Parts of a Western Saddle
The Parts of a Western Saddle
Modification by BLW, original image by Borsi112
As you can see from the picture a western saddle is a splendid thing and composed of many parts. The saddle has evolved for the demands of the cowboys who use them and refinements have been made or added through the years.
The western saddle is built to sit in for hours at a time with some comfort, indeed cowboys often spend their working day in the saddle so you can appreciate why they have developed it to do so.
The western saddle is a working tool and so it has features that, say an english saddle doesn’t for example the horn which is very prominent on the western saddle is designed for tieing a steer or cow onto, the wide stirrups for comfort and security and the skirts and larger fenders to protect the horse.
See the diferent variations of the Western Saddle as out lined:
The most common variations include the following:
- Roping saddle: Heavy, sturdy saddle that usually has a thicker horn for securing a rope, low cantle, and slick fork that allows rider to dismount quickly when needed.
- Cutting saddle: Has a deep seat and wide swells allows the rider to sit deep and securely through sharp stops and turns.
- Barrel racing saddle: Lightweight saddle with wide swells and high cantle which allows rider to sit securely but also allows the horse to perform fast sprints and sharp turns.
- Endurance saddle: Lighter weight than most western saddles, often without a horn, has a tree that spreads the rider’s weight out over a large area of the horse’s back, thus reducing pounds per square inch. Often has stirrups hung slightly farther forward, to allow rider to get off the horse’s back when traveling at faster speeds. Designed for long rides at faster speeds than a trail saddle.
- Trail saddle: Designed for maximum comfort of rider as well as a good fit for the horse, features deep, padded seat, designed for long rides at slower speeds.
- Show saddle: May be based on roping, cutting, or other trees, but is characterized by additional leather tooling and silver decoration. Usually features a deep, padded seat that allows the rider to sit quietly and give the appearance of a smooth ride.
- Equitation saddle: Show saddle with an especially deep seat to help hold a rider in place.
source : Wikipeadia.org
