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Your First Time at the Equestrian Store as an Owner

Saddle

Choosing your perfect saddle is not an easy task. There are a hundred types
of saddles, different sizes and materials, so finding your ideal saddle can be
confusing. Don’t worry, we’ve all have been there, and after reading this chap-
ter, you will know exactly what kind of saddle is proper for your horse and
you. When I bought my first saddle, I didn’t really know what a high-quality
saddle looked like, and let’s not even talk about good saddle brands. For me,
the only thing that mattered was that the saddle was nice. Over the years, I
became interested in the brands used by professional riders, and I started rid-
ing different horses that other riders lent me. That’s when I realized that my
saddle was a total mess. My saddle was not only too small for me, but it was
also uncomfortable for my horse. The saddle I have now was my 15 birthday
th
present. At the beginning, it was hard to convince my parents to buy it because
my father, who is a totally non-horsey person, didn’t understand why I needed
a new saddle if mine ‘was fine’. It was thanks to my groom, who is one of my
best friends today, that helped me convince my parents to buy me a new sad-
dle. For this saddle, I chose the same one used by Pénélope Leprévost, who has
always been one of my favorite top riders. This time, I did a deep research and
talked to different equestrians to choose the right size and model for both my
horse and me.

The first thing you should know about saddles is that not all saddles are for
all horses and riders. Although this may not be very important for some school
horses, where the same saddle is suitable for all children and horses, you have
to keep in mind that with your own horse, it does matter what saddle you use.
Purchasing the wrong saddle can be not only very uncomfortable to ride, but
it can also cause pain and discomfort in the shoulders and back of your horse.
Your saddle is the most expensive and maybe most important purchase after
buying your horse. It is important to invest some time comparing the different
saddle options to make your best choice.

What kind of saddle should I buy?

There are many types of English saddles. Your choice depends on the disci-
pline you and your horse want to focus on. If you and your horse enjoy doing
dressage, then you should buy a dressage saddle, that is designed for dressage
and flatwork. On the other hand, if your horse and you enjoy jumping, then
you should consider a jumping saddle.

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