January 14, 2016

Buying Your First Saddle: The Beginner’s Guide

vintage leather saddle horse close up detail

Choosing the right saddle for you, as the rider, and your noble steed is crucially important to ensure successful riding adventures. As a first time saddle-buyer, there are a few things to keep in mind when making the commitment:

·         Choosing the right saddle:

As a beginner rider, you don’t want to invest too much money in a saddle that may or may not work for your specific needs. However, as a first time rider, in most cases you’re not sure what type of riding you necessarily want to do. Which a why a General Purpose Saddle is ideal! Due to its comfortable padding and shape, it’s a great way to start off any riding adventure.
·         Determining the size:

It’s extremely important to make sure the chosen saddle fits your horse perfectly. Not to mention yourself. Making sure you choose the right seat size depends on the size of the rider as well as the size and length of the horse. A saddle that’s too long will cause unnecessary pressure on the horse’s back, which will lead to an unhappy horse and ultimately a very unpleasant riding session. As a first time rider you want to make your experience an enjoyable one.
·         Trying it out:

Are you balanced when sitting on the horse? It may seem like a simple question to ask, but if you find yourself leaning a bit forwards or back, chances are it’s extremely uncomfortable for your horse. An unbalanced saddle can create unnecessary and expensive health complications for your horse that you don’t want or need.

·         Keeping the costs down:

As a beginner, you want to make sure you buy quality at an affordable rate. In case you discover the type of riding you’d like to do a few months after buying your new saddle, you want to have the choice of changing your mind. Saddle & Bridal Starter Kits – a great way to start off without breaking the bank.

·         Buy the horse first:

You may want to get everything ready before buying your horse, but I’d hold out on this one. You could end up buying the wrong saddle if you’re not exactly sure of the size of your horse. Rather be safe than sorry, especially if you don’t have a big budget.

 

As any experienced rider would tell you, horse riding is either in your blood or it’s not. It’s a skill you can learn, but it’s a type of love you can’t compare to anything else. As a beginner, building a relationship with your horse goes hand-in-hand with creating a pleasurable riding experience for the both of you – which is why choosing the right saddle is vitally important to creating memorable riding adventures together.