The History of the Western Saddle (part 3)

Over the years, as riding horses changed from a necessity to a luxury, or a sport, the needs of the horsemen changed. The "western saddle" . that was perfectly suited to ranch work was too cumbersome for younger riders or some ladies to use. Out of respect for the “fairer sex,” smaller, lighter western saddles were designed and children’s saddles were offered for the first time.

Saddle makers had to work to keep up with the specific demands of the individual riders and events, because the requirements seemed to keep changing, from gaited horses needing saddles to suit their particular way of going, to a mule needing a western saddle able to fit their down-sloped back. Even Arabian horses required specialized saddles to adapt to the differing bone structure inherent to the breed. Saddle making was turning out to be a real challenge. Heavily built roping saddles , were made with strong trees and horns, while barrel racing saddles grew lighter within the longer horn and deeper seat demanded by the riders. Western show saddles started to be adorned with silver Conchos and fancy stitching.

After having problems with conventional wooden trees, horsemen demanded a solution. Faced with the challenge, a fiberglass tree was developed. The new fiberglass tree was stronger and more durable, with the added bonus of being very light. The reduced weight of the new tree made it an immediate hit with the timed event riders, any advancement that could help improve performance was welcomed with great excitement.

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.


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