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 Saddle Up-Choosing the Best Saddle for your Horse
If youre going to ride a horse, then you need to find the best saddle for both you and the horse. The saddle must be a comfortable fit for both of you, meaning that you will be spending a minimum of $250 for a quality saddle. After the horse, the next most important purchase you will be making will be a saddle. This choice can either make or break your riding experience. With a suitable saddle, both you and your horse will experience a more comfortable and pleasant experience when out riding. After all you want your time together to be as enjoyable as possible, without the discomfort and pain a poorly fitting saddle will bring. A horse that is ridden with an ill fitting saddle will show his discomfort by displaying inappropriate behavior, like head tossing, rearing, balking, kicking, biting, head shaking, and refusing transitions.
A good saddle
will not come cheap, especially if you want one that will last longer than a few months. You can spend a minimum of $250 to a few thousand dollars for the more top quality saddles. Not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars on a saddle, and thats okay, there are plenty of quality saddles available to fit almost any budget and those that wont let you down. Start by visiting a few tack shops or check out some mail order catalogs or even the Internet. Dont feel overwhelmed by the variety of saddles that are offered, take your time and discriminate carefully.
If you choose to buy a saddle through a mail order catalog or even through the Internet, then familiar yourself with the stores return policy. Sometimes it is hard to choose the right saddle by just looking at the picture. In addition, just because other people give that particular one a high rank, does not mean it will work out just as great for you. All horses are different and all human butts are different. Be sure that you will be able to return the saddle if it doesnt work out. You dont want to be stuck with a $500 saddle that hurts you and your horse.
Before you invest in a saddle, be sure that you are comfortable with your choice of riding position. The saddles will all vary and will depend on whether you ride Western or English. If you choose Western, you would want to choose from the reining, stock, roping or pleasure saddles. English riders will want to go with the saddle seat, the hunt seat or dressage. Also be sure to research the brand names of the saddle made specifically for your discipline. You can visit web site or contact the manufacturers directly and ask them about their products and any special features. You may also want to talk with tack shop owners or other riders in your discipline to get their perspective and see what brands they would recommend.
You want to buy a saddle that you can realistically afford. Spending money on a top quality saddle can save you money down the road. You will want to buy a well-made saddle that will last you at least 20 years, providing it is well cared for. You do not want to buy a cheap saddle that you would have to replace every year. That will add up fast. What ever you choose, be sure the saddle is a comfortable fit to avoid any behavioral problems that come from ill-fitting equipment.
Tips:
Sit in the saddle and make sure it fits you comfortably. Saddles come in many sizes, so be prepared to sit in a lot of them.
Try the saddle on your horse and make sure it fits him comfortably as well. If it seems to fir well, then take him for a ride using the new saddle and see how it works out. Many tack shops will allow their consumers a minimum of 24 hours to make sure the saddle fits right.
Observe how the saddle sits on the horse. There should me no part touching the horses spine or pressing down on the withers. When youre done test riding, take the saddle off. There should be no sweat or dry spots on the withers.
If you cant afford to buy a brand new saddle, the consider buying a used one. It is better to buy a used high quality saddle than a brand new poorly built one. Furthermore, a high quality, well built saddle will not loose its value due to age or usage and can be resold. So, whether you decide to buy new or used, do so within your budget and make sure both you and your horse will be comfortable.
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