Parts of a Western saddle

Western saddles are used for western riding and are the saddles used on working horses on cattle ranches throughout the United States, particularly in the west. They are the "cowboy" saddles familiar to movie viewers, rodeo fans, and those who have gone on trail rides at guest ranches. This saddle was designed to provide security and comfort to the rider when spending long hours on a horse, traveling over rugged terrain. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Western riding is shown in this sculpture, Great Western Tradition, by Doug Israelsen Western riding evolved from the cattle-working and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, and both equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy in the American West. ... A saddle is a seat for a rider fastened to an animals back. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Ranching. ... For other uses, see Cowboy (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that History of rodeo be merged into this article or section. ... The guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. ...

The design of the Western saddle derives from the saddles of the Spanish vaqueros - the early horse trainers and cattle handlers of Mexico and the American Southwest. It was developed for the purpose of working cattle across vast acreages, and came from a combination of the saddles used in the two main styles of horseback riding then practiced in Spain — la jineta, the Moorish style which allowed great freedom of movement to the horse; and la estradiota, the jousting style, which provided great security to the rider and strong control of the horse. A very functional item was also added: the saddle "horn." This style of saddle allowed vaqueros to control cattle by use of a rope around the neck of the animal, tied or dallied (wrapped without a knot) around the horn. American cowboy circa 1887 A cowhand tends livestock, especially cattle. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... horse, see Horse (disambiguation). ... The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of the western Mediterranean and western Sahara, including: al-Maghrib (the coastal and mountain lands of present day Morocco and Algeria, and Tunisia although Tunisia often is separately called Ifriqiya after the former Roman province of Africa); al-Andalus (the former Islamic sovereign... Jousting is a staple entertainment at Renaissance Fairs. ...

Today, although many Western riders have never roped a cow, the western saddle still features this historical element. (Some variations on the Western saddle design, such as those used in bronc riding, endurance riding and those made for the rapidly growing European market, do not have horns.) Another predecessor which may have contributed to the design of the Western saddle was the Spanish tree saddle, which was also influential in the design of the McClellan saddle of the American military, being used by all branches of the U.S. Army, but being particularly associated with the cavalry. Plunging bronco, Bar Diamond Bar range Bronc riding, either as saddle bronc or bareback bronc is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on an untamed horse or bronco, weighing between 800 and 1,500 pounds, which is held in a small pipe enclosure called a bucking chute. ... Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous form of horse racing, requiring the horse to complete, at the top levels, up to 100 miles. ... This article is about the continent. ... The McCellan Saddle was that saddle designed by George B. McClellan, a career Army officer in the U.S. Army, and adopted by the Army in 1859. ... French Republican Guard - May 8, 2005 celebrations Cavalry (from French cavalerie) were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. ...

The Western saddle is unlike the English saddle in that it has no padding between the tree and the external leather and fleece skirting. The weight-bearing area of the saddle is large and usually covered with sheepskin, but it must be padded with a saddle blanket in order to provide a comfortable fit for the horse. Western saddles are extensively decorated, the carved leatherwork is often a true work of art, and intricately carved silver conchos and other additions are frequently added to the saddle for show purposes. More than any other style of saddle, the western saddle can be customized to be a true expression of the rider's taste and style. A fine quality western saddle, properly maintained, is intended to last for a person's lifetime, or even beyond. The saddles known as English saddles (as opposed to Western saddles) are used throughout the world, not just in England or English-speaking countries. ... A saddle blanket is the woven blanket, usually made of wool, which is folded and inserted under the Western Saddle in order to absorb sweat, cushion the saddle, and help it conform to the horses back. ...

Other differences between the Western and English saddles include:

• Stirrups: Those of the Western saddle cannot detach from the saddle in an emergency, but instead have a wider tread; combined with the rider's high-heeled cowboy boots, the design minimizes the risk that the rider's feet will slip through the stirrup during a fall, and the rider being dragged.

• Method of securing the saddle to the horse: Rather than buckling on as does the English girth, the Western girth, known as a cinch, is tied on with a flat strap of leather or nylon called a latigo, though modern latigos have holes added so that a buckle can be used, either in place of the knot or in addition to one.

• Seat and Cantle: These parts of a western saddle are more pronounced than in an English saddle and provide greater comfort and security to the rider.

There are many types of Western saddle available. Some are general-purpose models while others emphasize either greater freedom for the horse or greater security for the rider, as may be necessary for specialized work in the various Western horse sports such as cutting, reining, barrel racing, steer roping, equitation and western pleasure. Haniwa horse statuette, complete with saddle and stirrups, 6th century, Kofun period, Japan. ... Ad for Tony Lama featuring custom boots made for President Harry S. Truman. ... A dressage girth is buckled lower on the belly. ... Cutting is an equestrian event in the western riding style where a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a calf away from a cattle herd and keep it away for a short period of time. ... Reining is a Western horseback riding competition. ... A professional barrel racer Barrel racing, is a rodeo event that features a horse or barrel racer and one rider, running a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels in a triangular arrangement. ... Steer roping also known as steer tripping is a rodeo event that features a steer and one mounted cowboy. ... A riders equitation is her/his ability to ride correctly with a strong, supple position and effective aids. ... Western Pleasure is an equestrian show event that tests a the suitability of the horse for appropriate gait cadence and speed, along with suitable disposition traits. ...

Many people feel that the Western saddle is more comfortable than the English saddle, a theory that is given credence because of its history and purpose: as a working tool for a cowboy who spends all day, every day, on horseback. However it should be noted that many riders are completely comfortable in an English saddle, and for covering distance when time is a factor, such as Endurance riding, the lighter English saddle dominates. For a beginning rider, the western saddle may give the impression of providing a more secure seat. However, this may be misleading: the horn is not meant to be a handle for the rider to hang on to, and the high cantle and heavy stirrups are not for forcing the rider into a rigid position; the development of an independent seat and hands is as critical for western riders as for English riders. The saddles known as English saddles (as opposed to Western saddles) are used throughout the world, not just in England or English-speaking countries. ... For other uses, see Cowboy (disambiguation). ... Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous form of horse racing, requiring the horse to complete, at the top levels, up to 100 miles. ... English riding is a term used in the United States to describe a form of horseback riding that is seen throughout the world. ...

External links

• rodeo's first hornless bronc saddle, 1922
• Western saddle types
• Society of the Military Horse
• Cowboy Showcase Saddles and Tack
• Western Saddle Guide