Category Archives: Horse Riding Saddles

Horse Riding Saddles – Leather vs Synthetic

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Considering a new saddle but don’t know about synthetic saddles? I have owned a synthetic close contact saddle for about 4 years and it’s the best investment I’ve ever made. It’s very low maintenance and is holding up perfectly. I don’t have to clean and condition it constantly for it to stay in great shape. I know, the smell of the leather is appealing, but beyond that I really don’t see the advantage.

In addition to being low maintenance a lot of the synthetic saddles have the Cair panel system as well as the easy change gullet system which are perfect for adjusting the saddle to your horse’s confirmation.
A saddle is a big investment and you need something that lasts and is comfortable for both you and your horse.

If you just have to have the leather, save the leather for the show ring and use the synthetic at home. A synthetic saddle will hold up real well to the day to day wear and tear and you can spend more time with your horse and less time cleaning and conditioning your tack.

If you like to trail ride where there are creeks and streams, then a synthetic saddle is perfect, no worries about it getting wet. That surprise rain shower isn’t a problem either with a synthetic saddle.

There are those who love to clean and condition tack but I don’t happen to be one of them. If you want to spend more time enjoying your horse and less time on maintenance, get a synthetic.


Horse Riding Saddles – What Is the Cair Panel System?

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Simply put, the Cair panel system replaces traditional flocking with air.  Since the air shifts and moves with the movement of your horse, this provides him with greater comfort and consequently a better attitude about working.  I’ve been riding with a Wintec close contact saddle with the Cair system for several years now and have found that both me and my horse can work comfortably while riding.  Here are some of the saddles that have the Cair Panel system:

BATES Innova Dressage Saddle with CAIR, Easy-Change Gullet System

Next Gen Wintec 500 Dressage Saddle Cair 18

New Wintec Pro Dressage With Countourbloc Saddle With Cair

WINTEC Close Contact Saddle with CAIR

In addition to the Cair Panel system, Wintec also has the Easy Change Gullet system on some of their saddles to further customize the fit to your horse’s confirmation. This enables you to change out the gullet of the saddle depending on your horse’s individual needs. A comfortable horse is a happy horse, do him and yourself a favor and look into the Wintec saddles with the Cair Panel and Easy Change Gullet Systems.

Horse Riding Saddles – Checking For Saddle Fit

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When looking for horse riding saddles there is a lot more to it than just how a saddle looks. There are two key areas that need to be considered before purchasing, does the saddle fit you and most importantly does it fit your horse.
Incorrect saddle fit can cause your horse discomfort, which can lead to bucking and other negative behaviors.  Your horse isn’t purposely trying to harm you, he’s trying to tell you in the only way he knows how that he’s in pain.
So how do you fit a saddle to a horse? The steps for fitting an English saddle to a horse are outlined below:
1. Put the saddle on your horse’s back without a saddle pad.
2. After tightening the girth, have someone mount the horse with feet in the stirrups. You should then be able to slide three fingers underneath the pommel, between the saddle and your horse’s withers.
3. Place your hand between the top of the horse’s shoulder blade and the pommel of the saddle. Have someone assist you by pulling the horse’s foreleg forward.  The horse’s shoulder should move freely unimpeded by the saddle.
4. Finally, stand behind the horse and look between the saddle and the horse’s back. You should see a channel of light
For Western Saddles:
1. Place the saddle on the horse’s back with a one inch thick pad underneath it. Tighten the cinch and have someone sit on the horse. You should be able to fit three fingers between the arch of the pommel and the horse’s withers.
2. Horses with wider backs need a saddle with a wider tree, you want to be careful when your horse has a narrower back that the tree isn’t too wide.  Place your hand flat and slide it between the saddle and the horse’s shoulder, if you can’t get your hand in between or it’s really tight, the tree is too wide. Conversely, if you can get your hand in quite easily, the tree is to narrow.
Horse riding saddles are different and fit each horse differently, determine what size tree you need before you purchase so that you and your horse will both have a comfortable ride.