| Saddles | | | | include easy gripping with a tall thin horn, long flat seats, |
| The most popular type of saddle, trail saddles are | | | | slim stirrups, low cantles and forward hanging fenders |
| designed for comfort over rough terrain and many | | | | for extra balance. |
| miles. Designed for comfort they are lighter than ranch | | | | Reining Saddles |
| or roping saddles which are designed for heavier work. | | | | For reining sporting events a purpose designed reining |
| New materials and features often appear in trail | | | | saddle is ideal. These saddles need very close contact |
| saddles first due to their popularity. Some features | | | | between horse and rider for ease of execution of |
| include an easy to hold thin horn, a higher fork for | | | | circling, spinning and sliding stop maneuvers. Subtle |
| stability, a deeply recessed cantle for comfort, wider | | | | communication between horse and rider is ensured by |
| stirrups treads and padded seats. Rounded or cut out | | | | the close contact which, if properly carried out will not |
| skirts may also be present to further reduce the | | | | be seen by the spectators. Because of the close |
| weight. | | | | contact reining saddles are also popular as training |
| Ranch Saddles | | | | saddles. |
| Ranch saddles, also called buckaroo, cowboy or old | | | | Endurance Saddles |
| time are heavy weight saddles designed for heavy | | | | For competitions involving long rides of up to 100 miles, |
| work. Made for long hours in the saddle and for | | | | endurance saddles are needed. They must be light |
| functionality around the ranch they may include | | | | weight and well made to stand up to the long miles of |
| comfortable deep seats, low swells to be out of the | | | | riding. Bulk must be minimised while at the same time |
| way when working and thick horns. Other features | | | | maximising close contact. In addition for the long hours |
| include plate rigging for better strength, a high cantle, | | | | in the saddle they must be comfortable for both rider |
| double rigging and rope straps. | | | | and horse. Because they are designed for comfort |
| Roping Saddles | | | | they are also becoming popular for trail riding. They |
| Designed for freedom of movement these saddles | | | | feature comfortable padded seats, no horns, lower |
| are made for heavy duty. Maximum freedom while | | | | weight short skirts, deep stirrups and multiple saddle |
| roping and chasing cows is ensured by the saddle tree | | | | strings for your gear. |
| design and the strong horn. A wooden saddle tree | | | | Show Saddles |
| covered with bull hide, a rounded low fork, double | | | | Show saddles, unlike the other types are designed |
| rigging and a deep suede or rough leather covered | | | | primarily for their looks in the horse show arena. |
| saddle all contribute to the ease of use while working. | | | | Fashion is important and designs change frequently. |
| High cantles allow easy mounting and dismounting and | | | | Ornate and deep tooling and decorative silver |
| the stirrups are forward hung to help the balance. | | | | ornamentation are used extensively on show saddles. |
| Cutting saddles | | | | Designed for good looks rather than work these |
| For cutting out single cows from the heard, cutting | | | | saddles follow fashions and change accordingly. For |
| saddles were developed. A cutting saddle needs to | | | | show saddles the latest fashion is important! Other |
| endure good balance for the rider during extreme | | | | features include deep skirts for more decoration |
| turning, starting and stopping maneuvers. Features | | | | turned stirrups with silver trims, and padded seats. |