse feel more comfortable. The stirrups are padded and there is a close contact skirt to allow for better communication between the horse and the rider.
The suede seat is not only well padded but also decorated with a quilt stitch pattern. There are also silver conchos on the saddle to provide extra decoration and practicality.
The seat measures 14 to 18 inches, the gullet 7 inches, the skirt 25-28 inches, the horn 3.5 inches, the swell 12 inches, the cantle 4 inches, and the stirrups measure between 30 and 40 inches. The full weight of the saddle is approximately 26 pounds.
The Open Store Genuine Leather Western Racing Horse Saddle is made from 100% Genuine Premium Leather. The black leather features classic weaving and is hand carved with a floral design.
The leather stitched seat has memory foam padding to ensure that you will have a comfortable ride no matter how long you are in the saddle.The rounded skirt design offers a close contact fit and enhances rider-to-horse communication.
There are numerous rings and ties for accessory attachments and the underside of the saddle is thickly-padded with fleece to keep your horse happy and comfortable..
The Star Trading premium Western saddle is made from premium quality leather and includes a free matching headstall and breast collar. The chestnut leather features a beautiful basket weave design on the pommel, cantle, skirt, fender and stirrups.
This saddle has a nice deep padded seat for long rides with a well padded fleece underskirt to keep your horse comfortable. The rounded skirt is excellent for short backed horses and the leather stirrups add style.
There are numerous rings for all of your accessories and for easy attachments of saddlebags. The in-tree rigging and nylon reinforced leather latigo straps provide extra durability to give you peace of mind. The blevins buckles are adjustable so you can ensure you get a good fit.
The saddle measures 14 to 18 inches, the gullet 7 inches, the skirt 25 to 27 inches, the horn 3.5 inches, the swell 12 inches, the cantle 4 inches and the stirrups 33 to 40 inches. The total weight of the saddle is approximately 27 pounds.
This synthetic saddle from HB Enterprises has PU molded seats and flaps and comes with a matching girth, headstall and saddle pad. The synthetic suede detachable seat is machine washable. The nylon binding is tear proof and makes the saddle easy to clean.
The saddle is black with colored crystals and accents for additional decoration. The use of synthetic materials makes this saddle very lightweight, which means it is perfect for use on young or inexperienced horses to get them used to having a saddle on their back.
The saddle comes with a free headstall, breast collar and reins. The saddle has Texas star conchos for attaching accessories, and adjustable blevins buckles for a sturdy fit.
The tree of the saddle is made from double reinforced fibreglass for durability. The padded stirrups and soft synthetic fleece underside provide additional comfort for you and your horse.
The sear measures 15 inches, the gullet 7 inches, the skirt 24.5 to 28.5 inches, the horn 3.5 inches, the swell 12 inches, the cantle 5 inches, and the stirrups between 26 and 35 inches. Swell: 12”. The saddle weighs approximately 22 to 25 pounds.
The Western Roping Ranch Cowboy saddle is a 100 % Leather western saddle. It has a deep, comfortable suede seat for long rides and comes with a matching headstall and breast collar. There are also oiled leather latigo and billet straps included.
The leather is hand-tooled and the saddle has stainless steel hardware and fittings for durability. The underside is well padded with synthetic wool to keep your horse comfortable. The saddle is well balanced with a lightweight wood and fiberglass tree. The blevin buckles are quickly adjustable for easy use.
The stirrup measures 3 inches across and between 30 and 35 inches long, the horn 3 inches, the swell 14 inches, the gullet 7 inches, the cantle 4 inches, and the skirt between 25 and 26 inches. The saddle weighs approximately 26 pounds.
This western saddle is made from synthetic cordura material which makes it lightweight. The soft fleece underside will keep your horse comfortable on long rides, whilst the padded seat and stirrups will ensure that you are comfortable too. The tree of the saddle is made from double reinforced fibreglass for sturdiness and durability.
The saddle comes in a choice of black, brown, blue, pink or red. It has colored crystal accents and a bright trim along the skirting and cantle.
The colored Texas Star conchos make it easy to attach accessories. The nylon binding not only adds decoration but also makes the saddle more durable as it is tear-resistant and easy to clean. The blevins buckles are adjustable for easy use and a good fit.
The gullet measures 7 inches, the cantle 5 inches, the horn 3 inches, the swell 12 inches, the skirt between 24.5 and 28.5 inches and the stirrups between 26 and 33 inches. The whole saddle is very lightweight, weighing in at just 18 pounds.
This western saddle is made from 100% Leather which has been hand-tooled. It has stainless steel fittings and comes with a matching headstall, breast collar, and oiled latigo and billet straps.
The black suede seat is well padded and deep which will keep you stable and comfortable for long rides. The underside is well padded with fleece to keep your horse comfortable too. The saddle is well balanced with a tree made from wood and fibreglass. The blevin buckles are adjustable for quick and easy use.
The unique snake-tooled border gives this saddle a stylistic edge.The Horn measures 3 inches, the swell 13 inches, the gullet 6.5 inches, the cantle 4 inches, the skirt between 25 and 26 inches and the stirrup length between 30 and 35 inches. The saddle itself weighs around 25 pounds.
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Buyer’s Guide
Now that you know which western saddles are available to you, how do you narrow down your choice and figure out which one will be best for you? Here is some advice on making sure you choose a saddle that meets your individual needs.
The first question to ask yourself is whether you want a western saddle made from leather, or from synthetic materials.
Leather saddles are more traditional, are very hard-wearing, and can be hand carved and beautifully decorated. Synthetic saddles are more lightweight, and have some interesting features such as removable machine-washable seats.
Once you have chosen your preferred material, the next thing to consider is the seat. Check the seat measurements as deeper seats are considered to be more comfortable for longer rides.
The seat should be padded for additional comfort, and some saddles even offer memory foam padding. You can also get saddles with padded stirrups which provides extra comfort for your feet.
Another good feature to look out for is a close or rounded skirt. This is a fairly modern development to saddles which improves communication between the horse and the rider. You can also check if the saddle has adjustable blevin buckles for convenient use, and conchos or rings for attaching accessories.
If you have considered all of those things and are still stuck between a few products, then it might be a good idea to take a look at the additional items that come with the saddle.
Depending on the seller and the manufacturer, you could get a whole range of free items including a headstall, breast collar, reins, or a saddle pad. Not only does this save you money, but it also gives you the opportunity to have a matching set.
Some western saddles are heavily decorated which makes them ideal for the show ring. Others are more simple, with just a bit of carving in the leather. Make sure you choose the style that suits you and your needs.
The saddle needs to fit your horse well. Always check the saddle measurements and compare them to the measurements for your horse to ensure the saddle is a suitable size.
If your horse is young and inexperienced with riding and carrying a saddle, then you will want to start off with something lightweight to ease them in gently and get them used to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between A Western Saddle And An English Saddle?
Western saddles tend to be heavier, with deeper seats. They were designed for cowboys who would spend many hours out on long rides. English saddles are lighter, and position the rider much closer to the horse. They were traditionally padded with horsehair, but now use a compact form of padding.
What Are The Different Types Of Western Saddle?
There are several types of Western saddles that have been designed for different activities. Roping saddles were made for dallying a cow or a calf, and feature double rigging and sturdy saddle horns.
Reining saddles are designed for quick starts and stops, with the stirrups hung more forward to allow the rider to sit further back in the saddle. Trail saddles were made for long distance rides, and are lightweight with a small saddle horn. This is the most common type of western saddle and is a good all rounder.
How Do You Clean A Leather Saddle?
It is important to clean your saddle to keep it in good condition. You should clean your leather saddle with saddle soap and water. Use a nylon brush to work up a lather and remove the dirt. Clean the soap off with a sponge and water and allow the leather to dry completely. Once the leather is dry, apply the leather conditioner.
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