Chapter 1. Basic Types of Saddles
Types of Saddles
The two main styles of saddles are English or Western
All Purpose Saddle
English saddles offer closer contact to the horse than Western Saddles. They are used for jumping, dressage, polo, and many other English riding sports. All purpose saddles are a cross between jumping and dressage saddles which makes these an excellent choice for first time riders as they allow you to try out different riding sports.
Western Saddle
Western saddles are used in western riding sports such as barrel racing, cutting, and rodeos. They are the preferred saddle for dude ranches and some trail riders.