| Cutting horse saddles are an important part of the | | | | perfectly balanced without interfering with his horse. |
| sport of cutting. Choosing the wrong saddle or the right | | | | Cutting horse saddles have evolved from the familiar |
| one can mean the difference between winning first | | | | western saddle, also known as the cowboy saddle or |
| place, or going home in defeat. Cutting is the fastest | | | | the stock saddle. This vital piece of equipment was |
| growing horse sport in the world today, enjoying | | | | developed for the comfort of the rider and horse - |
| popularity from the United States to Australia. In 2006 | | | | who spent long hours together in a variety of weather |
| athletes who competed in the United States NCHA | | | | and conditions - as well as their safety. While there are |
| Futurity did so for combined purses of 3.7 million. | | | | obvious similarities in shape and design, cutting saddles |
| Today that number has risen to nearly four million | | | | have a deeper, wider seat with wider swells that help |
| dollars in prizes and money, and this does not factor in | | | | the rider keep his balance during the sharp turns and |
| the purses that can now be earned at Australian, | | | | stops of the cow horse. |
| European or Canadian cutting events. | | | | The horns on western saddles are not merely |
| From cavalry saddles to English saddles, racing and | | | | decorations, but on cutting horse saddles - unlike |
| cutting horse saddles, the past two thousand years | | | | western saddles - they are primarily used as a handle. |
| have seen many changes in how we equip our | | | | Taller and more slender than the horns on the typical |
| horses. The first known saddles were little more than | | | | western saddle they are there to help brace the rider |
| pads of cloth held on with a surcingle dating back to | | | | against the unexpected shifting of his horse. The |
| 800 BC. By 200 BC carven saddle trees were being | | | | stirrups are more narrow than on a western saddle |
| used, and five hundred years later, in 302 AD, the first | | | | and are positioned more towards the heel of the boot |
| stirrups were introduced. The early saddle was an | | | | rather than the toe as, in the sport of cutting, leg |
| important sign of the rider's status, heavily decorated | | | | contact is not the primary form of communication. |
| and embellished. As our understanding of the horse | | | | When buying cutting horse saddles, make certain it |
| and what he could do evolved, the saddle became | | | | was built specifically for cutting, not reining or trail riding. |
| less about beauty, and more about usefulness. | | | | People who make saddles are craftsmen who are |
| In the sport of cutting, good cutting horse saddles are a | | | | skilled in the art of making saddles rather than riding |
| vital necessity. The cutting horse will be working low to | | | | them, and very few have ever competed in cutting |
| the ground as it moves to separate one cow from the | | | | events. If you don't know your exact seat dimensions |
| herd, and move quickly with many sharp turns and | | | | or how long your stirrup leathers ought to be, ask your |
| stops as it works to keep the cow from rejoining the | | | | trainer to help you choose the right one. Using cutting |
| others. The cutting saddle must not only help keep the | | | | saddles that suit neither you nor your horse is only |
| rider on the back of his horse, it must keep him | | | | asking for trouble. |