It’s one of the first questions new clients, or clients with new horses, ask when we run into saddle-related issues. There are a couple of different ways to look at the subject. Let’s start with saying that you get what you pay for when it comes to horse equipment. Bargain shopping is a real thing but don’t mistake cheap for a bargain. Equipment that is cheap when brand new at full price is likely poorly designed and/or made from low quality materials – either of which could be a problem. A saddle is likely the most expensive piece of tack you will own for your horse. And also a very common piece of tack to cause major, potentially permanent, problems when it’s wrong. So, getting your saddle right is really important!
Where to Begin
Start by honestly evaluating how serious your riding activities are and how much punishment your tack needs to hold up to. If you are competing seriously, or doing an actual equine job such as ranch work, lower quality tack is probably not even an option. When showing, keeping up with the trends of style and brand is commonly deemed critical for success. And for heavy or aggressive work your saddle will need to be made well, to minimize breakdown of the saddle and damage to your horse’s back.
If your finances allow it, getting really good quality tack is always a good idea. However, for the casual rider, spending thousands on a saddle is not always realistic or even necessary. If you are operating on a strict budget, it is best to shop for quality used saddles. This way you get the best balance of price and quality. Beware of cheap saddles sold brand new. Though there are some models that fit and ride sufficiently to not cause damage, quality of the fit and materials are very inconsistent. Any purchase of a NEW Western saddle priced at or below $600 should be viewed as a huge gamble.
Unfortunately, the selection of new saddles priced between $600-$1,500 is somewhat limited. I find that odd, given the market that must exist for middle-of-the-road quality and price range. But regardless, you may struggle to find what you want new in this price range if you are just shopping your local tack shops.
Don’t Settle for The First Thing You Find
Given potential money or time restrictions it may be tempting to settle for any saddle that sort of fits and doesn’t break the bank. Here’s another word of warning – make sure you buy the kind of saddle intended for your purpose. I’ve seen avid trail riders in barrel saddles thinking that the high cantle makes it okay; and I’ve seen people trying to barrel race in reining or trail saddles. You can often get away with that for a time while you are dabbling with a new enthusiasm. But at a certain point you are just making your life and that of your horse’s harder. Saddle trees are designed to set the rider at the best spot on the horse’s back for a targeted riding purpose.
For the same reason, English riders don’t perform jumps in dressage saddles much. And you won’t see many casual English trail riders in close contact saddles. They will instead prefer an all-purpose or possibly dressage saddle. Although you can get by for a bit in wrong tack, it’s less than ideal and will catch up with you eventually. If you are serious about something, get appropriate tack once so you don’t have to switch things around over and over again.
The Downfalls of Cheap Saddles
I am a believer that the level of your investment in your tack should at least match the level of the work you are doing – but there is no level that makes a painful saddle-fit for your horse acceptable. I personally own one such low end training saddle which I bought new for $485. It has been a great buy. It fits a wide variety of horses serviceably well, has been comfortable to ride in, and has stood up to daily abuse with minimal care for five years now. However, I have not yet seen a barrel saddle from that brand that fits a single horse. The point being that cheaper brands are very inconsistent in their products, to the point that some products just don’t fit horses. Why do people buy them? Because they are usually decorative and superficially attractive and just plain cheap which can be very tempting.
I’m the first to admit that I have been caught in this trap before and had to sell my way out of it. I continue to help my riders sell their poor-quality saddle choices as they become aware of the need to upgrade, which keeps me keenly aware of the frustrations of lower quality tack. It’s also safe to say that cheap saddles do not hold their value. Once you buy it, no one will ever want to give the price back to you. Basically, there are many things that can be short cut on, but a saddle shouldn’t be one of them.
Why It Really Matters
The main point is that you must make sure, no matter what your budget is, that your tack fits both you and your horse. A saddle that doesn’t fit the horse can cause your horse irritation on the lowest end of the situation, and permanent back damage on the severe end. An uncomfortable horse will never be able to perform his best and certainly not with his best state of mind. It’s even common for painful saddle fit to cause big behavior problems, such as bucking and rearing. No one wants to deal with that!
A saddle that doesn’t fit the rider will never let the rider get their legs against the horse properly for communicating cues or getting balanced in the saddle. Additionally, a poorly fit saddle will not set the rider in the most balanced place on the horse’s back making it easier to fall off. There are so many things that can cause riding accidents. Poorly fitting tack is one variable that we can work to eliminate.
The Solution
For those on a budget I strongly recommend finding a tack shop that consigns used older saddles and seek out a good brand name saddle that’s just a bit out of style. It is entirely possible to find good quality, older tack with lots of miles left in them for $300-$600. It may take a little patience but it is worth the wait. Also, if you take care of a good old saddle, there is a solid chance you will be able to resell it in a couple years for similar to what you paid to help fund your next upgrade when you are ready.
If you really prefer to have new tack, then you should be prepared to spend $1,000 and upwards to get yourself set up decently. Even spending that amount on a really good used saddle is not out of the question. Saddles can last for literally decades so it’s worth a little investment.
Remember, you and your horse both deserve to be comfortable spending time together and a good saddle can make all the difference in the world.
If you like what you are seeing leave a comment below and sign up to receive new posts as they arrive!
About The Author
