By Rod and Denise Nikkel

English and Western Saddles are Different!

That statement is so obvious it seems ridiculous to even say it. Yet why then, when it comes to saddle fit, are the “rules” expected to be the same? When we tell people whose western saddle is their office, who ride horses for a living but not in competition, some of what the “rules” of saddle fit say, they are incredulous, because they know from years of experience that these things just don’t make sense for a good western saddle. Some principles apply to both, but often “rules” for English saddles don’t apply to western saddles.

So, this article will talk about what makes English and Western saddles different in history and construction. Then we will have a post on what principles of fit apply to both, and then a third on which English saddle fit “rules” definitely do not apply to Western saddles. Be warned, some of what we say here will sound like heresy to many who read the internet. But it also happens to be true.

What’s the Difference?

English and western saddles are different in history and use, and in construction. While historically English saddles were used as military saddles and for transportation, Western saddles were designed to be used for long hours of work, primarily for working cattle (Fig 1).

Today, English saddles are used mainly for sport and recreation. When someone rides an English saddle, their primary purpose is generally to ride their horse – for enjoyment, training, competition, etc. and their attention the vast majority of the time is on their horse and their riding.

Western Saddles for Work

While western saddles are now also ridden for enjoyment, training and competition, they are still often used for their primary purpose – being ridden for long hours covering lots of ground, either as the rider and horse work together to handle cattle, or for recreation, such as day long or even longer trail rides and pack trips in the mountains, When someone rides a western saddle, their attention may be on their horse and their riding (training or showing), but it is often on the job they are doing (roping, checking cattle, checking fences, etc.) or on their surroundings (enjoying the views on their trail rides). The rider generally does not request precise movements except when needed for the job at hand, or when specifically concentrating on their riding rather than their work (Fig 2).

The Design of English and Western Saddles

These different uses are reflected in the design of the saddle. The English saddle is much smaller, with much less surface area on the horse (Fig 3). The seat construction and narrower stirrup leathers make the rider more conscious of their position in the saddle. The western saddle has a much larger surface area on the horses back, allowing for more pressure distribution (if the shape matches the horse well). It also often supports the rider better, which is very helpful after a few hours in the saddle, but which also can allow the rider to get away with bad posture.

The Western saddle was designed for roping cattle, which necessitates a substantial fork to attach the horn to in order to connect two large animals. This means the rider is seated farther behind the front of the bars of the tree than on an English saddle, where the rider is much closer to the tree points. (Fig 4). This design means that the rider must be situated farther back on the horse than in an English saddle. The cantle on an English saddle is the back end of the tree, though panels may extend past it a bit. However, the cantle on a Western saddle typically has inches of bar behind it. This puts the rider’s weight centered along the length of the bar (if the seat is made correctly), distributing their weight well. 

So with these differences, what principles apply to both styles of saddle? And what is different?  Part II and Part III of this post address these questions, and are available to Equitopia members!