| > | | | | characteristic of a western saddle. |
| The western saddle is the most common horse | | | | The seat of the saddle has added padding for |
| saddle. Where did the western saddle originate? | | | | rider comfort. The affixed stirrups are wider than |
| What is it used for today and who uses it? Find | | | | those of other saddles. They are created to allow |
| out about all this and the seat, stirrups, horn and | | | | the boots of the cowboy a sure foot and firm leg |
| more. | | | | control to prevent slipping. Western saddles are |
| Western saddles are used for a type of riding | | | | larger and cover more area of the horse than |
| known as western riding. This style of horseback | | | | English saddles. They were made to hold saddle |
| riding is mainly considered to be carried out for | | | | bags of food and supplies for the trail. Most |
| work purposes. The saddle is designed to enhance | | | | western saddles are decorated with imprints and |
| and accommodate working needs on cattle | | | | designs and are made of rawhide. |
| ranches. The name derived from the vast | | | | Within the western saddle group are subgroups of |
| amount of these ranches in the western United | | | | saddle types. Each western saddle type fits the |
| States. | | | | needs of the work to be conducted. Roping |
| The seat of the saddle was created to provide | | | | saddles are heavy and have a thicker horn. This |
| cowboys with added security and comfort when | | | | horn allows more support for holding the rope. |
| conducting long trail rides of rounding up cows. | | | | Cutting saddles have deeper seats in order to |
| The idea for this saddle actually is a combination | | | | allow the rider more support when making sharp |
| of the Moorish style of riding, which allowed the | | | | turns. Barrel racing saddles are lightweight and |
| horse to move more freely, and the jousting | | | | allow for the horse to quickly make turns of |
| style, which gave the rider a secure fit and more | | | | speed. Trail saddles are designed with complete |
| control over the horse. | | | | comfort in mind. |
| The horn added to the front of the western | | | | The western saddle is a true mark of the |
| saddle also serves as a working tool. While many | | | | cowboy era. Its entire creation was based upon |
| today believe that the horn is an added handle to | | | | the needs of the working horseman of the west. |
| prevent falling from the saddle, it was actually | | | | Its broad design, imprinted embellishments, seat |
| developed to hold the lasso when roping cows. | | | | padding, and front horn can undoubtedly identify it. |
| Although many people do not rope cattle, except | | | | With the western saddle, one can rope, cut, barrel |
| for sport, today, the horn is still a prominent | | | | race, and trail ride with confidence. |