English Saddle

The English saddle is designed to allow the horse as much freedom and movement as is possible. There are many different types of English saddles available today, it's just a matter of choosing the type of saddle to suit your specific needs. Are you wanting a dressage saddle, jumping saddle, or perhaps a flat riding saddle? Whichever activity you are involved in, the English style saddle is definitely what you're looking for.

The English saddle is used to ride horses in English riding disciplines all over the world. Most of these saddles were designed to give the horse freedom of movement when jumping, running, or moving at great speeds across rough terrain. The English style of saddle is quite different from the Western or Australian saddle as it has no horn. It is a very sleek and aerodynamic saddle making it ideal for the disciplines in which it is used.

There are small but significant differences between the styles of English saddles. The location of the seat and the length and shape of the flap are the most important distinctions.

A dressage saddle has a flap that is longer and less inclined forward to accommodate the leg. The seat is closer to the withers so the rider's centre of gravity stays in the right spot.

With a jumping saddle the flap will be shorter and more forward than a dressage saddle. The saddle also has supportive padded knee rolls for show jumping and eventing. The cantle and pommel are quite low with the balance of the seat further back and somewhat flat.

A polo saddle is designed with quite a flat seat and saddle flaps that are long and fairly straight to accommodate the longer leg position. The saddle flaps are more forward than on a dressage saddle.

A racing saddle is very lightweight (usually less than 4 pounds) and is designed in such a way that it won't interfere with a running horse. The seat is long and has no dip, and the flaps are very forward to accommodate the short stirrups. The pommel and cantle are both flat so nothing interferes with the jockey. There isn't much substance to this type of saddle, therefore the rider has less leverage to control the horse. That's why you will never see a racing saddle used in general equestrian activities.

When it comes to designing an English saddle things like the padding in the seat, the shape and size of the knee rolls, size of the saddle flaps, and the use of extra blocks behind the leg, are taken into consideration. A jumping or eventing saddle will require more padding for support over fences, than will a Polo saddle which is constructed with very little padding giving the rider more freedom to twist and reach for the ball.

There are a number of different types of English saddles available today. Choose the one that suits your intended use best. Do your research before making your purchase and you will end up with a saddle that you can enjoy for years to come.