August 08, 2004

By: Sandra Geldart
Website: http://www.happy-horse-saddles.com

Endurance saddle

Serious endurance riders require specialised endurance saddles. Endurance horses travel great distances, under very strenuous conditions, and like any athlete, require the best equipment to perform at the highest levels. Saddle makers are now able to custom build endurance saddles to meet virtually any demands.

Endurance saddles can be built on either english or western saddle trees, and in some cases saddle makers are offering a new treeless design. The basic design of any endurance saddle requires less skirting, as the usual models retain too much heat, and are really lightweight to enable the horse to more easily carry it over long distances. Built without a horn to enable the rider to get down low over the horses neck to pass under trees, and with a much wider stirrup to provide more comfort over a long competition.

In most cases endurance saddles stirrups are set in a more centered position underneath the rider allowing the rider the more centered riding position, common to the dressage saddle, allowing the horse to move in a more comfortable, natural way. Also aiding the efficiency of a horses way of going, is the fact that unlike western saddles where the rigging pulls straight down, in an endurance saddle the rigging pulls more from the center of the saddle.

About The Author:

Sandra Geldart is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.happy-horse-saddles.com.  With a degree in Equine Science Technology, Sandra brings you 27 years experience working with horses including showing horses and barrel racing.