Equestrian | equipment

A boon to make riding comfortable: Saddles

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in a saddle-Winston Churchill

23rd June, 2018

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A boon to make riding comfortable: Saddles

The need for mobility and commuting always challenged man. Even after the invention of wheels and carts, riding on horses, camels and donkeys were preferred due to its speed and many other factors, this wasn’t the most faultless mode of transportation and associated with it certain difficulties that made sitting and riding a tedious task. To overcome it, man invented saddles. Serve as an excellent support structure, the most usual saddle types are those used by equestrians.



But, they include other varieties too like saddles for camels and donkeys. No precise information about the timing of inception of saddles in the human history has been found, but it is believed that the primitive version of was a simple blanket attached to some sort of girth. There is an abundant diversity of saddles in the market nowadays that completely fits into the listed specifications of equestrians.

Its main parts are- tree, seat, and stirrup. The tree being the base is wood covered with leather. The seat is where the rider sits, and stirrup are structures hanging on the sides of the horse stomach on which riders keep their feet and even use it to climb on their animal companion. Choosing a right Saddle for your horse can be a task. Considering a lot of factors like the shape of the tree and build of the horse, the perfect saddle should be a comfort to both the rider and the horse. This is thus an important task and has professionals who master it.



One can get a customized saddle but buying it can be an expensive investment. Out there in the market are numerous saddle manufacturers who provide a decent fit if properly selected. Out of all the saddles available, the English saddle is the most used and suggested one. It is considered to be best and is even used in all the Olympic Equestrian practices. The tree of English Saddle is made up of laminated wood and excels in quality and durability. Apart from the normal saddles, Side Saddles are also in the trend. Designed originally for female riders at the time when they were not allowed to wear pants, it is still seen in horse shows, fox hunting, parades, etc.

One can get a customized saddle but buying it can be an expensive investment. Out there in the market are numerous saddle manufacturers who provide a decent fit if properly selected. Out of all the saddles available, the English saddle is the most used and suggested one. It is considered to be best and is even used in all the Olympic Equestrian practices. The tree of English Saddle is made up of laminated wood and excels in quality and durability. Apart from the normal saddles, Side Saddles are also in the trend. Designed originally for female riders at the time when they were not allowed to wear pants, it is still seen in horse shows, fox hunting, parades, etc.

So, you know the points on which you can identify a good saddle. Now what? Is the job over? Not yet. Maintaining a saddle is also important. It is necessary to keep it protected from harsh weather conditions so as to utilize it properly for decades.


 



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