Which Saddle Is For You?

Find the right saddle for your riding needs with our expert trail-saddle shopping guide.

- Jessica Jahiel, Phd

Saddles are a big-ticket item; trail saddles are no exception. The good news is that saddle manufacturers are offering more options than ever before, with trail saddles for just about every horse, every rider, and every kind of terrain.

As you shop for a trail saddle, keep in mind that every horse, rider, and trail-riding experience is unique. Whatever form your trail-riding takes, the more suitable your saddle, the better off you and your horse will be. The following guidelines are designed to help you select a saddle that matches your particular riding style.

Here, I’ll describe four rider profiles: (1) casual day rides on home trails, over mostly easy terrain; (2) frequent traveling to overnight trail-riding and horse-camping destinations; (3) long, challenging rides over steep terrain; and (4) gaiting or hacking on broad, mostly flat trails. Then I’ll offer saddle suggestions that might work best for you.

When you’re ready to start shopping, turn to the resource guide of saddle manufacturers (page 40). And don’t miss our roundup of trail-riding safety gear, along with related resources (page 39).

Riding profile #1: Casual day rides on home trails, over mostly easy terrain.

Saddle specs: If you already own a saddle that fits both you and your horse, you may be in luck. A good Western saddle, jumping saddle, eventing saddle, or all-purpose saddle could be just fine to use on home trails. That said, you may want to invest in a purpose-designed trail saddle, for optimal comfort and versatility.

Your choice of saddle will depend to a great extent on your horse and his conformation, your own conformation, your ambitions and goals, and the trails on which you ride or plan to ride.