How Much Do Saddles Cost?
Saddles range in price from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Good used saddles can be purchased at very reasonable prices. Generally when buying new you get what you pay for. You can buy saddles for less than $500 but they are of overall poor quality—especially the leather and fittings. There are sometimes good reasons to buy a ‘cheap’ saddle. But for comfort, safety, and durability you’ll want to buy the best you can afford.
Don’t be fooled, especially on Western saddles by ornate carving and fancy silver accents. Very expensive show saddles have real silver fittings and tooling done by craftsmen. But cheap nickel fittings and leather with machine stamped designs can be a way to distract from the fact that the saddle is of overall poor quality. You've probably heard the phrase 'fine grain leather'.
Good quality has a fine grain--the pores are small--and the leather feels nice and supple. Poorer leathers feel more cardboard like and has open coarse pores. They may be covered in a finish that will easily scratch off.
You can buy custom made saddles. Made by craftsmen who take casts of you and your horse the fit will be exact and to your specifications. These saddles are priced in the thousands of dollars. If you have a difficult to fit horse, or are serious in pursuing a specific sport it may be worth the investment.
How Can I Be Sure The Saddle Is Comfortable?
No matter what type of saddle you’ve decided on, or how nice it looks, each ride will be a torture if the saddle is uncomfortable. Ride in it to determine if there are any lumps, if it feels too slick, if the seat is too hard, the flaps too short ( For example I am tall, and if a saddle’s flaps are too short I get uncomfortably pinched between the saddle flaps and my boot tops) or anything else makes you feel uncomfortable or insecure. Don't overlook saddle fit for both you and your horse.
Does the saddle sit you in the best position? Do the stirrups seem to hang too far forward or to the rear? English and Western saddles come in different seat widths too. The only way to make sure the saddle suits you is to try it out.
How Can I Be Sure The Saddle Is Safe?
Safety is vital. Before buying a used saddle check it is in good condition. All the straps should be strong and the stitching not worn in areas where strength is required such as billet straps. If the saddle comes with stirrup leathers check they are not worn thin, have too many holes punched through, or are cracked and dry.
Check the tree is not broken, and the leather is in good condition. All metal fittings should be rust-free and not bent or stretched.
To check the tree hold the saddle against your thighbone, with one hand grasping the top of the pommel. Try to bend the saddle up towards you. There should be no flex and no squeaking or grating sounds. Turn the saddle over and repeat trying to bend it. Try to 'fold' the saddle in half length wise. Most saddles will flex to some degree, but there shouldn't be any squeaking or grating.
Put the saddle on a firm surface and press down gently. There will be some flex, but the saddle shouldn't flatten out. The leather shouldn't buckle or fold at anytime.
On a Western saddle, check the horn--it should be solid. Check for nails coming through the fleece on the underside of the saddle and make sure the stirrup bars on an English saddle are solidly anchored.
The only way to be completely sure a saddle does not have a broken tree is to take it to a saddler to be checked. If there is any doubt decide if it is worth paying a saddler to remove the leather to check the tree, or look for another saddle.
Does the Saddle Fit?
After you decide the type of saddle you want, proper fit is important. This is only a very basic guide to fit as whole books are written on this subject.
You’ll be fitting the saddle to you and your horse. You’ll be more comfortable and safe in a well fitted saddle. Proper fit for the horse is often overlooked but essential. Horses with poorly fitted saddles are prone to back pain. A horse may express that pain through what appears to be bad behavior or poor performance.
To fit the rider, measure an English saddle from the nailhead just below the pommel and the middle of the cantle. Western saddles are measured from the back of the pommel (swell) to the stitching on the cantle. After trying out a few saddles you'll have an idea what seat size fits you. Use this only as a general rule since some saddles fit differently than others.
For example:if you are very tall, you may find a slightly larger seat more comfortable even though someone with the same build, but shorter stature may ride comfortably in a smaller seat size.
You should be able to place three fingers width behind and in front of your seat when you are in the saddle. English and Western saddles have different widths so you will need to try a few out. You should be able to sit properly and feel secure.
* To learn how to fit an English saddle to your horse Saddlingfit.com is an excellent resource.
* To learn how to fit a Western saddle with this basic guide from Tuner Saddlery.
No amount of padding will make up for a poor fitting saddle—just as thicker sock won’t stop shoes from pinching. Horse’s backs were not designed to carry the weight of a rider. So we owe it to our horses to help them carry us more easily through proper training and saddle fit..
