| Synthetic saddles have a number of advantages. | | | | any event rendering any initial saving lost. |
| However, it is right that for many people leather | | | | Always look for a good quality synthetic saddle, such |
| remains the traditional choice for saddle construction | | | | as Wintec, Rhinegold or Thorowgood. These saddles |
| and, certainly, a handmade quality English leather | | | | are manufactured to a very high standard and will last |
| saddle will last a lifetime if properly maintained. Having | | | | for a good many years, if properly looked after. |
| said that, many more people are turning to the | | | | Another significant advantage of synthetic equestrian |
| synthetic saddle and they are certainly becoming more | | | | saddles is that they are very much easier to clean. A |
| and more popular for a variety of reasons. | | | | traditional saddle will require regular cleaning and the |
| The most obvious advantage of a synthetic materials | | | | use of saddle soap, together with a good deal of |
| is that they are substantially lighter than a leather | | | | rubbing and working of the leather. Very often, a damp |
| saddle making them ideal for endurance riding, for | | | | cloth will be all that is required to clean a synthetic |
| example. It goes without saying that the lighter the | | | | saddle! |
| saddle the better and this is certainly the case for a | | | | Synthetic saddles will also be more resistant to sweat |
| horse being asked to go 80 or 100 miles in a day. A | | | | and, consequently, rotting than a leather saddle. It goes |
| traditional leather saddle can weigh up to 30 pounds | | | | without saying that your horse will sweat and this can |
| whereas a synthetic saddle will often be half that | | | | cause significant damage to a leather saddle and may, |
| weight. A similar advantage can be obtained from | | | | ultimately, lead to rotting. This can be particularly |
| synthetic jumping saddles. | | | | dangerous if it causes failure of, for example, your |
| Cost is also a significant factor for many people and | | | | stirrup leathers. |
| there is no doubt that a synthetic saddle will be | | | | Whilst a synthetic materials may not be appropriate |
| substantially cheaper than an English leather saddle. Do | | | | for certain competitive disciplines, such as showing or |
| be on the lookout for cheap foreign imports, which are | | | | dressage, it will have many advantages over a |
| flooding the market. This is equally true, of course, for | | | | traditional saddle for most equestrian uses. In addition, |
| leather saddles. However, cheap imported synthetic | | | | for those who do require a leather saddle for |
| saddles of vastly inferior quality are becoming more | | | | competition purposes, keeping a synthetic saddle for |
| and more prevalent in the UK. Not only can these be | | | | daily riding and training will ensure that the leather |
| dangerous, if the saddle fails at a critical moment, for | | | | saddle can be kept in tip top condition for those all |
| example in traffic, but they will soon need replacing in | | | | important competitions! |