The Evolution of Western Saddles: A Satire

You guessed it: saddles have been around for centuries. What started as a pad and surcingle attachment, grew into a much needed saddle tree which then became paired with stirrups until you eventually find the modern saddle of today (many years later, of course). Although you may not use it merely for “hunting and gathering” anymore, saddles still play a significant role in our lives.

Why Horse Saddles?

In the early years however, European and Asian nomads developed a brilliant strategy of attaching two parallel leather straps, a girth, a pommel, a cantle and leather holdings to develop the first “saddle”. But the Armenians, Assyrian, Scythians – they all hold some piece of history when discussions of early saddle development pop up between you and your friends, we’re sure.

The Saddle Tree’s Place in History

Nevertheless, the saddle tree eventually stepped onto the scene and its impact was felt immediately. Not to say that horses loved the idea of 150 pound animal riding on their back to begin with but It raised the rider above the horse’s back and distributed their weight evenly across both sides of the horse’s spine, obviously resulting in a more pleasurable and prolonged riding experience. Horses around the world rejoiced and celebrated the evolution of the saddle tree (flash forward to today and you’ll notice everything from a regular tree which features a tighter gullet – 5 ¾ to 6 inches – to a draft tree rounding out at an 8 inch gullet. The most common of course is the semi-quarter horse bars and quarter horse bars which fit a wider range of horse breeds. Now, back to your history lesson)! The tree also led to the common stirrups you use today for without a solid tree, you can imagine some soreness your horse would feel through abnormal pressure points .

Horse Saddles Take Over the Middle Ages…Sort Of

Ah the Middle Ages. Kings and conquest; the Renaissance and the Holy Land…and saddles. Yes, saddles played a significant role in the Old World, albeit in the background, during this historic time period. Knights built them up for further strength and support along the crusade trail. All that armor was heavy and they didn’t want to fight on their feet. So the new and improved saddle featured a higher cantle and pommel to prevent safety in battle atop a horse as well as a new wooden tree that supported more weight than traditional saddle trees. Clearly these knights were onto something. Little did they know the western saddle would be born from this design.Your common western saddle was developed from the Iberian saddles of the Spanish Conquistadors. When they arrived in the Americas, their needs changed. No longer were they stock-piling riches for their mother country but they settled in Mexico, Texas and California (Cancun, South Padre Island and Hollywood, to be exact) where they adapted their livelihood to that of a vaqueros or cowboy. This included the addition of a horn which allowed the tying of a lariat (lasso) to the saddle for the purpose of herding and containing livestock. And by the outset of the nineteenth century, the saddle used by the horsemen of the south incorporated most all the elements you’ll find that distinguish this infamous saddle today.

Today's Western Saddles As You Know Them

Although the vast majority of western riders have never roped a cow, the western saddle still holds firm to many of the historic elements above. A few alterations – like the stripping of a horn for endurance riding or the bling of a winning show saddle – have taken place yet the fabric and tradition remains the same. It’s designed with comfort in mind whether you’re on long, winding trails, performing your duties on the farm or taking home first place. Below are some common variations of the western saddle:

Trail Saddle: built with supreme comfort in mind for you and the horse. The trail saddle features a deep, padded seat so you can keep your focus on the colorful meadows or fading sunset ahead. Barrel Saddle: lightweight (sometimes horn-less) with a wide swell and high cantle. This keeps you and your horse in a secure and optimal position for quick sprints and sharp turns. Endurance Saddle: often seen without a horn, endurance saddles are also lightweight and designed to distribute your weight evenly across your horse’s back. You’ll often see stirrups hung slightly forward so you can jump ship at a fast speed. Just think: a trail saddle times two. Cutting Saddle: features a deep seat and wide swells which keeps you secure around stops and turns. Roping Saddle: the super-duty of trail saddles. It’s heavy, sturdy and has a thick horn for securing rope. It’s built for ease in getting on and off your horse. Show Saddle: although it may be based on other models (roping, cutting, etc.) the common show saddle is characterized by more leather tooling and silver or hardware decoration. It’s the Rolls Royce of the western saddle world. All Around Saddles: offers a strong horn and flatter seat with reinforced rigging and a close contact skirt. All built for – you guessed it – all around work.

And that is everything you’ll ever need to know about western saddles. Ok, not everything but we’re running out of room!