| If you're going to be riding Western and are new | | | | acceleration and turns. It usually fits the rider very |
| to the horse world, you can choose just about | | | | tightly from the back to the front, has a long |
| any Western saddle that you find that you can | | | | horn, and often has a very high straight up back. |
| afford, that fits your horse, that fits you and is | | | | Roping saddles are completely different; they'll |
| well made. | | | | have a shorter horn that is sturdily installed into |
| While it's nice to be able to purchase brand-new | | | | the saddle itself in order to take the weight of |
| saddles for your new enthusiastic hobby, | | | | the steer. Also, they have a much lower back, |
| sometimes it's just not quite financially feasible. | | | | which allows the roper to get out of the saddle if |
| This means that you may be choosing a saddle | | | | needed. It's important to understand that there is |
| that is not exactly what you want. In other | | | | not a lot of back support in this type of saddle, |
| words, instead of purchasing a brand-new saddle | | | | but if you're just learning to ride, it will work out |
| of inferior quality, look to a used saddle for your | | | | fine. Also, if you're considering roping at all, make |
| Western riding experience. | | | | sure that you get a roping saddle, most of the |
| It may be difficult at first when you're looking at | | | | horns that are installed in other types of Western |
| a saddle to determine exactly what type of | | | | event saddles are not meant to take the weight |
| Western riding it suited for. Many of them have | | | | of the steer. |
| separate modifications according to the type of | | | | You'll then run into reigning saddles, which are a |
| sports that the saddles going to be used for. | | | | close contact Western saddle. Cutting saddles, |
| These will include modifications to the horn, the | | | | that are especially suited for the quick diving |
| back, the leg position, and even the cinching | | | | movements of the cutting horse, Western |
| position. | | | | pleasure saddles that are pretty and meant to |
| There are barrel saddles, which are meant to be | | | | keep the rider's leg in the correct position, and of |
| super comfortable for the horse, lightweight, and | | | | course, Western Trail saddles. |
| keep the rider in the saddle during quick | | | | |