Saddle
A
saddle is a seat for a rider fastened to an animal's back. The most common type is the equestrian saddle designed for a
horse, but specialized saddles have been created for
camels and other creatures.
There are two popular types of saddle for equestrian use.
English saddle
English saddles are used throughout the world, not just in England or English-speaking countries. They are the saddles used in all of the Olympic equestrian disciplines. To non-horsemen, the major distinguishing feature of an English saddle is its lack of a horn and its panels: a pair of pads attached to the underside of the seat and filled with wool, foam, or air.
The term English saddle encompasses several types, including those used for eventing, show jumping and hunt seat, dressage, Saddle Seat, horse racing and polo.
Western saddle
Western saddles are saddles used in â€" or based on the ones used in â€" cattle ranching in the United States. They are the "cowboy saddles" familiar to movie viewers, rodeo fans, and those who have gone on tourist trail rides.
The Western saddle has no padding of its own, and must be padded with a
saddle blanket in order to provide a comfortable fit for the horse. It also has sturdier
stirrups and uses a
cinch rather than a
girth.
Other
*
Sidesaddle*
McClellan Saddle, designed for cavalry units
*
Roman saddle, with a horn at each corner, gave a flexibility and a firm seat despite the Roman lack of stirrups
*Tree: the base on which the rest of the saddle is built. It is eventually covered in leather or synthetic material. The tree size determines its fit on the horse's back.
*Seat: the part of the saddle where the rider sits, it is usually lower than the pommel and cantle to provide security
*Pommel (English)/ Swell (Western): the front the saddle
*Cantle: the back of the saddle
*
Stirrup: part of the saddle in which the rider's feet go, provides support and leverage to the rider.
*D-ring: a "D"-shaped ring on the front of a saddle, to which certain pieces of equipment (such as
breastplates) can be attached.
Early Civilization
 |
Sarmatian horseman, using a saddle, brestplate, and girth. |
There is evidence that man first began riding the horse as early as 4,000 BCE [
1]. However, it was not until 700-800 BCE that the predecessor to the modern saddle evolved, thought to have been developed by the
Assyrians, and consisting of a simple cloth fastened onto the horse with a girth. The
Scythians also developed a saddle around the same, which included padding and great decorative embellishments, which was made not so much for support but simply for comfort. The
Romans had a "four-horn saddle," with one in each corner, which provided great support for the rider despite a lact of stirrups.
Later developments in Asia resulted in a saddle made of felt, built on a wooden frame, making it the first saddle with a "tree." This raised the rider above the horse's back, and distributed his weight on either side of the animal's spine rather than on it, greatly increasing the comfort of the horse and prolonging his useful life.
The
Sarmatians also used saddles, with the addition of a
breastplate and a
girth to help keep the saddle on.
The
stirrup was one of the milestones in saddle development, and its origin is debated. The first stirrup-like object was invented in
India in the second century BCE, and consisted of a simple leather strap in which the rider's foot was placed. It offered very little support, however. The nomadic tribes in northern China are thought to have been the inventors of the modern stirrup. This invention gave great support for the rider, and was essential in later warfare.
The Middle Ages
|
A saddle commonly seen in the 16th and 17th centuries. |
Saddles were greatly improved upon during the
Middle Ages, as knights needed something more supportive and stronger, and the resulting saddle had a higher cantle (to prevent the rider from being unseated backwards by a lance) and pommel (to protect the rider's stomach from the opposer's lance) and was built on a wooden frame. This saddle was slowly developed to be lighter in weight, being padded with wool or horsehair and covered in leather or textiles, and was eventually used for cattle work, bullfighting, and war. Indeed, it can still be seen in parts of Iberia and eastern Europe, and is also used by the
Spanish Riding School.
By the 17th century, these saddle was being used for
Haute Ecole riding, which was practiced mainly by royalty, aristocracy, the gentry, and wealthy merchants. To show off their status, embellishments were added to their saddles, including percious metals, jewels, and embroidery.
The Development of the Modern Saddle
|
The English hunting saddle. |
This saddle eventually branched off into what is now the modern
English and
Western saddles.
In the 18th century,
fox hunting became increasingly popular in England. The high-cantle, high-pommel design of earlier saddles was a great hinderance and very uncomfortable for riders as they jumped, so the English hunting saddle was developed. Having a low pommel and cantle, and no padding, it offered little support for the rider, but did allow them to easily ride cross-country. This saddle developed into the various
English saddles.
The modern
Western saddle evolved from the Iberian saddles, which were taken by the Spanish when they colonized the Americas. These saddles were later changed to suit the needs of
vaqueros in Mexico, including the addition of a horn to which livestock could be tied.
* McBane, Susan.
The Essential Book of Horse Tack and Equipment. David & Charles. Devon, England. Copyright 2002.
*
International Museum of the Horse: Online Exhibit (History of the Horse)*
