How To Sift Through All The Saddles For Sale

By Richard Burklin

To some, all horse saddles may have a tendency to look exactly the same. Of course, this is often the opinion of a novice, as all saddles for sale will have their unique differences. These differences are not limited to looks either.

After you take a saddle home and place it on your horse, you will notice right away that it has it's own feel to it. And again once you yourself climb into the saddle, you will discover that your own body has a lot to with with how well the saddle works out. When you test a saddle, it's a good idea to sit in it and go with your initial reaction to how you like it. But beyond that, what else should you look out for in a saddle?

All saddles for sale have some important things to think about:

The most important thing to consider is how the saddle fits your animal. The saddle's fit should trump any other aspect that may be influencing your decision to purchase. A horse can be hurt and become upset by a saddle that does not fit correctly.

This is bad for two reasons. If you're horse is angry, you're in danger. And if you're saddle is not properly snug, you're also in danger. Measuring your horse should be your first step before you go looking at any horse saddles for sale.

If you're looking to spend less on a saddle, you could go pre-owned. But don't buy a used saddles that is falling apart obviously. Even though you usually don't have to worry about deteriorating used saddles when they are from a quality manufacturer.

That is not to say that just because a used saddle is a made by known brand name that you can overlook excessive wear and tear. If someone is selling a saddle that is just torn to shreds, it is useless, regardless of the original maker.

Sometimes, even the best looking saddle can have problems. By best looking, we do not mean a saddle that looks like a visually appealing model. We mean one that might not show any obvious signs of wear and tear. In fact, it may even seem like a great fit once it is strapped to the horse.

The saddle may be a bit loose on your horse causing you to shift while you ride. It's always a good idea to do a test ride so that you can know for sure if your saddle is snug.

Also, even if the saddle rides well, it could have problems. If you notice dark black spots on the horse after riding the saddle, these are bruises that would indicate the saddle is painful for the horse. Such a saddle would have to be replaced as well since it is a problem for the horse.

Yes, it can be a little extra work to select the right saddle and sometimes your selection may not go as intended. But, when you take these extra steps, you will discover your horseback riding sessions to be a lot more fun and a whole lot safer. - 32395

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