Saddle Up For The Trail

Use this expert advice to find a saddle that fits your horse and matches your trailriding needs.

- Ken McNabb

Your trail saddle must fit your horse well and allow him to do his job. It also needs to complement your trail-riding needs. Here I’ll help you select (or make sure you already own) the right trail saddle for your horse and for the particular type of trail riding you do. First I’ll give you saddle-fit tips. Then I’ll explain how the saddle’s tree can help or hinder your horse’s performance—and how each tree type suits a specific purpose. Finally I’ll give you a rundown of add-ons designed to help secure your saddle over challenging terrain.

Find a Fit

Evaluating saddle fit is both an art and a science, but you can look for clues of poor fit yourself. Pressure-point indicators include uneven sweat patterns, white hairs, and back soreness.

You can also perform a quick visual assessment. Place your saddle over a pad on your horse’s back, leaving the cinch hanging straight down. Step away to evaluate how your saddle sits on your horse’s back. If your saddle doesn’t fit, find one that does.

A too-narrow fit appears to sit uphill on your horse’s withers. It’s loose near the swells and gets progressively tighter toward the cantle. A too-narrow fit creates a gap over the top of his back; the pressure rests entirely over his hips and shoulders, soring his shoulders. This saddle will also pinch his withers.