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Tips on Purchasing a Western Saddle |
Western Saddles: Top Seven Buying Mistakes
by Beth Stefanie
Buying the wrong western saddle is a very common occurrence in
the western riding world. It's also a very expensive learning
experience. You can skip this painful lesson by avoiding the
top seven western saddle buying mistakes.
If you ride horses of different breeds or significantly different sizes, then you'll need to invest in multiple saddles.
Wondering whether your saddle fits your horse? Below are seven potential signs of a poorly fitting saddle. If you're seeing any of these signs with your horse, you should take another
look at how your saddle fits.
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Common Saddle Buying Mistakes
1. Buying Pretty. While we'd all like a nice looking saddle,
letting looks drive your buying decision is asking for trouble.
The quality of the saddle materials and the construction are far
more important than the look of a saddle. A poorly made saddle
can look awfully pretty, especially to the uninitiated. Don't
fall for this one.
2. Buying Image. Have dreams of riding the range and working
the cattle drive? Or maybe riding to an NFR championship buckle
in barrel racing? While the cowboy and cowgirl dreams and
imagery can be strong and enticing, don't let those images
determine your saddle choice. Choose a saddle type that fits
the actual type of riding that you'll be doing.
3. Buying Cheap. Cheap saddles are not a bargain. Poor quality
materials and construction will shorten saddle life, and, more
importantly, will cause discomfort and impair movement in your
horse. If you can't afford at least a middle-of-the-road new
saddle ($500 and up), then buying used is a great solution.
Quality saddles last a long time, making buying a "pre-owned"
saddle a smart buy.
4. Buying Dumb. You need to educate yourself on some saddle
basics before buying. Ride in as many different saddles as you
can. Talk to all the horse people you know about their saddles.
Pick the brain of knowledgeable saddle folks. And, always,
before purchasing a saddle, know the seller's tryout and return
policies.
5. Buying Selfish. You found a saddle that's high quality,
pretty, and fits you well. You're all set right? Wrong. You're
forgetting one very important partner in this deal - your
horse. If the saddle doesn't fit your horse well, than the rest
doesn't matter. Make sure you understand the basics of horse fit
and determine beforehand whether the saddle will be a good fit
for your horse.
6. Buying One-Size-Fits-All. While you shouldn't need a
different saddle for every horse you ride, one saddle will not
fit every horse you run across. The best approach is to choose
a saddle that will fit the basic physical type of horse that
you'll ride. For instance, I ride Quarter Horses that are on
the smaller size. I have a saddle that will fit most horses of
this type. If you ride more than one type of horse, you'll need
multiple saddles.
7. Buying Brand (or Endorsement). This one is a little
trickier. Buying a well-established brand is not a bad idea.
You just need to be aware that a number of saddle brands have
been around a long time and the quality of their saddles have
varied significantly over time. The quality can also vary over
their current product lines. Never just blindly buy by brand
without thoroughly inspecting the quality of the saddle in
consideration. Additionally, celebrity endorsement can seem
like a stamp of approval, but it really doesn't mean more than
that the celebrity is receiving payment for use of his or her
name. Very few celebrities have any input into the design and
construction of the saddles bearing their name.
Many riders have a tack room full of saddles that didn't work
out. Others are constantly buying and selling saddles in search
of just the right one. It doesn't have to be this way. If you do
your homework beforehand to truly understand your horse's and
your own needs, you can purchase the one saddle that will be a
match for you, your horse, and your riding activities. For info on reining and cutting saddles, click here.
About The Author: Beth Stefani is the publisher of
http://www.western-saddle-guide.com , a comprehensive online
resource for understanding, choosing, and caring for the
western saddle and accessories that are right for you.
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