Looking for Horse Saddles?

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So you just bought your first horse and now you need to evaluate all of the horse saddles on the market.

Here are a few things you need to ask yoursel when buying your saddle

How does the saddle fit me?
How does the saddle fit my horse?
What kind of saddle is best for me and my style of riding
What is my budget

What kind of saddle is best for my style of riding?

I know the hunter jumper world and keeping up with current trends can be expensive. But, if you buy a quality saddle like a Devoucoux, Antares, Butet, Bates or Pessoa you will definitely have a saddle that will last a long time.

Spending this kind of money on horse saddles for children may not sound like a good idea since they will outgrow it in a year or two. However, you should keep in mind that top brands keep their value very well and you should have no problem finding a buyer at a good resale price

Of course, you need to have the budget for an expensive saddle. If you don't, think about buying a used or a lower quality saddle. Some good options in this area are Collegiate, Crosby, M. Toulouse or an HDR (Henri De Rivel) saddle . While having an affordable price, these saddles have good quality and correct balance.

I recommend staying away from synthetic saddles, or anything made in Argentina. These saddles tend not to fit horses as well and more importantly, tend to sit the rider in an inappropriate position. If you are concerned about cost my personal recommendation would be to go with a high quality used saddle!

Beware of buying online; especially if you have a horse with conformation issue. If you've decided to make your purchase online then you must make sure you have done your homework! Try as many horse saddles as you can. Borrow saddles from friends in your barn. Go to your local tack shop and take saddles out on trial. Research and take your time!

What fits me and my horse?

You also need to make sure that saddle fits you. Today's saddlers are making stock ordered saddles more like custom orders used to be. Back when I first got into horses, seat size was really the only sizing that you could get 'to fit'. Now you can get a seat size, flap size/length, gullet width, different placement of your stirrup bars, kinds of leather and even color!

If you are having difficulty finding a saddle that fits you and don't want to spend the money on a custom made saddle, try a Devoucoux, Antares, or Amerigo saddles. Also along with these well made saddles they offer a dealer in your area who will fit you and your horse. Also check at your local tack store to see if they have a saddle fitter on staff or ask if they can recommend someone.

After you find a saddle you like make sure it fits your horse. Remember no fit will be perfect, but you want to find a saddle that fits close to perfect. If you have a have a saddle fitter assist you make sure they are knowledgeable in a variety of brands. Also make sure they are not linked to any one particular brand!