Western Saddles

Western

Cowboys who spent their days riding the range, working cattle, and driving cattle were the inspiration behind the design of the Western saddle. Western saddles are often made of leather and are significantly heavier than English saddles. Nevertheless, because the weight of the rider in addition to the weight of the saddle is distributed over a broader area of the horse’s back, it can be less taxing on the animal. The curved cantle, fenders, and stirrups all work together to provide the rider with a pleasant and secure riding experience. The horn is the characteristic that stands out the most, but contrary to what many riders who are just starting out believe, it is not for their advantage but rather for the benefit of the rider when they are handling cattle.

The trees used in the construction of Western saddles are often made of wood and wrapped with fibreglass or rawhide. An alternative option is a substance known as ralide, which is a polyethelene. While though lower weight synthetic saddles are now available, the vast majority of saddles still have leather coverings. The seating surface is often upholstered with suede or split leather. The inside of the saddle, also known as the lining, can be made of sheepskin, wool, or acrylic. The leather of many western saddles is intricately carved, and the saddles themselves are frequently embellished with silverwork.

Half Breed

A regular Stock saddle and a Western saddle are the parents of a Half Breed Saddle, which provides the rider with comfort and ensures the saddle’s durability. These saddles, which are typically put to use for activities such as trail riding, campdrafting, and tentpegging, are gaining popularity among riders in general.

The greatest aspects of both types of saddles are combined to create the Half breed saddle. The skirt of the half breed saddle is significantly shorter than that of a western saddle, but the seat of the half breed saddle is still flat like a western saddle. This gives the half breed saddle a more compact appearance. It is more compact than your factory saddle but retains the wings or “knee pads” at the front of the saddle. It also features a swinging fender like your original saddle. This form of saddle is most suitable for larger, heavier-set horses, such as quarter horses who have the characteristic shape of a quarter horse or horses that have a very flat topline. On the other hand, certain versions, such as the Tekna half breed saddle shown below, have been further modernised to feature an adjustable gullet in order to accommodate narrower breeds of horses more effectively.