About Trail Horse Saddles

Trail horse saddles, also known as pleasure saddles, put the rider’s comfort first. Their design anticipates long hours of riding and can include a variety of features for different body types. The most noticeable difference between the trail saddle and other types of Western saddles is its comparatively light weight.

  1. Fundamentals

    • Western riding saddles cater to the comfort of working cowboys putting in long hours on a horse. Unlike English saddles that feature small, light, thinly padded frames and seats, Western saddle design includes a larger, well-padded and well-supported body. Over time, Western saddle styles have become specialized for specific jobs such as herd-cutting, cattle-roping, barrel-racing and trail-riding, according to the Western Saddle Guide. Trail saddles, which aren’t designed for hard ranch work, generally weigh less than 40 pounds.

    Form

    • All saddle construction begins with a tree--a wood, fiberglass or plastic form. Different tree shapes fit different types of horses and riders. The swell, or fork, gives the saddle its shape in the front while the cantle determines its shape in the back. The horn on the front of a Western saddle gives riders something to hold on to or tie things on to.

    Features

    • Because trail saddles are popular with so many pleasure riders, they come in a wider variety of styles than any other Western saddle, according to the Western Saddle Guide website. Features include a higher fork for a more secure ride, a padded seat for comfort and a higher cantle for more lower-back support. Trail saddles horns are thin and designed just to give the rider something to hold onto, according to the Western Saddle Guide website.

      Other trail saddle features include fenders--long leather pieces under a rider’s legs--for stability, wide stirrups, double straps to hold down the back of the saddle and a breast collar to prevent the saddle from sliding.

    Innovation

    • Because riders purchase more trail saddles than any other type, manufacturers often use them to test new materials and designs such as synthetics instead of leather and lighter, treeless saddle construction, according to the Western Saddle Guide website.

      Since the late 1990s, most innovation in trail saddle design has been aimed at making the saddles lighter, according to the Outfitters Supply website. New lighter saddle styles particularly benefit young riders, petite women or people with back or shoulder problems who have trouble lifting heavier saddles onto a horse. Shock-absorbing foams and gels add even more comfort to the trail saddle’s traditionally padded seat.

    Considerations

    • Saddles need to properly fit the rider and the horse. The rider’s height, weight and riding style factor into deciding which saddle is best. Most tack shops and outfitters offer guidelines for measuring a horse or mule to determine the best saddle tree shape and size. Ill-fitting saddles create pressure points on the horse and can lead to hair discoloration and other problems, according to Horse Saddle Shop’s Western Saddle Fitting Guide.