SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Horse Care
Teach Me Horse Care Tips
How
To Pick the Best Saddle for Your Horse
If you’re 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 that’s okay, there are plenty of
quality saddles available to fit almost any budget and those
that won’t let you down. Start by visiting a few tack shops
or check out some mail order catalogs or even the Internet.
Don’t 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 doesn’t work out. You
don’t 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 horse’s spine or pressing down on the
withers. When you’re done test riding, take the saddle off.
There should be no sweat or dry spots on the withers.
If you can’t 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. #
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
>
Home Page > Horse
Care Articles:
Main Page |
